Bissell PowerClean DualBrush - Simple. Effective

What are your vacuuming pain points?

Well, apart from having to do it, obviously.

For me, it's battery life, ease of emptying and brush head tangling.

So if there's a vacuum that tackles all those, I'm definitely interested.

The Bissell PowerClean DualBrush seems too good to be true - especially given it's priced under NZ$700.

Not only does the new Bissell stick vacuum solve my personal pet peeves ("pet" being the operative word) it also elegantly eliminates a bunch of other issues I had just resigned myself to dealing with as a matter of course.

But let's start with the title feature - the DualBrush itself. I love how basic an idea this is; how do you combine the ability to loosen large bits of dirt and clutter from both hard and soft floorings, while still scooping up finer debris like hair, fur and powder or grains and grit?

Some vacuums feature a more durable, chunky motorised head with tough, stiff, coarse bristles to handle the first part of that equation, giving you the option to change heads completely for a fluffier roller to handle the smaller stuff - especially on hard floors.

With the PowerClean DualBrush, Bissell applied its 150 years-worth of floor-cleaning experience and said, "Why don't we just put both kinds of brush rollers on the same head unit?" See what I mean? So clever, it's genius.

What's even more genius is the FurGuard Brush Roll prevents long strands of hair from tangling around either brush. I don't really understand how - but as you'll see me clearly demonstrate in the video below, it definitely works.

If, for some reason, you're still relying on a vacuum that plugs into the wall - or perhaps you battle with the long, snaking hose of a built-in central-vacuum system, rest assured, the DualBrush comes with more than enough battery to clean your whole house. In fact, there's not one but two batteries included in the box, along with their own charging station. This means one battery can be left to charge while the other is powering through its work - adding up to around 100 minutes use, which I'm sure you'll agree, is more than enough time for anyone to spend vacuuming in one session.

An extra battery isn't the only thing that comes in the box - you also get a convertible dusting brush/crevice tool and a motorised FurFinder Upholstery Tool. The roller on the latter features alternating rows of sturdy bristles and rubber strips, ensuring you'll gobble up all but the most stubborn pet hair and other dust and dirt from couches, beds and mattresses.

The 280W motor is certainly very powerful, although thanks to Bissell's AutoAdapt technology, the DualBrush senses the different surfaces it's cleaning and adjusts the suction accordingly. This means the motorised rollers keep spinning, even when being used on rugs, which are usually prone to bunching up and clogging the heads of other vacuums.

That simple-yet-genius design strategy shines though everywhere. Although the DualBrush comes with a wall bracket, which also houses the crevice tool and upholstery head, the vacuum is quite capable of standing up by itself - even in the middle of the room. There's nothing worse than leaning your stick-vacuum against the wall, only to hear it sliding down and crashing to the floor the moment your back is turned. The DualBrush's ability to stand alone means this is no longer an issue.

And if, like me, you hate having to bend down unnecessarily, there's even a little foot-release just above the end of the durable extension wand (main tube) so you can remove the motorised brush head if you want to make use of the built-in crevice tool to vacuum cobwebs from the ceiling - or perhaps get in between more narrow spaces.

In saying that, although the DualBrush head is quite large because of, you know, the dual brushes - it's remarkably manoeuvrable and also very low profile. This means in combination with the lie-flat connection, you can vacuum right under most furniture and cabinetry.

Of course, it can be dark under there so once again, Bissell has done the obvious thing and included a row of very bright FurFinder headlights so you won't miss a speck of dust or a strand of hair. There are even headlights on the smaller upholstery tool too. See? There's nothing Bissell hasn't thought of - including things even I hadn't thought of.

There's only one problem with the PowerClean DualBrush; it's too good. As you'll see in my video, the 280W motor is so powerful and the DualBrush cleaning head is so efficient that the 400ml dirt tank is often jam-packed past the "MAX" line well before I've finished a full vacuum of the house.

Luckily, emptying is a cinch. And the HEPA Sealed Allergen System, which filters out 99.97% of dust, dander and other things that can get up your nose, uses filters you can clean yourself. No bag or filters to replace means you're keeping ongoing costs to an absolute minimum.

Look, there's nothing particularly fancy about the PowerClean DualBrush. There's no flash control screen and you don't need to pair it to your smart phone. Instead, it's a vacuum that gets the job done, quietly, thoroughly and without running out of battery.

And are two brushes better than one? You bet - especially when neither of them ever get tangled.

    

Click here for more information and pricing on the Bissell PowerClean DualBrush 280W stick vacuum.