BISSELL Lift-Off MultiCyclonic Pet Upright Vacuum with Detachable Canister, Bagless, 89Q9
by Bissell
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Tools and Hardware Reviews of BISSELL Lift-Off MultiCyclonic Pet Upright Vacuum with Detachable Canister, Bagless, 89Q9
Customer Review: You get your money's worth out of this vacuum!
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a great vacuum. Having read 350+ reviews for this item (don't limit yourself to Amazon), I felt that this vacuum was for me. I also felt that buying from anywhere that doesn't have a physical store would be a mistake. That is a decision that I am so glad I made. I purchased this vacuum from Bed, Bath & Beyond (BB&B) in my town. It was priced for $179.99. I used my 20% off coupon that I get in the mail. I set it up in 5 mins. I am one of those boring people that read that manual cover to cover...which took 20 mins. I started in my bedroom. Wow! My old vac had lost its power and though I vacuumed 5 days a week (I'm not kidding) the carpet never looked clean. Dog hair from my beagle was permanently embedded into the carpet fibers. I had sadly decided that having a dog meant never having truly clean carpet. Boy was I wrong! Once I flipped the switch for the Turbobrush my carpet fibers lifted and cleaned! 5 yrs. worth of beagle fur were removed from my carpet! I had to empty the cup twice! I felt joy & sick at what we had been living with.
I was about to move on to my daughter's bedroom when the unthinkable happened. The Turbobrush stopped. I used the manual and did everything it suggested. I cleaned the Turbobrush. I even prayed. It quit spinning after one room. Instead of being mad and calling it a piece of junk, I looked at my bedroom carpet. Old carpet that can never look new, but that was truly clean and actually stood up. It was always squashed flat but now the fibers were lifted upright with lovely vacuum patterns and I new that this was the vacuum for me. Hubby & I called customer service from Bissell. They were wonderful! We spoke to a human right away. They walked us through steps and spent 20 minutes with us. They offered to replace it and send parts. We declined. BB&B has a terrific store policy. If something breaks, even 2 yrs. +, return it (I promise I don't work for them!). My hubby called the store and spoke to a manager. They said they didn't have another one and the closest store that carried one was a few hours away. Instead, we packed up the vacuum and returned it to BB&B. They ordered a new one to be shipped to us, free of charge. It was delivered in 3 days. It was a shiny new one and I use it 3 times a week (my Beagle sheds). I have owned it for 3 months now and it has never given me a moments trouble. We think maybe the first one had been dropped or something. It doesn't matter, because we own a quality vacuum that works just as well as a Dyson. We are on Dave Ramsey's plan and couldn't justify spending $500+ on a vacuum.
I feel I must tell a little more, so bear with me if you will. We suffer from allergies in my home, which led to the removal of all the carpet except the bedrooms. Our beautiful Brazilian cherry wood floors are so very lovely and I try to protect them. We also had new textured tile installed in the bathroom and laundry room. The bumpy texture of the tile ended up scratching my old vacuum wheels. The damaged wheels started leaving little scratches on my beautiful wood floors. I love the lift-off canister because of this! I live in a one story home, so though this feature was probably made with stairs in mind, I use it to protect my wheels on the Bissell. No longer do I have to drag my vacuum into the laundry room and bathroom. I just use the extension hose and carry the canister. The wheels remain safe and unscarred. Also, this allows me to carry it into the garage and vacuum my car.
The upholstery attachment it great! I can clean my couches in no time! A major plus for me. Also, I love that I can turn off the Turbobrush and vacuum my wood floors. It cleans carpet and wood beautifully.
It's con time. There are a few design elements that I would change if I could. They are not enough to deter me from giving this vacuum a 5 star rating though. If I do not hold the cord at all times I run over it. Also, when you remove the dirt cup, dirt and dust fall from above and dirty the surface of your vacuum. I have tried being careful, but it still happens sometimes. I have a little cheap dust buster that I use when this happens. No big deal for me.
