Bissell Rewind PowerHelix 84G9

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Avg. consumer rating = 88/100 

This bagless upright gets pretty good consumer ratings and is not too expensive.  It has most of the usual features and includes HEPA filtration, several nozzle height settings and a turbo tool.  It also carries a 3-year parts and labor warranty which is quite good in this price range.  However the brushbar, while motorized, does not come with an on/off switch and some folks may not like this when cleaning bare floors.

The Bissell 84G9 is powered by a 12 amp motor and it uses what Bissell call the “Helix Cleaning System”.  This system involves using angled ribs along the walls of the dust canister to direct the dirt and debris to the bottom of the canister and away from the filter.  This is said to help the vacuum retain a higher level of cleaning efficiency while vacuuming.  This is perhaps a rather fancy name for such a basic concept and the extent to which it truly increases efficiency is somewhat unknown.  We haven’t seen this approach on other (non-Bissell) vacuums.

We have found the following owner ratings for the vacuum and they would suggest that the machine is fairly well-liked.  You can see the ratings for all of the Bissell vacuum cleaners we have reviewed in our Bissell Vacuum Ratings table.

Consumer comments also yield some common vacuum likes and dislikes and these are recorded below:

PROS
- Strong suction
- Not too expensive
- Retractable power cord
- Very easy to assemble
- Washable filters
- Dust canister is easy to empty
- Turbo brush attachment works well

CONS
- Short power cord
- Cleaning the filter releases a fair bit of dust into the air
- A bit loud
- vacuum hose is short 

You can see more Bissell 84G9 customer comments on Amazon if you wish. 

The vacuum includes a washable HEPA filter.  HEPA filters will remove 99.97% of all particles with a diameter of 0.3 microns or more.  This means that fine particles like pet dander, dust mite feces, pollen, etc. will be captured by the filter.  HEPA filtration is a great feature for those who suffer from asthma or allergies.  Although we would like to point out that this feature works best when coupled with a “sealed system” which ensures no air bypasses the filter before it is exhausted from the machine.  The 84G9 does not have a sealed system.  Several other vacuums (generally more expensive) that we have reviewed do.

Designed for bare floors, upholstery and carpets, the Rewind PowerHelix comes with a motorized brushbar and a host of tools.  The tools include:

- Extension wand – can place desired attachment on the end if needed
- Crevice tool -  for getting into cramped, narrow areas
- Turbo brush – has an air-driven brush and is good for cleaning stairs and cushions
- Combo tool (dusting and upholstery) – dusting brush is useful for dusting lamps, shelves, blinds, etc. upholstery tool is good for cleaning furniture and fabrics.

These tools store on-board the vacuum for easy access while vacuuming.  The Turbo tool snaps into place on the vacuum handle.  The 84G9 also has a stretch hose that works with the attachments.  There are, however, a few owner comments that the hose is a bit short.  We also noted that the unit has a motorized brushbar, which is great for cleaning carpet, but it does not have a brushbar on/off switch and some owners may wish to turn the brushbar off when cleaning bare floors.

A knob on the vacuum nozzle provides 5 different height settings.  The lower settings are used when cleaning bare floors or very low pile carpet.  Medium settings are for medium pile carpet and the higher settings are for high pile or shag carpet.  Also, higher nozzle height settings can be used in the event the machine becomes hard to push across a surface.

Retractable Power Cord

A popular feature on the vacuum is the retractable power cord.  A retractable power cord is not particularly common on an upright but it is often a very favored item on vacuum cleaners in general.  Owners simply like the convenience of having the cord easily reeled in as opposed to manually gathering it up.  The power cord length on the vacuum is a bit of a disappointment however as it is only 25 feet in length.  While this length isn’t disastrous we are proponents of 30+ foot power cords on an upright.  The automatic cord rewind in the 84G9 is enabled via a push button.

Additional vacuum cleaner features include a 13.5 inch wide cleaning path, a headlight (useful when vacuuming dimly lit areas), and an easy-to-empty dust canister.  The dust canister is also made of clear plastic so it is easy to determine when emptying is needed.  In addition, the dust canister can be washed with warm water and a mild detergent but it must be completely dry before returning it to the vacuum. 

The 84G9 weighs in at 17.6 lbs which is about average for an upright.  It is not too heavy nor is it a lightweight.  A rubber bumper around the nozzle protects walls and furniture from scuffs and bumps and a carry handle allows the vacuum to more easily be moved and carried up stairs.  The Bissell Rewind PowerHelix 84G9 carries a 3-year limited warranty on parts and labor.