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Bissell Zing Canister Vacuum Review

Derek Hales

Written By: Derek Hales

Updated on:

Like the idea of only having to control a hose when vacuuming? Done with pushing a heavy upright vacuum around? Say hello to the Bissell Zing.

A Well-Rounded Canister Vacuum

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Bissell Zing Canister

The Bissell Zing is a well rounded canister vacuum. This unit offers strong suction for a powerful cleaning performance, a maneuverable design, and a versatile cleaning head. Considering the low price, the performance is quite good. However, you do get what you pay for. The build quality and feel leave something to be desired.Check Price

The Bissell Zing is a bagless canister vacuum designed to offer a more convenient cleaning session. Multiple floor cleaning options and good maneuverability are what this vacuum is known for, but does it have what it takes to pass the Modern Castle tests?

Continue reading below to discover if the Bissell Zing is the right vacuum for you.

Pros

  • The Zing is able to maneuver around your home with ease.
  • This Bissell offers multiple floor cleaning options.

Cons

  • The Bissell Zing struggles with larger debris types, such as cereal.
  • This canister vacuum has a shorter cord than most other canister vacuums we have tested to date.

Bissell Zing Design

The Bissell Zing offers the traditional canister vacuum design. Two large wheels sit at the back / base of the unit, a handle runs along the top portion of the vacuum, and the dust bin and suction hose are both located at the front of the Zing.

Bissell Zing
Bissell Zing

This Bissell is powered by a 9 amp motor which gains its power through a 15′ retractable power cord. The cord is internally stored, meaning the user can pull out as much or as little as they would like when using the Bissell Zing.

4’-8″ hose is included with this canister vacuum, which plugs directly into the front of the vacuum.

A few different color schemes are available with the Bissell Zing, but we will be focusing on the blue and black modelfor this specific review.

How It Cleans

The Bissell Zing canister vacuum cleans through cyclonic suction and a triple filtration system.

By utilizing cyclonic suction, the Zing is able to store more dirt and debris, as it separates them appropriately while entering the dust bin. This system reduces the number of allergens being pushed back into the air.

Removing the dust bin from the Zing is as simple as pushing a button
Removing the dust bin from the Zing is as simple as pushing a button

Additionally, this Bissell vacuum contains a bagless design. The bagless design allows for the vacuum to store a bit more dirt and debris in its dust bin before having to be emptied.

A small “Full” line is located on the dust bin, which alerts users when the vacuum has reached max capacity for dirt and debris inside of the dust bin.

Size & Dimensions

The Bissell Zing canister vacuum is 16.75″ long, 10″ wide, and 11.75″ tall. Additionally, this vacuum weighs 11.1 pounds.

  • Length – 16.75″
  • Width – 10″
  • Height – 11.75″
  • Weight – 11.1 pounds
Bissell Zing canister vacuum size and dimensions

Accessories & Parts

Since it’s such an inexpensive canister vacuum, the Bissell Zing does not include many extra parts or accessories.

The Bissell Zing includes the following:

Cleaning head included with the Bissell Zing

Multi-surface Cleaning Head: This cleaning head can be used on the end of the extension wand and can be transferred from any indoor floor type with the push of a button.

Wand included with the Bissell Zing

Extension Wand: The extension wand gives the user more reach if cleaning above ground and acts like a stick vacuum when used to clean floors.

Hose included with the Bissell Zing

Hose: The hose is the main suction source for the Bissell Zing. It attaches to the base of the unit and the cleaning tools are able to attach to the other end.

Combination crevice tool / dusting brush

Crevice tool / Dusting brush: This combo tool attaches to the hose and gives users the chance to get into harder to reach places as well as dust more delicate surfaces.

After researching other Zing models (Zing Powerforce and Zing Bagged) it looks like only real “extra” included accessory is the crevice tool for all of these respective models.

That said, none of them are extremely expensive, so it is not surprising that Bissell decided to stick to just one extra tool for each Zing canister vacuum.

There are other Bissell vacuums we have tested that come with a few more extra parts and accessories, so feel free to check those out as well if you’re a fan of more cleaning tools.

RELATED – If you want lots of accessories you may also want to consider the Dyson V10 vacuum. Most Dyson vacuums come with a litany of accessories and attachments.

Cleaning Tests

Overall

75%

Hardwood

75%

Low Carpet

77%

High Carpet

74%

NOTE: The low results listed above are mainly due to poor performance when cleaning large debris, like cereal. You can see detailed tests from each flooring type and against all debris types listed below.

