Midwestern product tester and writer Courtney Irwin is a working mom of three who loves nothing more than a good deal. Equal parts entrepreneur and family-gal, she believes hard work deserves to be celebrated. Oftentimes in the form of a new gadget or sun-filled vacation!
Eureka and BISSELL vacuums occupy a similar budget-friendly niche, and offerings from each brand tend to have strengths. When comparing like-for-like models, BISSELLs usually have a wider array of convenience features, while Eurekas offer superior debris pickup performance. Dyson vacuums tend to occupy a much higher price point than BISSELL’s offerings, which is reflected in generally superior performance and better build quality. That said, BISSELL’s selection of corded models is far more extensive than what Dyson offers. Tangle-free brush
Pet hair is one thing, but long (human) hair is a whole new ballgame. Bissell’s patented Tangle-Free Brush Roll is amazing and prevents hair from wrapping around the brush.
We updated this article in March 2023 to provide additional testing information. We included one additional product, the ICONpet Edge Cordless Vacuum. Pet hair is sneaky, but the Bissell’s LED lights show no mercy. Pet dander lingers, but it’s nothing the Motorized TurboBrush can’t handle. Good Housekeeping participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites.
The vacuums are listed in order of overall sand removed in total, from the most to the least, so feel free to think of this as something of a sand test leaderboard. Jodhaira (she/her) is a product reviews analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute’s Home Care & Cleaning Lab, where she tests and writes about home appliances, cleaning products and cleaning tips. Prior to joining GH in 2021, she graduated from Hofstra University with a bachelor’s degree in forensic science and spent two years as an analyst in an environmental lab in Queens. Whether you’ve got a perpetually shedding husky or a short-hair breed, this powerful, feature-packed upright vacuum for pet owners will keep your floors fur-free. Shark vacuums are generally better built than BISSELL’s comparable offerings and deliver better overall performance.
That means we are giving you more decision points to help you choose whether you want a stick vac or a full-sized vacuum. As a result of these changes, our pet hair tests are a bit more challenging and we now embed dirt in the carpeting instead of scattering it on the surface as we used to do. And for bare floor testing, instead of combining all the debris into a messy array of cereal, sand, and rice, we vacuum up each type separately. All in all, we’ve made our stick vacuum tests better reflect real-world situations. The Bissell ICONpet model is a clear winner when it comes to the best vacuums for pet hair. Powerful suction traps pet hair and dander, notably great for those with allergies.
Pro tip- when hair gets stuck around a vacuum brush, the vacuum loses suction power and struggles to clean effectively. If you’ve ever had the dreaded task of cleaning hair from a vacuum, you’ll appreciate this feature. In this article, we’ll bissell handheld vacuum guide you through some of the different Bissell cordless and stick vacuums available, and help you determine if one of these fan-favorites is right for your home. The first is the basic, standard attachment for vacuuming your floors.
While testing, we found that it still has many of the same attributes as some more expensive cordless stick vacs like a long run time, a variety of helpful attachments and variable suction levels. The tangle-free brush roll helps prevent hair from wrapping around it while cleaning, and the full-width suction means you’ll find an easier time getting those tight corners clean. We also appreciate that it includes a crevice and dusting brush tool so you can remove dirt from even the smallest spaces. It was our No. 1 finisher on low-pile carpet, with a sand score of 93% and another perfect 100% with the black rice. It’s a strong performer on plushier, mid-pile carpet, too, which is our most difficult test. The Pure One S11 finished in third here, gathering up 78% of the sand and, once again, 100% of the black rice.
To measure the results, we weigh the vacuum’s dust bin both before and after each run. The Pure One S11’s black-and-white build is perhaps a bit bland, and we wish that it offered a bit more than 40 minutes of runtime under optimal conditions. Still, those are fair trade-offs at this price, especially considering how well it cleans. At $400 or less, it’s the first cordless vacuum we’d recommend for just about anyone in need of a new one. Head to the end of this guide to get some more information on how we test vacuum cleaners and why you can trust Good Housekeeping.
All of the cordless vacuums we tested were between 4 and 7 pounds, but none was so heavy that it affected our recommendation. All of the vacuums on this list were also very similar in height and overall size. The Dyson models are both roughly 49 inches, while the Tineco A11 is shorter at just 43 inches tall. To simulate small particle size, we use a mix of play sand and landscaping sand.
To see how vacuums deal with pet hair, we use a mixture of clippings sourced to us through our local pet groomer. The dustbin is a cinch to empty and clean, and the battery is removable, too. Replacements are priced at , which is pretty reasonable by cordless vacuum standards. There’s also a handy trigger lock lever to keep the vacuum running without constant finger pressure. Say hello to the best Dyson cordless vacuum, the Dyson V15 Detect.