Don't be conned into thinking that you have to break the bank to buy a decent vac. If your vac messes up, don't flip out like so many other posters have done. Call the number or take it back to the store. Warranties are there for a reason, to protect your investment.
One more thing, this vacuum requires a new HEPA filter every 6 months. The filter is priced between $12 - 16. I was at Lowe's last week (April 2010) and the HEPA filter was on sale for 73 cents a piece. I bought all six. I am good on filters for 3 1/2 years.
Mom and beagle owner.
Customer Review: So What Do I Really think?
Summary: 5 Stars
Our old Dirt Devil upright started giving off some burning smells (not the brush belt) a couple of weeks ago, so we decided to start looking around for a replacement. We have a two story house, so something to effectively vacuum the stairs without purchasing two units would be nice. Oh, and under $200 please. Dyson's are cute, but $500 is over the top for such a basic device. That led us eventually to Bissell's two lift-off canister units, the Revolution and this one, the MultiCyclonic design.
Initially, I couldn't tell the difference between the two models. Then, another reviewer pointed out the two "wings" on the side of the dirt container on the Revolution model that one customer accidentally threw its two inserts out with the dirt, only to render his vacuum useless the next time he tried to use it. That narrowed it down to the MultiCyclonic for us. The Revolution also has an additional foam filter to be cleaned in its top section, which the MultiCyclonic doesn't use, which was one less consumable to buy.
Both units have a special tool for grabbing pet/human hair off the furniture and the carpet, powered by the suction in the hose, and it works just fine. After "turbo" brushing our carpeted stairs, I had to take the tool apart with a phillips screwdriver, which entailed removing two screws and gently pulling the unit apart. I paid attention so I could put it back together correctly, but it was easy to clean out the hair clogging the unit, and to put it back together.
Some have commented that the unit seems noisy to them, but I actually found it quieter than my old Dirt Devil upright. I also found the suction from the 12 amp motor to be completely adequate. Although some have reported they were wowed with its power, because it was quieter it didn't seem any more powerful to me than my old Dirt Devil had been in its day.
Another reviewer felt the unit was too heavy. I'm 62, short, an avid reader, and certainly NOT athletic, and had NO problems hauling it around.
Another commenter noted that the central dirt/cyclonic unit on the Revolution was completely removable, allowing the whole messy part of the vacuum to be hauled to the trash can for emptying, whereas only the dirt receptacle is directly removable in the MultiCyclonic unit. This is basically true. Removing the dirt receptacle for emptying in the MultiCyclonic allows dust/dirt hanging around above it to fall on the unit, requiring a wipe-up if you're not careful. But, it's easy to reach up and remove the cyclonic unit with a twist and clean it. A regular clean-up after a major vacuuming will minimize the potential mess. A well placed paper towel will catch any dirt dropping down from the top of the cyclonic unit.
I didn't have any problems with the hose connections, cleaning the foam filter, or removing/replacing the HEPA filter on the back of the unit. The extension rod uses a friction twist to lock it into a variable length, and it worked fine. After two hours of vacuuming around the house, I had NO problems with dirt/dust blowing out of any of the hose or filter connections, so I can only assume the reviewer who had the problem had perhaps not been performing regular cleanup/maintenance of the unit, or had inadvertently allowed a hose connection to come loose. When putting the unit together, you have to twist a hose into a connection to lock it in place. If you don't perform the twist, I suppose it could pop out at an inopportune time, but this is a suction line. I don't see any way that anything could blow out of it. The exhaust is via the HEPA filter on the back of the unit, literally inches from the exit of the suction motor. If dirt is squirting out around the foam filter atop the suction motor, it must be mostly clogged. There's really no excuse for this. Take the foam filter to the sink and rinse it out and you're done. Be sure it's dry before reinserting it, or you'll be risking getting moisture into the motor, never a good thing for an electrical thingy.
