Bissell Cleanview XR Review

While the Bissell Cleanview XR doesn't boast many standout features and is underpowered, we appreciated its straightforward maintenance process. Cleaning the filters, dustbin, and brush roll was a breeze.

Performance Comparison

Carpet Performance

We tested how well the Bissell Cleanview XR could pick up a mix of sand, rice, and Cheerios on both low pile and high pile carpets.

This XR vac seriously struggled with this test, clogging on 5 of 6 test attempts.

In previous, less-rigorous tests, we were able to suck up very small debris fairly well, but Cheerios are definitely its nemesis, leading to the lowest scores we've ever recorded in our more advanced multi-debris carpet tests.

Low Pile

We tried hard to go slow on this test to give this vacuum a fighting chance, but it clogged easily at any movement that wasn't at a snail's pace.

“When a clog was less clear during the test, it became clear when I turned off the vac, and a massive pile of rice and Cheerios fell out of the bottom,” noted Rachael, our lead tester. “So disappointing.”

To put this performance in perspective, 24% pick up in this test is far below our 82.7% test fleet average and easily the worst result we recorded by far. If you buy this vacuum, you'll likely need to use your foot to spread out any mess first just so you can slowly attack it to prevent a clog. We can't say this enough: Go slow with this vacuum.

High Pile

The Cleanview XR performed slightly better on high pile carpet than on low pile carpet — but only because it managed to hold back getting clogged on one run until near the end of the 24-second time limit, giving it a slight boost to its average.

These clogs happened both at the bottom of the cleaner intake as well as at the intake hole in the bin. Based on our experience, we believe this vacuum has internal openings that are too small to let Cheerios through quickly enough. It's hard to imagine what bigger Fruit Loops might do to it.

Hardwood Performance

During our similar sand, rice, and Cheerios tests, the Cleanview XR continued to clog on hardwood. Badly. Frequently. Quickly.

While high-end cordless vacuums crush our hardwood test by sucking up more than 90% of debris with ease, most midrange-priced options still manage to contain over 80%. For a budget comparison, the similarly priced Black + Decker Powerseries+ 20V earned a much higher 5.8 hardwood ranking and slurped up more than 62% of sand, rice, and Cheerios.

Cleaning Performance

In previous, simpler tests, this vacuum was able to suck up smaller debris relatively well, which might be all right for some households that rarely need to vacuum debris larger than rice.

“I dread using this vacuum because it clogs every time I use it,” one tester complained. "And de-clogging just makes more of a mess than I started with!"

Crevice

To test crevice suction performance, we weighed a set amount of sand, spread it in between the slats of a bamboo mat, and then ran the cleaner head over the mat 4 times. We then weighed the sand left at the end of testing to determine exactly how much sand was successfully collected by each vacuum.

The Bissell Cleanview did better in this test, collecting 62% of the sand. We believe that sand is small enough that it won't clog this vacuum, indicating this model provides decent suction but has some internal design flaws that allow clogs with bigger material.

Edges

To test near-wall pickup capabilities, we spread coffee grounds along the edge of a wall on a hardwood floor, then assessed each vacuum's ability to suck up the grounds in both a head-on attack as well as a parallel run.

The Cleanview XR did an awesome job with the head-on edge test, successfully sucking up all the coffee grounds! We were so excited. Then on the parallel run, it barely sucked up any coffee grounds at all. If you consider the distance between the sides of the head to the interior brush roll suction area, it should be no surprise that this Bissell struggled to suck up coffee grounds on parallel passes to the wall. The distance, along with the side bristle seals, indicates that edge debris will have a hard time getting sucked into the vacuum. You'll need to use a crevice tool for most close-to-wall cleaning.

Pet Hair

Our pet hair test is a challenge we relish because so many pet owners struggle with shed hair, particularly in the spring when many dogs and cats shed their winter coats. To create a challenging scenario, we measure out a huge fistful of mixed pet hair to 4 grams, then gleefully smear it into a 4.5' x 3' carpet section. To test performance with anti-tangle claims, we add 1 gram of hair extensions. To replicate typical traffic in homes, we roll a heavy wheel over it to further smash it into the carpet. Each vacuum has 12 seconds to collect as much hair as it can.

