nagels's Full Review: Bissell 6594 PowerForce Bagless Upright Vacuum
An ocean front apartment. Sunny mid-70’s temperatures deep into October. The soothing sounds of ocean and gulls to greet us each morning. Gorgeous sunsets and sunrises. What more could one add to this idyllic scenario to make it completely satisfying?
Our young maid was personable, coyly flirtatious, friendly, and willing Her warm infectious smile just begged me to ask, and so I did. She readily agreed to an all-nighter, and Mrs. Spudman understandingly acquiesced. And so later that afternoon after her shift, my new friend slyly visited our unit; staying with us for the rest of the day and overnight to toy with and probe as I pleased would be her Bissell Power Force vacuum .I was delirious with anticipation for some oceanfront vacuuming in my Spudman Laboratory annex!
We’d deferred maid service for three days instead opting for the exchange of towels and sheets, all in deference to our two dogs. In addition Mrs. Spudman had decided to groom Evie and Piper that same afternoon. Thus a three day accumulation of sand in the carpeting and the residual hair from the recent grooming would seem to be a formidable test for the recently purchased Bissell Power Force. Our maid told me the three Bissells had been purchased several weeks ago to replace the older Orecks. When asked how she liked the Bissell, she replied that it was merely OK, not outstanding or commendable, just functional and adequate. I wanted to see for myself how this Bissell would perform.
Nuts and Bolts
The vacuum base is midnight blue in color. The handle and attachments are black or charcoal in color.
Cord length is 25 feet.
12 amps, 120 volts
Rotating brush with two rows of brushes
Twist N Snap wire-reinforced hose
Headlight
Dual edge cleaning
Black carry handle
Onboard tools – extension wand, dusting/upholstery brush, crevice tool
Cleaning path – 13.5 inches
Five height adjustments
Three washable filters
Bagless
Made in Korea
One year limited warranty
Observations of a vacuum junkie
Since I’d be spending the better part of a day with the Bissell Power Force 6579-2, I decided to run it through its paces and see how it measured up to other vacuum cleaners I have known.
My first impression after a quick visual inspection was that this is an inexpensive, modestly equipped vacuum cleaner, definitely not one of the elite models. Subsequent research on the web confirmed that the Bissell is a Wal-Mart staple, something for non vacuum connoisseurs buying on the cheap. The Power Force is touted as a light vacuum, but I found it to be relatively heavy for its size, heavier by far than the Riccar I recently tested but a noticeably lighter than my daughter's Kenmore 34721 upright. It was laborious to push and turn even after adjusting the height settings.
This machine is noisy, but that’s the nature of the beast. However, I did detect a high-pitched squealing sound in addition to the motor racket.
The round height adjustment knob is recessed and hard to turn. Unless one reads Braille the height settings are very difficult to read; the five setting dots and the words high and low in raised letters are the same color as the vacuum body.
On the clear dirt cup the word “FULL” is in bright white letters and easily seen. The cup is released by a side-sliding lever and is easy to remove and replace.
Emptying the dirt cup releases dust back into the air.
Onboard tools may be attached to a hose that is not pliable, has an unimpressive reach, and will readily tip the vacuum over with the slightest pull. I did like that the hose end wand has an attached handle.
To access the roller brush and the belt four screws must be removed and the plastic cover plate removed also. The light bulb lens is removed with the turn of a screwdriver or coin.
The filters for this machine are easily reached. . They must be washed frequently to maintain optimum performance. In my opinion these filters are almost laughable in appearance and perhaps in functionality also. The premotor filter in particular appeared to be almost useless. It’s about the size of a fifty-cent piece and could be more aptly called a screen than a filter, like a thin, mostly transparent, mesh cleaning pad.
A vacuum with a quality bag would prove much more effective at cleaning the air.
The foot activated power button and the handle release pedal are easily accessed. I would prefer them on the right side of the vacuum personally. A push button on/off switch on the handle is much more convenient.
My sources tell me that the hose on this vacuum is prone to clogging. This could wear thin on a user very quickly
The Ultimate Test
With a three-day accumulation of sand in the apartment and residual dog hair from a grooming adventure, I expected a full dirt cup quickly. After vacuuming the living room and dining room, I emptied the cup seeing far less dirt than anticipated; it was mostly filled with dog hair. I then vacuumed the hallway and the two bedrooms, again disappointed by the small volume of dirt extracted from the carpet.
Since I had helped with the grooming, there was quite a bit of white hair on my dark burgundy T-shirt. Using the brush attachment and hose to vacuum my shirt, I was underwhelmed by the poor suction. Afterwards I had to manually pull off the hair missed by the vacuum with my bare fingers.
Conclusion
The Bissell Power Force 6579-2 doesn’t live up to its name, lacking satisfactory suction power. I imagine it would take some willpower to force myself to use this machine on a regular basis. The necessary frequent cleaning of the three filters is also a drawback for this particular Bissell. The power and force expended to push this ineffective vacuum is yet another check in the negative column. With its appealing blue color and even more appealing low price, I can see how the Bissell could be a tempting purchase for someone watching his/her budget.
In the long run it would behoove a vacuum shopper to spend a little more for better quality and performance.
Yet another Spudman Parody
Feeling better now I should’ve known
Feeling better 'cause you’re just a loan
I learned my lesson, you’re not a star
Now I see how you really are
You're no good
You're no good
You're no good
Bissell you're no good
I'm gonna say it again
You're no good
You're no good
You're no good
Bissell you're no good
I filled your cup with dog hair and sand
But it wasn’t as much as some other brands
Cleaning your three filters is getting stale
I wouldn't buy you if you were on sale.
You're so bad
You're so bad
You're so bad
Bissell you're so sad!
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