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Bissell Vacuum Cleaner A Review of the Bissell Lift-Off

Bissell Vacuum Cleaner The Lift-Off

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By , About.com Guide

Bissell Lift-Off Vacuum Cleaner

This Bissell vacuum cleaner converts from an upright vacuum cleaner to a portable canister.

Sarah Aguirre
Once forced to make a choice between a canister or upright, this Bissell vacuum cleaner allows consumers a full-size upright with a detachable canister unit for flexibility in cleaning.

Specifications Of the Bissell Lift-Off

Amps= 12

Weight= 22 lbs or 9.97 kilos.

Warranty= 1 year

Cord Length= 30 ft. or 9.14 meters

Filters= 3, Including 1 Postmotor HEPA

Height Adjustment Settings= 7

Tools= Telescoping Extension Wand, Crevice Tool, Upholstery/Dusting Tool

Extras= Headlamp, Internal Thermal Protector, Lift-Off canister, Bagless

Bissell Lift-Off Premotor Filter
The premotor filter can be removed and gently washed with mild detergent. Check the filter monthly.
Sarah Aguirre

Maintenance for the Bissell Lift-Off

The Bissell Lift-Off has a three filter system to remove dirt from the air. Both the premotor, and upper tank foam filters should be checked monthly. These foam filters can be washed with warm water and a mild detergent, but must be allowed to dry fully before replacing. The postmotor HEPA filter on the back of the unit needs to be replaced every six months.

Belts should be checked periodically for wear and replaced as needed. The headlamp will need to be changed when it burns out. The brushroll will need hair and other debris cleaned to make sure that it is able to operate.

The Bissell Lift-Off carries a one year warranty.

Impressive Features

Filtration

The triple filtration system will be a big selling point for many people with allergies and breathing issues. With a premotor, upper tank, and post motor HEPA filter, the system is designed to keep dirt from returning to the air.

Detachable Canister

Because of the height and bulk of the upright, being able to remove the canister to clean stairs, drapes, and corners is very handy. Just remove the canister and move it to where you need to clean. As a whole the entire unit is very easy to push, move, and maneuver.

Bagless

The bagless feature of the Bissell Lift-Off has a large, easy to empty dirt cup to make buying bags a thing of the past.

Height Adjustment

Being able to adjust the height to 7 different settings makes it easier to clean flooring without excessive wear.

On/Off Brushroll

At the touch of a button you will have the ability to shut off the brushroll for use on hard surface floors. This is a big plus when you don't want to scratch hardwood floors or swirl dirt around unnecessarily.

Internal Thermal Protector

For those of us that may not notice a problem, it's nice to know that the Bissell Lift-Off will turn itself off when the motor reaches a temperature that could cause damage.

Bissell Lift-Off Bumpers
The Bissell Lift-Off features furniture guards and 7 height adjustments.
Sarah Aguirre

What Is Lacking?

Suction Power.

The suction of the Bissell Lift-Off leaves a little to be desired. It's not the most powerful upright in the world. It also lacks the edge cleaning power of many other upright vacuum cleaners.

Tipping.

Watch out for tipping when you use the tools whether it's just the canister or the complete upright. The unit is very likely to tip over when you have the hose extended.

Maintenance.

If you have allergies or breathing problems, you will need to either wear a mask or get someone else to clean the filters and empty the dustcup. With two filters to wash, an upper tank to wash out, a dust cup to clean, and a brushroll to clear off, maintenance can be a very messy job. The upper tank does easily come out by turning a switch on the back of the machine, but the slats that hold the upper tank filter in were very hard to get clean.

Recommendation and Bottom Line

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