It performed comparatively better with pet hair than with large round cereal, collecting 62% of the hair on low pile carpets and 46% on high pile carpets. The biggest issue with pet hair wasn't how well it sucked it up but how to empty it from the dustbin. “To get the pet hair out of the dustbin, I had to remove the filter and remove the pet hair, which was really gross,” explained Rachael, our lead tester. “If I had pets and had to do that every time, that would get really old really fast.”

Filtration & Suction

We test both filtration and suction together because some rigorous filtration systems can reduce suction power. These tests help reveal the balance between the two that might best meet your household needs.

After the poor showing on carpet and hardwood, we were pleased to see more competitive numbers in these tests.

Filtration

To test filtration, we spend far more time and attention on the details than other reviewers — and we're proud of it. We prepare a clean room in our lab by running air filters overnight. The next day, we measured the room's indoor air quality with two Dylos air quality monitors and started our tests. We spread 1/3 cup of flour on the floor, then vacuum it up. If the vacuum spews flour particles or releases tiny particulates, our Dylos monitors count and record them, giving us comparable ranking data.

We were pleased to see a spike of just 267 small particles, representing very low leakage and good containment. If you have moderate allergies to dust or pet dander, the Bissell Cleanview XR is unlikely to make things worse.

Suction

We were surprised to see the Bissell boasts a moderate suction power, which we measured at 821 Pascals. In fact, it's more powerful than some vacuums, which cost twice as much.

Because this XR has a very competitive suction power measurement, its performance problems with clogging reaffirm our inclinations on the design issue with the debris pathway to the dustbin. It's a total letdown since there's so much potential shown by this test.

Ease of Use

With a handheld weight of under 4 pounds, the Cleanview XR is easy to maneuver and can glide across various surfaces, effortlessly transitioning from hardwood to carpet.

Maneuverability

Navigating around obstacles like table legs and furniture was easy. We were delighted by how smoothly the head swiveled around coffee table legs. Because it's relatively lightweight, it was easy to slip under couches despite having to bend over. Overall, we ranked its maneuverability as above average, making it good for kids or aging adults who might lack the strength to push a vacuum around the home.

Maintenance

The manual for the Bissell includes helpful diagrams illustrating how to clean and replace filters, which we found incredibly useful. Maintenance of the filters was straightforward, thanks to the clear instructions provided.

The same user-friendly approach applies to the dustbin, which is easy to remove and clean. The brush roll can also be effortlessly released by pulling on a dedicated tab, making it convenient to clean and reassemble. Overall, the ease of maintenance is one of the standout features of this model.

Uphostery & Attachments

We tested the Cleanview XR on upholstery, cleaning up coffee grounds using the included dusting brush. While it successfully removed many of the coffee grounds we spread across pillows and an ironing board, it left behind more than we would've liked.

With some extra effort, however, this model can eventually get the job done with these hand tools — it just may take you a few more passes than the elite devices in this category.

The XR also comes with a wall mount for storage convenience, but you can also lean it against a wall, and it will stay put if you want to avoid the mount.

Battery

We tested battery life on its lowest and highest settings. It lasts approximately 31 minutes on low and 11 minutes on high.

The low-power battery life gave us a wince when logging the time, as you may need to pause for a recharge during longer cleaning sessions. In our experience, you'll be able to vacuum 1-2 rooms at a time but not an entire multi-room home.

Should You Buy the Bissell Cleanview XR?

Due to its sensitivity to clogging, we don't believe this vacuum is worth your time and money. Many of our frustrations during testing can be linked to this product in our cleaning tests. The poorly designed pathway into the dustbin means it's limited to only sucking small-sized debris at a slow rate to do its job. That doesn't leave much versatility when it comes to cleaning.

What Other Stick Vacuums Should You Consider?