What Solution Goes in a Bissell CrossWave?

On this page (9 sections)

1. Which Bissell CrossWave cleaning solution should you buy?
2. Who should choose Bissell Multi-Surface Solution?
3. When should you buy CrossWave Cleanout Formula?
4. Does the CrossWave Edge Cordless Plus help with this choice?
5. How do you measure and add CrossWave formula?
6. Can you use dish soap, vinegar, or another floor cleaner?
7. Which mistakes cause avoidable floor cleaning problems?
8. How should you care for the CrossWave after cleaning?
9. Which Bissell CrossWave cleaning solution fits your routine?

Use a Bissell CrossWave cleaning solution approved for your model, such as Bissell Multi-Surface Solution, for routine floor washing. CrossWave Cleanout Formula serves a different job: cleaning inside the machine.

Choose by task, machine compatibility, and floor type, in that order. A pleasant scent or a familiar floor cleaner isn't enough reason to put a formula in the tank.

You don't need a new machine to change your cleaning routine. Start with the CrossWave you have, its instructions, and the care requirements for your floors.

Which Bissell CrossWave cleaning solution should you buy?

Choose Multi-Surface Solution for washing suitable floors and CrossWave Cleanout Formula for machine care. These bottles solve different problems, so neither replaces the other.

Before buying, check the model number on your machine and find its formula instructions. CrossWave is a product family, so don't copy a dose or cleanout routine from a different model.

Then check the surfaces you plan to clean. Approval for a formula doesn't mean every floor or rug in your home can tolerate wet cleaning.

For a step-by-step walkthrough, see how to use a Bissell CrossWave. If you're comparing machine types, our guide to wet-dry vacuum mops explains how these floor cleaners work.

Who should choose Bissell Multi-Surface Solution?

Bissell Multi-Surface Solution suits routine cleaning across sealed hard floors and suitable area rugs. It's the floor washing option here for CrossWave owners whose model instructions allow it.

The 64 oz bottle has a spring breeze scent. Bissell says the formula dissolves dirt, grime, and tough sticky messes and is safe around kids and pets when used as directed.

It makes sense for a home where kitchen spills, tracked-in dirt, and everyday grime are the main jobs. One compatible formula can simplify refills when you move between approved surfaces.

Skip this option if you need a fragrance-free cleaner, since it has an added scent. Also skip it for surfaces whose care instructions prohibit wet machine cleaning, even if the same bottle suits another floor in your home.

For area rugs, check the rug's care label before filling the machine. Don't assume approval for area rugs includes every fiber, backing, or full-room carpet.

Wood floors need a separate surface check, especially where the finish is worn. Our guide to wet-dry vacuums on hardwood floors explains how floor condition affects the choice.

When should you buy CrossWave Cleanout Formula?

Choose CrossWave Cleanout Formula for the machine's interior, following your model's cleanout directions. It's an upkeep product, not the bottle to choose for routine floor washing.

This citrus formula comes in a 60 oz bottle containing 30 uses. Bissell designed it to clean inside the CrossWave and help prevent odor-causing residue.

It suits owners building a regular machine care routine, especially when damp debris and dirty water are left after a cleaning session. Check your model's procedure before deciding when and how to use it.

Skip it if your only shopping task is finding floor detergent. You'll still need a floor washing formula approved for your machine.

If a smell keeps returning, inspect the dirty tank, brush roll, and other user-serviceable parts for trapped debris. Adding cleanout formula won't remove hair wrapped around a part you need to clean separately.

Does the CrossWave Edge Cordless Plus help with this choice?

The CrossWave Edge Cordless Plus is relevant if you also need a floor washer, but it isn't a cleaning solution. Existing CrossWave owners should choose formula for their current model before considering a replacement.

This machine combines cordless vacuuming and mopping on multiple hard surfaces and can refresh suitable area rugs. Its ZeroGap Technology targets cleaning along walls and baseboards on the right side of the brush roll.

It suits buyers who want to collect wet and dry messes in one pass and prefer cordless movement between rooms. Bissell's Tangle-Free Technology reduces hair on the brush roll, which is useful for homes dealing with pet hair.

Skip it if your current machine meets your needs or you only need replacement formula. Also weigh the cleanup routine before buying, since self-cleaning mode still leaves care steps for the user.

For a broader overview of machine options, see cordless wet-dry floor cleaners. Our vacuum mop combo guide can help if you're choosing a machine for the first time.

How do you measure and add CrossWave formula?

Use your model's tank markings and mixing directions, with the formula instructions alongside them. There isn't one dose you should apply to every CrossWave.

Measuring Bissell CrossWave cleaning solution

Measure for the fill level you're actually using. If your model provides different amounts for small and large cleaning jobs, match the formula dose to the chosen water level.

1. Shut down the machine as directed before removing the clean water tank.
2. Identify the correct tank and the fill markings for your cleaning task.
3. Add water and formula in the order and amounts specified.
4. Use the water temperature your manual permits.
5. Close the tank securely and seat it correctly before starting.

