Bissell CleanView XR Pet Lightweight Vacuum: Long-lasting battery power and feather-light design

The Bissell CleanView XR Pet Lightweight Vacuum is affordable and quiet

Bissell CleanView XR Pet Lightweight Vacuum
(Image credit: Heather Bien)
Real Homes Verdict

This lightweight vacuum makes it super easy to go top to bottom in the room without ever losing battery power. The best part is you only have to press the trigger and release to use the vacuum, unlike other similar models where you have to actively hold it the entire time you're vacuuming. It's quiet, easy to use, and effective.

Reasons to buy
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    Cordless design

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    Long battery life — up to 40 minutes

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    Moveable head

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    Several attachments

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    Quieter than similar vacuums

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    Perfect for quick messes

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Reasons to avoid
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    Suction could be stronger

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    Takes a few hours to fully charge

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    Dirt tank fills up quickly

Why you can trust Real Homes Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

The Bissell CleanView XR Pet Lightweight Vacuum is a great option for me because I live in an old house and I have a cat. That adds up to constant dust, fur, and even my own long hair all over the house.

This is why a vacuum that is both strong and easy to tote around is a must in my house. Cordless, super lightweight, and quiet are all top-notch qualities in a vacuum, and I've found myself reaching for this vacuum again and again. It rivals my vacuum from an iconic vacuum brand, yet it's both quieter and lighter. 

Plus, it has multiple pieces I can easily swap out depending on whether I'm cleaning up crumbs in the kitchen, trying to get the fur off my cat's favorite sofa, or reaching the narrow spot next to my desk. It's a great vacuum for pet hair, tackling fur and dander with ease.

Bissell CleanView XR Pet Lightweight Vacuum review

What I thought of the Bissell CleanView XR Pet Lightweight Vacuum

Truth be told, when I first picked up the Bissell CleanView XR Pet Lightweight Vacuum, I didn't have high hopes. It felt too lightweight and I wondered how can this actually provide enough power to get rid of pet hair from the hardwood floor or lint from a rug? 

Thankfully, my apprehensions were proven wrong. With three suction settings ranging from standard to turbo, this lightweight vacuum gets the job done and weighs only 5.9 lbs. Each attachment is easy to swap on and off, so I didn't put off vacuuming my upholstery and hard-to-reach corners.

This vacuum comes with an easy-to-install mounting system, though its small footprint means I just stash it in my own closet. All of the parts live in a chic shoebox, and I take them out whenever it's time for a deeper clean than just the daily vacuum.

Bissell CleanView XR Pet Lightweight Vacuum specifications

  • Model name: Bissell CleanView XR Pet Lightweight Vacuum
  • Dimensions (in): H44.25 x W10.5 x L8
  • Weight (lbs): 5.9 lbs
  • Voltage: 24V
  • Battery type: Lithium-Ion

Setting up the Bissell CleanView XR Pet Lightweight Vacuum

The Bissell CleanView XR Pet Lightweight Vacuum arrived safely packaged in a corrugated cardboard box with cutouts to keep each of the tools and every piece of the mounting apparatus snugly packed inside. Each piece was then wrapped in plastic, which felt a little unnecessary, but it kept them scratch-free.

Unboxing the Bissell CleanView, the cardboard plates holding things in place is pictured with all items individually wrapped in clear or blue plastic

(Image credit: Heather Bien)

Assembly is two steps, and you're done. Click the extension wand into the motorized foot, then click the hand vacuum assembly into the extension wand. But make sure you hear a click! The first time I used it, I thought the suction was off, then I realized I hadn't quite lined up the top two pieces perfectly. 

You'll have to charge the battery before you use it for the first time and unlike some other stick vacuums, this has a rechargeable battery that detaches from the vacuum. If you choose to mount the vacuum, it fits into the charging station. 

If you don't plan on charging your vacuum in the same place that you store it, this makes it easy to charge it wherever you have an outlet, without worrying about tripping over the vacuum. It may take a few hours to charge the battery. I left it for about three hours.

Using the Bissell CleanView XR Pet Lightweight Vacuum

All the tools with Bissell CleanView Cordless Vacuum

(Image credit: Heather Bien)

Once you're charged up and ready to go, using the vacuum is pretty easy. You can use it as a stick vacuum, hand vacuum, or extended reach, which means it's a hand vacuum plus the wand. 

