Updated on Nov. 26, 2024
Think your home is clean? My Bissell Steam Shot review certainly made me second guess the cleanliness of my bathroom and kitchen—here are my honest thoughts.
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On July 18, 2024, Bissell released a recall notice for this product, citing defects that can cause burns. If you own the Steam Shot, stop using it immediately and contact Bissell for a credit or refund. We’ll update this piece when Bissell resolves the issue.
I’ll admit: Cleaning my home is like therapy for me, but there are quite a few areas I’ve never bothered to touch. That’s simply because I don’t have the right tools. As a shopping editor, I’ve tested a lot of Amazon 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.
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 that are 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.
MADI KOETTING/TASTE OF HOME
My Bissell Steam Shot arrived quickly and was neatly packaged inside a cardboard box. I already own a Bissell cordless 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. I didn’t use any of the fancy attachments for the area around the toilet seat because they weren’t really 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 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.
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.
In the kitchen, I was particularly interested in sanitizing and cleaning 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 returned 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.
After tending to the kitchen and bathroom, one more area 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.
Did I mention the device includes an upholstery and fabric steamer attachment? Intrigued by this feature, I tested it 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.
Since my initial test in May 2023, the Bissell Steam Shot has been my secret weapon for sanitizing seriously grimy surfaces. I rely on the steam cleaner for weekly routine cleaning sessions like sanitizing the kitchen faucet, windowsills or toilet seat. The area where my bidet connects to the toilet seat is the most satisfying surface to clean. Sure, going in with a sponge and chemical cleaner will also get this area looking good as new. But with the Bissell Steam Shot, my hands stay far away from the mess while accomplishing more than just getting the surface looking brand new—it sanitizes the entire area without chemicals.
In the past, these tough-to-sanitize surfaces normally required considerable elbow grease and chemical cleaner to loosen up. Since the Bissell Steam Shot uses pressurized steam, my household surfaces get clean twice as fast without breaking out the heavy-duty chemicals.
While the tool comes with multiple attachments, including a fabric steamer, I only recommend using this feature to sanitize windows. Since I use the Bissell Steam Shot on rather gross areas in my home, it feels unsanitary to use the fabric steamer on clothes or upholstery. All the other attachments are incredibly helpful for reaching every nook and cranny around the home.
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 and 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:
“This thing cleans everything!” shares verified purchaser, Julia Flannery. “I was most impressed by how it blasted the caked on gunk out of the inside of my oven door. Literally nothing else ever got it off and now it looks brand spanking new. I love being able to clean without harsh chemicals.”
“You think your house is spotless until you get this bad boy out,” adds Morgan Vice, another five-star reviewer. “It gets the places you can’t—and it gets them good. I can’t stop using it. So satisfying! Once my house is spotless I’m going to have to find more dirt to use it on.”
“Every household should own this product,” raves verified purchaser, Kiley H. “It’s perfect for cleaning every nook and cranny. So many attachments, perfect for any job. Doesn’t take long to heat up, and it holds enough water for several minutes of continuous steam, easy to refill. And I love the long cord.”
The Bissell Steam Shot totally impressed me. 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.
MADI KOETTING/TASTE OF HOME
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 around $40, you can snag the Bissell Steam Shot from their website, as well as Amazon and Wayfair.
The only downside? The Steam Shot is very popular and frequently goes out of stock. If you see one, snag it! Cleaning will never be the same.
