BISSELL CrossWave vs Shark VACMOP (2021): Which Wet And Dry Vacuum Is Better For Your Home?

Hardwood floors look amazing but you have to put in the effort to make them stay that way. Fortunately, wet/dry vacuums are able to make life so much easier because not only do they clean up dust, dirt, and spills, but they also mop your floor at the same time. If that sounds like a dream come true to you, two popular wet/dry vacuum models you can check out are the BISSELL CrossWave and the Shark VACMOP. To help you decide which one’s better for you and your home, here’s an in-depth comparison that covers their performance and features.

BISSELL CrossWave vs Shark VACMOP Comparison Chart

Design and Ease of Use

The BISSELL CrossWave is significantly bigger than the Shark VACMOP.

The most noticeable difference between the BISSELL CrossWave and the Shark VACMOP is their size. The CrossWave is the bigger vacuum of the two, weighing in at over 11 lbs and equipped with a large storage tray and base. While the VACMOP stands at the same height, it’s much more compact and lightweight, weighing in at only 3 lbs. This makes it the more ideal vacuum for those who have smaller storage spaces at home. Because the CrossWave is larger, it’s able to cover a wider area but more on its performance later.

Size aside, both the CrossWave and VACMOP are a dream to use. Their powerful suction will pick up just about anything they come across, plus they each come with their own cleaning solution so you don’t have to worry about that anymore. The best part is that they’re easy to clean, thanks to the CrossWave’s docking tray and the VACMOP’s no-touch disposal button.

Performance

The BISSELL CrossWave can clean both hardwood floors and rugs while the Shark VACMOP is only compatible with the former.

The best thing about the BISSELL CrossWave is its ability to clean not just hardwood floors but area rugs as well. In addition, you can easily change modes without having to turn off the vacuum. All you have to do is toggle the control on the handle whenever you want to switch between hard surface mode and rug mode. On the same handle, you’ll find another handy feature. There’s a trigger that you can use to adjust the amount of cleaning solution you’d like to apply onto the brush roll. As the brush roll rotates, all the gunk that’s stuck on it will come loose and will be sucked up and deposited into the storage tank.

Unfortunately, the Shark VACMOP only works on hardwood floors and is incompatible with rugs. This is because it makes use of disposable pads with built-in dirt chambers instead of a brush roll. Obviously, this means that there’s no button for switching modes but the VACMOP does have two controls found on its handle. One of them is for turning the suction on and off and the other is for spraying the cleaning solution. Speaking of cleaning solution, it’s sprayed on the floor and is then absorbed by the pads.

Aside from being more versatile, the CrossWave is also more powerful and efficient than its competitor. While the VACMOP only has a cleaning path of 9.8 inches, the CrossWave’s is significantly larger at 12 inches. So if you have a big space to clean, the CrossWave will be able to get the job done much faster.

Dirt Collection

The BISSELL CrossWave has a more efficient dirt collection system than the Shark VACMOP.

As mentioned, all of the wet and dry dirt that the BISSELL CrossWave manages to suck up is put in a storage tank. This storage tank can take up to 14.5oz of dirt before it needs to be cleaned out. Aside from this tank, the CrossWave is equipped with another one that’s meant to hold clean water and the cleaning solution. This way, you’re actually able to clean your floors with fresh water instead of just making a bigger mess.

As for the Shark VACMOP, its design is unfortunately not as well-thought-out as the CrossWave’s. As mentioned, it makes use of disposable pads to clean your floors. It’s good that these pads are easy to attach and remove but their built-in dirt chambers aren’t able to hold much and so you’ll have to replace the pads quite often. Also, these pads are quite limited when it comes to absorbing liquid. So if you have quite a bit of a mess to clean up, you might find yourself using multiple pads which isn’t the most economical thing.

Mobility

The Shark VACMOP is cordless and has more mobility than the BISSELL CrossWave.

The BISSELL CrossWave comes with a chord which some may find limiting or annoying. The chord is actually quite long at 25 feet but you probably still need to do some maneuvering while you’re vacuuming to avoid getting tangled up. The CrossWave does come with a cordless version but you’re going to have to fork over a hefty sum of money for it.

As for the Shark VACMOP, it’s a cordless model that comes with a magnetic charger. Its battery life depends on the amount of vacuuming you’re going to do but it’s safe to say that with continuous use, it can last up to 13 minutes per charge. While the VACMOP may seem like the more mobile model, you might find its short battery life just as limiting as a cord.

Verdict

The BISSELL CrossWave may be more expensive but it’s worth the splurge.

The BISSELL CrossWave is the more expensive vacuum model of the two, costing about double the price of the Shark VACMOP. But you do have to remember that while the VACMOP is cheaper, you have to keep buying disposable cleaning pads for it. That said, we think the BISSELL CrossWave is the better wet/dry vacuum for a number of reasons and is worth splurging on. Not only is it able to vacuum at a much faster pace, but it’s also compatible with both hardwood floors and area rugs. To top things off, its dirt collection process is very clever and is definitely more effective than that of the VACMOP.

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