If you have hard floors and pets (or messy kids), you know that vacuuming isn’t enough. You have to mop, too. And the old mop-and-bucket routine is disgusting.
Enter the wet dry vacuum cleaner (also called a vacuum mop). These machines wash and vacuum your floors simultaneously, cutting your cleaning time in half.
In this year, two machines dominate this category.
- The Bissell CrossWave Pet Pro: The rugged, corded classic that established the category. It is known for durability and handling heavy pet messes.
- The Tineco Floor One S5: The modern, cordless challenger that uses “smart sensors” to adjust suction and water flow automatically.1
But is the freedom of cordless worth the battery anxiety? Is the Bissell’s cord a dealbreaker in a modern home?
In this vacuum mop comparison, we test the cleaning power, edge performance, and maintenance realities to help you choose.
Table of Contents
Quick Verdict: Which Wet/Dry Vac Should You Buy?
- Buy the Tineco Floor One S5 if: You value convenience and ease of use. It is cordless, quieter, self-propels itself, and cleans edges much better than the Bissell. If you want to quickly clean the kitchen every night without wrestling a cord, this is the one.
- Buy the Bissell CrossWave Pet Pro if: You have a large home and heavy pet shedding. The 25-foot cord means unlimited runtime, and its “Tangle-Free” brush roll handles long dog hair better than the Tineco. It is built like a tank and costs less.
Comparison: Tineco Floor One S5 vs. Bissell CrossWave Pet Pro
Feature | Tineco Floor One S5 | Bissell CrossWave Pet Pro | Winner |
Power Source | Cordless Battery (Li-Ion) | Corded (25 ft cable) | — |
Runtime | ~35 Minutes | Unlimited | Bissell |
Smart Sensor | iLoopâ„¢ (Auto Water/Suction) | None (Manual Trigger) | Tineco |
Edge Cleaning | Excellent (One side flush) | Poor (1-inch gap) | Tineco |
Pet Hair Handling | Good | Excellent (Pet Pro features) | Bissell |
Self-Cleaning Cycle | Yes (One touch) | Yes (Requires tray) | Tineco |
Weight | 9.9 lbs | 11.5 lbs | Tineco |
Tank Capacity (Clean) | 0.8 L | 0.82 L | Tie |
Price | Bissell |
Key Differences Between These Vacuum Mops
1. The Cord: Freedom vs. Power
This is the deciding factor for 80% of buyers.
- Tineco Floor One S5 (Cordless): You can grab it off the dock and immediately clean a spill in the kitchen, then walk to the bathroom without unplugging. It is incredibly convenient for daily “spot cleaning.” However, the battery only lasts about 35 minutes. If you have a 3,000 sq ft house, it might die before you finish.
- Bissell CrossWave Pet Pro (Corded): You are tethered to the wall by a 25-foot cord. You will be plugging and unplugging as you move from room to room. The upside is unlimited power. You never have to worry about the battery dying in the middle of a big job.
2. Edge Cleaning Performance
Tineco fixed a major flaw of older models with the S5 design.
- Tineco S5: The brush roller is moved all the way to the right edge of the cleaning head. This allows you to clean flush against baseboards and kitchen cabinets on that side.
- Bissell Pet Pro: The brush roll has about an inch of plastic housing on both sides. This leaves a “dirty gap” along your walls that the machine cannot reach. You may have to go back and wipe edges by hand.
3. The “Smart” Factor (iLoop vs. Manual Trigger)
- Tineco: Uses the iLoop™ Smart Sensor. A ring around the screen turns red when it detects a mess and blue when it’s clean. More importantly, it automatically increases water flow and suction over dirty spots. You just push it; the machine does the thinking.
- Bissell: You are in control. There is a physical trigger under the handle. You must squeeze it to dispense water. If you have a sticky mess, you hold the trigger down to soak it. Some users prefer this manual control, but it can tire your hand out.
4. Pet Features
- Bissell CrossWave Pet Pro: It earns the “Pet Pro” name. It comes with a special “Tangle-Free” brush roll that resists long hair wrapping. Crucially, it has a pet hair strainer in the dirty water tank that separates hair from the dirty water, so you don’t clog your sink drain when emptying it.
