Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Handheld Corded Vacuum (33A1) review

A compact and affordable bestseller with notable performance – great for vacuuming furniture and small cleanups.

Last Updated on 

* PetHairPatrol strives to be a valuable resource for pet owners. We select and review all products independently; however, we may earn affiliate commissions when you buy through links on our site.

*There is a new updated version of this vacuum called the Bissell Cleanview Deluxe Corded Handheld Vacuum. It is basically the same vacuum, but with a few upgrades. To make the vacuum more versatile, Bissell has added a hose-adapter nozzle and a 2-foot hose which you can use with the wide-mouth tool and crevice tool to clean those hard-to-reach areas and tight spaces. The new version is only slightly pricier but significantly more adaptable.

At a glance

Small size, small price, but impressive performance when it comes to picking up stubborn pet hair. An excellent choice if your primary need is to vacuum pet hair off furniture, carpeted stairs and upholstery. Click here to read real user reviews on Amazon.

  • Corded with 16ft power cord
  • Bagless
  • Multi-level filtration
  • Specialized rubber nozzle to attract pet hair
  • 4,2 pounds
  • 10 x 5 x 8 inches
  • One-year limited warranty

+  Lightweight and compact
+  Comes with flexible rubber nozzle to remove pet hair from upholstery
+  Strong suction power
+  Comes with HEPA filtration system
+  A bestseller in pet hair vacuums with amazing reviews

-  Dirt container is small and needs to be emptied quite often
-  Only suitable for smaller cleanups

  • Performance

    0%
  • Ease of Use

    0%
  • Quality

    0%
  • Price

    0%

Summed up

The Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Handheld vacuum (33A1) is one of the most popular products when it comes to pet hair vacuums. This vacuum is specially designed for effectively removing pet hair, and it does live up to the expectations.

It is compact in size and should mainly be used for small cleanups around the house. It performs best on upholstery, carpeted stairs, bedding, car seats and such, but is very efficient also when cleaning up cat litter or spilled pet food on hard floors.

Clearly not the main vacuum, but a specialized and handy little machine to keep the house free of pet hair.

Our rating

Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Handheld Corded Vacuum (33A1) full review

[toc]

The Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Handheld 33A1 vacuum is a popular choice for people looking to buy a small vacuum cleaner that does an excellent job of cleaning up pet hair. The product gets great reviews on its performance on sofas, bedding and carpeted stairs. It is lightweight and easily maneuvered by holding the ergonomically designed handle.

This review will tell you all you need to know about this vacuum before deciding if this is the right product for you.

Finding a good vacuum cleaner for pet hair removal can be difficult, considering the number of vacuums that are available on the market these days. However, some vacuum cleaners are primarily designed pet owners. One example is the Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Handheld Vacuum. The name itself is an indication that it has been particularly designed to help with pet hair removal.

We all know pet hair can be tough to remove when it gets stuck on upholstery and carpets. With some vacuums, you just end up dragging the hair up and down with each pass not really sucking it up.

In order to clean up pet hair efficiently from stairs and furniture, you need a tool which can adjust to each curve. You also need something, that grabs the hair and picks it up for the suction to pull in.

Thanks to the round hair attracting flexible rubber nozzle, the Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Handheld Vacuum removes pet hair from every nook of your home. The rubber material clings to pet hair and picks it up for the suction to pull in leaving surfaces free of pet hair. 

With the vacuum, you also get another attachment for hard surfaces. Many users say this attachment is great for picking up cat litter, pet food or dirt and sand brought inside by your pets.

As it is a corded model, this vacuum cleaner removes the need to worry about having the battery run out before you complete your job. It has a dirt cup that is easily emptied, a HEPA filter and a powerful motor. And with the compact handheld design, you have better control over the cleaning process, allowing you to focus on areas that require specific attention.

Bissell is a well-known brand with a reputation for practical and well-designed products with a low price point. This model is a good example of well thought out design aimed at specific users with specific needs.

If you need a vacuum cleaner for small messes and vacuuming pet hair off furniture and bedding, this is an excellent choice.

Continue reading to find out more about the features of this bestseller handheld vacuum.

Key Features

The flexible contour nozzle is the most important and prominent feature of the Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Handheld vacuum cleaner.

