Bissell PowerGlide Pet Vacuum 1646 Review

The Bissell Powerglide Pet Vacuum 1305 was one of the best budget pet vacuums on the market. A lightweight vacuum that punched (or should that be sucked?) above its weight. Well now Bissell have tweaked this great budget cleaner and made it even better with their refresh – the 1646.

Bissell PowerGlide Pet Vacuum

You can still buy the 1305 for now but with the 1646 retailing at around the same price (or even less!) the new model is obviously the better option.

The 1646 has a 10 amp motor (upgraded from the 8.5 on the 1305). While there isn’t always a direct relationship between the size of the input motor and the cleaners suction power this upgrade does make the PowerGlide even more effective at lifting dirt and dog hair. The hose has also been redesigned for even greater suction.

Kerb Appeal

A futuristic red and black and red again. The color scheme isn’t to my personal taste but it certainly looks like it means business!

Cleaning Performance

Bissell are very proud of their Suction Channel technology with its 9x multi-cyclonic suction which enables the suction to stay consistent across the whole width of the vacuum. Which means it will clean effectively from edge to edge. So,unlike with some vacuums you shouldn’t need to use an attachment to clean the floor up to the baseboard.

I don’t know much about 9x multi-cyclinic suction but I know this cleaner picks up dust and dog hair much more effectively than a vacuum at this price point has any business doing.Many people are surprised at just how dirty their carpets are when the see how much dirt and hair this cleaner has picked up.

The vacuum also includes an attachment – the ‘Pet TurboEraser’. This is a special rubberised paddle brush that is designed to suck up pet hair and dirt from upholstery. It’s not as effective as some tools found on other vacuums but it does an okay job.

Usability

The Powerglide 1646 weighs in at a slightly lighter than average 16.3 lbs which makes long cleaning sessions easier for those who struggle with a heavy cleaner.

The swivel steering system can take a few minutes to get used to but once you do you’ll find it makes it a breeze to maneuver. This combined with its light weight makes this a good budget choice for anyone who might struggle to lift a heavier machine. Although if you have serious back problems or are infirm I would suggest you might be better buying a lightweight stick vacuum.

Capacity

Onedownside on this vacuum is the size of the cup. There had to be some compromise to keep the overall weight down but with a capacity of only 0.26 gallons it means anyone with a large house or a particularly hairy dog might have to make a trip to empty it during a full house clean. That said, it’s quick and easy to empty out with a simple bush of a button so it’s not the end of the world.

Floor Type

This cleaner is equally at home on carpet or hard floor. The brush roller you’d use for the carpet can be quickly and easily retraced just with the push of a button making the transition from carpet to hard floor a doddle.

Tools

In terms of accessories, the PowerGlide comes with a crevice tool and the Pet TurboEraser Tool. There is an expandable hose – which officiallyextends to 10 feet. The hose seems to have a lot of tension in it, making it hard to extend to any great length. In practice if you tried to use the hose fully extended you’d pull the vacuum over.

There is a place to mount the pet eraser tool on the vacuum but it seems very flimsy. The crevice tool stores inside the hose, which can be time consuming to use. I think you’d be better using a separate bag to keep the accessories in.

Filtration

Unfortunately, there is no HEPA filter on this vacuum. Filtration is through Bissell’s own ‘multi-level filtration system’. There are two filters, one before the motor and one after. Both these filters are washable. Bissell say theseshould keep your house clear of allergens. But it won’t be to the same standard as a HEPA.

If you like your house to smell fragrant and mask those pet odors while you vacuum the PowerGlide comes with the option of having a Febreze scented filter. You’ll need to replace this occasionally as it runs out of fragrance. Or you can stick with a standard filter if the ‘vacuum as fragrance emitter’ combination is not your thing.

Conclusion

Based on proven technology that’s been so successful on Bissell’s 1305 a few small upgrades have ensured the Bissell PowerGlide Pet Vacuum 1646 will be clearing dog hair from homes all over the country for years to come. If you are looking for a good budget pet vacuum the BissellPowerGlide Pet 1646is hard to beat.

But while this is a good filtration system, if anyone in the house suffers from Asthma, COPD or other respiratory diseases I’d recommend our other budget choice – the Hoover WindTunnel 3 which has a HEPA filter.