How Often To Replace Bissell Crosswave Filter And Brush

The Bissell Crosswave is an incredibly effective home vacuum cleaner that acts as both a vacuum and a mop. This vacuum is long-lasting due to its well-built, replaceable filter and brush. But, knowing when to replace these components of your vacuum effectively can feel like guesswork. Luckily, we've researched all there is to know about the Crosswave and have the answer for you here. 

If your Bissell Crosswave vacuum cleaner is starting to lack cleaning power, it may be time to replace the filter and brush. You should replace the filter on the Crosswave every three or four months and the brush every six months. Routinely clean the Crosswave filter and brush in between replacements for the most effective cleaning experience. 

That's the short answer on maintaining your Bissell Crosswave vacuum, but there's a lot more to these handy household tools. Please keep reading to find out more on how to get the most out of your Crosswave and extends its life as long as possible. 

How often should you replace the filter and brush on the Bissell Crosswave?

The part that does most of the heavy lifting inside the Bissell Crosswave is the filter. Because the Crosswave is a combination of a dry vacuum and electronic mop, the device can clean hard floors and area rugs by working as a traditional vacuum with an air filter or putting down a liquid cleaning solution and sucking it back up. 

So if you're only using the Crosswave on surfaces that are in lightly trafficked areas, then your filter may not get very dirty. However, if you constantly use the vacuum on large kitchen spills or filthy rugs, your filter may need some attention. Because of this, Bissell recommends switching out the filter in the Crosswave every three or four months. 

On the other hand, the brush is more resilient and easier to clean than the filter. However, after continued daily or routine vacuuming or mopping, the brush can become beyond use and probably needs to be replaced. It would be best if you planned to replace the brush every six months, on average. 

These time windows largely depend on your average usage and the nature of the spills or mess you clean with your Crosswave. Routine cleaning tends to go a long way in extending the overall life of the vacuum and the filter and brush. Conveniently, the replacements for both components are available in combination packs from third-party manufacturers. 

Click here to see Lemige Multi-Surface brush and filter replacements at Amazon. 

How to clean a Bissell Crosswave after use?

Depending on your usage level, a routine clean may be necessary after using your Bissell Crosswave. Most routine mopping use on a regular kitchen or floor or use as a vacuum on averagely dirty rugs and carpet will not make your Crosswave extremely dirty. But, large, wet spills with a lot of solid debris can dirty up the internal components of the vacuum.

The underside of the Crosswave will get especially dirty if a wet spill that you clean is wider than the vacuum itself. Additionally, the brush can become clogged with hair, dirt, and other residues while the tank fills with all of the material you've rolled over during your cleaning session. All of these things call for a deep clean of your Crosswave. 

How to perform routine cleaning on the Bissell Crosswave

1. Ensure the vacuum is unplugged from all electricity. 
2. Remove the dirty water tank and the lid/filter on top of it.
3. Pour it down a sink with a drain filter or toilet and rinse the empty tank. 
4. Remove the filter from the lid and rinse them both with water to remove any extra dirt. 
5. Next, remove the cover that protects the brush at the bottom of the Crosswave. 
6. Clean the brush under a sink by removing hair and scrubbing with a small brush. 
7. Clean out the brush compartment and the underside of the vacuum with a cloth or sponge. 
8. Finally, replace all of the Crosswave components to get it ready for your next use. 

It is best to make sure all vacuum parts are dry before putting them back together. Dry parts will prevent any mold or mildew growth in the Crosswave. The other liquid reservoir does not require cleaning since it only has a cleaning solution and water during typical use. 

How do you clean a Crosswave Filter?

You can clean the Crosswave filter during your routine cleans, such as just after heavy use, for example. The filter is in the removable dirty water container in the front of the Crosswave. Once you take the tank out of the vacuum, the filter comes right out of the top piece of it. 

To best clean the filter in between replacements, run warm water from the sink over it and through it. Doing this will remove any excess dirt or residue that will cause it to be less productive later. Ensure that you also clean out the small compartment that houses the filter. If you clean the filter frequently, you will have to replace it less often. 

Can you wash a Bissell Crosswave Brush?

The brush on the Bissell Crosswave is accessible and easy to clean in between replacements, just like the filter. To do so, remove the plastic brush cover at the bottom front of the vacuum, and the brush lifts out from there. For a deep clean, use a small brush under a stream of warm water to remove hair and excess residue. 

Another way to clean a Bissel Crosswave brush is to pour a cup of clean water on your hardwood floor and going over it with the vacuum. But be sure to place your Crosswave in hard floor mode before vacuuming the clean water. This process will clean the brush of all dirt and small residues. Afterward, empty the tank of the resulting dirty water. 

What are the different brushes available for the Bissell Crosswave?

The Bissell Crosswave already has various household applications, but the brush types available for the vacuum make it even more helpful. According to Bissell, they have four different types of brushes that should satisfy every home need. Here are the brush styles:

1. The multi-Surface brush is the default brush, useful for all hard floor types plus area rugs. It consists of a combination of nylon bristles and microfiber cloth. 
2. The multi-surface pet brush is of the same design as the standard brush but more suitable for picking up hair effectively. 
3. The wood floor brush is perfect for polished hardwood damaged by having nylon bristles. This brush is made only from microfiber. 
4. The area rug brush perfect for cleaning rugs and mats. It is constructed from nylon bristles and leaves out the microfiber.

Amazon even has third-party manufactured versions sold in bundles with filters and other accessories like small cleaning brushes for cleaning the vacuum roll brushes or the internal compartments that house them. 

Click here to see Dekiru brush and filter bundles at Amazon. 

Does the Bissell Crosswave have a HEPA filter? 

The small filter in the Crosswave vacuum does a lot of heavy lifting when it filters the dirt and toxins picked up by the device. This plays a big role in keeping the air quality in your home at a safe and healthy level, just as your air conditioning filter does. Many third-party filters for the Bissel Crosswave meet HEPA qualifications and are available online. 

Click here to see Rongju HEPA vacuum filters at Amazon. 

Can you use any cleaner in the Bissell Crosswave?

Is the Bissell Crosswave confined to only using certain cleaning products for its mopping feature? Bissell manufactures its own cleaning solutions that pair well with the Crosswave, but other products and homemade solutions will work in the vacuum as well. 

The only word of caution in this area is that if your Crosswave is brand new, using an unapproved cleaner in the device could void your warranty. 

In closing

The Crosswave by Bissell is a great home vacuum and mop combination that can tackle any type of mess, wet or dry. Keeping an upkeep schedule and replacing the filter and brush every four and six months, respectively, will make your Crosswave last long and clean as effectively as day one. 

If you find this post interesting, please see a few of our others:

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