This article will help you choose which vacuum to purchase if you are undecided between the Bissell Cleanview Compact vs Powerforce Helix. They are both affordable upright vacuum cleaners. After using, evaluating, and comparing these two machines, I can confirm that both are excellent choices. Yes, this is a draw.
For the Bissell CleanView Compact offers a somewhat superior cleaning performance. This device will be the superior option between the two choices if you have a lot of hard floors in your home and you also own pets.
It does not imply that the Bissell Powerforce Helix has bad cleaning performance. Its performance is completely worth the money you spend. It’s also a choice with a more sturdy design.
Bissell CleanView Compact vs PowerForce Helix: Comparison Chart
Bissell CleanView Compact vs PowerForce Helix: Differences
The match between Bissell PowerForce Helix and the Bissell CleanView Compact comes to the final score of 2-2. Bissell CleanView Compact has better cleaning performance, particularly in vacuuming bare floors and pet hairs. However, Bissell PowerForce Helix has a more heavy-duty design than its counterpart.
Cleaning Performance
The Winner: Bissell CleanView Compact
Bare floors
Bissell Powerforce Helix can pick up most small debris like rice and all pet hair. Nevertheless, the brushroll cannot be turned off when vacuuming hard floors, so the spinning brush tends to kick debris out of the back of the unit, especially larger debris like cereal. This means that it may take you a few extra passes to clean up a mess completely. However, this happened much less frequently than I expected on the hard floor mode. Certainly less than the cheap Hoover models like the T-series and the Tempo, which also don’t have a brush roll shut-off switch.
It’s also not very good at picking up medium to larger debris in hard floor mode. So to make a long story short, like most cheap upright vacuums, it’s not great for hard floors. If you have a lot of hard floors, I would still advise you not to choose this machine.
When I use BISSELL CleanView Compact to vacuum bare floors, this vacuum outperforms its competition. It is also impossible to turn off the spinner when cleaning hard floors, which is a huge pain. One of its best aspects is that, unlike the PowerForce Helix, when the brush is activated, dust and dirt are not thrown backward. Having said that, at this price point, I am well aware that it is unrealistic to expect it will have an exceptional suction force to remove all of the debris in a single pass. But after a few passes, it eventually gets all of it.
Pet hair
The only claim that Bissell makes regarding the effectiveness of the PowerForce Helix in removing pet hair is a small image printed on the packaging, stating, “pet inspired.” I’m unsure what that means, but I know this vacuum is enough for a shag rug in a house with 2 dogs and a cat.
This machine might feel like a toy, but it will be a toy that possesses tremendous suction. As a reviewer, I was happy to see how much cat hair the machine picked up after only a few minutes of use, but as the owner of what looked like a dirty house, I was horrified.
But, if you truly want to pick a vacuum that can suck your pet hair between these two vacuums, then the Bissell CleanView Compact will be the better choice for you to go with. It was far better than I had expected for pet hair.
Carpets
When I tested the Bissell Powerforce Helix on low and medium-pile test carpets, I found that it did pretty well. It does a decent job of deep cleaning when set to a lower setting and effectively picks up small to extra large debris on its higher setting.
On high-pile carpets, the vacuum proved difficult to push over the shag rug even when it was set to the high carpet setting. This was presumably partly because the light plastic wheels did not navigate the rug properly. I still think we could’ve used an additional height option for high-pile.
The Bissell Cleanview Compact’s performance on the carpet is the same as the Powerforce Helix. It works well for low to medium-pile carpets, just like the Bissell Powerforce Helix. On the other hand, if you have a thick carpet, you shouldn’t get this one. If you tried to push it, you might very well dislocate your shoulder. If you persist in vacuuming shag carpet, the motor may start smoking and burning after a few uses.
Height Adjustment
The CleanView Compact features 5 different height adjustments for vacuuming different floors. Though it’s built for dense high-pile carpets, you can still use it for quick cleaning. For an even deeper and stronger cleaning action on shaggier carpets, go for the PowerForce Helix.
The PowerForce Helix has 5 levels of height adjustment based on the type of floor you’re cleaning. On carpets, you can match the height of the carpet easily without struggling to move through. And it allows deeper cleaning and smooth gliding on low-pile rugs and slightly shaggy carpets.
Dirt Tank and Filter
The Winner: It’s A Tie!
Filtration System
The Bissell CleanView Compact features a multi-level disk filter that is consistent and improves performance. The filtration system is washable, which means you can make it as good as new each time it gets dirty.
The filters of Bissell Powerforce Helix are also washable, and they are just sponges nestled in the top of the dirt bin.
According to Bissell, you have to replace the filter completely once every 3 to 6 months, depending on how often you use the machine. Just like the CleanView Compact, the filter is washable with mild detergent, so it’s easy to keep clean for longer.
Obviously, at this price tag, you should not expect a sealed system or a HEPA filter and both the Bissell Cleanview Compact and Powerforce helix do indeed leak like a sieve. Hence, if you suffer from asthma or allergies, you should seriously consider spending the extra money on a machine with a sealed system.
Dust Container
The Bissell CleanView Compact comes with a durable Easy Empty Dirt Container that makes vacuuming more comfortable and hassle-free. You can easily detach the dirt bin to empty it, which takes only seconds to do.
The Bissell PowerForce Helix has a similar dust container that you can pull and detach from the main housing to empty. Even though it has a slightly larger dust container, it’s easy to detach and push back in. The larger dustbin just means you don’t have to empty the container so often, which saves you time and effort.
