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Although the Bissell CleanView Swivel Pet is a popular entry-level upright vacuum, it struggled in most of our performance tests. Its low clearance cleaner head often pushed debris instead of picking it up, and its hard floor suction was mediocre at best. The filtration system was the weakest in our testing, releasing airborne particles, making it a poor choice for individuals with allergies or sensitivities to pet dander. Its one standout feature is good pet hair pickup, though this benefit is short-lived. Hair tends to accumulate quickly, and removing it is a hassle due to obstructive bars that make cutting tangled strands difficult. Ultimately, we recommend exploring other budget-friendly options that offer better performance in our lineup.
REASONS TO BUY
Good pet hair collection
Inexpensive
REASONS TO AVOID
Brush roller hard to clean
No suction control
Poor filtration
No swivel
Our Analysis and Test Results
Even though the CleanView Swivel is a basic, budget-focused upright vacuum, we appreciated its handy Suction Power Indicator. What is it? It's a visual, mechanical, color-coded indicator that turns from green to red if the vacuum loses suction or becomes clogged. Even better, it can indicate a partial clog or loss of suction, which can occur after filling the dustbin or when the filter needs to be cleaned.
We put each vacuum through a gauntlet of household cleaning situations to reveal performance differences you can use to help determine which machine is best for you.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Carpet Performance
When we weighed the results, this model did surprisingly well sucking up the sand, but it pushed around rice and Cheerios. That caused us to spend time chasing down the plowed piles as we tried to get them up.
In addition to forward plowing, we also observed back plowing. What's worse, the reverse strokes were not very effective, so we recommend approaching most materials with forward passes and avoiding attempts to remove dirt on the reverse.
Before TestingAfter Testing
A below-average low pile carpet test can often reveal tendencies for cleaner heads to plow material instead of rolling over the top.
Like many budget vacuums, shag carpet proves to be difficult to lift the debris within thick shag carpet. Here, you can see the Bissell does a great job at picking up the Cheerios head-on, but leaves the majority of the rice and sand behind.
You can see the white specs of rice left over after the initial pass with the Bissell. Based on our measured results, sand is also still ingrained in the thick weave of the carpet.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
First, you might be able to adjust the height of the cleaner head beyond the recommended settings to reduce the plowing of larger debris (like cereal) or lower it for small debris (like sand). These changes can affect the vacuum's suction seal, reducing its effectiveness; therefore, you'll need to experiment to find the right balance.
With patience and a forward-heavy stroke pattern, many people could find success with this vacuum in rooms where there's usually not high-pile carpet. it helps improve its collection abilities on hard floors, which we'll discuss below, but the side effect is that this flap plows debris during reverse strokes.
Hardwood Performance
Unfortunately, the Swivel Pet isn't nearly as effective on hard floors as it is on carpet. However, we noticed a significant difference in effectiveness between forward and reverse strokes.
On forward passes, it sucked up debris pretty well, but aggressively plowed on the reverse. To achieve acceptable results with this machine on hardwood, you'll likely need to focus on clearing all debris while moving forward.
This vacuum, which can successfully perform a head-on pass in this test, is great for collecting crumbs on stairs or capturing debris under kitchen counters.
Before TestingAfter Testing
Using easy-to-see coffee grounds, we test next-to-wall suction capabilities to help evaluate whether each vacuum can replace a broom for typical hard floor cleaning tasks.
It doesn't do as well, running along the long hallways, often flicking some material off to the side rather than sucking it up.
Pet Hair
While the Bissell CleanView Swivel Pet met our average collection rate of 72% on low-pile carpet, it did an outstanding job on high-pile carpet, matching or beating vacuums that cost significantly more.
Pet Hair Cleaning Performance (%)
Product
Low
High
Best
78
82
Bissell CleanView Swivel Pet
72
74
Average
71.8
57.2
Worst
56
34
Before TestingAfter Testing
The Swivel Pet did a solid job collecting pet hair on low pile carpet, matching our average results.
The downside to this model is the non-removable brush roller. It wraps hair and can collect fur.
To clean it, we had to cut the hair and then pick it out by hand while avoiding the support slats and turning the brush roller. This is a tedious task that we don't wish for anyone to have to do.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Filtration
We use Dylos sensors to spot and measure particles in flour that we vacuum up during this test. Our monitors spiked to 1,521 small particles during testing.
Filtration
Bissell CleanView Swivel Pet
Small (2.4-0.5)
1,521
Dylos Air Quality Designation
Poor
HEPA
✖
This is a poor filtration score for our tests. Those with allergies may prefer a vacuum with better filtration. While not all vacuums with good filtration use HEPA filters, nearly every vacuum we've tested with a HEPA filter has performed very well in our filtration tests.
Ease of Use
Despite the swiveling head, we had a hard time making tight turns around table legs and into corners without extra effort. But once we were vacuuming open areas of the room, pushing it in a straight line felt much easier.
As its name suggests, the Bissell CleanView Swivel Pet has a nice multi-angle swivel head that makes turning easier than vacuums that don't swivel.
Credit: Laura Casner
The fixed canister limits reach under furniture, and the need to bend down to adjust the height dial when switching between floor types can strain your back during frequent transitions. It is a basic design, and many better vacuums place suction controls right on the handle for easier adjustments.
It's nice to have a cleaner head with adjustable heights — but you have to bend over to use it.
Credit: Laura Casner
The biggest pain in keeping this machine clean is the ability to access the brush roller. It's not removable, so you have to cut wrapped hair and pick it through small openings to remove it, which can be a real hassle.
The motorized attachment tool worked surprisingly well when we went to clean the couch and other upholstery. The included crevice tool and dusting brush round out the package, giving you a full spectrum of tools to choose from.
Bissell includes a mini suction-powered motorized brush hand tool attachment that is useful for cleaning pet beds, furniture, and stairs.
Credit: Laura Casner
Should You Buy the Bissell CleanView Swivel Pet
There are better options in our review that cost less but still provide better cleaning ability. This vacuum can handle simple messes that aren't overly daunting, but with its underlying poor filtration, we think it would be wise to search for something else.
What Other Upright Vacuums Should You Consider?
The Kenmore Intuition costs about $50 more, but it's much better on both carpet and hardwood, though slightly less effective with pet hair. If you're looking for a budget-friendly option that's still reliable for cleaning up after your pets on carpet, the Eureka PowerSpeed is a great alternative.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Compare Bissell CleanView Swivel Pet versus top competing products:
