Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Corded Handheld Vacuum Review

We purchased the Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Corded Handheld Vacuum so our expert reviewer could put it to the test in her home. Keep reading for our full product review.

If you have a pet that sheds even a little, you know how quickly fur can attach to every surface in your home. While a lint brush can help with a coat or black pants, your couch cushions likely require something more specialized. Sure, a traditional dustbuster can get some of the job done, but a pet hair vacuum is really what you need. Bissell’s Pet Hair Eraser features a unique rubber nozzle that makes picking up fur a breeze and it’s just $40. We picked one up to review its design, efficiency, and competitors. Read on to see if the vacuum is a must-have in your home. 

Design: Unique and effective 

So we’ve already established that Bissell’s Pet Hair Eraser isn’t your average dustbuster, but let’s dig into that a little more. The most notable difference between the Pet Hair Eraser and a regular handheld vacuum is the wide-set, rounded rubber nozzle that’s specially designed to pull pet hair from soft surfaces. With a little pressure, the nozzle molds to the surface you’re cleaning—be it carpeted stairs, a cat tree, or a microfiber loveseat—and effectively removes hair. 

The vacuum measures 10 x 5 x 8 inches and weighs 5 pounds, so it’s easy to maneuver and won’t tire your arms out too fast. The Pet Eraser also comes with a crevice tool attachment which is perfect for cleaning between cushions and sucking up piles of dust and fur. The piece is pretty short, though, so it can’t reach into deep crevices, like under furniture or in the car between the seat and the door frame. 

The Pet Hair Eraser is corded which means users are slightly more limited than they would be with a battery-powered model. That said, the cord is 16 feet long, which affords plenty of mobility in most rooms. The only time we really had to unplug it and replug it was when going up and downstairs. 

One of our favorite design features is the vacuum’s roomy, bagless dust cup. The 0.78-liter cup was large enough to suck up loads of long blonde fur from our Shar-Pei/Golden Retriever mix. Unless you have a couple of Saint Bernards or a whole litter of Maine Coon kittens, you probably won’t need to empty the vacuum between every use. The filter screen, nozzles, and plastic dust cup can also be removed and washed in warm, soapy water, just with one exception—the actual filter. This piece, which you’ll recognize by its white felt material, should not get wet. We found this out the hard way—but luckily, replacement filters are available for roughly $10. 

Performance: Loosens and sucks up pet hair 

Thanks to a hefty dose of power, a specially-designed nozzle, and a compact design, this tool effectively sucked up fur and other debris from our area rugs, upholstery, and cars. The vacuum excelled when it came to cleaning up blonde dog fur from a black Persian rug; a single swipe was all it took to loosen up the fur, but cleaning the entire carpet was a little tedious. Since the vacuum doesn’t have wheels or a roller brush, manually running the device over every inch of carpet did require some hands-and-knees action.  

While the Bissell Pet Hair Eraser efficiently sucks up hair and fur, it picks up other particles, too. We used it to clean multiple cars and found it picked up dirt, sand, and larger debris with ease. Note that tiny grains can fall back out of the nozzle, though, so whenever you’re done using it, you’ll want to make sure the unit it sitting upright. 

All in all, this appliance is superior in what it’s designed for—picking up pet hair. That said, non-pet owners would probably get more use from a regular dustbuster or upright vacuum with upholstery accessories. 

Price: Super affordable

The Bissell Pet Hair Eraser comes at a great price—especially considering its unique, efficient design. If you have pets that shed (even just a little bit), you’ll find yourself pulling this vacuum out several times a week, which is well worth the $40 price tag. 

Competition: Lots of options, but most aren’t as affordable

Shark Cordless Pet Perfect Handheld Vacuum: For those in search of a cordless option, the Shark Pet Perfect Handheld Vacuum is a good bet. Though it’s nearly double the price of the Bissell Pet Hair Eraser, it still won’t break the bank. This device features a motorized pet brush that can be detached to transform the vacuum into a regular dustbuster or swapped out for a crevice tool. 

BLACK+DECKER Cordless Lithium Hand Vacuum: Another cordless option, BLACK+DECKER’s handheld pet vacuum also comes with a pet hair attachment like its aforementioned competitor. This specialized piece features rubber bristles that prevent tangling and grab hair that’s lodged deep in carpets. There’s also a brush attachment and extendable brush tool, adding to the device’s versatility. The vacuum has two settings, as well, so you can clean fur from a variety of surfaces including delicate items like curtains.