Two-in-one vacuum cleaners are a godsend for people who own small homes because they can clean virtually any part of your home.
These products are lightweight and require little space.
Although it won’t clean deeply, it will give you spot-cleaning versatility that full-size rolls won’t be able to match.
A few months ago, I reviewed the Bissell Bolt XRT ION Stick and Handheld Vacuum Cleaner.
This version has a smaller battery which means less run time at just 30 minutes compared to the 40 minute 25.2V Bolt.
But this one is about $30 cheaper and surprisingly comes with more attachments than the previous one.
It also comes with a two-year warranty which is very good in this price range.
One concern for me, though, is the built-in battery that you can’t replace which makes this one, in a way, a disposable device – unless the Bissell comes with a replacement battery.
Find out what consumers think about the performance and functionality of these products.
Quick look at the features
- Powered by an 18 volt lithium-ion battery
- 30 minutes running time
- Variable speed control – high and low
- Roll brush on/off
- It has a two-way foldable handle that allows you to better clean the areas under the furniture
- 2 years warranty
- 180 degree swivel steering
- Weighs only 5.6 pounds
Positives
- Very light – weighs less than 6 lbs
- Versatile – You can use it either as a vacuum cleaner or as a handheld device
- The long reach wand extends to reach and allows you to clean up to the ceiling
- It has swivel steering which makes it very maneuverable
- It has edge bristles – supposed to make cleaning edges easier
Negatives
- No deep cleaning
- The built-in battery cannot be replaced
- A low floor tool tends to have a “snow sweeper” effect as it pushes out larger debris rather than absorbing it
- expensive
- Without the charging stand it is liable to tip over
- There is no storage for tools on board
- No LED headlights
Table of Contents
What do you expect from Bissell Bolt Plus?
This is part of the Bolt series of 2-in-1 vacuums that Bissell launched last year — this version comes with an 18-volt battery that Bissell says will last up to 30 minutes.
Based on testing by CNet, it will exceed 30 minutes if you use the low setting but drops to 24 minutes when using the high suction setting.
If you compare it to the Dyson DC59 which has only 20 minutes runtime (and 6 minutes in boost mode), the runtime is pretty good. But versus the Hoover Air Cordless, which has two batteries (50 minutes runtime), it’s somewhat lacking. Recharging will take about 4 hours.
It only weighs 5.6 pounds in vacuum mode, so it’s extremely lightweight. If you take off the mobile device, its weight will decrease.
For greater maneuverability, the Bissell 18 added a rotary steering and a two-way folding handle.
It also comes with 3 floor cleaning attachments – an extension wand, a 6-inch wide hand sweeper and a crevice tool (with a dusting brush).
bare floor performance
Between the high and low suction and the brush on/off feature, you might think this broom would be great for hard floors but there’s one small problem – you’ll have a hard time cleaning up large debris because of the way the floor tool is designed.
It has low clearance and no hole in the middle (like the one on the Hoover Linx Stick) that will turn larger pieces of dirt.
This results in what you call a snowplowing effect, in which large debris is pushed around.
carpet performance
The brush and high suction setting will help pick up surface dirt, but don’t expect it to deep clean the carpet.
He simply does not have the strength to do so.
Also because of the low floor tool, this won’t be as effective for cleaning up, let’s say spilled flakes or pills. Using it as a mobile device will be more efficient.
Pet hair removal
On carpets and stairs, it should do a decent job of removing superficial pet hair but on upholstery it is a big question mark due to the lack of a pet hair tool.
upholstery performance
In manual mode, this will be able to clean loose dirt on the upholstery. It has a crevice cleaner and an upholstery dusting brush/tool to do the job.
The big question mark is the ability of this to clean pet hair. It doesn’t have a pet hair attachment that would do this efficiently on upholstery, so this might not be a great option for people who have a lot of pets at home.
Attachments and accessories
It comes with these tools – a crevice tool with a dusting brush, a 6-inch wide tool for a hand broom (or upholstery tool), a long-range extension wand, and a multi-surface brush roller (think of it the floor tool).