The following vacuum cleaner tests are designed to show how the Bissell Zing canister vacuum performs on different surfaces, picking up a variety of debris types.

We test on three different floor types, including hardwood floors, low pile carpet, and high pile carpet.

  • Rice – 3 ounces
  • Dry Cereal – 1 ounce
  • Kitty Litter – 3 ounces
  • Sugar – 3 ounces

Each of the aforementioned debris types was spread across our testing lane. The base surface of our testing lane is an engineered hardwood floor. For our carpet tests, we slide in a low pile and high pile carpet insert on top of the hardwood floor.

Cleaning test debris types

Testing Debris – From left to right: Rice (3 oz.), Kitty Litter (3 oz), Cereal (1 oz), Sugar (3 oz)

Our vacuum cleaning process strives to be as consistent, fair, and true to real world use as possible. Our tests utilize the following procedure:

  1. Measure the weight of the testing debris and the weight of the empty vacuum debris container.
  2. Spread the respective debris type evenly across the central portion of the testing lane.
  3. Run the vacuum cleaner over the testing lane.
  4. Measure the weight of the now filled container and take notes on the cleaning performance.

Hardwood Floor Cleaning

The Bissell Zing performed well, for the most part, on our hardwood floor tests. Rice, kitty litter, and sugar were all cleaned  up completely, hitting the 100% mark.

Cereal was the only debris that caused any issues on the hardwood floor tests. The cereal was simply too large and created a clog every time we tired to go over it.

RELATED: What’s the best vacuum for hardwood floors?

Cereal

7%

Kitty Litter

100%

Rice

100%

Sugar

100%

Hardwood floor tests - Bissell Zing

Low Pile Carpet Cleaning

The low pile carpet tests were virtually identical to the hardwood floor tests. Every debris, except for cereal. was cleaned up with ease.

Once again, the cereal clogged the Bissell Zing due to the larger size.

RELATED – What’s the best vacuum for carpets?

Users could find that placing the cleaning head directly on top of the cereal allows it to suck up more of the cereal, but this is not the way the unit was designed to be used.

Cereal

3%

Kitty Litter

98%

Rice

100%

Sugar

99%

Low Pile carpet test - Bissell Zing

High Pile Carpet Cleaning

Once again, we saw similar results to the low pile carpet and hardwood floor tests. Cereal was the only troublesome debris type for the Zing.

Although, we did see a small drop in the amount of sugar sucked up, this Bissell canister vacuum was still able to lift 94% of it from the high pile carpet.

Cereal

5%

Kitty Litter

99%

Rice

99%

Sugar

94%

High Pile carpet test - Bissell Zing

Is it Easy to Use?

Using the Bissell Zing is extremely easy. Plug it in, choose your floor setting, and turn the vacuum on. There is really no setup required before you use it, aside from plugging the hose into the front of the unit. No charge time is required before powering up the Zing.

Both the power and cord rewind are controlled by large buttons on the back of the unit
Both the power and cord rewind are controlled by large buttons on the back of the unit

Assembly is virtually completed for you out of the box. As noted above, all you have to do is plug in the hose to the main connection point and slide the floor cleaning head onto the other end of the hose.

The power button and floor type knob are also simple to operate.

Press the power button down once for on and once again to turn it off. The knob can be turned with ease to the floor type you would like to focus on.

The crevice tool / dusting brush can be attached to the end of the hose
The crevice tool / dusting brush can be attached to the end of the hose

All things considered, the Bissell Zing is not a complex vacuum when it comes to usability.

Maneuverability

Maneuvering the Bissell Zing is not difficult. The unit is one of the lighter canister vacuums we have tested to date. The wheels are acceptable, but the build quality doesn’t impress.

Likewise, the hose and wand build quality also just feel overly “plasticy”. It will probably get the job done for most users, but it doesn’t feel nearly as well-made as the Miele C1 Compact or Bissell Hardfloor Expert.

  • Weight: 11.1 pounds
  • Power: 15′ cord
  • Wand: 56″
  • Turning: 180°

One notable negative about this Bissell vacuum is the cord length. At 15′, the distance at which you can take the Zing before having to relocate the plugin source is not very far.

The low profile head of the Zing allows for increased maneuverability
The low profile head of the Zing allows for increased maneuverability

Additionally, users have the option of removing the floor cleaning head and adding the crevice tool / dusting brush to the end of the hose, which allows them to clean above ground.

