Karcher FC5 vs Bissell CrossWave – which can clean waxed wood floor? Bissell CrossWave simultaneously vacuums, washes and helps to dry floors in one easy step, from hardfloors, to tiles, to rugs! CrossWave does all the three steps at the same time and is suitable for all hardfloors and area rugs in your home. It enables you to clean multiple floor types in one action. The unique brush roll scrubs and washes floors for a deeper clean, and it does not release dirty water back on to the floor.
On other side, the FC 5 Cordless Hard Floor Cleaner is the quick and easy way to wash your floors and vacuum up light debris simultaneously. The rechargeable lithium-ion battery gives you unlimited freedom and maneuverability for up to 20 minutes of powerful cleaning in just one charge, cleaning right up to the edges. The FC 5 Cordless is perfect for all sealed hard flooring including laminate, tiles, stone and wooden floors leaving them dry in just 2 minutes. Which one worth buying – Karcher FC5 vs Bissell CrossWave?
Pros & Cons – Karcher FC5 vs Bissell CrossWave
Karcher FC5
Pros
- power rating: 460 watts
- brushrolls spin at 500 rpm
- sweeps, vacuums, and mops bare floors simultaneously
- uses a two-tank system to separate the cleaning solution (0.4-liter capacity) and dirty water (0.2-liter capacity)
- the rollers’ position means it cleans right up to the line where walls or baseboards and floors meet
- floors dry within 2 minutes or less
- 7-meter power cord
- 5 – 16.5 dB quieter than its competitors
Cons
- can’t stand alone
- can’t wash rugs, unlike the Bissell CrossWave
- the strength of the unit’s self-advancing motion isn’t suitable for older folks or physically challenged individuals
- faltered at picking up large debris
Bissel CrossWave
Pros
- power rating: 560 watts
- brushroll spins at 3 000 rpm
- sweeps, vacuums, and mops bare floors simultaneously
- washes area rugs
- uses a two-tank system to separate the cleaning solution (0.8-liter capacity) and dirty water (0.4-liter capacity)
- 7-meter power cord
- has user-friendly controls
- the suction and scrubbing power justify its high price
Cons
- the brushroll gets tangled often and may wear out fast because of the high rpm rating
- unsuitable for carpets, only area rugs
- struggles with spills against skirting boards
- faltered at picking up large debris
Specifications – Karcher FC5 vs Bissell CrossWave – which can clean waxed wood floor
Karcher FC5
- Roller speed (rpm) 500
- Power supply (Ph/V/Hz) 1 / 100 – 240 / 50 – 60
- Clean water tank capacity 13.5
- Dirty water tank capacity 6.8
- Cleaning station volume 0.03
- Area performance per tank filling 197
- Battery type Lithium ion battery
- Floor drying time (min.) 2
- Roller working width (mm) 300
- Weight (lbs) 9.6
- Dimensions (L x W x H) (in) 12.6 x 10.6 x 48
Bissell CrossWave
- Colour Blue
- Product Dimensions 30.7 x 30.9 x 115.5 cm; 5 Kilograms
- Capacity 0.8 litres
- Volume Capacity 0.8 litres
- Power / Wattage 560 watts
- Voltage 240 Volts
- Material Plastic
- Auto Shutoff No
- Noise Level 80 dB
- Special Features Dual-action
- Item Weight 5 kg
Who is this for – Karcher FC5 vs Bissell CrossWave?
If you have waxed wood floors, you are probably better off with the Karcher FC5 since the unit offers the fastest drying time. Also, the detergent of the FC5 comes out in a very regulated way, so this unit is perfect for hardwood and other surfaces with oil or hard wax finishes. Otherwise, too much water or prolonged moisture exposure will cause your floors to lose its sheen fast. My only gripe is that it is quite an untamed beast to use, as you have to fight its forward-drive momentum. Not to mention that its dirt tank needs frequent emptying.
So, if longer drying time is not a concern and you have a lot of area rugs to wash, it is the best option to stick with the Bissell CrossWave. At 560 watts and 3 000 rpm, it is quite the monster!
