My family recently went from a one dog household to a three dog household and were in desperate need for a better vacuum when we found theBissell Healthy Home HEPA Upright Vacuum. Our new Bissell vacuum has outperformed every other vacuum our family has tried or owned in the past, but like all vacuums, it does have its flaws. The suction and features are incredible and the reason why I recommend the Bissell Healthy Home, but the maneuverability and weight could be improved.

If you have several pets or are dealing with allergies, I would highly recommend the Bissel Healthy Home HEPA vacuum because of its almost unparalleled suction power. If, on the other hand, you are just looking for something to do light cleaning with and don’t have to worry about pets or allergens, there are several vacuums on the market that perform well and are slightly easier to handle.

One of the main reasons I think the Bissell vacuum is so great, has to do with its cleaning performance. After all, suction is the first thing you look at in a vacuum cleaner and with all the dogs I have running around, this is my main concern. According to the manufacturer, the vacuum has 12 amps of power, which was more or about the same as similar HEPA bagless models, but came at a competitive price. All that suction power translates into clean floors and carpets when you come through with this model, more so than other models that I tried.

On Berber carpet the Bissell Healthy Home is amazing, getting out dirt and pet hair that has been lodged in the pile for way too long. On the surface, there is no longer the noticeable presence of dog hair trapped in the loops of carpeting. The more obvious difference was apparent after I used the Bissell for several weeks and then steam cleaned all the carpets and rugs in my home. Generally, the water sucked back up during a regular steam cleaning was filled with dirt and dust to the point of being murky. After vacuuming on the same schedule I always have, the water sucked back into the steam cleaner was slightly discolored, but without the buildup of dirt and dust piling up at the bottom of the reservoir.

The parts of our home that are covered in hardwood or plush carpeting look even better, and are much easier to clean with the Healthy Home HEPA. In these sections of my home, a single pass through with the vacuum is enough to get the job done and the wide brush helps me get rooms done quicker. Because the cleaner is bagless, disposing of the dirt and hair picked up is quick and easy, I love not having to deal with bags. Other features and attachments include the crevice cleaner, dusting brush and Turbo Brush. All of these are invaluable, and the dusting brush especially, really make this machine a huge multitasking cleaner.

As for cons, the Bissell Healthy Home vacuum could be a little lighter, it is definitely not the easiest machine to move around. Overall maneuverability is a little disappointing, especially when it comes to hard to clean sections like stairs or awkward hallways. The extension wand and hose could also be made a little longer when you consider the effort it takes to pull the vacuum around.

Overall though, the performance and cost far outweighs any weight concerns. I am more than happy to wheel around the Bissell using a little more arm muscle than go back to the hair being left behind by other brands. Definitely a must for pet owners.

The trouble with a traditional hand-held vacuum cleaner is that it is always packed away in a tangle of cords up in the back of the top shelf in your hall closet when you really need it. The famed international designer, Karim Rashid, has overcome this problem by designing a hand vacuum that looks like a curvaceous piece of fine sculpture. The Dirt Devil Kurv can be placed proudly among your fine pottery, candles, decorative centerpieces, and other display items. The shape of the Kurv evokes the minarets of exotic lands. The Kurv comes in several colors: champagne, choco-latte, sky blue and spice. The colors fit most home color palettes and allow the Kurv to blend right in until you make a mess.

Beneath the smooth plastic skin of Rashid’s fluid design, the Dirt Devil Kurv hides a practical 9.6 volt hand vacuum. The Kurv is about 16 inches tall and comes in two pieces. The bottom piece serves as a pedestal and charger for the vacuum in the top piece. When you spot some crumbs, dust, or dirt to be vacuumed, you draw the curve out of its pedestal as if you were pulling a sword from a scabbard or a stone. Then, you push a button at the tip of the handle to turn on the vacuum. Dirt is sucked in through a small 1-1/4 inch opening at the bottom of the vacuum. It works much like a hose attachment on a regular vacuum cleaner. The vacuum tip is rubberize to avoid marring furniture.

The Kurv delivers performance typically expected of a small hand vacuum. It’s great if you drop some crumbs or find a cobweb. However, I would not expect to effectively detail a car with it. The Kurv is designed to attack small spots of dirt rather than clean large areas. We have used it to vacuum up crumbs, popcorn, cobwebs, and a spider or two. For these quick tasks, the Dirt Devil Kurv has worked well. When you have cleaned up a significant amount of debris, you can simply twist apart the Kurv vacuum to reveal that the entire nose of the vacuum is actually a generously-sized dust bin. An easily removable cloth filter basket protects the motor.

There are only a few minor drawbacks to the Dirt Devil Kurv. First, the Dirt Devil Kurv is not a high-powered vacuum. It is good for small easily cleaned messes. Second, the Kurv does not have any brushes or any attachments. While this makes storage and use simple, it does limit the Kurv’s ability to beat particles out of carpet and other fabrics. Third, sometimes hard particles will get stuck in the dustbin and require some extra shaking to remove. Finally, the Kurv filter sometimes requires minor scraping by fingernail to get completely clean. Overall, these criticisms are minor nits compared to the convenience and utility provided by the Kurv.

With a retail price of about $50, the Kurv is a winner. In my opinion, the Dirt Devil Kurv provides an excellent value in an attractive and convenient package.