Bissell CleanView Swivel Pet 2252 Review: The Best Cheap Upright for Pet Hair
The short version
The Bissell CleanView Swivel Pet 2252 is a ~$140 bagless corded upright (as of September 2026) that Business Insider named its best cheap upright after testing it with flour, cereal, pet hair, and litter[1]; TechGearLab measured 72%–74% pet-hair pickup[2]. It is loud, heavy for its class, and its filtration is basic: fine for shedding, not for allergy-first buyers.
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Video: “BISSELL CleanView Swivel PET 2252 REVIEW — Why is Everyone Buying this Vacuum?” from the Vacuum Wars channel on YouTube. This video was not made or commissioned by Vacuum Judge, and Vacuum Wars does not endorse this page; it is embedded so you can see the machine in use. See the product in action before you buy; the video was not made or commissioned by Vacuum Judge.
What do independent testers find?
The 2252 is one of the rare budget vacuums with sustained attention from multiple independent labs, and their results line up better than usual.
updated its cheap-vacuum guide on May 28, 2026 and named the CleanView Swivel Pet its “Best cheap upright vacuum” under $200[1]. In Business Insider’s tests, the 2252 was run against flour, cereal, pet hair, and litter — the spill-and-shedding gauntlet that actually matches how these machines get used[1]. Its pros per Business Insider: powerful suction, a large and hygienic dust bin, and convenient foot controls. Its cons: “a bit heavy and clunky” at 15 lb, and loud[1].
, in its upright-vacuum lab roundup, measured pet-hair pickup of 72% from low-pile and 74% from high-pile carpet and called the 2252 “a standout compared to the other budget models”[2].
, which buys every unit it reviews at retail, scored the 2252 4.63 on carpet against a 3.71 average across the uprights it has purchased and tested, and recorded a perfect 100 in its deep-clean evaluation, which embeds sand deep into medium-pile carpet[4]. It also picked up every debris size on hard floors without height adjustments — something Vacuum Wars describes as rare across the vacuums it has evaluated — and credits a small squeegee behind the brushroll for sealing the nozzle against hard floors[4]. For balance: Vacuum Wars’ overall score for the 2252 was 2.80 versus its 3.22 tested-average, dragged down by a sparse features score (1.21), not by cleaning performance (3.54)[4].
names a Bissell CleanView upright (~$99) its best cheap upright, praising five height settings, a bottom-empty dust cup that “helps minimize mess,” and a turbo brush[3]. One honesty note: GH’s tested unit appears to be a sibling CleanView model rather than the 2252 itself, so we treat those praise points as applying to the CleanView family, not to this exact model number[3].
Vacuum Wars notes the 2252 has been one of the best-selling vacuums online, with more than 65,000 Amazon ratings averaging about 4.6 stars at the time of its review[4]. That is an aggregate of owner anecdotes, not lab data — but at that sample size it is meaningful evidence of satisfaction.
What should you know before buying?
Vacuum Wars writes that it cannot recall seeing a swivel like this on a vacuum this affordable and that it makes “a noticeable difference” in daily use[4]. The catch: swivel steering makes the machine nimble around table and chair legs, but it does not make it light. Business Insider still found the 15-lb body heavy and clunky, and Vacuum Wars notes the floorhead tilts when you push the vacuum under furniture[1][4]. That is the swivel tradeoff in one line: unusually agile steering on a budget chassis that is still heavy, loud, and awkward in tight under-furniture runs.
Bissell advertises the 2252 with a Triple Action Brush Roll, Scatter-Free Technology, and swivel steering, and states that every purchase saves pets through its Pet Foundation[8]. Independent testing is consistent with the intent of the scatter-reduction claim — Vacuum Wars found all debris sizes lifted from hard floors without scattering — but Triple Action and Scatter-Free are Bissell’s trademarked feature names, not independent lab labels[4][8].
The box includes a powered Pet TurboEraser tool for upholstery and stairs — unusual at this price — plus a 6-foot hose, a crevice tool, and a combination dusting brush/upholstery tool[4]. Vacuum Wars found the powered tool’s brush can stop spinning if you press too hard, because hose suction is merely average[4]. There is also a suction blockage indicator that shifts from green to red when filters need cleaning or something is blocked; Vacuum Wars calls it one of the more useful features an upright can carry[4]. Foot pedals switch the machine on and off — Business Insider’s “convenient foot controls”[1].
The 27-ft cord wraps by hand[1][4], and Vacuum Wars’ spec listing shows no brushroll on/off switch either[4]. If hand-wrapping is a dealbreaker, Bissell sells the Swivel Rewind Pet 2254 in the same CleanView Swivel family with automatic cord rewind for a premium over the 2252 — check current pricing[7].
The 1.0 L (~0.26 gal) bin empties from the bottom and the filters are washable, so there are no bags and few consumables[1][4]. With a shedding pet, a 1-liter bin fills quickly — expect more trips to the trash than with a 3.1 L bagged machine such as the Kenmore Intuition BU4022 in our budget guide. Keep the foam filter clean; Bissell’s own support library for this model is built largely around suction-loss troubleshooting, the classic clogged-filter symptom[6].
Vacuum Wars examined the 2252 with an infrared camera after 20 minutes of running and found no heat hotspots beyond the expected motor and belt areas, calling construction a strong point overall[4].
