Bissell 1867-7 Green Tea Steam Mop Review
Like the Bissell 1867-7 steam mop? What if I said you could get the same one with more accessories for less money? I’m about to show you how but once you read through my review you might decide on a different product entirely.
It’s funny to see how product styles have changed over time. If you look at a page of available steam mops, this one stands out because the design looks a little dated compared to newer options. That’s because it’s been around since 2007 – six years!
Back then it was probably one of a much smaller selection and certainly a leader in the market place but a lot has changed.
The high number of reviews has earned the product a good spot on the best seller list but “best selling” does not always equal best value or best performer and I’ll show you why towards the bottom of this review.
| Table of Contents |
| Click ahead! |
Floor Types & Carpets / Mop Head Type / Water Tank & Steam / Controls / Attachments & Accessories / Cleaning Solution Options / Dimensions / Consumer Reviews & Ratings / Pros / Cons / Price / My Overall Review
The Bissell 1867-7 Green Tea Hard Floor Cleaner is just that – a hard floor cleaner. It emits steam through a pad wrapped around the base and the combination of moist heat and the surface of the pad clean your floors.
Steam is great at lifting even the most difficult grime including scuff marks and grease.
The Bissell 1867-7 does not convert to a hand held steamer and does not vacuum up debris (most stick steam mops don’t but I just wanted to be clear).
Included in your purchase:
- Mop
- Handle
- 2 washable Microfiber mop pads made with Microban
- 1 water filter
- 1 measuring cup
Floor Types
This mop is suitable for a large number of flooring types as long as the floor has been sealed and is not sensitive to heat and moisture:
- Ceramic
- Tile
- Marble
- Stone
- Sealed hard wood floors
It’s also great at freshening up your carpets but you have to do so using a carpet glider which is not included in the box but can be bought separately.
Bissell 1867-7 Steam Mop Head Shape and Size
The mop head is 9 inches wide and rectangular in shape. It swivels 360 degrees which sounds like it would be hard to control but how you push on the handle determines where the mop head travels so it’s similar to those that rotate 180 degrees.
The benefit of the 360 degree swivel is when you have to clean around the base of something round like a toilet. You can go all the way around the base without having to adjust the mop.
It’s got a nice, low height, too, so you shouldn’t have issues reaching under cabinets or furniture with a low edge.
Two washable mop pads are included but I don’t like the way they attach. The pads have a plastic toggle at the back that is used to snugly secure the string threaded through the edge of the pad.
To attach the pad you have to get down low (or flip the mop upside down), pull the sides of the pad up around the base, hold the toggle and pull on the string. To release the pad means doing the opposite which is messy and requires a lot more effort than the kinds of pads that attach with Velcro.
You can see what I mean about the pads in this video at about 3:28 (by the way, the mop is no longer available at that price nor through HSN).
The Bissell 1867-7 steam mop seems to leave more water on the floor than others. This was mentioned numerous times in other online reviews. As a result, you have to change the mop pads more frequently – even during a single mopping session.
Too much water left behind can cause streaks or pools of dirty water to dry in cracks and crevices. You’ll be happier with the results if you have extra pads on hand which you can also buy separately.
Some users have found that pumping the trigger that releases the steam rather than holding it down can cut back on some of the excess water.
Water Tank & Steam
The water tank is attached to the back of the unit and holds 17.5 ounces of water. That’s a good volume and probably a bit above average. You can mop longer without refilling.
The mop heats up in 30 seconds and to sanitize a spot requires 15 seconds of consistent application. You should get 15 minutes of steam from one tank.
The tank is made of clear plastic so you can see when you’re running low and need to refill.
There’s also a filter that comes with the mop and that you need to install. That filter traps some of the minerals in your water to keep them from building up and clogging the steam mop.
However, if you don’t regularly change that filter it will start to make the mop smell bad and that smell will permeate your home when the mop is used so plan on buying extra filters periodically. An indicator light will tell you when it’s time for a new one. This should be considered in any comparisons you make with other models because it means you’ll have additional expense throughout the year.
The mop operates at 1500 watts which is not bad. June 2013 average cost of retail electricity was $.1254 per kilowatt hour which means it costs – on average – about 18 cents to run this mop for an hour.
No Controls but the Trigger Handle
The handle on the Bissell Hard Floor Cleaner is thick plastic which is comfortable to grip and the mop is easy to control. You don’t have to push hard to move it across the floor.
What I don’t like is the trigger approach. Mine has one, too, and it hurts to use after awhile because my hand cramps up. The trigger has to be pulled in order for steam to be disbursed from the mop head.
Another dislike about the handle is that part of it is metal and that heats up during use to the point of it being extremely hot. You do not want to accidentally touch that part. In my opinion, that’s a safety issue for anyone with young children who like to pitch in with the household chores.
