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  • So how well does a $50 canister vacuum actually work?

  • Big cleaning in a small vacuum?

  • So how well does a $50 canister vacuum actually work?
  • Big cleaning in a small vacuum?
The Bissell Zing 6489 is much smaller than most other canisters.
Credit: Reviewed.com / Jonathan Chan

The Bissell Zing 6489 is much smaller than most other canisters.

So how well does a $50 canister vacuum actually work?

All the controls are on the top.
Credit: Reviewed.com / Jonathan Chan

All the controls are on the top.

Having been a vacuum tester since 2014, I've noticed that canisters tend to offer better specialized cleaning and reach. The Zing only offers the latter.

With only four inches of clearance, this Bissell has a nine-inch cleaning reach, meaning it'll have an easy time getting under your couch or bed. In terms of special cleaning attachments, most canisters have at least three or four. The Bissell really only has two: an extension wand and a dusting brush.

The Zing is a dust magnet.
Credit: Reviewed.com / Jonathan Chan

The Zing is a dust magnet.

Aside from attachments, the Zing also lacked spinning brushes. A lack of a beater bar translated to weak performance on carpeted surfaces. It picked up around 31 percent of our testing dirt on short-pile and about 15 percent on deep-pile carpet. That's about on par with other vacuums in the sub-$100 range, but the Zing was a pain to push around. Even when we engaged the pressure release, the suction head tended to clamp to the floor.

The brush head has no beater bar, so it can't really get dirt out of carpet.
Credit: Reviewed.com / Jonathan Chan

The brush head has no beater bar, so it can't really get dirt out of carpet.

Big cleaning in a small vacuum?

The one luxury is that the Zing has a retractable cord.
Credit: Reviewed.com / Jonathan Chan

The one luxury is that the Zing has a retractable cord.

Tipping the scales at 8.9 pounds, the Zing's compact design gives it a few boons. It has a 15.5-foot cord that retracts at the touch–or foot stomp–of a button. When not in use, this vacuum also stores well, the hose hooking onto the back of the canister.

Given its tiny stature, the Zing would be adequate for a tiny home or someone who just needs a vacuum in between professional cleaning service visits. Everyone else should check out our affordable upright roundup to find something much better on your budget.

Meet the testers

Jonathan Chan

Jonathan Chan

Senior Manager of Lab Operations

@Jonfromthelab1

Jonathan Chan currently serves as the Lab Manager at Reviewed. If you clean with it, it's likely that Jon oversees its testing. Since joining the Reviewed in 2012, Jon has helped launch the company's efforts in reviewing laptops, vacuums, and outdoor gear. He thinks he's a pretty big deal. In the pursuit of data, he's plunged his hands into freezing cold water, consented to be literally dragged through the mud, and watched paint dry. Jon demands you have a nice day.

See all of Jonathan Chan's reviews
Kyle Hamilton

Kyle Hamilton

Product Tester

Kyle Hamilton is a product tester at Reviewed, specializing in home appliances and technology.

See all of Kyle Hamilton's reviews

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