The 2252 listed at ~$139.99 as of September 2026[5]; Business Insider listed it at $120 in late May 2026[1]; its historic low is $79.99 and its multi-year average is about $119[5]. It has stayed under $200 at every observed price, but patient buyers are often rewarded — this model discounts deep.
How good is the filtration, honestly?
Here our sources genuinely diverge in emphasis, and the conflict deserves plain disclosure.
- Business Insider’s spec table lists a washable filter as part of the 2252’s design[1] — accurate, and washable filters save money over replacements.
- TechGearLab rated this model’s fine-particle filtration Poor: its Dylos air-quality test recorded 1,521 small particles released back into the air, and the tested unit carried no HEPA designation[2].
- Vacuum Wars confirms the mechanism behind that number: the 2252 has no sealed suction system, so fine dust can escape around the bin and filters — though it adds that no other upright in this price range has a sealed system either[4].
Both framings are true; they measure different things. A washable filter is a cost feature; a sealed HEPA system is an air-quality feature, and the 2252 does not have one. If allergies or asthma drive your purchase, this is the wrong machine — a bagged, sealed model such as the Kenmore Intuition BU4022 in our budget guide is the honest pick. If your problem is shedding rather than sneezing, pickup matters more than emissions, and this machine’s pickup numbers are exceptional for the price.
Park the upright before switching to the pet tool
The 2252 has an important hose-cleaning limitation: Bissell's user guide says its floor brush keeps rotating while attachments are in use. It requires the machine to stay on the floor with the handle upright, not on furniture or an uneven surface, and says not to carry it while running. Unplug before connecting or disconnecting the Pet TurboEraser tool. [9]
plan sofa and stair cleaning around a stable parking spot for the upright, rather than treating the pet tool as a portable vacuum. Clear nearby loose items before starting, and switch off before moving the base to another position. A useful purchase check is whether your room layout lets you reach the pet's favorite seat without stretching the hose across a walkway. Strong carpet pickup alone does not answer that question.
Plan for brush access and filter-drying downtime
Turn off and unplug before servicing. Brush access is not a quick-release operation on this model. The 2252 guide describes unplugging the machine, removing six Phillips-head screws and the bottom cover, then lifting out the brush to inspect it and the belt. [9] Bissell's model-listed filter guidance also requires the washed carbon and foam filters, and the cyclone, to air-dry completely for 24–48 hours before reinstallation. [10]
separate dry debris removal from a full filter wash. Finish the rooms you need to clean before washing parts; a freshly emptied bin does not make the vacuum ready while those parts are drying. Keep the screwdriver accessible and inspect the brush and belt before assuming weak floor pickup means the motor has failed. These are ownership tasks to consider before buying, not evidence of a particular failure rate.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Bissell CleanView Swivel Pet 2252 good for pet hair?
For pickup, yes — the independent numbers are strong for the price. Business Insider’s flour, cereal, pet-hair, and litter testing made it the guide’s best cheap upright[1]; TechGearLab measured 72% and 74% pet-hair pickup from low- and high-pile carpet[2]; Vacuum Wars scored it 4.63 on carpet against a 3.71 average[4]. The powered Pet TurboEraser tool covers upholstery and stairs[4].
Who it’s for / who should skip it
you want maximum pet-hair pickup per dollar on carpet and rugs, you prefer a big bagless bin with washable filters and no bag cost, and you can live with a 15-lb, loud, corded machine.
filtration is your priority, quiet matters, or you want cordless convenience. Alternatives we have reviewed:
How we review
We don’t run a test lab. Our reviews combine (1) findings from independent testing outlets, named with numbered references, (2) manufacturer specifications checked against Bissell’s own support materials and listings, and (3) owner-reported patterns from large review samples, labeled as such. We state drawbacks even on products we recommend. If you buy through our Amazon links we may earn a commission, which never affects what we recommend.
Sources used for this page
- Business Insider — The Best Cheap Vacuum Cleaners Under $200 (updated May 28, 2026): https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/home/best-cheap-vacuum-cleaner
- TechGearLab — Best Upright Vacuums (lab roundup): https://www.techgearlab.com/topics/floor-cleaning/best-upright-vacuum
- Good Housekeeping — 6 Best Cheap Vacuum Cleaners: https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/appliances/g73435376/cheap-vacuum-cleaner/
- Vacuum Wars — Bissell CleanView Swivel Pet review: https://vacuumwars.com/bissell-cleanview-swivel-pet-review/
- Pricehistory.app — Bissell 2252 CleanView Swivel price tracker (observed 2026-09-09): https://pricehistory.app/p/bissell-2252-cleanview-swivel-upright-bagless-vacuum-U1z0gqw8
- Bissell — CleanView Swivel Pet 2252 product support page: https://support.bissell.com/app/products/detail/p/177599/~/cleanview%C2%AE-swivel-pet-vacuum-cleaner-2252
- Bissell — 2252 Series user guide (warranty section; limited three-year warranty): https://www.manualslib.com/manual/3434777/Bissell-2252-Series.html
- Bissell via Amazon — CleanView Swivel Pet 2252 listing (ASIN B07F6N3RT6; manufacturer feature claims): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07F6N3RT6
- BISSELL 2252 Series User Guide, operating and maintenance instructions: https://bissellcdn.blob.core.windows.net/cdn-storage-container/Web%20Portal%20User%20Guides/US/2252.pdf
- BISSELL CleanView/PowerEase/PowerLifter Swivel Cleaning Filters (2252 listed): https://support.bissell.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/3495/kw/2259%20parts