We put the Bissell PowerForce Helix to the test, and its powerful suction blew us away.
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Bissell PowerForce Helix Review: This Affordable Upright Vacuum Really Packs a Punch
Updated Sep. 12, 2024
When it comes to your cleaning routine, a good vacuum cleaner is one of the most important tools you can buy. While it’s true that some vacuums can set you back around $1,000, there are plenty of cheap vacuums that are just as effective at keeping your floors clean. Bissell’s PowerForce Helix is one such vacuum cleaner.
This lightweight machine costs under $100 and is made by Bissell, a trusted name in the business that’s known for making some of the best vacuums for pet hair. To see if this budget-friendly vacuum is truly effective when it comes to household messes, our expert product testers took it into the Testing Lab for close inspection. When they were finished in the lab, they sent it home with a tester to see how it holds up to real messes over time. Here’s everything you need to know about the Bissell PowerForce Helix.
What is the Bissell PowerForce Helix?
The Bissell PowerForce Helix is an upright vacuum cleaner that’s designed for use on all flooring surfaces. It is lightweight at 10.10 pounds and has a 22.75-foot power cord that makes it easy to move from room to room. This vacuum includes a washable filter, extension wand, dusting brush and crevice tool, which can be stored on the machine.
Bissell’s PowerForce Helix features powerful suction in all five floor settings. It also has scatter-free technology, a dirt separation system and an easy-to-empty dirt tank. While it doesn’t lay flat or have a swiveling head, it’s still easy to maneuver around furniture and corners.
VIA MERCHANT
Editor's Pick
Bissell PowerForce Helix Upright Vacuum
This lightweight, budget-friendly vacuum is easy to use and maneuver on all types of flooring.
How we tested it
Before they got down and dirty in the Testing Lab, Sheri Kaz, associate product reviews editor, and Dylan Fischer, associate product tester, led the Product Testing Team in assembling, measuring and weighing the Bissell PowerForce Helix. They were pleased to discover that at 10.10 pounds, this vacuum is actually lighter than initially advertised. They also noted that while it is very light, this machine does have a bulky appearance. Additionally, they did question the quality of the on-board storage. “The storage setup for the hose feels a bit janky,” quips the Product Testing Team. “It doesn’t fully settle into place, so it’s always sticking out in a lopsided way.”
Once they finished inspecting the machine, they jumped right into their first test, which involved spilling crumbs on the floor to assess the machine’s edge-to-edge cleaning capabilities. According to our testers, this vacuum gave a perfect performance, cleaning up all of the crumbs from straight ahead and from the side. Next, they took it around the testing lab’s furniture obstacle course. “This doesn’t have a swivel head, but it’s lightweight enough to maneuver easily,” says the Product Testing Team.
From the obstacle course, it was onto test this vacuum’s performance. Our testers spilled cereal, glitter, long hair and short hair over vinyl flooring, medium-pile carpet and high-pile carpet. They ran the vacuum over each mess for three passes and evaluated how much had been cleaned. Overall, the team found this machine to be a quality vacuum with notable suction, using words like “perfect,” “great job” and “intense suction” in almost every report. In fact, the suction is so strong that our testers found it hard to push and pull at times and noted that it was easiest to move around on carpeted floors. They were pleased with how much this vacuum could clean up in just three passes. However, our testers felt that this machine was loud and whiney, especially while being used on the vinyl floors.
Our long-term tester, Christine Rukavena, disagrees with the Product Testing Team on this front. “This vacuum performed well on the bare-floor setting with tile floors and linoleum tiles,” explains Rukavena. It gave a satisfying and quiet performance—much quieter than my old vacuum.” That said, the disagreements end there.
Rukavena, who used this vacuum in her one-bedroom apartment, found it to be lightweight, easy to maneuver and a great value overall. “It did a great job, especially at this price point,” she says. “It’s quiet, lightweight and collects a satisfying, surprising amount of dirt.” In fact, she pointed out that the suction was so strong that it actually raised the pile of her carpet, making it feel softer underfoot.
What she didn’t like, however, was the placement of the power-on foot lever. “Even though the power-on foot-lever is red, I was looking for a button—not a foot-lever. It’s also located right next to the pedal that adjusts the height and angle of operation, which is a bit awkward,” Rukavena explains. “I inadvertently turned it off a couple of times because the power lever is down where you adjust the angle and move the vacuum around.” She also agrees with the Product Testing Team’s assessment of the onboard storage, noting that they don’t join well to the hose, which results in some loss of power.
When it comes to emptying the canister, both the Product Testing Team and Rukavena agree that it couldn’t be simpler. Our testers describe the process as “easy peasy” and note that there was no need to stick hands inside to get all of the debris out. Rukavena also describes the process as easy and intuitive. “I expected it to be messy or that I’d end up breathing in some of it, but that was not the case,” explains Rukavena. “It was very clean and easy to handle, and no dust or dirt got loose into the environment.”
Pros
- Affordable
- Powerful suction
- Lightweight at 10.10 pounds
- Five pile settings
- Easy to maneuver
Cons
- Attachments aren’t easy to secure
- Power foot lever is awkwardly located
Why you should trust us
Our editors and Product Testing Team have years of experience testing and evaluating every type of vacuum cleaner on the market. We’ve tested everything from handheld machines to robot vacuums and even vacuum-mop combos. Hundreds of hours and dozens of machines later, we’re confident in our recommendations for the best vacuums. We strive to recommend the very best products using honest and fair testing practices regardless of a product’s price point or popularity.
For this story, our product-testing experts on the Product Testing Team spent around 40 hours conducting firsthand research in our Testing Lab on upright vacuum cleaners. They performed roughly 15 tests on 12 different machines, including the Bissell PowerForce Helix. We also sent this machine home with a tester for long-term use to see how it held up against everyday messes in a real home.
VIA MERCHANT
Editor's Pick
Bissell PowerForce Helix Upright Vacuum
The suction on this machine is so powerful that it actually raised the pile on our tester's carpet, making it feel softer underfoot.
Originally Published: September 12, 2024
