Steam alone does the work in the Bissell PowerFresh Platinum Steam Mop, killing 99.9% of germs and bacteria without harsh chemicals. It produces steam quickly and ships with a comprehensive accessory kit. The complaints: it's heavy over a long session, and the manual skimps on instructions. Households that want chemical-free cleaning will be pleased; anyone who wants something lighter and more ergonomic won't.
Full review
Steam hot enough to claim 99.9% of germs
The PowerFresh Platinum's pitch is sanitising without chemicals, and the 99.9% germ and bacteria figure is Bissell's own claim rather than an independent measurement. What the reviews do establish is that the steam is strong enough to matter: Bob Vila's testing cut through pasta sauce and dried apple juice on hardwood in a few passes. On the higher steam setting it removes baked-on mess without needing a scrubbing brush first.
A low swivel head that reaches under things
The head is low-profile and swivels, and Bob Vila singles out how easily it goes around a toilet base and under cabinet overhangs — the two places a steam mop usually gives up. Combined with a long cord, it means most of a floor gets cleaned from one socket without lifting furniture.
An onboard tool kit that stays with the mop
A round brush, grout brush, scraper and nozzle clip onto the body rather than living in a drawer, and steaming pauses while a head is swapped. Two pad types are supplied, a standard microfibre and a textured scrubby, and scent discs drop into the head for those who want the smell. The pad change is not hands-free, so a dirty pad has to be handled.
Heavy enough to notice on a long clean
This is the recurring complaint. The unit is manageable pushing across a floor and becomes a chore carried up and down stairs or held at an angle for extended periods. Households with one floor of hard surfaces will not care; anyone cleaning three storeys will. It also cannot be detached and used as a standalone handheld steamer, which several comparable machines allow, so its attachments only work on the end of the mop body.
A manual that leaves owners guessing
The manual lets the product down: it does not cover where the mop can safely be used, how to maintain it, or what to do when something goes wrong. For an appliance that pushes hot steam onto expensive flooring, that is the wrong corner to cut, and it pushes owners to the support site for basic answers such as filling with room-temperature water only.
No filter for hard water
There is no built-in filtration, so in a hard-water area mineral deposits accumulate inside the unit over time and the answer is distilled water or periodic descaling. The tank is easy to fill through a wide opening and a measuring cup is supplied, and the machine stores on a wall-mounted stand rather than leaning in a cupboard. Warranty coverage runs two years, which is ordinary for the category.
Strengths
- +Effective steam cleaning that eliminates 99.9% of germs and bacteria
- +Rapid time to steam with 1500 watts power
- +On-board tool kit with multiple cleaning accessories
- +Suitable for hardwood, tiles, and laminate floors
Watch-outs
- −Heavy to use for extended cleaning sessions
- −Basic manual with insufficient instructions
How it compares
The Platinum model surpasses the Deluxe 1800A in steam power and germ elimination but is significantly heavier, making it less suitable for extended cleaning sessions. Unlike the Slim 1940A, it lacks the compact design for tight spaces, and while it includes an onboard toolkit, it doesn't offer the hands-free pad changing feature that the Shark Pocket Mop S5003D provides.
Rating sources
Our 4.5 score is the average of these published ratings. More about methodology.
