Bissell Steam&Sweep 46B4

The  Bissell Steam&Sweep 46B4 combines a sweeper and steam mop in one machine. The sweeper in the front of the machine sucks dirt into a dustbin, while the steam mop wipes floors in back. One can use both functions simultaneously or, as most users recommend, one after the other. Like the popular Bissell 1867-7 Steam Mop, the Bissell Steam&Sweep has a 360-degree swivel head and a 17.5-ounce removable water tank that provides about 15 minutes of steam. The Bissell Steam&Sweep also cannot generate steam that is hot enough to sanitize unless you leave the mop in place for at least 15 seconds. The mop covers on the Steam&Sweep attach with hook-and-loop fasteners, rather than the elastic-and-toggle mechanism that users complain about on the 1867-7. Other user complaints include a relatively short handle, a water filter (*Est. $12) to replace and a trigger mechanism to release the steam, which many reviewers find tiring. However, the power cord for the Bissell Steam&Sweep is almost twice as long at 30 feet.

Though you can sweep and mop simultaneously, reviewers say the sweeper's position in front of the mop cover presents the risk of getting the dirt wet when you pull the mop back, making it more difficult to sweep up. This layout also means that the steam portion of the Bissell Steam&Sweep can never reach the edges of the floor. There aren't many players in the category; the recently released Haan HD-60 Steam Sweeper (*Est. $130) may be a good alternative, but at this point lacks the reviews to back it up. If you'd prefer to combine your steam mop with a vacuum rather than a sweeper, you may want to check out the Shark Vac-Then-Steam MV2010 (*Est. $130)

No comparison tests or reviews exist yet for steam sweepers and steam vacuums, but there are dozens of owner-written reviews available on Amazon.com and Target.com. There is one detailed review of the Bissell Steam&Sweep performed by Good Housekeeping, but it does not offer any comparisons to other steam sweepers.