The nozzle is made of rubber, which attracts pet hair efficiently. This is the secret behind the excellent performance of this vacuum and praised by numerous pet owners that have fallen in love with this machine.

The short rubber bristles actively pull up hair from all kinds of surfaces cleaning them thoroughly, and the suction then picks all the hair up. The rubber bristles are very powerful when it comes to cleaning sofas, bedding, and other upholstery.

The nozzle has also been designed to provide flexibility when you apply pressure to it. It works in a way that adapts to the specific contours of items such as sofas, recliners, and stairs.

This nozzle can also be used for cleaning hard surfaces such as hardwood or tile, though this specific attachment will be most useful on carpeted stairs and upholstery.

This handheld pet hair vacuum comes with a multi-layer filtration system and a HEPA filter that keeps your air cleaner and reduces allergens.

The use of a cyclonic cleaning system sucks up pet hair effortlessly. At the same time, the use of a multi-layer filtration system assures that dirt stays inside the vacuum.

The filter itself is not washable, but you can still wash the filter screen as well as the dirt container with running water. It is also recommended by the manufacturer to periodically take out and tap the HEPA filter to get rid of any accumulated dust and dirt.

The HEPA system is not sealed, so the filtration does not entirely remove allergens, but using a HEPA filter in a pet hair vacuum does significantly reduce the number of small particles blown back to the air. The filter can be replaced and purchased separately.

The Bissell Pet Hair Eraser 33A1 is a lightweight vacuum cleaner weighing only 4,2 pounds. The lightness of the vacuum combined with the easy-grip handle and a power switch within easy reach makes this machine easy to handle.

User reviews say that the vacuum is easy to maneuver making vacuuming a simple task.

Despite the fact that this model is a small handheld vacuum, it is still equipped with all the power you need for it to pick up pet hair and dirt effectively. It operates with a quality 4 Amp motor, which has been designed to last for years.

According to reviews, users have not been disappointed by the power and performance of the handheld Pet Hair Eraser. On the contrary, many users state that this product is more potent than its modest appearance leads you to believe.

The dirt container included in this model is made of plastic, and it can be rinsed under running water. The capacity of the container is quite small, as being a handheld model, it is not designed for use on larger areas.

In fact, it is recommended to empty the dirt container after every use to maintain the maximum suction power. This might be something that pet owners with a lot of pet hair in their house want to consider with this vacuum. Emptying the container is easy, but it may have to be done frequently if you have many pets that shed a lot of hair.

The length of the power cord is 16 feet. For a vacuum cleaner under this category, this is generous enough. If you are using this model for cleaning upholstery items, the length of the power cord is more than what is needed.

However, if you need to work on a tall flight of stairs, you may have to unplug and find another power outlet to reach all the stairs. If you are thinking of buying this vacuum, make sure you have power outlets in important locations to reach all the spots you need to vacuum. Another solution is to use an extension cord when needed.

There is a Velcro strap to hold the cord when the vacuum is not being used. Packing up the cord may seem like an unwanted additional task, but corded vacuums of this size don’t come with retracting cords. With the cord coiled up, this vacuum is easy to store and takes up very little space.

Filtration

The corded Bissell Pet Hair Eraser handheld vacuum (33A1) has a multi-layer filtration system with cyclonic filtering and a HEPA filter. For a small handheld vacuum in this price category, a HEPA level filter is rather impressive, but we must remind you that the system is not sealed, which might be a deal breaker for people with severe allergies.

What this means is that the filter itself will filter air with the HEPA standards, but because the system is not fully sealed, the manufacturer can’t guarantee some allergens wouldn’t be blown back with the exhaust air.

The HEPA filter is not washable, but it is protected by a screen which prevents it from getting clogged by bigger dirt. You can and should wash the filter screen and the dirt cup regularly under running water for maintenance. At the same time, you should also take out the HEPA filter and give it a few taps to remove accumulated dust.

Performance

Pet Hair Removal

This handled vacuum cleaner is particularly designed to handle pet hair, and according to the praising reviews, it does do its job well. The main feature that makes this vacuum a great pet hair vacuum is the flexible nozzle with rubber bristles.