Capacity
Both upright vacuum cleaners come with a bagless operation. This positively impacts the performance and value of both models because they use high-quality filters that need to be periodically cleaned and have a longer shelf life than bags.
The cleaning capacity of the CleanView Compact is 0.26 gallons or 1.0 liter. The cleaning capacity of the PowerForce Helix is the same which is 1.0 liter. Both are spacious without looking or feeling too bulky.
Both upright vacuum cleaners come with an indicator for when the capacity is full and needs emptying. While the dustbin of both cleaners is made up of plastic, the CleanView Compact feels a lot sturdier than the PowerForce Helix.
Design & Convenience
The Winner: Bissell PowerForce Helix
Noise level
Vacuuming different types of surfaces, like hardwood floors, carpets, stairs, etc. produce different noises. On bare floors, the PowerForce Helix produces 81.5dB noise; on carpets, it’s a bit softer, with 78.6dB noise. It’s still higher for an upright vacuum cleaner.
The CleanView Compact, on the other hand, produces a louder noise than the PowerForce Helix. It’s approximately 84 dB on bare floors and 81 dB on carpets.
Size
Bissell Cleanview Compact 3508’s size and portability compared to the Powerforce Helix’s are lighter. The latter weighs 11 pounds and has a wider head size than the former which weighs less than 8 pounds. The width of the Bissell Cleanview Compact is true to its name and is a few inches smaller in size compared with the Powerforce Helix.
Comparatively, the wider head of the Powerforce Helix saves more time in vacuuming because it means I have to take fewer rounds of the surface.
Weight
The Bissell CleanView Compact has a lightweight design, it weighs less than 8 lbs, making it easier to maneuver on bare floors, stairs, and low-pile carpets. It offers a smooth and comfortable vacuuming experience.
The Bissell PowerForce Helix has a relatively heavier design, weighing 11 lbs. Though it’s heavier than the CleanView Compact, the PowerForce Helix feels like a lightweight upright vacuum cleaner. Some people say that it looks and feels like a toy.
The heavier weight of the PowerForce Helix is an advantage for people who have multiple floors to vacuum, including bare floors and carpets. It feels sturdier as you move from one surface to another with stronger wheels.
Cleaning Head
The advantage of picking the Bissell CleanView Compact is that it comes with a rotating head which allows more flexibility in cleaning. The rotating brush picks up dirt faster. It’s also very helpful in reaching tough spots around crevices and tight corners.
The Bissell PowerForce Helix does not come equipped with a rotating brush head. Since it does not have a rotating head, you do need to move the vacuum cleaner around more to cover a wider area and tight corners. Cleaning under furniture without a rotating brush head can be tricky as well.
But as for an upgrade, the PowerForce Helix gets its edge back with a wider cleaning path width. It is 13 inches while the cleaning head width of the CleanView Compact is only 10 inches.
The wider cleaning path of the PowerForce Helix allows better coverage. It means you can cover more surface area with each pass of the vacuum cleaner. It saves both time and effort. And you can catch more debris, dirt, dust, and other impurities is a quick sweep.
Corded
Another common feature between the Bissell CleanView Compact vs PowerForce Helix is that they are corded upright vacuum cleaners. The cord length is an important factor of consideration if you want the vacuum cleaner to cover a wider area.
The PowerForce Helix has a slightly shorter cord than the CleanView Compact. They measure 26.9 ft and 22.9 ft respectively. The range of motion of the CleanView Compact is even higher than the PowerForce Helix, measuring 29.9 ft while the motion range of the PowerForce Helix is 25.8 ft.
Utilities
The Winner: It’s A Tie!
Both vacuum cleaners come with a removable dustbin with an indicator, adjustable head height, a manual cord storage system, and an on-board tool storage system. They also feature a carrying handle for easy maneuverability.
You can carry the vacuum cleaner quickly and efficiently from one room to another, since both vacuum cleaners are relatively lightweight, carrying them on multiple floors is not a problem.
Another similarity between the Bissell CleanView Compact and PowerForce Helix is that they come with washable foam filters. The filters are easy to rinse and clean regularly. You simply have to allow the filter to dry completely before using it again. The best time to wash the filters would be at night and allow the filter to dry overnight.
Quick Rundown of Bissell CleanView Compact
- EVERY PURCHASE SAVES PETS. BISSELL proudly supports BISSELL Pet Foundation and its mission to help save homeless pets.
- SCATTER-FREE TECHNOLOGY. Captures messes on hard floors with less scatter.
- POWERFUL SUCTION. Convenient, powerful cleaning in one machine.
- LIGHTWEIGHT AND MANEUVERABLE. Weighs less than 8 pounds, so it’s easy to transport.
- EASY EMPTY DIRT CONTAINER. Dispose of debris with a push of a button.
Quick Rundown of Bissell PowerForce Helix
Product Videos
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References
- Bissell Cleanview Compact from Bissell.com: https://www.bissell.com/bissell-cleanview-compact-upright-vacuum-3508.html
- Bissell PowerForce Helix from Bissell.com: https://www.bissell.com/powerforce-helix-bagless-upright-vacuum-1700.html
Victor K. Giles is a leading consultant and expert in vacuum cleaner technology with over a decade of experience. As a mechanical engineering graduate in the University of Michigan, he specializes in product development, design optimization, and performance analysis. Victor collaborates with manufacturers and educates consumers, making her a sought-after guest speaker at industry events. His work has been featured in renowned publications, and he shares his expertise on his blog, “The Vacuum Teria”. Victor’s passion for cleaner, healthier living spaces drives his to help clients choose the best vacuum solutions for their needs.