
The Bissell Crosswave Pet Pro 2306A is, for most pet owners, one of the best inventions in the history of upright vacuum cleaners. A hit in reviews of the best vacuums for pet hair in 2020, this is a multi-surface vacuum that is purposely engineered for pet parents.
Even for homeowners who don’t have furry animal friends, the versatility of this vacuum cleaner makes it an excellent addition to your home cleaning arsenal. Unlike what we are used to, this is a dual function model that vacuum cleans and mops at the same time.
Stay with us as we analyze its strengths and possible limitations in this Bissell Crosswave Pet Pro review. (If you are in a rush, check for the best price on Amazon in this link)
Bissell Crosswave Pet Pro Specs
Size | Height: 46 inches Width: 12 inches Depth: 10.5 inches |
Weight | 11 lbs. |
Cleaning path | 12’’ |
Cord length | 25 feet |
Brush roll type | 2x Multi-surface pet brush roll |
Floor compatibility | Sealed hardwood floors, linoleum, laminate, tile, pressed wood floors, area rugs, low-pile carpets |
Tank capacity | Clean water tank 28 ozDirty water tank 14.5 oz |
Filter | Thick pleated |
Controls | On-handle LED-lit buttons |
Power cord | 25 feet |
Rated power | 4.4 Amps |
Suction power | 100-150 watts |
Brush roll rotation speed | 3000 RPMs |
Noise level | 62-68 dB |
Included accessories | Cleaning and storage tray, pet hair strainer, two 8-ounce cleaning formulas |
Overview
Bissell is not a stranger in the world of vacuum cleaners. This American Company based in Michigan has been around since 1876. It is currently the number one manufacturer and seller of floor care products.
This privately-owned company has built itself a name for designing products that perfectly match a particular need. As the name suggests, the model that we are looking at in this review has a couple of pet-centered features that impress pet owners the most. Its design plus functionality also makes it a reliable option for households that have to deal with frequent spills and messes.
The Bissell Crosswave Pet Pro is a versatile cleaning tool that replaces a broom, a mop, and vacuum. So, if you are used to switching between these three tools when doing thorough cleaning in your house, you’ll only need one device now. In short, there is no need to use the broom and vacuum first and then clean the area with a mop.

Design
Let’s start this Bissell Crosswave Pet Pro review by looking at this model’s design. This is an upright vacuum that was released as a successor for the iconic Bissell Crosswave Floor and Carpet Cleaner 1785A.
A “true” dry and wet vacuum cleaner, this model is designed to offer the functionalities of a vacuum and mop all in one unit.
Its swiveling head enhances maneuverability, especially in tight spaces and around furniture. It also offers you enough flexibility to slide under furniture, thereby making it possible to clean even the hard-to-reach areas without pulling objects around.
The handle is ergonomically designed and non-slip for reduced fatigue during prolonged cleaning periods.
Previous buyers who have reviewed it also appreciate a set of LED lights that light up the clear brush roll window. When the vacuum is operational, this row of lights illuminates the interior workings showing you how the soapy water jets out onto the brush roll. This is more of an aesthetic feature, but it also assures you of how well the vacuum is working.
Size and Reach
The Pet Pro 2306A has a height of 46’’, a width of 12’’, and a depth of 10.5’’. These dimensions make it notably compact for a vacuum cleaner that is designed for large sealed floors.
This model weighs 11 pounds, which again is relatively light for a 2-in-1 vacuum cleaner. It also self-stands, thereby eliminating the worries of minding so much about where to lean it.
As far as reach is concerned, this vacuum cleaner features a 25ft power cord. This cord won’t exactly give you the freedom to move from room to room as cordless vacuums do. However, this is enough length to cover vast areas without having to change ports often.
Bissell Crosswave Pet Pro Multi-Surface 2306a: Key Features and Functions
Innovatively designed Multi-surface pet brush roll
The Bissell Crosswave Pet Pro 2306a offers three options for the brush roll;
- Multi-surface pet brush roll
- Wood floor brush roll
- Carpet brush roll
For pet parents with both area rugs and sealed bare floors, we’d recommend going with the multiple-surface pet brush roll. This brush eliminates the inconvenience of having to switch between several brushes as you move from one type of floor to another. Another of its key strengths is its ability to pick up pet food, crumbs, fibers, lint, liquid messes, and hairs without scattering them around.
