There are a gazillion reasons why we need to have a Bissell Power Fresh Steam Mop 1940 vs. Shark Steam Pocket Mop S3501 face-off, but the main reason is they’re both the most famous steam mops on the market, and we HAVE to pick a favorite!
Many gadgets have seen a rise and fall in sales and popularity in the cleaning industry. However, steam cleaners are one such machine that has moved from being a trend to a necessity for any household. As a self-proclaimed cleaning addict and a believer in steam cleaners, I wholeheartedly support this.
Now, we can all agree that we love steam cleaners. But, what if we combine it with a mop? The perfect mix of cleaning, no? But, here’s the dilemma. Currently, there are two famous steam mops in the market, with a loyal customer base and similar features.
We can’t get both—well, we can but probably shouldn’t!—so, to settle this, we’re having a Bissell vs. Shark steam mop showdown. Hold on tight, because it will get hot!
At a Glance
| Name | BISSELL Power Fresh Steam Mop 1940 | Shark S3501 Steam Pocket Mop |
| Dimensions | 29.46 x 18.03 x 72.64 cm | 130.05 x 30.48 x 14.99 cm |
| Weight | 6.2 lbs | 4.87 Pounds |
| Power | 1500 Watts | 1200 watts |
| Surface recommendations | Sealed hard floor | Sealed hard floors |
| Water tank | 16 fluid ounces | 15.2 fluid ounces |
| Corded | Yes | Yes |
Bissell and Shark are two of the most reliable steam cleaning brands out there. Both brands create multipurpose steamers, have thousands of positive reviews, and are acknowledged as leaders in the industry.
Looking at the table above, it’s evident that both steam mops are similar; if one has the upper edge in one area, the other wins elsewhere.
It’ll be challenging to choose the better product between the two, so instead, we’ll compare different features and uses and see which is better for you depending on your needs.
Read on ahead for the comparison and guide.
Bissell vs. Shark Steam Mop Comparison – Pros and Cons
Here, we’ll look at the uses of both steam mops and see which is better for what.
Bissell Power Fresh Steam Mop 1940
- Clean and sanitize sealed hard floors without the use of harsh chemicals; Eliminates 99.9 percent of germs and bacteria with the natural power of steam
- Power through tough, sticky messes with the flip down easy scrubber
- Choose from high, medium, or low steam based on your cleaning needs with the smart set digital steam control
- Features swivel steering and a 23 foot power cord. Ready to use in 30 seconds
- Includes: (1) microfiber soft pad, (1) microfiber scrubby pad, (2) spring breeze fragrance discs, and a carpet glider. Power rating: 1500 watts. Power Source: Corded
The Bissell Power Fresh Steam Mop cleans and sanitizes, leaving behind a fresh-smelling house. You can use it across various surfaces, including hardwood, ceramic, linoleum, and granite/marble. It also has a mop kit that contains multiple washable mop pads and fragrance disks.
The most convenient thing that I found about this is its 23’ power cord and the digital steam control that gives you three steam levels.
Pros of the Bissell Power Fresh Steam Mop 1940
- Lightweight and easy to use
- Cleanup and storage of this steam mop is incredibly easy
- Easy to maneuver while cleaning
- Can remain standing upright without support
- Excellent for cleaning grooves on the floors
- Great for grout cleaning
- Can clean for long durations on a single fill
Cons of the Bissell Power Fresh Steam Mop 1940
- The steam setting is not consistent. According to some reviewers, sometimes the steamer provides fine mist while other times it can be a thick spray on the same steam setting
- It works fine with tap water, but requires filtered water for optimal functioning
- Leaves residue on hardwood floors
Shark Steam Pocket Mop
- The Shark Steam Pocket Mop turns ordinary water into super-heated steam to remove everyday dirt and grime that other mops leave behind..Voltage: 120 volts. Wattage: 1200 watts.
