Bissell Steam Shot Review: We Tested the Viral Steam Cleaner

Jan 19, 2024

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I’ll admit: Cleaning my home is like therapy for me, but there are quite a few areas I’ve never bothered to touch, simply because I don't have the right tools. As a shopping editor, I’ve tested a lot of cleaning products, like The Pink Stuff, the Scrub Daddy Damp Duster and even an electric spin scrubber that made me rethink how I clean my bathroom altogether. But it's the small, often unforgotten areas like faucet rings, grout or cracks and corners around the shower that are no match for my favorite cleaning supplies. That was, however, until I met the Bissell Steam Shot. Seriously, the results will make you question how clean your home really is. Here's my honest Bissell Steam Shot review.

Madi Koetting/Taste of Home

If you’ve heard of the Bissell Little Green Machine, the Bissell Steam Shot is like its cool little sister. A powerful mini power washer and steamer in one, the Bissell Steam Shot targets caked-on gunk like a pro by shooting out 1,000-watts of pressurized steam. That's right, this gadget requires zero chemicals. All it needs is water to get surfaces in near perfect condition.

The Bissell Steam Shot comes with eight nozzle attachments ideal for reaching every single nook and cranny in your home. That area where the toilet seat attaches? You won't believe what's trapped around it. The buttons around the washer and dryer? The Steam Shot loosens up visible and hidden grime for good. All it takes is a swipe of a cleaning cloth to get surfaces looking sparkly and fresh.

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Madi Koetting/Taste of Home

My Bissell Steam Shot arrived quickly and was neatly packaged inside a cardboard box. I already own a Bissell vacuum cleaner and steam mop, so the stakes were high for the Steam Shot. From all the reviews and videos I consumed, it was clear the bathroom and kitchen are hot spots for satisfying steam cleaning, so these areas were first on my cleaning to-do list. Let's get into it!

To get the Bissell Steam Shot up and running, I first removed the water tank nozzle, poured in 6.6 ounces of water with the included measuring cup, plugged it in and let the steamer heat up for about one minute. For the area around the toilet seat, I didn't use any of the fancy attachments because it really wasn't necessary. The original nozzle is exactly what the spot called for to loosen up the crud.

Then, it was time for the fun part! I continuously held down the trigger of the Steam Shot and it took less than 10 seconds to see everything that was trapped in the crevice. I live in an apartment, so this grime could have been stuck on for who knows how long. Despite my best attempts to sanitize the toilet seat during my weekly cleaning schedule, a sponge or towel simply can't reach these cracks as well as the Bissell Steam Shot. The pictures don't quite do it justice—you’ll have to watch the video above to truly experience how satisfying this magical device cleans.

Madi Koetting/Taste of Home

For my Bissell Steam Shot review, I also conducted tests on the grout in my shower and the faucet rings. Again, I live in an apartment and the shower grout probably hasn't received proper cleaning in quite some time—possibly years. So, I wasn't extremely surprised when the Steam Shot didn't clean this area as effectively as it did my toilet and faucet rings. I even tried the nozzle attachments with the little scrubbers on the end, but it was difficult to see a significant difference in appearance.

Regarding the faucet rings, I used the angled nozzle and scrub brush attachment to test the area. The scrub brush attachment performed marvelously, effortlessly loosening up gunk with minimal effort or scrubbing on my part. It did require a few minutes to thoroughly clean, and I had to refill the tank a second time since the steam only lasts about five to 10 minutes when the trigger is continuously held down. Nevertheless, it was completely worthwhile, considering my sink has finally received the proper care and attention it deserves.

Madi Koetting/Taste of Home

In the kitchen, I was particularly interested in cleaning and sanitizing the grout lines connecting the counter to the backsplash and the faucet ring on the sink. Starting with the grout, the steam took approximately 30 seconds to one minute to effectively loosen the random gunk. And let me assure you, the area was completely black before using the Steam Shot. However, after the Steam Shot treatment, it nearly went back to its original white color.

For the faucet ring, I attached the scrub brush nozzle and continuously held down the trigger, carefully moving the device all over the area until the grime began to loosen. Once again, the faucet rings required the most maneuvering. I attribute this to the fact that they haven't been properly cleaned by the previous apartment dwellers. However, after about five minutes of steam cleaning, all that gunk eventually loosened up.

Madi Koetting/Taste of Home

After tending to the kitchen and bathroom, there was one more area that needed attention: the washer and dryer. Apartment appliances can be gross due to multiple owners, so I wasn't prepared for the amount of grime that loosened up. Surprisingly, the area turned spotless after just a few seconds. A quick swipe with a cleaning cloth removed all the muck, leaving my washer and dryer visibly cleaner and sanitized.

Madi Koetting/Taste of Home

Did I mention the device includes an upholstery and fabric steamer attachment? Intrigued by this feature, I put it to the test on my shower curtain, and it quickly eliminated its wrinkles. Additionally, the powerful and pressurized steam did a fantastic job of sanitizing my couch. While there weren't any noticeable visual improvements there, I take comfort in knowing that it received some much-needed TLC.

Boasting 1,000 watts of steam power, the Bissell Steam Shot cleans and sanitizes surfaces without harsh chemicals. It's kind of like a mini power washer slash steamer in one, eliminating 99.9% of germs and bacteria along the way.

The Bissell Steam Shot tank holds 6.6 ounces of water, so it lasts anywhere from five to 15 minutes depending on how long it's continuously shooting out steam.

Yes, for the most part, the Bissell Steam Shot effectively cleans grout. I personally tested it on the grout of my freestanding shower tiles, and it proved a bit challenging to clean. My assumption is that the surface has never received proper care or maintenance, given that it's an apartment. Nonetheless, Amazon shoppers confirm its grout-cleaning capabilities, explaining the steam is powerful enough to loosen up dirt.

Bissell doesn't recommend using descaling agents or chemical cleaners in the Steam Shot. All it takes is water, preferably distilled, to work its magic.

This Bissell Steam Shot boasts an impressive 15,000+ five-star reviews on Amazon. Here's why shoppers rely on this powerful, chemical-free cleaning gadget for every area of the home:

If you can't tell by now, I’m totally impressed with the Bissell Steam Shot. It's gross to think how long I went living with all this gunk trapped inside hard-to-reach areas. Before the Steam Shot, a normal cleaning day consisted of wiping everything down and sanitizing surfaces with chemical disinfectants and the works. Now, my bathroom and kitchen simply don't feel clean unless I whip out the Bissell Steam Shot. Not to mention how much better I feel knowing it requires zero chemicals and it still kills 99.9% of germs and bacteria. I seriously didn't know how dirty my apartment was until I tried this powerful cleaning gadget.

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Say goodbye to chemical cleaners and hello to the natural power of steam! Take this as your sign to sanitize all those hard-to-reach corners you’ve been avoiding. Starting at just $40, you can snag the Bissell Steam Shot from their website, as well as HSN, Amazon and Walmart.

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