Bissell says that this motorized multi-surface pet brush roll has been tested to remove pet hairs and fur up to 8 inches in length without tangling. Of course, that is in theory and may not be the case in a real-life situation. All in all, pet hairs don’t tend to be a big issue for this brush roll compared to most of its competitors. This means that its maintenance needs are much lower too.
If your floors are mainly carpeted, you are better off with this brush roll for carpet. For exclusively wooden floors, this brush roll for wooden floors might be what you want. For a multi-surface floor, you could get both of these Bissell Crosswave pet pro brushes if you don’t mind switching now and then.

Check Bissell Crosswave Pet Pro on Amazon
Straightforward controls
Even when using the multi-surface brush roll, this vacuum cleaner has two buttons that let you switch from hard floors to area rugs and vice versa with ease. The essence of this is to enhance efficiency by matching the specific floor type with the amount of suction power and moisture necessary.
The two control buttons (hard floor and area rug) are positioned on the handle and are very easy to reach. Each of these buttons is accompanied by a LED light to keep you posted on the specific mode in use.
The handle also houses a trigger that dispenses the cleaning solution on demand. When operating the vacuum cleaner on area rug mode, the system releases twice the amount of cleaning solution than the hard floor mode.
Does double-duty
The key selling aspect of this vacuum cleaner that gets reviewed a lot is its double-duty function. This model is purposely designed to vacuum your floors and wet clean them simultaneously. This eliminates the need for vacuuming first and then using a mop completely.
You could use it as a dry vacuum if you wish. However, this increases the risk of clogging up and damaging the Bissell Crosswave Pet Pro filter. This vacuum is designed to be used as a dry-wet combo cleaner. To ensure its durability and reliability, you should use it as such.
Dual tank design
As a wet cleaner, we appreciate that this model uses 2 separate reservoirs. One of the tanks has a capacity of 28 ounces and holds both clean water and the cleaning solution. The second reservoir holds 14.5 ounces of dirty water.
This 2-tank configuration ensures that the dirty water sucked after cleaning does not mix again with clean water. This makes cleaning much more efficient compared to the traditional way of dipping the mop in dirty water as you move from room to room.

High-quality, washable filter
The Bissell Crosswave Pet Pro Multi-Surface Wet Dry Vac 2306a comes fitted with a filter to trap most of the dirt, debris, and allergens from the dirty water. This filter is not HEPA, but it still does a great job of capturing and removing most of the contaminants.
After every thorough cleaning session, it’s important to clean the filter under running water and let it dry before putting it back.
The fact that this filter is washable means that it does not need to be replaced as often as non-washable ones. However, as you continue using the vacuum cleaner, the filter will deteriorate and eventually need to be replaced. You can buy the replacement filters directly from the manufacturer’s website or Amazon.
How the Bissell Crosswave Pet Pro 2306a Works
As complex as the Pet Pro 2306a may seem, it is actually effortless to use. Indeed, other than its dual-action performance, this model works pretty much like other vacuums that have the lowest price on Amazon.
The cleaning process begins with adding warm water into the clean water reservoir. There are two marks to guide you on how much water and cleaning solution to put for small and large areas.
After adding water to the tank, turn the vacuum ON and use the two buttons on the handle to choose the right cleaning mode. The Area Rug button lets out more soap during the cleaning process than the Hard Floor button. For spills that have dried onto the floor, pressing a trigger located under the handle will let out more soap, thereby making it easier to deal with tough messes.
This vacuum cleaner uses a 4.4 amp motor for both the vacuuming and wet-cleaning functions. During the vacuuming function, the engine rolls the brush at 3000 RPMs to agitate the dirt, debris, and allergens on the floor and sweep it towards the suction path where it is sucked into the dust bin.
As a mop, this vacuum releases a spray of soapy water onto the brush roll. The vacuuming function keeps on still, thereby ensuring that the dirty water used for cleaning is vacuumed too.
Also, the vacuum works as a sort of drier. What we particularly like here is that the floors take much less time to dry compared to using the conventional mop and bucket. This vacuuming action also prevents streaks from forming as the water dries.
How to clean the Crosswave Pet Pro 2306A
Once you’ve vacuumed and cleaned your floors, it’s important that you keep the vacuum clean and ready for the next cleaning session.
Start by adding water to the cleaning tray. Set the vacuum cleaner on the tray and turn it ON by pressing any of the two buttons on the handle. As the brush roll spins, it will automatically rinse itself and, therefore, eliminate the need to do it manually.