Shipping time
Bissell says it will take 4 hours to fully recharge.
Filter cleaning
To access the filter, you will need to remove the portable part of the vacuum cleaner, like so.
Watch this video to see how to empty the dust cup…
To remove the filter you need to do these steps…
Bissell recommends that the user wash the filter by hand with warm water and a mild detergent. Make sure it is completely dry before putting it back in.
the show length
The run time will be around 30 minutes, if you use the high setting exclusively which can drop to 24 minutes. If you use the low setting, it may run for more than 30 minutes.
Based on CNET tests on the low setting with the brush on, it lasted 38 minutes. When they set it to high suction power (with brush roll) it lasted about 24 minutes which is longer than the Dyson DC59.
Guarantee
All Bissell Bolt vacuums come with a 2-year warranty.
Product specification
| Feature | Bissell Bolt Ion Plus 2-in-1 Lightweight Cordless Vacuum Cleaner, 18V |
| attachments | Dust removal brush crevice tool
6 inch wide hand vacuum tool Long range extension stick Multi-surface brush roll |
| battery | 18 volt lithium ion battery |
| battery indicator | Unavailable |
| Charger | charging stand |
| Shipping time | 4 hours |
| Battery life | 30 minutes |
| Brush on/off switch |  |
| headlights |  |
| rotates on axis | |
| net weight (with battery) | 5.6 pounds |
| Purchase Weight | 10.7 pounds |
| cleaning path | 10 inch |
| above ground up | Unavailable |
| total length | 44 inches |
| battery indicator | Unavailable |
| filter type | washable fabric |
| dirt capacity | Unavailable |
| Energy | Unavailable |
| Voltage | 110 volts |
| Made in | China |
| Price | Check Price |
Customer Reviews
Overall, the Bissell Bolt 18V has a solid rating on shopping sites like Amazon. Consumers really liked the versatility of this product as it can be used both as a vacuum cleaner and as a hand vacuum cleaner.
It is light and can rotate. Consumers say that this machine would be ideal for small homes.
The strength is good but don’t expect it to be very effective on carpet. The editors at CNET say they had trouble pushing that vacuum onto the rug. There have been consumers who said he performs a will on the carpet, so they pick up pet hair.
You should take this with a grain of salt because 2-in-1 cleaners like this one won’t have the most suction.
My personal concern with this broom is how it performs when cleaning larger bits of dirt like flakes, pet dander or grains, the low profile base lacks a slot to channel all that debris which will result in a snowplowing effect.
The uptime is impressive. Again based on testing by CNET, they get anywhere from 24 to 38 minutes of runtime (with the low and high setting respectively). Other reviews report that it takes between 20-30 minutes, so the uptime is solid.
Other problems that consumers have encountered include the tendency of this machine to tip over due to the swivel mechanism and the lack of tool storage.
Also when the extension wand is attached on the portable unit, the suction appears to be affected in part due to the design.
Despite the negatives, consumers say this is still a solid product that thrives on cleaning light dirt.
Where can I buy this?
The best deal I found online was right at Bissell where you can buy this for less than $180. If you buy this on Amazon, it will cost about $10 more.
to finish
This versatile cleaner would be great for small homes due to its small size and maneuverability. It will be able to pick up dust and small pieces of debris like a vacuum cleaner and clean upholstery, tables, vents, blinds and even the ceiling thanks to the tools that come with it.
If you have a lot of rugs or rugs, this will not be the product for you because it lacks suction and users have found it difficult to squeeze a plush rug, so it would be best to use it on exposed surfaces.
Hoover Linx Stick or Air Cordless will be more suitable for carpeting.
It’s a little expensive but you get two products in one – a handy vacuum cleaner and a wand, so consider it an investment.
My biggest concern would be the battery which is built into the unit and you cannot replace it yourself. You will have to go to a Bissell authorized service center to have it replaced. This may be a problem in the long run.
For cleaning small dirt around the house, this would be a great option if you don’t mind paying a premium for it.