Overall, my first impression of the unit is quite positive. Unless there's some underlying defect, I see no reason not to expect years of satisfaction with our new Bissell 89Q9 MultiCyclonic vacuum cleaner.
Customer Review: Extremely Effective in Picking Up Pet Hair and Dust
Summary: 5 Stars
Must-have features:
- Suction power. Great suction power.
- Lift-off feature. For use on stairs.
- Bagless.
- Dedicated on-off switch for brush. To vacuum wood floor without brush.
- Brush automatically turns off when unit is at upright position. Save brush and carpet wear-and-tear when using attachments.
- Furniture protection rubber guard.
Nice-to-have features, but not absolutely needed:
- Pet brush. "Pet" model means unit come with a Turbo Pet Brush attachment. Pet brush has rubber claws, which grab hair as you rake the surface of carpet or sofa. It is somewhat useful, but not to die for. Buy the Lift-Off models only if you want the must-have features. You can buy the Turbo Pet Brush attachment separately for $29.
Useless features (just marketing):
- Head light.
I was interested in buying the Bissell Lift-Off, but there is lack of info on the web to compare the 2 Bissell Lift-off models: Multiclylonic (89Q9) and Revolution. Rather than just a generic review, I will try to describe the difference between Lift-Off Revolution and Multicyclonic. Their sucking power seems similar. The visible differences are (1) dirt container, (2) upper tank right above the dirt container, and color.
(1) Dirt Container. Multicylconic and Revolution has different design. Small advantage to Multicyclonic. Multicylonic has 2 compartments; 1 cylinder in center and 1 large outer compartment. Revolution has single main compartment, plus 2 additional small dust chambers that extend out from chamber. I don't see any special impact or effect to the various compartments. But one thing I don't like on the Revolution is the 2 additional dust chambers with removable inserts, which are a mess to handle and clean.
The dirt container is the same size on both units. These units suck up so much hair and dust that the dirt containers need to be emptied after cleaning couple rooms. I have 2 short hair cats. The hair will clump together and rotate in the dirt container. As the container fills up (maybe 1/2 to 3/4 full), some hair will remain in the upper tank and not drop down into the dirt container.
(2) Upper tank. This is where the 2 units vary the most. Overall, I give the advantage to Multicyclonic, due to ease of cleaning, particularly with less hair trapped in upper tank. Revolution does have 1 added feature: upper tank can be removed, which is less messy to clean up.
- Upper tank filter size. Multicylonic has more open space in upper tank right above the dirt container. That means less likely for hair to get trapped. Revolution has large filter component that leaves a small gap to the compartment wall. Hair is more likely to get trapped. You can read the review for Revolution. And this is a major complaint for some users. Big advantage for Multicyclonic over Revolution here.
- Filter material. The upper tank on Multicylonic uses only plastic components, whereas Revolution has foam filter in upper tank. Both can be washed and rinsed out, but plastic is just easier and faster to clean. Another advantage for Multicyclonic.
- Removable upper tank on Revolution. The upper tank on Revolution is removable, but fixed on Multicyclonic. The positive for Revolution is that I can remove both upper tank and dirt container and empty them in the garbage can. On the Multicylonic, after bottom dirt container is removed, some remaining dust can drop down from the upper tank right onto the vacuum body.
Customer Review: the worst vacuum i have ever used!
Summary: 1 Stars
i bought this vacuum based on some reviews (which were mixed) on another site. i talked myself into this vacuum because it seemed to have everything i would ever need in a vacuum. i have NEVER been more wrong about a purchase. i would give this vacuum negative stars if it were possible.
first, let's start with the weight. i am a 39 year old male who is in good shape. this vacuum is a struggle for me to carry up the stairs- i have no idea how an older or less strong person could handle carrying it up stairs, unless they took it apart (the "lift off" feature) carried the lift off up, and then went back for the base/ chassis part, which would necessitate two trips up the stairs. completely ridiculous.