- Powerful steam on demand - natural mopping motion delivers super-heated steam in just 30 seconds, and dries almost immediately
- 99.9% sanitization against germs and bacteria
- 2 washable microfiber pads lift and lock in dirt - no more messy mops and heavy buckets
- A soft-grip handle and comfortable design that make it easy to maneuver without physical strain
With the Shark Steam Pocket Mop, you can deep clean and sanitize any sealed surface, be it wood, tile, vinyl, linoleum, ceramic, porcelain, etc. This mop uses patented two-sided microfiber pads to ensure that not a single spot is missed. You can be sure that floors will sparkle when you’re done cleaning! The best part about this steam mop has to be its efficiency; it heats up in under 30 seconds and leaves the floor virtually dry behind it.
Pros of the Shark Steam Pocket Mop
- Has an accompanying measuring cup that makes it easy to fill the steamer’s tank
- Easy to clean and dry the mop pads in the washing machine
- Compact, which makes storing it easy
- Beginner-friendly steamer
- Reasonably priced
- It heats up quickly—less waiting time and more cleaning time!
- Excellent at cleaning tiles and leaves behind no residue
Cons of the Shark Steam Pocket Mop
- Cannot remain standing without support
- It does not have a power switch. You’ll need to plug it in/out to start/stop it
- Not the best at cleaning grout
Shark vs. Bissell Steam Mop Comparison – Battle of Functionalities
In this section, we’ll pit the steamers against each other and assess their performance and uses to see which is better for what.
Floor Compatibility
Since these both are steam mops, we’ll start with floor cleaning—which does a better job and which is more compatible with various surfaces.
Before I start, do remember these are only mops. They don’t have broom or vacuum attachments, so you will have to vacuum or broom your floors before you whip these bad boys out. Now, coming to the comparison, the good news is both of these can clean almost every kind of sealed surface.
According to Bissell’s manufacturer, the steamer can clean and sanitize hardwood, linoleum, ceramic, granite, and marble. Likewise, Shark Steam Pocket Mop is also compatible with all these surfaces. However, being compatible can’t measure the quality of cleaning.
Unfortunately, Bissell isn’t the best at cleaning hardwood. It leaves behind residue because the microfiber pads bunch up, making it a slight struggle to clean. It will be clean, but it won’t be easy for hardwood. You won’t face this problem with Shark, a pro at cleaning hardwood floors.
The Shark Pocket Mop pockets this win! On to the next round.
Better Disinfectant
Most steam cleaners can clean up to 99.9% of household germs, bacteria, and other organic growth, including E.Coli and salmonella. This is done through the hot steam that steam cleaners produce. Steam above 175ºF will easily sanitize all kinds of surfaces.
Both of these steamers claim to disinfect and sanitize surfaces easily. Looking at Shark, which has 1200 watts and 120 volts of power, it can heat up to 176ºF, providing decent sanitizing. In its comparison, Bissell, having a power rating of 1500 watts, produces hotter steam, which is better at disinfecting surfaces than Shark.
Not only that, but Bissell also has various cleaning solutions to further solidify its sanitizing prowess.
While Bissell is the champ of sanitizing, it does require cleaning solutions that will eventually run out. You’ll have to buy replacements, which does make Bissell costlier. Bissell will be a winner for you if sanitizing is your priority and spending on it isn’t an issue for you. Otherwise, this round is a tie!
Right now, Shark is in the lead. Let’s see how these steamers fare when cleaning tiles and grout.
Best for Tile and Grout
For me, the most essential ability in a steam mop is how good it is in cleaning tiles and grout. Especially the bathroom and kitchen tiles. Grout, an expert in getting dirty, is also a challenge to clean for most steamers.
If one thing Bissell steamers are excellent at, it’s cleaning dirty tiles and old grout. The Bissell Steam Mop is no exception to this. With its three levels of steam and accompanying scrubber brush, your grout and tiles won’t know what hit ’em!
According to many glowing reviews, this steamer was able to restore 10-year old stained grout to its former glory.
