Bissell Crosswave vs Pet Pro: A Detailed Shootout Comparison

Bissell Crosswave vs Pet Pro: Bissell is a renowned name in the realm of home cleaning solutions, and great for us that they have these two great options: the Crosswave and the Pet Pro. With these two in the market, maintaining pristine floors is easier than ever.

But it’s also a dilemma. While both Bissell models excel in their own right, each offers unique advantages tailored to different cleaning needs. Which one to pick though?

A Bit of A Back Story

When the Bissell Crosswave vacuum cleaner came out, I thought to myself: there is no way they can beat this! A vacuum cleaner that vacuums and mops simultaneously will be hard to top.

Fast-forward to a couple of months later, and the Bissell Crosswave Pet Pro is staring at me in the face.

According to Bissell, this model of the Crosswave series is supposed to be more effective in picking up pet hair, and it will leave your floor cleaner than its elder sibling.

I am a curious person, and I like to clean, so, naturally, I was interested in trying out the Bissell Crosswave Pet Pro. And I did!

No doubt, you are itching to know how the Bissell Crosswave Pet Pro performed. Patience, my friends…

In this post, I discuss how Bissell CrossWave and Bissell Pet Pro compare, their differences, and which one I recommend.

Ready? Good. Then let’s begin.

TL:DR: Bissell Crosswave vs Pet Pro

Specs	Crossware	Pet Pro
Dimensions	Width: 12 inches / Depth: 10.5 inches / Height: 46 inches	Width: 12 inches / Depth: 10.5 inches / Height: 46 inches
Weight	11 lbs	11 lbs
Cord length	25 ft	25 ft
Cord storage	Wrap up	Wrap up
Floor compatibility	Hard floors (sealed hardwood and laminate, linoleum, tile) and area rugs	Hard floors (sealed hardwood and laminate, linoleum, tile) and area rugs
Tank capacity	28 oz clean water tank and 14.5 oz dirty water tank	28 oz clean water tank and 14.5 oz dirty water tank
Pet hair strainer	No	Yes
Suction power	100-150 AW	100-150 AW
Brush roll spin speed	3000 rpm	3000 rpm
Warranty	2-year	3-year

In-Depth Comparison

Cleaning Power

Bissell Crosswave and Bissell Crosswave Pet Pro suck out dirt AND wash surfaces at the same time. So, I will talk about their suction and agitation power. These factors are essential during cleaning since these units can also clean carpets (although the cleaning power will not be the same).

Crosswave and Pet Pro have a suction power of 100-150 AW, which should be enough to pick up even the hard-to-pick dirt. But a far more important thing is the fact that their brush rolls rotate freakin’ 3,000 times each minute! (That’s what RPM means.) With this power coupled with speed, they hardly miss a spot.

Additionally, they do well with hardwood floors and carpets with lower pile height.

(Although you should always keep in mind that they were primarily designed for hard floors!)

They both pull 4.4 amps of power when running, so in terms of energy, they are efficient for your daily or weekly cleaning tasks. 

Verdict: Both models match each other majorly for cleaning power. However, the Pet Pro edges it (if you’ve pets) because of its pet brush roll design. The Crosswave brush quickly gets hair tangled in it, and too much hair can compromise the suction. 

There’s strength in numbers too. Pet Pro has doubled up on brush power, with two brushes instead of just one that its predecessor has.

Water Tank

As with all vacuum cleaners, you want a cleaner with tanks that are easy to fill, empty, and big enough to hold enough water to last for each cleaning session. It is not fun to run out of water halfway through cleaning a room. 

Each of these units consists of a carpet cleaner, vacuum, and mop. They offer both wet and dry cleaning, and switching between the two is easy. A single push of a button allows you to start sweeping or vacuuming almost immediately.

Which tank holds more water? No winner here.

There are two tanks on both models. You can add clean water and the cleaning solution in one tank, while the other tank stores the dirty water. As a result, your carpets and other surfaces will only come into contact with clean water.

Their clean water tanks hold 28 ounces, while their dirty water tanks hold 14.5 ounces. Due to their size, a full tank can only cover about 700 sq ft. If you plan to use them over a larger area, you must refill them. 

The Crosswave and Pet Pro vacuums come with a washable filter that gathers the sucked-up dirt and debris. Despite not being HEPA, the filter can still trap allergens well. Before putting it back together, wash it frequently and let it dry. 

Pet Pro has a nifty-looking hair strainer that sieves debris from the water flowing to the dirty water tank. When you pull out the sifter, you’ll remove all hair and larger debris from the tank so you don’t accidentally dump them into the sink. As a bonus, you don’t have to touch the gross, dirty water with your fingers.