Comparison Chart for Kärcher Hard Floor Cleaners
| FC 5 | FC 5 Premium | FC 3 Cordless | FC 5 Cordless | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Two Tank System (fresh and dirty water tanks) | YES | YES | Tank + Tray1 | YES |
| Cleaning/Storage Station | YES | YES | YES | YES |
| Universal Floor Cleaner Solution | YES2 | YES3 | YES2 | Yes2 |
| Stone Floor Cleaner Solution | NO | YES3 | NO | NO |
| Sealed Wood Floor Cleaner Solution | NO | YES3 | NO | NO |
| Oiled/Waxed Wood Floor Cleaner Solution | NO | YES3 | NO | NO |
| White/Yellow Roller Set4 | YES | YES | YES | YES |
| White/Gray Roller Set4 | NO | YES | NO | NO |
| Battery-Powered Cordless Operation | NO | NO | YES | YES |
| Debris Pickup Function | Standard | Improved5 | Standard | Improved5 |
| Body Color | Yellow | White | Yellow | Yellow |
| Weight | 10.8 lbs | 10.2 lbs | 5.3 lbs | 12.8 lbs |
| Three Year Limited Warranty. Rapid Exchange Program®. | YES | YES | YES | YES |
What are common in these vacuum cleaners?
Uses a Brushroll, instead of a Mopping Pad : Nevertheless, the FC5 and the CrossWave have no difficulty picking up dust, pet hair, and fine debris. Each model uses a brushroll that directly agitates and scrubs the most hardened stains off floors, including mud tracks and dried spillage.
Sweeps, Vacuums, and Mops — No Pre-Cleaning Required : Both the Karcher FC5 and the Bissell CrossWave aim to sweep, vacuum, and mop floors in one step. These versatile devices cut your cleaning time in half!
Uses a Two-Tank System : Moreover, the FC5 and the CrossWave features a two-tank system. There is a separate tank to hold the cleaning agent, as well as the dirty water. The vacuum itself keeps the brushes relatively clean. Dirty water will never touch your floor!
Karcher FC5 vs Bissell CrossWave review comparison
Dimensions
Karcher FC5
Karcher FC5 measures 8 x 12 inches and stand as at 48 inches high. On our scale, it measured just 4.9 lbs. making it among the lightest options available.
- Measures 18 x 12 inches
- Height 48 inches
- Weight 4.9 lbs
Bissell CrossWave
Bissell CrossWave 1785A measures 10.5 x 12 inches and stands at 46 inches high. Regarding the weight, it measured 11 lbs when the bag and water tanks are empty.
- Measures 10.5 x 12 inches
- Height 46 inches
- Weight 11 lbs
2-in-1 cleaner
Karcher FC5 is also a 2-in-1 cleaner which can vacuum small dirt and mop simultaneously. This model is specially designed for hard floors and is not suited for carpets and rugs just like the FloorMate Deluxe.
Bissell CrossWave is a 2-in-1 cleaner that will vacuum the floor and mop simultaneously. It’s also such a versatile multisurface vacuum that will also handle carpets and other surfaces apart from hard floors.
Cleaning Head and Brushroll
The Bissell CrossWave uses a multi-surface brushroll, which consists of cloth strands and nylon bristles. This type of brushroll is suitable for various surfaces, including area rugs. While the cloth absorbs liquids, the bristles agitate stubborn dirt and dried spillage.
The cleaning head of the CrossWave also gives you 12 inches of coverage. On a side note, you need to keep spills within the bounds of the brushroll; otherwise, it will stick to the sides.
The Karcher FC5 comes with two forward-rotating microfiber brushrolls. Each brushroll measures six inches in length, giving you a total of 12 inches of coverage. The wide floorhead of the FC5 runs at a 60-degree angle from the ground and offers a side-to-side action.
You can’t get the rollers wrong when installing because they are color-coded. Likewise, you can take off both brushes easily for washing. You may clean the brushrolls in its dock or toss them into the washing machine.