By doing so, users have a lot more reach with the hose and wand than your standard handheld vacuum.

Maintenance Tasks & Costs

The following table indicates the frequency at which you will likely want to replace the various parts and components of the vacuum. However, your individual experiences may vary.

Accessory / PartReplacement FrequencyReplacement Cost
Filter12 monthsCheck Price
Post-motor Filter12 monthsCheck Price

Maintaining the Bissell Zing is quite simple. There are only a few areas to pay attention to and none of them require a lot of time.

  • Change the filters – Both the pre and post motor filters need to be changed after a certain number of uses. The frequency at which you change them depends on how often you are using the vacuum cleaner.
  • Empty the dust bin – Emptying the dust bin simply means removing the dust bin and dumping the dirt / debris into the trash. This can be completed after every major cleaning cycle or every few uses.

Annual maintenance costs for the Bissell Zing land around $20 / year. This includes replacing both filters once a year.

How Noisy is the Bissell Zing?

All vacuum cleaner reviews on Modern Castle are put through our standard noise test. For this test, we use a sound meter to measure noise in terms of decibel level approximately 3′ away from the vacuum.

Bissell Zing noise test

If you’re looking for a quieter vacuum option check out our robot vacuum reviews.

RELATED: Robot vacuums are generally quieter than comparable upright, canister, or stick vacuumsXiaomi MiRoomba 980, and the Samsung Powerbot are all notably quieter.

Is the Bissell Zing worth it?

The Bissell Zing offers a pretty good value overall and for most consumers is worth it. While there are some performance issues with larger debris and the build quality isn’t the absolute best, the relative low price still earns this vacuum points.

During our cleaning tests, the Zing performed at a high level on all three floor types. The only issue we noticed was with the cereal tests.

Maneuverability was a bit of a mixed bag. I like the the unit is fairly light, however, the 15′ cord and “plasticy” feeling of the wheels, hose, and wand leave something to be desired.

Maintenance costs are low and there is not a lot to maintain all in all. Therefore, maintaining this vacuum is not something users should worry about.

With regard to warranty and returns, Bissell offers somewhat of an industry standard. The warranty is one year longand the return period is 30-days (via Amazon).

Specifications

Below is a complete list of important specifications and features included on the Bissell Zing:

Specifications
TypeCanister
ManufacturerBissell
ModelZing
Length16.25"
Width10.9"
Weight11.2 lbs.
Floor TypeAll (indoor)
Dust Bin Capacity2 L
CordlessNo - 15" cord
BaglessYes
ReturnsVaries by retailer
Warranty1-Year limited
BuyBuy

Who Should Buy the Bissell Zing Vacuum?

The Bissell Zing is pretty good canister vacuum when you consider the cost. The smaller stature and cleaning performance makes this vacuum a good choice for many.

I would recommend the Bissell Zing if you’re looking for the following features in a canister vacuum:

  • Want a shorter term vacuum – This probably isn’t the vacuum you’re going to have for 5+ years. The overly plastic feel of the wheels, hose, and wand do make me concerned about the longevity.
  • Want a bagless vacuum – The Bissell Zing uses a bagless design, meaning the dirt and debris cleaned up is stored directly in a dust bin instead of a disposable bag.
  • Want low maintenance costs – This Bissell vacuum only requires users to replace the primary and post motor filters. These two filters are inexpensive and simple to replace.
  • Need an inexpensive unit – If budget is a big issue but you still want to purchase a solid product, the Zing could be a good answer. This vacuum cleaner certainly has its flaws, but overall, it offers a good value.

For more information on the Bissell Zing visit here

  • Design - 86%
    86%
  • Performance - 75%
    75%
  • Quality - 84%
    84%
  • Usability - 87%
    87%
  • Value - 82%
    82%
83%

Summary

The Bissell Zing is an inexpensive canister vacuum designed with multiple floor type options. Cleaning performance, maneuverability, and inexpensive maintenance are all three factors that help create a well rounded canister vacuum. For the low price tier, the performance and quality you receive is solid. That said, it’s important to remember you get what you pay for and set expectations accordingly.

About Derek Hales

Derek HalesDerek Hales is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of ModernCastle.com. He has been featured in Fast Company, Reader's Digest, Business Insider, Realtor.com, She Knows, and other major publications. Derek has a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from Kansas State University. Hales has been testing and reviewing products for the home since 2014.