BISSELL Steam Shot vs Goehner's SteamVex: Which Fits?
The BISSELL Steam Shot 39N7A is a small one-piece steam cleaner that keeps the water tank, heating system, and nozzle in your hand. Goehner’s SteamVex leaves the main unit on the floor or counter and operates through a hose and steam gun. The first format suits short spot jobs; the second is better suited to cleaning several detail areas across kitchens, bathrooms, grout, and tracks in one session.
Quick answer
Looking only at product format, a small one-piece Steam Shot-style machine suits an occasional spot, while SteamVex’s 1.6 L tank, 5 ft hose, and detail brush suit continuous detail cleaning. However, model 39N7A is explicitly included in the 2024 recall and should not remain in an ordinary purchase comparison. For any Steam Shot, check the exact model on the bottom label and confirm its current recall remedy status first.
Start by separating the two BISSELL Steam Shot recalls
2024: model 39N7A is part of a full-product recall
On July 18, 2024, the CPSC announced a recall involving approximately 3.2 million BISSELL Steam Shot units. The affected products may expel hot water or steam onto users while heating or during use, creating a burn hazard.
Model 39N7A is explicitly listed among the affected models. BISSELL instructs owners to stop using an affected machine immediately and follow its process to request a replacement machine, shopping credit, or refund. For exact models and remedy steps, see the BISSELL 2024 Steam Shot recall instructions and the CPSC recall 24-309.
2026: certain OmniReach / Omni models have an attachment recall
A separate recall announced on April 9, 2026, covers certain 4155 and 4171-series Steam Shot OmniReach / Omni products. The affected attachment may detach unexpectedly and expel hot water or steam. The official remedy is to stop using the affected original attachment and contact BISSELL for a free replacement attachment.
This is not a blanket finding about every Steam Shot, and it should not be combined with the 2024 full-product recall. See CPSC recall 26-385 for the affected models and remedy.
BISSELL Steam Shot 39N7A vs SteamVex: specifications
The 39N7A figures below come from its official product page. These specifications explain the difference between the two product formats; they do not mean that a recalled 39N7A may continue to be used or sold.
| Specification | BISSELL Steam Shot 39N7A | Goehner’s SteamVex |
|---|---|---|
| Recall status | Included in the 2024 full-product recall | Not included in the BISSELL recalls described in this article |
| Product format | One-piece handheld | Separate main unit + 5 ft hose + steam gun |
| Water tank | 6.6 fl oz | 1.6 L / 54 fl oz |
| Rated power | 1,000 W | 1,800 W |
| Published temperature | The current product page does not list a directly comparable °F / °C value | 230°F / 110°C, rated at the nozzle |
| Published pressure | The current product page does not list a directly comparable value | 50 PSI / 3.5 bar |
| Power cord | 20 ft | 13.2 ft |
| Hose | The accessory kit includes an extension hose | 5 ft working hose |
| Weight | 4 lb | About 4.52 lb / 2.05 kg |
| Cleaning attachments | 10 tools | 6 cleaning attachments |
| Basic warranty | 1-year limited warranty | 3-year factory warranty |
A missing temperature or pressure figure does not mean that a machine produces no heat or pressure. It means only that the current official material does not support a direct numeric comparison. Likewise, 1,800 W does not prove that every type of soil will be removed faster than with 1,000 W. Soil type, surface, steam output, attachment contact, and follow-up wiping all affect the result.
The biggest practical difference is tank size and handheld load
The 39N7A’s 6.6 fl oz tank suits short jobs. SteamVex’s 54 fl oz capacity is approximately 8.2 times larger, but that does not mean 8.2 times the cleaning ability. A larger tank mainly reduces refill interruptions during continuous cleaning.
The machines have similar total weights, but they are handled differently. With a one-piece machine, the water tank and heating components move with your hand. With SteamVex, the main unit can remain in a stable position while your hand controls the hose end, steam gun, and attachment. The difference becomes clearer when you repeatedly change angles around shower tracks, grout lines, faucet bases, and stovetop edges.
If you clean only one sink edge or one short section of track at a time, a small tank is not necessarily a drawback. Capacity and operating format become clearer differences only when the job expands to several areas.