Unfortunately, these cleaners lack an in-built heating technology for mopping, so you’ll have to heat the water yourself before pouring it into the mopping tanks. I find this inefficient and inconvenient because the water can lose its temperature before you finish cleaning.

On the other hand, I’m not really sure how safe it would be to mix up warm water with Bissell’s cleaning solution! So let’s not be too harsh here.

Verdict: Both models are identical in water tank capacity, but I give the Pet Pro an edge since it has a hair strainer that separates hair, hairballs, and debris from the dirty water before emptying it. That saves you a LOT of hassle.

Cord Length

Get ready for another tie in this category because the cord lengths are identical. 

These vacuums have impressive reach. Since the cord measures 25 feet, you won’t have to disconnect it every time you switch rooms so that you can clean multiple rooms without interruption. 

However, the cords are not retractable, so you should expect that it will be challenging to maneuver.

Verdict: We’re calling it a draw here.

User-Friendliness

Assembling these units is pretty straightforward. Once the different components have been fitted, the cleaning process can begin.

Moreover, both Crosswave models operate smoothly. It is easy to reach the controls since they are located on the handle. 

You can choose the level of cleaning power for rugs and hardwood floors using the “Area rug” and “Hard floor” buttons. If you press the Rug button, the unit will dispense more soap, whereas pressing the Hard floor button will use less soap. 

Besides these, a trigger located under the handle is responsible for controlling the release of the cleaning solution. When cleaning rugs or tough spills, you only have to press the trigger, releasing more cleaning liquid.

Verdict: The Bissell Crosswave and Pet Pro cancel each other out in this section.

Design

With a weight of just 11 pounds, a height of 46 inches, and a width of fewer than 11 inches, these are compact enough to fit in a corner or closet. Additionally, they include a tray that you can place under the unit. As a result, the floor will remain safe from being damaged by persistent storage. 

Before storing the brush roll, I suggest removing it and placing it in the brush roll holder. They are self-standing devices, so there is no need to lean them against anything.

Verdict: Both models are compact and portable. 

Warranty

The Pet Pro comes with a 3-year warranty. On the other hand, the Crosswave comes with only a 2-year warranty. 

Verdict: Bissell is a reputable company, so any years of warranty is excellent. But it doesn’t hurt to have an extra year. Hence, Pet Pro comes up tops here.

Conclusion: Who’s the Winner?

These two vacuum cleaners are almost identical in how they work, their designs, and their capabilities. 

However, the Pet Pro has valuable features like the hair strainer that removes hair and debris while sucking up water. Plus, the pet brush roll prevents pet hair from getting tangled while you clean. The Pet Pro also has a more extended warranty than the Crosswave. 

So, if you have pets, the Pet Pro is an excellent choice for you because it does deliver on the promise. It helps you clean more effectively and reduces pet hair from getting stuck on the brushes. 

But even if you don’t have pets, chances are that at least one family member has long hair that tends to fall out and get stuck EVERYWHERE, from your floors and rugs to your kitchen sink. (Too bad that Pet Pro won’t help you out with the latter, though.)

If you already have Crosswave though, there is no need to upgrade. And if you do not have pets, Crosswave is almost just as effective. However, it never hurts to purchase a new model if you are just thinking of buying. Note that it’s a bit tougher on the wallet too!

Frequently Asked Questions

How are the Bissell Crosswave and Crosswave Pet Pro different?

These products don’t differ much in design, both visually and in engineering. There is only one difference between the two versions: the Pet Pro version has a unique hair strainer for collecting pet hair.

Is the Bissell Crosswave Pet Pro safe for hardwood floors?

Both Pet Pro and its predecessor, the classic Crosswave, are ideal for hardwood and other hard surfaces like laminate, linoleum, vinyl,  pressed wood floors, and area rugs. In fact, Pet Pro is one of the best tile floor cleaners. You can also use them on carpets, but don’t expect nearly as much efficiency.

If I already have a CrossWave, do I need to upgrade to Pet Pro?

No, if you already have Crosswave, you don’t have to upgrade to the Pet Pro. Crosswave and Pet Pro have similar designs and capabilities except for the hair strainer that only the Pet Pro has. The only thing that could make a world of difference is if you have multiple pets.

Is the Bissell CrossWave a steam mop?

The Bissell Crosswave is a roller mop, not a steam mop. You choose between a rug or a hard floor when you turn it on. The mop works by pressing the button on the handle, which dispenses water and cleans.