Review on Bissell Symphony Hardwood Microfiber 1543A by Rui Knain

Shark Pocket Steam has been my favorite for a few months. But there were a few things I didn't really like, and then one day as I was vacuuming a hard floor and preparing to clean it with a steam cleaner, it dawned on me: Why wasn't there a device at the same time? vacuumed and washed at the same time? I did a little research - and you know what, there is! It's called the Bissell Symphony! :-) So here are a few notes on Symphony and what I like about it compared to Shark. First, when your Symphony arrives, the box will feel very heavy (much heavier than the Shark). I was expecting it to be a bit heavier because it has a built in vacuum, but I wasn't expecting it to be *that* heavy! Fear not, as it turns out most of the weight is packaging (both the Revain outer box, which is large, and the actual Bissell packaging). Once you're *just* dealing with your Symphony, it's a lot lighter - still heavier than the Shark, of course, but not as terrible. Second, I like that the Symphony doesn't always auto-ignite like the Shark does. The Symphony has a small button on the handle that you need to hold down when you need steam. Some people may not like it (need to hold the trigger), but it's in the grip so it's very easy and natural to hold, but if you don't need steam, you can just take your finger off the trigger. (So yes, you can use it just as a vacuum or even just as a steamer - the vacuum on/off button is independent of the steam and vice versa.) Third buttons to adjust between high and low steam right on the handle. On the Shark model, the buttons are on the bottom, so you have to bend and twist towards the front of the device to switch between steam levels. (Honestly, Shark also has three levels of steam (Dust, Mop and Scrub) - Symphony only has two (High and Low), but I never wanted a third level with Symphony..) Fourth, Symphony will really get up and stay where you have formulated it. In other words, when you need to take a break or store Symphony, it stands alone. With the Shark you'll have to fix it or hang it or be very careful when leaning it against a counter or wall as it won't stay upright - the head is always spinning. Fifth, I *love* how easy Bissell made adding water to the symphony! And that while standing (symphony)! You simply open the small water "door" on the back of the unit and pour in the water. With Shark you have to put the thing sideways on the counter or table, unscrew the lid and then use the funnel, or pour water sooooo slowly because the hole is so small (otherwise you get water everywhere). The symphony is just amazing! At Shark you can only use reusable mop heads. Well, maybe that's all you *want* to use, but being able to use one of them is brilliant! (If it's not clear how to use the Swiffer disposable pillow, there's actually a second interchangeable head that snaps onto the underside of the Symphony - it's the same as the other head *except* it has a movable rim that you open - put on the swiffer pad - then close the rim over the swiffer pad to keep it in place.And switching between heads is as easy as it gets - you step on a ledge, to remove (free) a head and then place the Symphony on top of other plastic and it just snaps in place! So the big question is how does it clean? How does it clean? See that picture? WOW! And if you find a spot on the floor where you have extra hard stuff on the floor that you need to vacuum (hey, that happens, especially with pets and kids), just take your finger off the steam trigger, vacuum it up, and then start again to dampen! And yes, the handle can n be adjusted to fit under tables, under beds, etc. We have a lot of shedding around here now, so yeah, it *happened* that a tiny thin strip of wet pet hair was left at the end of the mopping that wasn't collected (you know, that happens *when* you're mopping in a house with a lot of animals , no matter how much you sweep and vacuum first). Seriously, it only happened once, in one place, and I just picked it up with a paper towel. Given that "wet pet hair after mopping" *always* happens with any type of mop (I think after I've swept or vacuumed, the dog and cat will run behind me and throw themselves on the freshly swept floor*, just* so i can have a pet hair on the mop!... "wow all our hair is gone she's going to be so sad let's put some back on the floor in a minute!"), I won't symphony make accusations. for it - especially when you consider what a great job he is doing and compared to everything else!