I tested the Bissell PowerClean cordless vacuum — and it has the one feature that's rare among stick vacuums

If you're after one of the best vacuum cleaners, stick vacuums are a convenient choice. They makes light work of tasks, are versatile to use and easy to store. However, my only gripe is that not many are free standing — cue the Bissell PowerClean cordless vacuum.

Bissell’s PowerClean Cordless Stick Vacuum isn’t glamorous, but it is meant to do the hard work at an affordable price. While the aesthetics are a bit dated for my tastes, the PowerClean feels durable and light, and it's very affordable. I was keen to test out this stick vac to see if it can do the job without fuss. Here’s what happened.

Bissell PowerClean cordless vacuum cleaner review: Specs

Bissell PowerClean cordless vacuum cleaner review: Price and availability

With an original RRP of $189, the Bissell PowerClean is currently available on Amazon for $149 and on Bissell’s website. You can also buy this model for $149 on Best Buy and other retailers like Walmart and Target.

Bissell PowerClean cordless vacuum cleaner review: Design

The PowerClean is light and compact, at just 7.3 pounds in its largest configuration. It features a .4L tank build into the handle and a 200-watt motor providing the power for suction. Notably, Bissell does not advertise an Air Watts (AW) rating on its website, which is commonly used to denote a vacuum’s suction power.

Bissell claims a maximum run time of 40 minutes. You can control the modes using the buttons on the handle; a prominent pair plus/minus symbol buttons do the adjusting. The power button is positioned nearby.

The battery mounts to the handle and is removable for easy charging. You can use the included wall mount to hang the vacuum while it’s charging, too. Notably, the PowerClean vacuum is freestanding, a unique feature among stick vacuums.

The main unit of the vacuum also houses the dust bin, where all your vacuumed dust and particles will end up. A HEPA sealed allergen system keeps said allergens contained while you’re vacuuming, too.

The PowerClean comes with three attachments: a crevice tool, an upholstery tool, and a brushroll for vacuuming floors. These interchange quickly and easily for versatility.

The brushroll has a set of very bright LED lights mounted to the front of its housing. Within the housing, the brush itself is touted as ‘tangle-free’ and helps prevent hairs up to 8 inches long from wrapping around the roller.

Bissell PowerClean cordless vacuum cleaner review: Performance

First of all, there were two immediate advantages I noticed as soon as I started vacuuming with the Bissell PowerClean. The first benefit is that the PowerClean is freestanding, which is rare among stick vacuums. There’s no need to lean it against the wall and hope it stays in place, or pop it back in the wall mount. But, it’s not as stable in the freestanding position as a larger vacuum, and it still does run the risk of tipping over.

The second benefit is the front light on the brushroll housing. It’s the brightest light among the stick vacuums I’ve tested, which makes it easy to see dirt and debris you may have missed, even in dark hallways or corners.

I particularly liked how the PowerClean did a good job of engaging with rugs of various piles, and sucks plenty of dirt and debris from hardwood floors. But it’s much better on hardwood floors. It agitates high pile rugs well, but doesn’t do quite as well with low-pile rugs. I had to go over the same spots a few times to make sure I got a deep-enough clean.

There are three levels of suction to choose from: low, medium, and high. In the highest setting, run time is quite short, around ten minutes. But you can also get up to forty minutes run time when you’re using the low or medium setting.

I found the low setting suitable for hardwood floors, where the vacuum is most effective. Plus, I was able to get very close to the advertised run time in combined low and medium settings.

Overall, the PowerClean does a good job cleaning up my hardwood and vinyl floors, and a decent job on carpets. But my one complaint is the relatively bulky brushroll body.

The brush sits further inward of the brushroll body, which prevents the brush from getting at dirt and debris that’s close to the walls. The body is fairly wide, too, so even turning the vacuum head sideways doesn’t quite allow the PowerClean to engage those corners. The head does swivel nicely, though, so it’s easy to get underneath furniture and in tight spaces throughout the house.

Bissell PowerClean cordless vacuum cleaner review: Accessories

Perhaps a major downside of is that Bissell does not sell any additional accessories for the PowerClean. However, you can buy replacement filters on the website. Since this vacuum is new at the time of this writing, these filters are not yet in stock but should be soon.

Bissell also sells cleaning formulas. While not specifically an accessory for the PowerClean, these may come in handy for pre-treating carpets or cleaning stains, removing odors, and so on.

Bissell PowerClean cordless vacuum cleaner review: Competition

I tested the Bissell PowerClean side by side with the LG CordZero Q3 and Eureka ReactiSense 440 stick vacuums. Impressively, the PowerClean held its own against both models.

Performance-wise, the CordZero proved more powerful and was the best at surface cleaning overall. While the Bissell has a better light feature than the CordZero, and is just as versatile, not to mention less expensive. Both the CordZero and the Bissell beat the Eureka in just about every category.

Bissell PowerClean cordless vacuum cleaner review: Verdict

While the Bissell PowerClean's performance perhaps isn’t as consistently strong as the LG CordZero, it’s much less expensive and is close to the CordZero in terms of power and run time.

I found it a good vacuum that got the job done with an excellent front light that makes it great for tight spaces and dark hallways.

The only downside is the unit could be improved with a sleeker, lower-profile brushroll body. This would allow the brush to engage with dust and dirt further into corners and against walls. Overall, it’s still a quality cordless cleaner at a good price.