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Bissell Cleanview XR Review

While affordable, this vacuum is unable to roll over large debris without clogging
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Bissell Cleanview XR Review
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Price:  $199 List
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Manufacturer:   Bissell
Rachael Lamore
By Rachael Lamore ⋅ Senior Review Analyst  ⋅  June 27, 2025
Contributions From: Chris Maxcer
37
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#17 of 18
  • Carpet Performance - 30% 2.5
  • Hardwood Performance - 25% 1.9
  • Pet Hair - 20% 4.7
  • Ease of Use - 10% 6.6
  • Filtration - 10% 7.0
  • Battery - 5% 4.3

Our Verdict

The Bissell Cleanview XR seriously struggled to complete our rigorous lab tests. The leading cause of these problems is the vacuum's inlet into the dustbin. It only has a partial opening, which doesn't leave much room for larger debris to move past. As a result, it repeatably clogged throughout our cleaning test trials, leaving us very frustrated, not to mention with dirty floors. We even tested with smaller messes, and the vacuum continued showing limitations. This led to abysmal scores in our cleaning tests, and why we do not recommend this vacuum. It's light and easy to maneuver, but none of that counts if it does not have the ability to fully suck up and collect debris off the floor. To look for a more promising cleaner, check out our stick vacuum review.
REASONS TO BUY
Simple to maintain
Effective filtration
Lightweight feel
REASONS TO AVOID
Easily clogs
Struggles with large debris
Long charge time
Editor's Note: We shifted our new testing metrics on June 27, 2025, to better reflect the cleaning results we discovered during our cleaning trials, updating this review in the process.

Our Analysis and Test Results

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.

One of the hardest tests for our cordless vacuums is our rigorous carpet test that tasks a vacuum with collecting as much sand, rice, and Cheerios in a short time.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

Carpet Performance


To test carpet performance, we use two types of carpet in 9' x 3' sections. The first is a low pile carpet that's common in many homes, and the second is a high pile carpet that's more likely to represent a shaggy area rug in someone's home. We start our test by measuring out 1/2 cup each of sand, rice, and Cheerios, which we also weigh to ensure accuracy.

Each vacuum is given precisely 24 seconds to collect as much material as possible, simulating the pace of quick cleaning around the house. We repeat the test 2-3 times to ensure accurate and reliable performance averages.

bissell cleanview xr - when it wasn't yet clogged, this vacuum seemed to do a good job...
When it wasn't yet clogged, this vacuum seemed to do a good job. Unfortunately, that rarely took long.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

This XR vacuum seriously struggled with these tests, clogging on 5 of 6 test attempts.

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 apparent when I turned off the vacuum, and a massive pile of rice and Cheerios fell out of the bottom. It's a shocking sight. So disappointing.

To put this performance in perspective, 24% pick up in this test is far below our 83% test fleet average and easily the worst result we recorded by a wide margin. If you buy this vacuum, you'll likely need to use your foot to spread out any mess first so that you can slowly attack it to prevent a clog. We can't say this enough: Go slow with this vacuum.

bissell cleanview xr - we have no idea why bissell reduced the intake tube, but we know it...
We have no idea why Bissell reduced the intake tube, but we know it can easily create clogs.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

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 my experience, I 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.

My tests revealed that fairly common household debris sizes, like Cheerios and rice, consistently led to clogs in the Bissell Cleanview XR.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

Hardwood Performance


As more people's households shift to vinyl and hardwood floors, people are looking for vacuums that can clean hard floors as well as carpets. To test hard floor performance, we again use a cocktail of 1.5 cups of rice, sand, and Cheerios, spread over 9' x 3' sections of hardwood.

bissell cleanview xr - we thoroughly test each cordless vacuum on hardwood as well as carpet.
We thoroughly test each cordless vacuum on hardwood as well as carpet.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

During our 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 collected more than 62% of the mixed debris.

I dread using this vacuum because it clogs every time I use it. And de-clogging just makes more of a mess than I started with!

bissell cleanview xr - i tried hard to go slower and give this bissell vac a fighting...
I tried hard to go slower and give this Bissell vac a fighting chance, but our mixed item test just kept choking it.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

Don't Forget About Edges and Corners
Debris often collects along walls and baseboards—areas many vacuums struggle to clean. Testing near-wall pickup shows how well a vacuum can handle those tricky edges, both straight on and when gliding alongside.


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 a huge fistful of mixed pet hair to 4 grams, then gleefully smear it into a 4.5' x 3' carpet section.

bissell cleanview xr - we use a mix of pet hair from real dogs in our vacuum tests.
We use a mix of pet hair from real dogs in our vacuum tests.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

We add 1 gram of hair extensions to test performance with anti-tangle claims. 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.

