Why choose a Hard Surface Canister Vacuum…?

We treasure our hardwood floors and generally they are easy to clean and care for. But we certainly don’t use a vacuum to clean them we simply sweep them to avoid abrasions. We’ve experienced using cleaning tools like caulk scrapers and scrubbing pads that were claimed to not leave any surface scratches but we found out the hard way that they did.

Both of these canister vacuums were designed for hard floors so you don’t have to worry about floor damage. We’ll explain more below.

Appearance and Size

Bissell 1161 Expert Deluxe Canister

Both of these machines are good looking. The Bissell 1161 is mostly gray, dark and light, with accents of orange. The 1154 has the same colors but the design is a bit different. Both of these models have compact slim canister body with an attached hose and head.

Both of these vacuums have a carry handle which makes transport easy. Both of these models are light in weight and will provide you convenience in movement when you’re cleaning in hard to reach places.

Power and Performance

• Power – Both of these vacuums operate on 7 amps, and while that might not sound like it, but many customers are pleased with it and think it’s plenty powerful enough to get the job done. It is able to remove crumbs, hair, and other tiny debris easily.
• Speed – Both of these models have just two speeds; low and high.
• Power Cord – They each have a 16-foot cord and a lot of customers complain about that. A 16-foot cord may be too short for some rooms but in our modestly sized home it would work just fine. But the cord is retractable and that is a huge plus. On either model you just press a button and the cord automatically retracts. I think that all small appliances should come with a retractable cord.

Click here to get more details on the Bissell 1161

Click here to get more details on the Bissell 1154

• Bottom Emptying Dirt Tank – After the job is done you can easily empty out the dirt tank because it opens from the bottom. I’ve used old canister vacuums that did not have this very convenient feature.
• Wheels – The wheels are made out of rubber with attached felt pads. This is designed to prevent damage to your floor as you vacuum. I’ve have personal experience with using vacuums that scratch the surface. I’ve also heard other horror stories that claim the same. A friend of mine was doing a clean-out of a new build home and used a vacuum that scratched the wooden steps. Needless to say this caused a big headache.
• Steering – Both of these models have swivel heads that allow you to easily get around furniture.
• Telescopic Wand – The telescopic wand easily extends to help you reach those hard to reach areas like drapery and ceiling corners where spiders love to make their webs. The wands for both can extend up to 35 inches.
• Carpet – although both of these machines are designed for hard floor surfaces, they can also be used for carpeted floors. You simply press a button and the head will adjust to the carpet.
• Brush Bristles – You need softer bristles when dealing with hard floors else you’ll scratch them. Both of these models have bristles that are softer than what you’d find on a typical vacuum.
• Hoses – the hose for both of these models is just shy of 6-feet.

Controls

BISSELL Expert Bagless Canister 1154

The biggest difference between these two machines is the controls. With the 1154, the power and controls for the suction are only base of the unit. With the 1161, there are also controls on the wand on so you don’t have to reach down every time you wish to change the speed or turn the machine on/off. This gives you more control and convenience of use and allows you to seamlessly switch between hard floors and carpet.

Attachments

Both of these models come with a crevice tool and a dusting tool which are perfect for getting between your couch cushions and in corners.

Warranty

Both of these canister vacuums come with a 2-year warranty.

Pros and Cons

As these products are so similar, most of the pros and cons will apply to both of these machines. I will be noted when a pro or a con only applies to just one of the models.

Pros

-Compact design

-Light weight

-Made just for hard floors with felt treads and rubber wheels

-Many customers are satisfied with the performance

Cons

-Not as good on carpet as it is on hard floors according to a number of customers

-Carry handle is a bit shallow which can make it uncomfortable to carry to some

-Controls only located on the base of machine (Bissell 1154)