This feature is primarily designed for pet hair removal as rubber attracts and picks up hair that the vacuum then sucks in.

Carpet

The rubber nozzle that has been designed and built-in with this vacuum cleaner works amazingly when it comes to picking up pet hair, especially on surfaces such as carpeted stairs. This is because the nozzle is flexible enough to easily follow the contours of the stairs meticulously picking up pet hair as it goes, and rubber attracts even the toughest pet hair ground into the carpet.

Although great on carpets, this vacuum is not designed to vacuum large surfaces of carpeted floors. For small cleanups it’s a fantastic machine, but for if you need something small that could serve as a vacuum cleaner for floors, you could have a look at Dyson V6.

Bare Floors

This model comes with a hard nozzle which has been designed to work on hard surfaces. Again it is not the best option for larger floor surfaces and can’t be used as the main vacuum.

That said, if you need a vacuum for small cleanups like spilled pet foot or dirt brought inside by your pet, this would be a good fit for you.

This vacuum is pretty effective when picking up debris on bare floors, although some reviews state that you may find some problems with the air vent placement. The air vents are located on both sides, and lighter stuff, including pet hair and dust bunnies, can be blown away by the exhaust air.

Upholstery

This model is reported to work fantastic when cleaning upholstery items, and if you are primarily looking for something small that will keep your sofas and beds free of pet hair, then this is the vacuum for you.

With the use of a ribbed, flexible rubber nozzle you can easily clean even hard to reach crevices and creases on recliners and sofas. The nozzle follows the shape of each piece of furniture carefully cleaning up every inch. The rubber material draws the hair to itself allowing the strong suction to then quickly suck up the loose hair.

As this model is lightweight and handheld, you can also use it to vacuum the seats in your car, providing you have a power outlet close by. If you already have a main vacuum to use for floor surfaces and you just want to keep your car, bed, and furniture free of nasty pet hair, then the handheld Bissell Pet Hair Eraser is the one to choose.

Attachments

This handheld vacuum cleaner comes with two attachments which can handle different cleaning needs. One is a flexible rubber contour nozzle that has been specially designed to attract and gather pet hair when vacuuming carpeted floors surfaces or furniture, upholstery and bedding.

On the other hand, if you need to clean up a small mess from hard surfaces, you can use the hard plastic nozzle that has been designed for this type of use. The attachments can be quickly changed when needed.

Our first thought was that the vacuum could use the addition of a crevice tool, but going through numerous reviews and listening to actual users assured us, that the two attachments provided with the vacuum are adequate for most small cleaning jobs. These two uniquely designed nozzles are both convenient in their way, and together they ensure you have the equipment needed for different surfaces.

Pros & Cons

+  Lightweight and handheld in design
+  Flexible rubber nozzle work wonders with pet hair
+  Easy to use and maneuver
+  Equipped with a highly ergonomic handle
+  Strong suction power
+  Comes with HEPA filtration system

-  Not as versatile as other vacuums with more attachments
-  Small dirt container needs emptying frequently

Summing Up

This Pet Hair Eraser 33A1 handheld vacuum cleaner from Bissell is a recommended option if you are looking for a small and affordable pet hair vacuum that can clean up small areas. It may not be a good option for larger surfaces and floors, but it is a fabulous vacuum to have at home for quick cleanups even if you already have a main vacuum cleaner for vacuuming floors.

The corded Pet Hair Eraser is designed to pick up pet hair and other smaller debris from different surfaces, but especially effective on upholstery on chairs and sofas. Thanks to its handheld design which offers portability and convenience of use, this vacuum is something you can easily pick up for quick vacuuming jobs. With all of its features, size, and price combined, no doubt you have a great product for someone looking to get rid of pet hair.

Matt Clayton
Matt Clayton
Chief Editor & Founder of PetHairPatrol

Matt is the founder of PetHairPatrol.com and has years of experience helping pet owners keep their homes clean. He's been featured in publications like Reader's Digest, Money, and BestLifeOnline. When this neat freak is not searching for better ways to get rid of pet hair, dander, and other messes pets leave behind, he's usually enjoying outdoors with his two (hairy) Goldens: Ben and Jerry. Read more.

Scroll to Top