Pet Hair Cleaning Performance (%)
ProductLowHigh
Best8474
Average73.648.3
Bissell Cleanview XR6246
Worst4820

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 gross. If I had pets and had to do this every time, it would get old really fast.

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.

Filtration Particle Count
 Bissell Cleanview XR
Small Particle Count267
HEPA Filter
Dylos Air Quality DesignationGood

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.

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 the 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.

bissell cleanview xr - i enjoyed navigating the lightweight xr through my house when i...
I enjoyed navigating the lightweight XR through my house when I needed to work quickly.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

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.

bissell cleanview xr - general maintenance on the bissell cleanview xr is relatively simple...
General maintenance on the Bissell Cleanview XR is relatively simple for standard debris but pet hair can be difficult to remove from the small dustbin.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

The same user-friendly approach applies to the dustbin, which is easy to remove and clean. A dedicated tab effortlessly releases the brush roll, making it convenient to clean and reassemble. Overall, this model's ease of maintenance is one of its standout features.

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.

bissell cleanview xr - bissell ships the cleanview xr with three small and simple hand tool...
Bissell ships the Cleanview XR with three small and simple hand tool accessories.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

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.

bissell cleanview xr - the included crevice tool lets us vacuum in nooks and crannies...
The included crevice tool lets us vacuum in nooks and crannies without problems, and it should also work well for vacuuming out the interior of cars.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

The package deal 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.

Measured Battery Runtime
ProductLowHigh
Best689
Average44.111.9
Bissell Cleanview XR3111
Worst2911

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 can vacuum a few rooms at a time but not an entire multi-room home.

bissell cleanview xr - the display shows you an approximate battery life indicator.
The display shows you an approximate battery life indicator.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

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?


One of the best budget options in our mind is the Levoit LVAC 200, easily outperforming the Bissell across the board, even in terms of general maintenance, while not costing much more. If you can stretch your budget a bit more, the Shark Pet Plus is a high-performance machine that will get even the toughest jobs done.

Compare to Similar Products

 
Awards  Best Buy Award
Best on a Budget
   
Price $199 List$210 List
$169.99 at Amazon
$200 List
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$150 List
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$150 List
$119.99 at Amazon
Overall Score Sort Icon
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Bottom Line While this model comes at an affordable price, it clogs often, making it difficult to complete cleaning tasksThis vacuum delivers an impressive clean for a budget-friendly model, holding its own against competitors that cost two or even three times as muchA vacuum that gets the job done without breaking the bankThis stick vacuum is affordable, but it lacks performance compared to higher-priced optionsFor those who desire a lightweight vacuum that won't consume their hard-earned funds, this might be worth a look
Rating Categories Bissell Cleanview XR Smoture VAC01 Levoit LVAC-200 Kenmore Elite CSV M... Black+Decker Powers...
Carpet Performance (30%)
2.5
6.4
6.2
4.3
4.0
Hardwood Performance (25%)
1.9
6.9
6.4
5.0
3.6
Pet Hair (20%)
4.7
5.0
5.1
5.4
5.9
Ease of Use (10%)
6.6
7.8
8.0
4.0
6.1
Filtration (10%)
7.0
7.2
8.0
4.0
1
Battery (5%)
4.3
5.8
5.3
5.0
4.8
Specifications Bissell Cleanview XR Smoture VAC01 Levoit LVAC-200 Kenmore Elite CSV M... Black+Decker Powers...
Max Mode Runtime 11 min 14 min 17 min 14 min 18 min
Low Mode Runtime 31 min 43 min 35 min 34 min 26 min
Storage Wall mount Standalone Standalone Wall mount Wall mount
Handheld Weight 3.5 lbs 3.5 lbs 3.3 lbs 2.0 lbs 3.5 lbs
Suction 821 Pa 249 Pa 274 Pa 149 Pa 50 Pa
Low Pile Cleaned 24% 87% 86% 77% 73%
High Pile Cleaned 35% 42% 42% 20% 24%
Hardwood Cleaned 20% 85% 77% 70% 62%
Pet Hair Cleaned 54% 54% 52% 56% 59%
Charge Time 4.3 hrs 4.1 hrs 2.8 hrs 3.2 hrs 4.7 hrs
Dustbin Capacity 0.3 L 1.5 L 0.8 L 1.0 L 0.2 L
Noise Level 81 dBA 80 dBA 80 dBA 75 dBA 78 dBA
Trigger No No No No No
Variable Suction Control Yes No No Yes Yes, automatic
Model Number 3789U VAC01 LSV-V201-WUS DS4095 BHFEA18D1

Rachael Lamore, Chris Maxcer