You only have to press the trigger once to start the vacuum, then you press it again to stop it — this was a little bit of a learning curve for me since I'm used to vacuums where you have to hold the trigger down. But who can complain about less effort?

The screen makes it easy to see both the battery level and the power mode. You can choose from Standard mode, which is good on hard floor surfaces, Medium, which is great for carpets and area rugs, or Turbo, for bigger messes.

Bissell CleanView Cordless Vacuum screen held in the hand of a white-skinned person with red nail polish

(Image credit: Heather Bien)

It's simple to move between iterations and tools with the Bissell CleanView XR Pet Lightweight Vacuum. The release buttons are super easy to operate, and you can quickly switch from a stick vacuum with the regular floor vacuum to a handheld vacuum with the crevice tool. 

You can put on the extension wand with the handheld vacuum and the dusting brush to hit the ceiling fan, or use the upholstery attachment all over your sofas and chairs. You can even add the tool clip to the stick to take your tools on the go as you clean your entire house.

Again, at just 5.9 lbs, this vacuum is so incredibly easy to use. You won't feel overwhelmed operating it, yet it's far more powerful than it appears. I do feel like it could offer slightly stronger suction in the Turbo mode, but, on a daily basis, it works nicely on my rugs, is perfect for a quick dash over hardwood floors, and really shines when I need to clean hard-to-reach corners or tackle the stairs (this is where lightweight is a game-changer!). It's also relatively quiet compared to any other vacuum I've tried. 

Bissell CleanView cordless vacuum in action

(Image credit: Heather Bien)

Cleaning the Bissell CleanView XR Pet Lightweight Vacuum

You won't be surprised that it's just as easy to clean the vacuum as it is to use it. The dirt tank does fill up quickly, but you just have to press the release button on the hand vacuum and twist counter-clockwise to dump it. 

When you need to clean or replace the filter (every three to six months is ideal), it's also easy to remove — it just twists out. 

Then, you rinse with warm water and let it dry in the sun for 24 hours. The brush roll should also be cleaned anytime it becomes dirty with dirt, hair, and debris. It can also be washed with warm water, if necessary.

Is it right for you?

If you're looking for a cordless stick vacuum that offers multiple tools and options, but you don't want to spend upwards of $400, then consider the Bissell CleanView XR Pet Lightweight Vacuum. 

At just over $200, this vacuum is a great deal compared to many competitors on the market. It's made by a respected name in the vacuum world, and offers a lightweight, effective product with tons of versatility. 

It's easy to assemble, and easy-to-use, and you won't find yourself putting off cleaning because you're dreading lugging around a large vacuum. You can tote it around the house without worrying about its weight, plus, it maintains a charge for up to 40 minutes.

Good to know

Instructions
The vacuum includes a 12-page manual that includes clear, concise instructions and images at every step. It's simple to follow and also includes information on troubleshooting if you run into any issues.

Warranty
Bissell provides a two-year limited warranty against defects in material or workmanship. 

How we tested the Bissell CleanView XR Pet Lightweight Vacuum

Bissell sent me this vacuum, and I tested it for several weeks in every room of my house from the bedroom to the living room to the kitchen, bathroom, and hallways. I used the following criteria during the vacuum testing process

Unboxing: I looked at the packaging and noted how well it protected the vacuum during shipping. I also evaluated how sustainable it is (cardboard is a plus, plastic is a minus). 

Operation: To determine how well the vacuum worked, I looked at its suction, strength, battery life, and how well it cleaned everything from hardwood floors to carpets to upholstery.

Ease of use: I looked for a user-friendly experience from setup through cleaning. I compared the instructions versus the actual experience and, also, how comfortable the vacuum is to use.

Ease of cleaning: Cleaning is always the annoying task of owning a vacuum, so I looked at how easy it is to both empty the vacuum as well as clean it and perform routine maintenance. 

Heather Bien
Freelance writer

Heather is a lifestyle content creator and writer who grew up in Richmond, VA, and went on to the University of Virginia, where she studied Art History and Architectural History. She and her husband, Adam, split their time between their condo in the Capitol Hill neighborhood in Washington, DC, and their cottage on the Rappahannock River near Urbanna, VA. She loves good food, frequent travel, and a homemade latte.