- Tineco S5: It handles pet hair okay, but long hair is more likely to get wrapped around the roller ends. It does not have a built-in hair strainer in the dirty tank.
What’s In The Box? (Unboxing Comparison)
Tineco Floor One S5 Box Contents
- S5 Main Body.
- 3-in-1 Docking Station: (Charges the unit, holds accessories, runs self-cleaning).
- Replacement Brush Roller: (One extra usually included).
- Replacement HEPA Filter: (One extra usually included).
- Tineco Deodorizing Cleaning Solution: (Small bottle).
- Cleaning Tool: Brush for cleaning the tanks.
Bissell CrossWave Pet Pro Box Contents
- CrossWave Pet Pro Body.
- Two Tangle-Free Brush Rolls.
- Two bottles of PET Multi-Surface Formula with Febreze.
- Rinse & Clean Out Tray: (Plastic tray for storage and self-cleaning).
- User Guide.
Winner: Bissell. Bissell is very generous, usually including two full-size brush rolls and plenty of cleaning formula to get you started.2
Real User Complaints: What Do People Hate?
Common Complaints: Tineco Floor One S5
- “The tanks are too small.” Although larger than older models, if you are cleaning a whole house, you will likely have to refill the clean tank and empty the dirty tank 2 or 3 times during the job.
- “Battery degrades over time.” Like all lithium-ion batteries, after 3–4 years, the 35-minute runtime might drop to 20 minutes. The battery is not easily user-replaceable.
- “Why does it talk?” The vacuum has voice prompts (“Please clean dirty water tank”). Some find this helpful; others find it annoying (you can turn it off in the app).
Common Complaints: Bissell CrossWave Pet Pro
- “It is LOUD.” The Bissell is significantly louder than the Tineco. It sounds like a traditional upright vacuum, whereas the Tineco is a quieter “whoosh.”
- “The cord is a pain.” Users who switch from cordless stick vacuums find managing the thick 25-foot cord frustrating.
- “Harder to clean.” The dirty water tank has more nooks and crannies than the Tineco’s, making it harder to rinse out “gunk” completely.
Maintenance: The Dirty Truth
You must understand this before buying any wet/dry vacuum: You must clean the machine after EVERY use. If you don’t, the wet dirt inside will smell like a swamp within 24 hours.
- The Self-Cleaning Cycle: Both machines have this. You put them on their tray, press a button, and they flush water over the brush roll to clean it.
- Tineco: Does a better job of self-cleaning because it spins the brush faster.
- The Manual Part: After the cycle, you still need to remove the dirty water tank, rinse it out, remove the brush roll, and let everything air dry on the dock.
FAQ
Both can be used to refresh low-pile area rugs. They are great for cleaning muddy paw prints off a runner. However, they are not replacements for a carpet cleaner (shampooer) for wall-to-wall deep cleaning. They don’t have enough suction to pull water out of deep pile.
You must use the branded solutions (Tineco solution for Tineco, Bissell for Bissell). Do not use bleach, vinegar, or foamy soap like dish detergent. These will damage the internal pumps and void your warranty.
Yes. The spinning action of the brush roll gently pulls the Tineco forward, making it feel lighter than its actual weight. The Bissell requires more manual pushing effort.
Final Recommendation
This battle is decided by your home layout and your tolerance for cords.
If you have a smaller home, mostly hard floors, and value convenience above all else, buy the Tineco Floor One S5. It is the modern choice. The cordless freedom, quieter operation, and superior edge cleaning make it a joy to use for daily upkeep.
If you have a large home, heavy shedders (like a Golden Retriever), and want a machine that will last for a decade, buy the Bissell CrossWave Pet Pro. The unlimited corded power and rugged build quality make it the better workhorse for tough messes, and it costs less upfront.
- Best for Daily Convenience (Cordless): Check Price for Tineco Floor One S5
- Best for Heavy Duty/Pets (Corded): Check Price for Bissell CrossWave Pet Pro
