Bissell CrossWave Floor and Area Rug Cleaner

Yes. On laminate, sealed wood and tile the CrossWave tends to leave floors visibly brighter, often after one or two passes, and the dirty tank fills with grime that looked like it had already been cleaned up. It's the job this machine does best.

More than you might expect. After every session the parts, filters and intake need rinsing, or the CrossWave starts to smell. The rinse cycle makes some of that easier, but plan on real upkeep each time, not just tipping out the dirty tank.

Mostly. Vacuuming and washing in one pass speeds up floor cleaning in most homes, since there's no separate sweep before the mop. It doesn't work out that way for everyone, though, and sometimes the gain is more shine than time. Count the after-use rinse when you weigh it up.

Yes, low-pile ones. Area rugs come out looking refreshed, and it often pulls hair and dirt out of a rug that was vacuumed just before. Switch to area rug mode with the Smart Touch controls first, and keep it to low-pile rugs, which is what Bissell lists it for.

For some homes, yes. The 25-foot cord reaches every room from one outlet in some houses, while in others it's several feet short, and the spot where it leaves the body can get in the way. Bissell's own site confirms the 25-foot length.

Opinions split. The high-pitched whine sounds very loud to some, while others find the CrossWave quieter than their regular vacuum. Bissell doesn't publish a decibel rating, so if noise matters to you, try to hear one running before you buy.