next, let's talk about the marvel of "bagless". this, in my opinion, is one of the greatest scams ever perpetuated upon the consumer. we are led to believe that bagless is better, and (ha!) cleaner. NOTHING could be further from the truth. you have to practically carry this thing outside to dump the cup (again, meaning you've got to carry it outside) because when the cup is removed, inevitably dust and dirt fall out of the unit and onto the carpet you've just cleaned. pointless. THEN, you're not done with emptying just the cup. if you don't empty the filter chamber above it every single time, the dust/ dirt/ pet hair will quickly build up in the filter area, meaning you've got an even BIGGER mess to clean up and spill on your floor. thus, you pretty much have to carry it outside every single time.
also- if you don't empty the cup every time, you will quickly fill it up with dog hair, and then clog your unit the next time you start it.
so- to review so far--- it is insanely heavy to carry up a flight of stairs, and you have to make sure the cup is empty before you use it every time and dump it after you're done. every time. this should already talk you out of it, but i'll continue.
IF you have the misfortune of letting your unit clog in the filter chamber (which is very, very easy to do), when you turn the unit back on, a cloud of debris and dust will be blown out of the back filter of the machine. this has happened to me twice. i can definitively say that this is the messiest, dirtiest, heaviest, and worst vacuum that i have ever had the displeasure of purchasing. if i hadn't thrown the box away, this piece of junk would have gone right back to the store the next day. if this review hasn't dissuaded you from buying this vacuum and you decide to buy it anyway, i promise you that you will know first hand the things that i have said here within weeks of having your vacuum.
i have just attempted to vacuum my house (again), and once again i experienced the horrible cloud of dust and crap coughed out through the back filter. i decided that before i go dust my living room to get rid of the mess, that i was going to sit down and tell the world what a horrible piece of equipment this is and try to save someone else from throwing their money away.
Customer Review: This vacuum is addictive!
Summary: 5 Stars
We have a golden retriever. Need I say more? We love him but, like all goldens, he sheds incessantly. So when my old, never-effective Hoover finally uttered its final breath, I went looking for a good vacuum that could handle the pet hair.
After considering and rejecting the Dysons because I didn't want to invest $500 in this item, I looked at the Shark products after someone told me they rival the Dyson. I just didn't feel it; they seemed somehow lacking, and they were over the $200 mark, which was the ceiling I had set. So it finally came down to the Hoover pet hair model and this Bissell. After pushing both models around the store for a few minutes, I quickly decided the Hoover model seemed bulky and I didn't like the way it turned. So I bought the Bissell, and boy, am I ever hooked!
I am not good at putting anything mechanical together, but this took me all of five minutes to assemble. Really. After pausing to pat myself on the back, I set about tackling the family room---the one room our dog truly owns. I had thought my old Hoover was picking up dirt but boy, was I ever wrong! This Bissell set to work quickly and I soon found the dirt chamber filled (there is something to be said for seeing all that dirt and hair in that container. What a sense of satisfaction!# Anyway, it was amazing how much this thing picked up. I gradually saw my once-white carpet restored to its old color, one that I hadn't seen in years. I obsessively vacuumed this room for a couple of hours today. Just when I thought I was done, I'd go over it one more time and the Bissell still grabbed more dirt. Unbelievable!
I finally tried it on my hardwood floors,and it worked liked a charm. I do like the no-rollers-movement for these floors. After finally finishing downstairs, I took it upstairs and hit the bedrooms. Again, it was a sight to behold. And what was really cool was after I'd finished and I walked on these freshly-vacummed carpets, they felt kinda new. It was incredible.
My only complaint, and this is specific to our house, is the dirt container doesn't hold a great deal. I think once I have used the Bissell regularly and it's not faced w/ the overwhelming amount of garbage it had to contend with on its first use, it won't be quite as bad. Honestly, I really do think I emptied and cleaned the machine about 50 times today before I finished the house #the stairs will wait for another day. I am tired).
So. all in all I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this Bissell to anyone, but especially those with pet hair issues. You really will be shocked at what it can do