There’s no on/off switch so when the mop is plugged in it will be heating up. An indicator light on the front of the unit turns red when the mop is ready to be used.
There are no other buttons or controls.
Extra Attachments
There are four accessories and attachments you can buy for the Bissell 1867-7 Green Tea steam mop:
- Carpet glider that lets you run the mop over your carpets and deodorize them (you can’t do this without the glider)
- Bottles of Bissell’s own demineralized, Eucalyptus-mint scented water for use in the mop
- Replacement filters cost around $20 (a necessity at various points during the life of the mop)
- Replacement mop pads
Cleaning Solutions
Steam is sufficient for both cleaning and sanitizing your floors. You shouldn’t use any chemicals in this steam mop as they could harm performance and cause interior parts to break down.
The only thing I haven’t been able to get off my floor with just steam was a hard water spot that had built up over years below the water tap on my refrigerator door.
Going without chemicals when cleaning can be much healthier and is sometimes the only option for those who are sensitive to the smell or have allergies triggered by cleaning products.
Bissell 1867-7 Green Tea Steam Mop Dimensions and Storage
Height: 45 ¼ inches
Width: 9 inches (at the mop head)
Depth: 6 inches
Weight: Between 6-7 pounds
Power cord: 18 feet long
It’s easy to gloss right over the dimensions of a steam mop but they can play a factor in your decision about one model over another.
The biggest differences to consider when looking at size are the weight and the size of the mop head. If you have mobility issues then a heavier mop can be more difficult for you to push around the floor and lighter is best. The Bissell is an average weight for a stick steam mop with no attachments.
The mop head size is one factor that drives how long it will take you to finish mopping. A larger mop size covers more area in a single sweep. I’m not sure 2-3 inches is going to make a huge difference but it’s something to think about if you have a lot of square footage to cover.
This steam mop stands upright on its own but has no cooling pad on which to sit while it’s heating or cooling. You will have to move it off your floor and onto something that can withstand the heat. Leaving it sitting in one place too long while it is still hot could damage your floors.
One very handy feature is the extra handle on the front that you can use to carry the mop. I do hate that mine doesn’t have one. I have to hold it up high by the top of the handle to move it to the storage closet and it’s uncomfortable to do so. I really wish they had wheels!
The cord can be manually wound around two hooks on the side of the machine.
Pros
- Relatively quiet
- Easy to push
- Good tank size
Cons
- Several people mentioned theirs only lasted a year – not just one person
- No cooling pad
- No variable steam control
- Leaves more water on the floor than other models
- Water filter requires periodic replacement meaning additional maintenance costs
- Awkward pad attachment process
- Length of electrical cord
Bissell 1867-7 Price
Originally, I thought the price on the Bissell Green Tea steam mop was pretty reasonable, all things considered, until I found a listing for the Bissell Deluxe 3in1 mop. It looks almost identical and costs less (at least through that link I just gave you).
I’ve compared the two listings and read the manuals for both. Turns out they are the same mop (same looks, design, body, manufacturer and features) but with some very valuable differences.
The Bissell 3in1:
- Comes with the carpet glider
- Comes with a bottle of the mint-scented water
- The mop head is 10.25 inches wide instead of 9 inches
- The power cord is 2 feet longer (20 vs 18)
Those additional accessories alone are worth about $30, the extra length in the power cord is always helpful and you can get all of that for almost the same price (sometimes LESS!) than the Bissell 1867-7.
If you like this mop and thinks it suits your needs, go for the 3in1 instead when the price is the same (or close) and you’ll get more for your money.
Consumer Reviews and Ratings
I’ve read hundreds of reviews from other consumers and there are a few general issues that came up repeatedly.
There were several mentions about the mop not holding up for a long time. I have no idea how long a mop should last but I’d like to see several years of use before I have to replace one.
The amount of water left behind was bothersome to quite a number of consumers. They either had to live with streaks or wipe up after the mop to get the floors dry. The best steam mops will clean and absorb water as they work so that you don’t have to go through this.
Bissell’s own site was the most telling, though. The three most recent reviews added by consumers were all negative. I did find it impressive that a customer service rep did answer each of those comments, though, with some additional information in an effort to help the consumer.
They get good marks for responsiveness but it would be much better if there weren’t any such complaints to deal with.
My Overall Review
Whenever I do a product review, I always try to focus on the distinguishing factors that make one product better for some group of consumers over a competing product. In the case of the Bissell 1867-7 steam mop the smaller mop head might be a good choice if you live in very cramped quarters and need something you can maneuver around the base of a toilet in a small bathroom.
You might find the Sienna Vibe a better buy, though, or – at the very least – look at Bissell’s 3in1 to get the extra accessories.