The Shark, in comparison, isn’t the best at cleaning grout. While it does an excellent job mopping the tiles clean, the grout will require strenuous scrubbing and vacuuming.
Bissell is the clear winner of this round!
Better Steam Control
One of the coolest features in a lot of steam cleaners is the ability to control the steam level. There are delicate places where you don’t want the steam to be too hot or the power too high so as to not cause any damage. In this regard, digital controls are a Godsend.
The Bissell Steam Mop 1940 comes with digital controls that allow you to choose between three levels of steam—high, medium, and low. Now, you can use low-level steam on wood while high-level steam on tiles and grout.
Besides the amount of steam (which is important because you don’t want to use too much water on delicate surfaces or wood), you can also control the steam temperature.
Compared to this, Shark has motion-triggered steam control. This isn’t as good as having digital controls like Bissell and will also tire your fingers out upon continuous use. So, the winner of this round is Bissell too!
Tank Size
As mentioned in other posts, the size of the water tank is one of the critical factors when dividing which steam cleaner to choose. As a rule, the larger the water tank, the longer you can steam clean without refilling.
Fortunately for Bissell, it has a larger water tank. This isn’t common in most Bissell steamers, as the water tank tends to be on the average or smaller side. This is for easy removal of the tank and to make the steamer easy to carry, store, and move since you can’t fill up the tank too much. However, here it wins.
In contrast to Bissell’s 16-ounce capacity, Shark can hold up to 15.2-ounces of water. This does make it a lot lighter than Bissell, but since this round is about tank size and not weight, Bissell wins again!
Ease of Use
All the flash and jazz can’t make a steamer that is difficult to use likable. In this, we’ll consider numerous factors to decide the winner.
Bissell steam mop has a longer power cord, which makes it easy to navigate through rooms without having to stop to change power outlets. The steamer is easy to assemble as it comes with simple and clear instructions. Besides that, the swivel mechanism of this steamer is unparalleled.
This isn’t the case for Shark, which often freezes mid-cleaning. Bissell can also remain standing without any support, which the Shark isn’t capable of.
Shark pocket mop, on the other hand, is lighter in weight, relatively cheaper, and indicates it requires a refill by cooling off when its water tank is near empty. The mop pads are also easy to clean, so not only is it easy to clean the house, cleaning the steamer is just as easy too.
It also doesn’t use any chemicals and leaves behind no scent. This is ideal for people with allergies or those sensitive to smells.
There is no clear winner in this round as both have fantastic features and are easy to use.
Results – Who’s the Winner?
Personally, I found Bissell the better option out of the two for numerous reasons. For one, it has a two-year warranty, and if I’m spending a reasonable amount, a longer warranty helps.
Besides that, I don’t have hardwood floors, and like mentioned above, tile cleaning is the main requirement for me so the steamer’s different steam modes are ideal. With all that said, Bissell suits my needs so it’s the winner for me.
- Clean and sanitize sealed hard floors without the use of harsh chemicals; Eliminates 99.9 percent of germs and bacteria with the natural power of steam
- Power through tough, sticky messes with the flip down easy scrubber
- Choose from high, medium, or low steam based on your cleaning needs with the smart set digital steam control
- Features swivel steering and a 23 foot power cord. Ready to use in 30 seconds
- Includes: (1) microfiber soft pad, (1) microfiber scrubby pad, (2) spring breeze fragrance discs, and a carpet glider. Power rating: 1500 watts. Power Source: Corded
If your reasons are similar to mine then consider getting Bissell. However, if you want a great steamer for cleaning hardwood floors and other surfaces while not spending as much then Shark will be better for you.
Both of the steamers are near identical so it’s hard to pick one winner of the Bissell vs. Shark steam mop competition—it all boils down to your needs. If you pick either, I’m sure you’ll be very happy with your purchase.
Now that you have all the knowledge you need to make an informed decision, get the steam mop, and bid farewell to long hours of tiring cleaning!
And, as always, happy cleaning!
Interested in seeing other comparisons or learning more tips? Then check out these guides: