Bissell CrossWave HydroScrub Pro Review: Cordless Wet Dry Vacuum

Bissell is best known for its stain removers and carpet-washing machines, but the American company, founded in 1876 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, effectively invented the mechanical carpet sweeper before becoming one of the global reference points in floor care. With more than 145 years in domestic cleaning behind it, its main battleground today is the CrossWave range, a 3-in-1 concept that vacuums, washes and wrings out in a single pass. The CrossWave HydroScrub Pro, launched at the start of 2026, is the latest iteration of that idea.

It promises a great deal: a new bidirectional scrubbing technology, FurFinder lighting to hunt down pet hair, an anti-tangle design that stops hair jamming the roller, and a stated runtime of up to 45 minutes.

On paper the machine is consistent with what the competition offers in this segment. It runs on a 25.9 V lithium-ion battery, has a 26.7 cm cleaning path, carries a 620 ml clean water tank and a 450 ml dirty water tank, and is covered by a two-year warranty.

One detail is worth flagging, because product listings can make it confusing: the battery is built into the machine and is not described as hot-swappable. It is the two water tanks that are removable, not the power source.

The unboxing sets the tone. The carton is tidy and well organised, and every accessory sits in protective foam that prevents knocks in transit. Nothing in the box feels cheap; this is clearly a product designed to hit a certain level of finish.

Inside are the machine itself, the storage and charging dock, two FreshStart filters, two ZeroGap multi-surface brush rollers, two 236 ml bottles of Natural Multi-Surface cleaning solution, a sample of FreshStart solution for the self-cleaning cycle, an illustrated user guide and the safety instructions.

Assembly takes less than five minutes and needs no tools. The handle clips onto the body of the machine and the brush roller drops into its housing.

The charging dock sits flat on the floor. It has slots for storing the accessories and a tray that also holds the brush roller during the self-cleaning cycle.

Before the first use you need a full charge, which takes roughly four and a half hours. That is a long wait, but it is in line with most cordless wet and dry cleaners in this class. Once the machine is charged, the front indicator turns green.

Filling the clean water tank takes seconds. The tank releases with a clip, the cleaning solution is measured against printed graduations, and the whole assembly clicks back into place. The 620 ml capacity is enough to cover somewhere between 50 and 70 m² of floor, depending on the type of mess involved.

Visually the HydroScrub Pro follows the established Bissell look: a matte black body with midnight blue accents and a few gold trim lines on the cleaning head.

The machine weighs 4.8 kg. That is reasonable for the segment, and it feels lighter in the hand than the figure suggests, because Bissell has paid attention to weight distribution and placed the motor and battery low down, close to the floor. Over a prolonged session the wrist does not tire too badly, at least for the first few tens of minutes.

The handle is ergonomic and wrapped in a slightly rubberised coating that stops the hand slipping, even after ten minutes of energetic cleaning. Three buttons fall under the thumb: power, cleaning mode selection and Turbo. A trigger at the back of the handle controls water delivery and the Scrub mode.

Manoeuvrability is where things come unstuck. The CrossWave HydroScrub Pro has no driven wheels, so it has to be pushed and pulled by hand like a conventional mop. On large, open floors that is fine. As soon as you have to weave between chair legs or work around a piece of furniture, the weight and rigidity of the system make themselves felt. It is not unpleasant to use, but it is clearly less agile than rival models with motorised assistance.

There is a second ergonomic limitation: the machine does not lie flat on the floor. The head tilts, but not far enough to slide under a low sofa or a bed. Those areas need a different tool, or moving the furniture, which is a shame because that is exactly where dust gathers.

The front display is a real success. It shows the active mode and the remaining battery level in real time, and it flags problems: an empty clean water tank, a full dirty water tank, a blocked brush, an obstruction in the duct. There is no guesswork when the machine stops behaving as expected.

The FurFinder lighting is present and effective. This unusually bright front LED throws a beam that genuinely reveals fine dust, hair and crumbs that are invisible to the naked eye in ambient light. Bissell claims it detects "9 times more pet hair" than the competition, a marketing figure that cannot be verified here, but the visual effect on dark flooring is genuinely striking.

This is where the machine is won or lost. On dry debris, honesty is required: pick-up is not its strong point, and dry suction lags behind at around 50% in a single pass on hard flooring.