Next, you’ll need to pull out the dirty water tank for emptying and cleaning. The filter also needs to be cleaned well after every thorough cleaning session. If the water in the dirty water tank has pet hair and debris that are not safe to empty down the sink or toilet, use the plastic strainer included in the package to sieve them out and throw them in a dust bin.
Note that the filter and the brush roll should be left to dry completely before putting them back.
Top Additional Products to Consider if You Buy the Pet Pro
Besides the cleaning solution that comes included in your package, Bissell manufactures several other cleaning formulas in its labs. We’ve listed them and their uses in the table below:
Formula | Best for | View on Amazon |
Bissell l Pro max 2515A | For tough ground-in stains and dirt | View on Amazon |
Wood floor cleaning formula, 1929 | For use on sealed hardwood floors. Restores natural shine | View on Amazon |
Bissell 78H63 Deep Clean Pro | Cleans and protects carpets | View on Amazon |
Bissell Deep Clean and Refresh 1052A | For powerful cleaning and eliminating odors (has febreze) | View on Amazon |
Bissell Professional Pet Urine Elimator | Removes pet stains and odors (has oxy and febreze) | View on Amazon |
Differences between the Bissell Crosswave Pet Pro 2306A and 1785A
These 2 vacuum cleaners are basically the same model from a design perspective. However, there are a few differences that make each model distinct from the other.
Bissell Pet Pro 2306A | Bissell 1785A | |
Color | Purple | Green |
Weight | 11 lbs | 11.5 lbs |
Rinsing tray | Advanced | Standard |
Cost | $$$ | $$ |
Multi-surface brush roll | 2 | 1 |
Trial cleaning formula | 2 | 1 |
Pet strainer included | Yes | No |
Warranty | 3 years | 2 years |
Verdict
So, do we recommend the Bissell Crosswave Pet Pro? Yes. We feel that this is a highly convenient electric mop and actually one of the best in 2020. Most previous buyers also tend to like it a lot, judging by the reviews on Amazon and the manufacturer’s site.
However, keep in mind that it requires a good deal of cleaning after cleaning nasty spills. In that case, we’d only recommend it for light messes where cleaning the filter and dirty water tank will be less painful than cleaning spills using traditional methods.
Frequently Asked Questions & Troubleshooting
With the multi-surface brush roll, the Bissell Crosswave Pet Pro can be used on carpets too. However, its 4.4 amp isn’t strong enough for work for long on deep pile carpets. This won’t be an issue if you have low-pile carpets, though.
Similar to other vacuums, Bissell cleaners also develop issues and are returned to the manufacturer for refurbishing and reselling. More often than not, the refurbished models on Amazon or eBay are several folds cheaper. To be on the safer side, though, consider a seller that offers a 30-day trial period to ensure that you are getting a functional unit.
Well, given the size of its motor and the fact that it does not have a steamer, the Pet Pro 2306A may not be perfect for use on commercial establishments. Bissell l has several devices crafted purposely for heavy-duty use, including the Bissell BigGreen PowerForce BGU1451T.
Yes. It’s possible to use this unit as a vacuum cleaner only by not putting water in the reservoir. However, since it’s designed to work as a wet-dry vacuum, operating it this way for a prolonged time may cause issues, especially with the filter.
Why has my Bissell Crosswave Pet Pro Stopped Working?
The Bissell Croswave Pet Pro may stop working in a couple of ways. Here are some of the major problems and how to troubleshoot them;
Brush roll that does not turn
- Remove the brush roll window and the brush roll.
- Check for hairs, furs, and debris wrapped on the brush roll.
- Check and remove any debris that may have been trapped on the plastic drive gear (where the brush roll connects with the foot of the machine).
- Hold the colored tab on one side of the brush roll and spin the other end. If the brush roll doesn’t turn, then the roll needs to be replaced.
Machine has no power
- If the machine does not turn ON after pressing either of the 2 buttons;
- Unplug the machine and run your hand on the cord to ensure that it’s smooth.
- Check to ensure that the plug is not damaged too. If either of these is damaged, you’ll need to contact Bissell l or visit an authorized dealer near you.
- Ensure that the outlet is working.
- If the outlet is working and the plug and cord are in good condition, unplug the machine and remove the handle. To do this, take a blunt tool such as a screwdriver or pen and push its tip into the small circular opening on the handle while pulling the handle up.
- After removing the handle, reinstall it by pushing it back firmly until you hear a click.
- Plug the machine and test for power.