Compare the option of buying the Black & Decker 2 in 1 steam mop to buying one of their other models and the hand held steamer separately.
This question arose while doing a review on the 2 in 1. I noticed that the hand held had more attachments if you bought it by itself. I had to wonder if it was a better deal to buy one of their other mops that doesn’t include the hand held and then buy the portable cleaner by itself to get those extra attachments. All of their mops have three different settings for wood, tile and stone – the only difference is in the controls used to select the settings.
Interestingly, there are enough differences in the various mop styles in the Black & Decker line up that it wasn’t as simple as I thought. There are some trade offs to each option either in terms of features or in the price. While the other models have a larger water tank reservoir and so should produce steam for a longer period of time, you might lose some length in the power cord or a button that shoots an extra shot of steam at tough stains on your floor.
The following table outlines each possible buying combination for getting both a Black and Decker steam mop AND their hand held steamer. The first option column is the 2 in 1 where the hand held is attached to the mop. The other columns describe the pros and cons of buying one of Black & Decker’s other mops plus the separate hand held in comparison to buying just the 2 in 1 model.
Maybe if, like me, you were puzzled by the choices this will help you decide between them.
| Buying Options |  2 in 1 BDH1850SM Steam Mop with Built in Hand Held Steam Cleaner |   SmartSelect Technology SM1620-CA Steam Mop + Hand Held BDH1800SM Steam Cleaner |  SmartSelect BDH1720SM Steam Mop + Hand Held BDH1800SM Steam Cleaner |  SmartSelect with Handle Command BDH1760SM Steam Mop+ Hand Held BDH1800SM Steam Cleaner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpet Glider | Yes | No | No | No |
| # of Mop Pads | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Mop Weight | 6.4 pounds | 3.8 pounds | 5.2 pounds | 5.5 pounds |
| # of Hand Held Attachments | 4 | 7 | 7 | 8 |
| List of Hand Held Attachments | Variable steam nozzle Grout brush Detail brush Squeegee | Lift & Reach triangle head Variable steam nozzle Grout brush Detail brush Squeegee Large scrub brush Scrub squeegee brush | Lift & Reach triangle head Variable steam nozzle Grout brush Detail brush Squeegee Large scrub brush Scrub squeegee brush | 2 Lift & Reach triangle heads Variable steam nozzle Grout brush Detail brush Squeegee Large scrub brush Scrub squeegee brush |
| Pros | 3 extra hand held attachments including a triangle mop head that works with the mop AND the hand held Mop is lighter because the hand held is not attached Gain an extra 6.9 ounces of water tank capacity in the mop for longer run time between refills Get 1 extra mop pad | 3 extra hand held attachments including a triangle mop head that works with the mop AND the hand held Mop is lighter because the hand held is not attached Gain an extra 5.5 ounces of water tank capacity in the mop for longer run time between refills | 4 extra hand held attachments including a triangle mop head that works with the mop AND the hand held Mop is lighter because the hand held is not attached Gain an extra 5.5 ounces of water tank capacity in the mop for longer run time between refills |
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| Cons | Lose digital control but still have variable floor settings for wood, tile, and stone Lose the steam burst button No carpet glider | Lose digital control but still have variable floor settings for wood, tile, and stone Lose the steam burst button No carpet glider Lose 2 ft in cord length on the mop | End up with an extra triangle mop head but one can stay with the mop and the other can be used with the separate hand held No carpet glider |
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| Extra Cost Over buying just the 2 in 1 with built in hand held (Approximate) | N/A Click for Mop Price Read My Review | $30 Click for Mop Price | $30 Click for Mop Price | $60 Click for Mop Price |
This is the price used for the separate hand held: Black & Decker BDH1800SM Handheld Steamer