Washing is where the HydroScrub Pro really excels, and it is the main reason to buy one. The HydroScrub technology moves the brush roller backwards and forwards in a scrubbing motion rather than simply rotating it. That bidirectional movement increases the mechanical agitation applied to the floor, and it shows from the very first pass.

On fresh spills, such as spilt coffee, orange juice or damp paw prints, the machine is formidable. One pass is usually enough to make the mess disappear. The roller genuinely scrubs, and the combination of brushing and suction leaves behind a clean, slightly damp floor that dries within minutes.

Dried, ingrained stains are more nuanced. The HydroScrub Pro gets the better of most of them, but it often takes two or three passes, sometimes with Scrub mode engaged through the trigger to raise the agitation. It is not magic.

On thin rugs, such as bedside rugs and kitchen mats, it works, but without working miracles. It freshens them, lifts surface debris and lightly dampens the fibres. Deep cleaning of thick rugs or fitted carpet is not its territory. Very thin or floppy rugs need care as well, because they tend to be sucked up into the head.

Wood flooring produces excellent results. The floor stays damp only for a few minutes, with the roller laying down just enough water to lift the dirt without flooding the surface. Textured bathroom tiling behaves the same way, and the grout looks properly clean after two passes.

Noise is a weak point. Measured levels ran from 68 to 72 dB in normal operation, rising to 75 dB during the self-cleaning cycle on the dock.

Real-world runtime came out at an average of 30 to 35 minutes per full charge.

The HydroScrub Pro does not connect to a mobile app at all, and that is an intentional decision. The whole interface lives on the front display and the buttons on the handle. For this type of cleaning appliance the choice is defensible: nobody really needs to drive a wet and dry cleaner from a phone, and leaving the app out avoids connectivity problems, failed updates and yet another account to create.

The built-in screen still handles all of the useful information: estimated remaining battery as a percentage, the active mode, and alerts for a blocked brush roller, an empty clean water tank or a full dirty water tank. The clear icon system makes it easy to understand what is happening at a glance.

Here is the concept's other Achilles heel. Like every wet and dry cleaner, the HydroScrub Pro needs regular maintenance after each use. That is not a Bissell-specific flaw; it is inherent to the product category. Skip the cleaning and you will quickly have unpleasant smells and a brush roller soaked in dirty water.

The post-use routine takes about five to seven minutes. First the dirty water tank has to be emptied into a toilet or a sink, and that is a frankly unpleasant moment. Dirty water is exactly what the name says: hair, debris and liquid residue combine into something nobody wants to look at. The tank is at least designed to open and rinse easily.

The self-cleaning cycle is then started by placing the machine on the dock, pouring in a little FreshStart solution and pressing the dedicated button. The cycle lasts a few minutes, during which the machine rinses the brush roller and the internal circuit. It is effective, but loud, with measurements of up to 75 dB during this phase.

The most irritating point is that the dock does not dry the brush. After the self-cleaning cycle, the roller stays damp for several hours. Left in place, it can develop a musty smell between uses. The workaround is to remove the roller and let it air dry, or to leave the machine somewhere well ventilated.

The HEPA filters are rinsed under clean water every fortnight with regular use. They are supplied in pairs, so one can be fitted while the other dries. The brush roller is guaranteed for several months but is a consumable, so it will eventually need replacing.

The CrossWave HydroScrub Pro belongs at the premium-featured end of the cordless wet and dry category: a floor washer that also vacuums, built around bidirectional scrubbing, FurFinder lighting, dual HEPA filtration and an information display rather than around raw dry pick-up. Judge it on that basis and it makes sense; treat it as a straight replacement for a cordless vacuum cleaner and it will disappoint.

Competition in this category is fierce. The Roborock F25 ACE Pro answers with stronger dry suction and a 95°C self-cleaning function that also dries the roller, which makes it the most relevant rival if dry pick-up matters to you.

The Dreame H12 Pro is the simpler machine, with a measured runtime of 37 minutes and solid general performance. It does not have the Bissell's finish quality or its bidirectional scrubbing, but it does the job properly, which makes it a reasonable way into the category for a household that wants to try the concept first.

Within Bissell's own range, the CrossWave HydroSteam Pet Pro remains relevant for anyone who wants the steam function and can live with a mains cable. It delivers constant suction power thanks to its corded supply and adds HydroSteam steam cleaning, which is useful for shifting sticky stains. The trade-off is clear: you lose the freedom of movement that cordless brings.