We’ve mentioned before how much we adore the Kurv — and we’re not sponsored or perked in any way; we genuinely love it — but now we’re even more excited: we finally found a full-sized vacuum that we love just as much. It truly performs. Paired with the Kurv, which is ideal for wood floors and super portable, the carpet-friendly suction and power of our new upright mean dust bunnies and tiny puppy hairs don’t stand a chance. Honestly, our home has never looked or felt this clean.
We realized we needed to replace our previous full-sized vacuum — the Dirt Devil Vibe Quick Vac — before the baby arrived. That model did more blowing-out than sucking-in, and during allergy season it made things worse by sending dust into the air. We’d learned the hard way that a $40 vacuum won’t cut it, so this time we did research and made a clear list of priorities before shopping:
- HEPA filtration to reduce allergens and airborne particles
- Bagless design for easier emptying and fewer fusses with replacement bags
- Lightweight construction (anything over 20 lbs is too heavy for me at 5’2″)
- More power than our old 8-amp model
- Multiple settings for different surfaces — stronger suction for rugs and a gentler mode for hardwood
Your priorities may differ, but having a checklist when you enter a store helps narrow options fast. It prevents overwhelm and lets you focus on a few contenders that meet your criteria, which you can then research further or compare in-store.
Our pick: the Bissell 82H1 Cleanview Helix Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner.
That’s a mouthful, so we just call it the newest member of the family. It delivers 12 amps of power and offers five settings so you can toggle between carpet and hardwood modes. It uses a Helix Dirt Separation System for stronger, deeper cleaning, and includes a HEPA filter and easy-empty dirt cup. The vacuum is bagless and weighs about 15 lbs, which fits my lightweight rule. It also features adjustable height and comes with useful attachments: a TurboBrush, crevice tool, extension wand, and an upholstery/dusting brush. After checking customer reviews on our phones while in the store, we felt confident it was the right choice.
Even better: it was on sale at Target that weekend, reduced from $80 to $69. We originally planned to spend around $200 for something durable, but this model exceeded our list and had strong ratings, so the price felt like a lucky find.
At home, I tested it on our dirtiest carpet — the yellow living-room rug that had collected grime from lots of indoor-outdoor traffic — and it lifted the dirt completely. The carpet visibly brightened as the ground-in brown grime came up. It performed just as well on hardwood when I switched to the floor setting, and the upholstery tool removed every hair and speck from the sofa.
Cleaning suddenly felt fun. I couldn’t help smiling while vacuuming with this new machine by my side. I’m genuinely happy to have it on hand before the baby arrives in May, especially since one of my resolutions this year is to simplify chores and keep the house running more smoothly. This vacuum makes that easier, and I expect vacuuming during allergy season to be far less sneeze-inducing than with our old model.
For full transparency: no one paid us to recommend this vacuum. We researched, purchased, and wrote about it because we like it and wanted to share. This isn’t an advertisement — it’s simply an enthusiastic homeowner’s recommendation. Now tell us about your cleaning machines: any Bissell fans out there? Dyson devotees? Or anyone who tolerates dust bunnies and skips the vacuum entirely? We’d love to hear what works (or doesn’t) in your home.
Psst — Want to know more about how we keep our whole house clean? And for the original post about our beloved Kurv, check our previous write-up.