Don't work out a tank dose from bottle size or from another cleaner's cap. A larger bottle tells you how much you're buying, not how strong each refill should be.

Fill on a stable surface where you can see the marks clearly. Wipe away any spills so a slippery patch doesn't become the first thing you step onto.

If instructions seem to conflict, confirm the correct formula and directions with Bissell before using the machine. Guessing a stronger mix isn't a useful shortcut.

Can you use dish soap, vinegar, or another floor cleaner?

Use an alternative only when your model's instructions explicitly allow it. A cleaner can be suitable for a floor yet unsuitable for the machine that applies and collects it.

Dish soap can create excess foam in a floor washer. Reducing the amount doesn't turn it into an approved machine formula.

Leave out laundry detergent, vinegar, bleach, essential oils, and homemade mixtures unless your manual permits them. Don't combine cleaners to change their strength or scent.

Another brand's floor washer formula also needs a compatibility check. Our guide to Tineco floor cleaning solution covers that brand's requirements.

If you've already added an unapproved cleaner, stop and check the manual's draining and rinsing directions. Don't add another chemical to counteract it or keep cleaning to use up the tank.

Which mistakes cause avoidable floor cleaning problems?

Avoid overdosing, over-wetting, and using the wrong formula for the task. When results disappoint, check the setup and machine condition before adding more cleaner.

• Extra formula for sticky dirt: A stronger mixture can leave residue. Keep the correct dilution and make another pass only as the machine and surface directions allow.
• Repeated wet passes over one spot: More moisture isn't always better. Follow the machine's liquid pickup method and avoid leaving puddles near seams or wood edges.
• Cleanout formula in a floor washing fill: Keep machine care and floor washing bottles clearly separated.
• Cleaning every surface the same way: Check rugs, wood, and moisture-sensitive flooring before moving into a new room.
• Ignoring loose obstacles: Pick up cords, small objects, and debris the machine shouldn't collect before starting.

For a sticky patch, allow the approved cleaning method to do its job rather than soaking the spot. A floor washer doesn't make a moisture-sensitive surface safe to saturate.

If streaks appear, check the measured dose, brush roll condition, and dirty tank. Changing several things at once makes it harder to identify the cause.

How should you care for the CrossWave after cleaning?

Empty dirty water and clean the parts your manual identifies after a session. Leaving damp dirt inside the machine can undermine an otherwise careful cleaning routine.

Run the cleanout or self-cleaning procedure where your model provides one. Then complete any separate steps for the tank, brush roll, filter, and tray.

Remove trapped hair and debris from user-accessible parts as directed. Rinse only parts approved for rinsing, and never immerse the machine body or electrical components.

Let washable parts dry according to the instructions before reassembly or storage. A cleanout cycle doesn't replace those drying steps.

Keep formula bottles capped, upright, and away from children and pets. Bissell's use-as-directed safety statement doesn't mean a bottle should be left within reach.

For the full order of setup and care tasks, follow our Bissell CrossWave use guide.

Which Bissell CrossWave cleaning solution fits your routine?

Buy Multi-Surface Solution if you need to wash approved floors, and add Cleanout Formula if your model's care routine calls for it. If fragrance is a concern, choose a model-approved alternative that meets that need.

Keep your current machine if it handles your rooms well. Consider the Edge Cordless Plus only when cordless movement, combined vacuuming and mopping, and its right-side edge cleaning fit a separate machine need.

Before ordering Bissell CrossWave cleaning solution, confirm the model, surface, and task. If you're still choosing a floor washer, Bissell CrossWave vs Tineco Floor ONE is the next useful comparison.

Frequently asked questions

What solution goes in a Bissell CrossWave?

Use a floor cleaning formula approved for your CrossWave model. Bissell Multi-Surface Solution is intended for CrossWave use when used as directed, but you should still match it to your machine and floor.

Follow the tank markings and formula directions rather than using a general dose.

Can I use dish soap in a Bissell CrossWave?

Don't use dish soap unless your CrossWave manual explicitly permits it. Dish soap can create excess foam in a floor washer, and using less doesn't establish compatibility.

Choose an approved machine formula, measure it correctly, and avoid mixing it with other household cleaners or homemade solutions.

Can I use Bissell CrossWave solution on hardwood floors?

Bissell Multi-Surface Solution is intended for sealed hard floors, but your wood floor must also be suitable for the machine's wet cleaning method. Check the floor maker's care guidance and your CrossWave manual.

Avoid using a wet floor washer on wood with damaged seals, exposed edges, or moisture restrictions.

Is CrossWave Cleanout Formula the same as floor cleaning solution?

No. CrossWave Cleanout Formula cleans inside the machine and helps prevent odor-causing residue, while Multi-Surface Solution is for floor washing.

Keep the bottles separate by task, and follow your model's cleanout instructions.

A cleanout cycle also doesn't replace emptying, rinsing, or drying the removable parts that need care.