However, the fibers of the brushrolls are fairly shallow. Thus, the FC5 might not reach into deep grooves or cracks, which is a problem if you have rounded-edge travertine tiles with wide grouting. On the bright side, the position of the rollers means it cleans right up to the line where baseboards and floors meet.
Noise
Karcher FC5
Karcher is not among the most powerful vacuums out there. The FC5, in particular, comes with a 460W motor that offers just enough to vacuum hard floors. It is quite efficient and runs on minimal noise. This model is also a single speed vacuum with a fixed output and is much quieter at 58dB.
- Noise 58db
- Powerful Motor460W
Bissell CrossWave
Bissell CrossWave comes packed with a powerful 4.4 amp motor. It is very powerful and delivers enough power to pick up dirt and debris from all hard floors and surprisingly, low pile carpets too. In hard floor mode, it’s quite silent at around 62db but when in rug mode, it becomes noisy and can go up to 68db and higher on heavy rugs.
- Hard floor Mode 62db
- Rug Mode 68db
- Powerful Motor4.4Amp
Tank Capacity
The FC5 has a detergent tank with a generous 0.4-liter capacity, which you will find at the front. Conversely, the dirt tank at the back is more compact with a 0.2-liter size.
As for the CrossWave, you will find its tanks with the order reversed. The detergent tank has a 0.8-liter capacity, while its dirt tank has a 0.4-liter capacity.
Operation and Maneuverability
Likewise, the button that prompts the detergent to the brushroll is located along with the ergonomic handle.
On a side note, you need to let the brushes spin for five seconds inside the stand’s trough before you start cleaning. Doing so gets the rollers to optimum wetness. You also have to place the FC5 back to its dock after cleaning because it is not a self-standing machine.
While the forward-rotating brushrolls make the FC5 easy for you to push around, it is a challenge to pull backward. You have to fight the roller’s rotation, particularly on heavily textured surfaces. I would compare it to walking a Belgian Malinois heading to the park after a day shut in the house.
The Bissell CrossWave isn’t a complicated unit to operate, either. There are cleaning mode knobs along with the handle of the machine, which indicates the type of surface you are cleaning on: hard floor and rug.
The CrossWave also has a swivel head, but despite this, it can only turn to a limited radius of -25°. Nevertheless, cleaning open spaces shouldn’t pose a problem for this model. What’s more, the CrossWave has a set of wheels that make gliding a breeze.
Cleaning Performance
We put the Karcher FC5 and the Bissell CrossWave to the test to see how many passes each model makes to clean a specific area without any residue. Dry Vacuum Test For this test, we made separate piles of debris using crushed eggshells, rice, pet hair, and Cheerios.
The Karcher FC5 had no problem picking up the rice and pet hair we scattered. However, it took a few passes to vacuum all the crushed eggshells. We also had to remove the Cheerios from the test surface since it wasn’t able to pick any of it up.
The Bissell CrossWave was able to vacuum all of the crushed eggshells, rice, and pet hair in one swipe. Unfortunately, it also faltered with the Cheerios because the debris was almost the exact size as the gate of the cleaning head.
Wet Pick-Up Test For this test, we used ¼ cup of milk, ½ cup of honey, and a bowl of yogurt.
The Karcher FC5 wiped off the milk without any problem.
However, the center drive prevented the unit to wipe off all the honey and yogurt in a single pass. Thus, it took a total of two swipes to wipe off the honey and four swipes to ensure there was no yogurt residue left.
The Bissell CrossWave was able to wipe all the milk on the first pass. But for more viscous fluids, like honey, you have to move the CrossWave slowly to give it time to vacuum, wipe, and dry the floor. Otherwise, you won’t be able to wipe it all off in a single pass. And because we purposely made a huge spill with the yogurt, some of it got stuck on the sides and caused more of a mess with each wipe. As a result, it took three swipes to get rid of all the yogurt we had spilled.