Power-cord reach and nozzle flexibility solve different problems
The 39N7A’s 20 ft power cord is longer than SteamVex’s 13.2 ft cord, giving it a clear advantage in spaces with few outlets.
SteamVex’s advantage comes from its 5 ft hose. The main unit does not have to follow every movement of your hand, and the steam gun can reach around sinks, stovetops, bathroom fixtures, or obstacles inside a vehicle. A longer power cord determines how far the machine can sit from an outlet; a hose determines how the nozzle reaches the target.
Can both machines handle detail cleaning?
Based on attachment type, yes. The 39N7A kit includes detail brushes, a grout tool, a flat scraper, and an angled concentrator. SteamVex includes a precision nylon brush, round nylon brush, larger surface brush, metal brush, and microfiber bonnets.
The distinction is not that SteamVex can clean grout and Steam Shot cannot. A one-piece machine is direct for one local spot. For a longer grout line, several tracks, or detail work across multiple rooms, SteamVex’s larger tank and hose-based format reduce stops and the load carried in your hand.
For the practical method, see how to clean grout with steam.
Which format better fits kitchens and bathrooms?
Kitchens and bathrooms often contain several small targets: stovetop seams, range-hood edges, faucet bases, grout lines, and shower tracks. SteamVex is better suited to combining those areas into one continuous cleaning session, while a small one-piece machine is better suited to choosing one area for a quick job.
Regardless of machine size, steam does not make grease disappear. Work in sections, let steam and an appropriate brush loosen the residue, and promptly remove the soil and moisture with a clean microfiber cloth. See our guides to steam-cleaning kitchen grease and cleaning bathroom edges.
Before starting, confirm that the exact surface permits steam. Natural stone, wood, specialty coatings, cold glass, and electronic areas cannot be judged safe from the words “hard surface” alone.
Who is a small Steam Shot-style handheld for?
This section applies only to a specific machine confirmed to be outside any recall or one that has completed the official remedy.
A small one-piece format is better suited to people who:
- clean only one or two spots at a time;
- value a compact body and direct operation;
- mainly clean faucets, sink edges, local grout, or one short track; or
- need a longer bare power cord.
The 39N7A itself does not belong in this ordinary recommendation because it is included in the 2024 recall.
Who is SteamVex for?
Goehner’s SteamVex is better suited to people who use a steam cleaner as a regular detail-cleaning tool and often work across several areas in one session. Its practical value comes from the combination of a 1.6 L tank, separate main unit, 5 ft hose, detail brush, and approximately 30-second cold start—not from any one “big number.”
If your jobs are always very small, the larger tank and hose system may be unnecessary. If you mainly clean broad floor areas, a canister with a dedicated floor tool may be a better fit. Check the current SteamVex product information instead of relying on a fixed price quoted in an article.
Bottom line
For anyone who owns or is considering a 39N7A, the recall takes priority over the specification comparison: stop using the affected machine immediately and follow the BISSELL remedy process.
When the comparison is about product format, a small one-piece machine suits infrequent, short, single-spot cleaning. SteamVex better fits continuous detail work across kitchens, bathrooms, grout, and tracks. Before choosing, confirm the exact model, its safety status, and the work you actually need to complete.
If you are comparing more product formats, see our 2026 handheld steam cleaner comparison.
Frequently asked questions
Are all BISSELL Steam Shot models recalled?
You cannot make that blanket assumption. The 2024 and 2026 recalls cover different models and require different remedies. Check the exact model on the bottom label, then consult the current BISSELL and CPSC pages for that recall.
Is SteamVex eight times more capable because its tank is about eight times larger than the 39N7A’s?
No. The calculation 54 ÷ 6.6 ≈ 8.2 describes water capacity only. Cleaning results also depend on steam output, attachments, soil, surface, and technique.
Does 50 PSI mean SteamVex will always clean better?
No. BISSELL’s current 39N7A page does not provide a directly comparable pressure value, and “not published” does not mean zero. Even when pressure is known, it cannot determine the result apart from steam flow, attachment, and surface conditions.
Can SteamVex replace a Steam Shot?
It can be considered as a machine with a different format, but it is not a one-for-one replacement. SteamVex is larger, uses a hose, and is designed for continuous detail work. A small one-piece machine better suits short, single-spot jobs. Choose the working style first, then compare specific models whose safety status is clear.
