Bissell Pet Hair Eraser DualBrush 42943 Review: A New Flagship Standard

Introduction

The Bissell Pet Hair Eraser DualBrush Upright Vacuum, model 42943, represents a significant step forward for Bissell’s upright vacuum lineup. After years of progress with cordless models and robot vacuums, Bissell has now turned its attention to the upright category with impressive results.

This new model is the first Bissell upright in a long time to break into the top five on the Vacuum Wars Top 10 Upright Vacuum list. That achievement comes from a combination of thoughtful design, strong cleaning performance, and a competitive price point.

Who This Vacuum Is For

The Pet Hair Eraser DualBrush 42943 is designed for households that need a versatile upright vacuum capable of handling both hard floors and carpets effectively. The dual-brush floorhead, which combines a soft roller at the front with a traditional roller at the back, makes it particularly well suited for homes with a mix of floor types.

Pet owners will appreciate the FurGuard anti-tangle brushroll, which performed well in hair-tangle tests with 7-inch human hair. The sealed HEPA system also makes this a strong choice for allergy sufferers, as it filters 99.97% of dust and dander allergens down to 0.3 microns.

This vacuum also suits anyone who values ergonomics. The easy-to-remove wand, Lift-Off canister technology, and responsive swivel make it genuinely easy to use for both floor cleaning and above-floor tasks.

Main Strengths

Dual-Brush Floorhead Performance

The headline feature of the Pet Hair Eraser DualBrush is its dual-brush floorhead. The soft roller up front works in combination with a more traditional roller in the back to deliver strong pickup on both hard floors and carpets.

In debris pickup tests, this vacuum achieved a perfect score of 4 out of 4 on both hard floors and carpets. That is well above the average of 2.7 on hard floors and 3.1 on carpets. The dual-brush design also manages to maintain a good seal while still allowing for large-debris pickup, which is a notable advantage of the soft roller in the front.

The carpet deep-clean test also produced excellent results, with a perfect 100% score. This test embeds sand into medium-pile carpet and measures how much is removed after a set number of passes. The average for upright vacuums is around 97.5%, so a perfect score is a strong result for a flagship upright.

The crevice pickup test scored 3.5 versus the 3.2 average, further confirming the dual-brush head’s ability to handle a range of debris sizes and floor conditions.

Ergonomics and Versatility

Bissell has clearly taken design cues from Shark when it comes to ergonomics, and that influence has paid off. The Pet Hair Eraser DualBrush features an easy-to-remove wand that comes out with one click. This is ideal for grabbing extra-large debris off the floor on the fly or for above-floor cleaning tasks.

The Lift-Off technology allows you to detach the canister from the floorhead with another button press. This makes it possible to carry the canister around for above-floor cleaning jobs or for tackling stairs without dragging the entire vacuum along.

The swivel is also highly responsive, giving you a lot of control with simple wrist movements. Overall, this is genuinely an easy vacuum to use, which matters for everyday cleaning routines.

Filtration and Power

The sealed HEPA system is one of the standout features of this vacuum. Bissell says it filters 99.97% of dust and dander allergens down to 0.3 microns, and it passed a fog test with no visible fog escaping. A sealed HEPA system is increasingly considered a must-have feature, as it prevents the dust you vacuum up from being blown back into the air in your home.

The vacuum also includes a floor-detect feature that senses whether you are vacuuming a hard floor or carpet and adjusts automatically for better performance. While this feature is arguably more useful on cordless vacuums where power management is critical, it is still a nice touch on an upright model.

There is also a manual suction adjustment, allowing you to reduce suction for thick or long-pile carpets. This is a feature that many users will appreciate for protecting delicate rugs.

In terms of power, the sealed suction measured 92 inches, which is above the average of about 80 inches. This is one of the better sealed-suction scores recorded in testing. Airflow at the hose, airflow at the head, and unsealed suction scores were closer to average, but that did not appear to affect real-world performance in any of the pickup tests.

LED Headlights

The FurFinder headlights on the front of the vacuum are notably bright and numerous. Many vacuums now include LED lights, but Bissell has gone all in here. These lights do help expose dust, hair, and fine debris on the floor that you might otherwise have missed, which is particularly useful in dimly lit areas of the home.

Price and Value

The Pet Hair Eraser DualBrush 42943 is actually cheaper than the average upright vacuum that has been tested, and significantly cheaper than the main flagship competitors. This gives Bissell a strong claim to value, especially given the strong performance and feature set on offer.

Things to Consider Before Buying

Dustbin Capacity

The dustbin capacity is about 1.3 liters, which is well below the average of around 2.6 liters for upright vacuums. This is small for a flagship upright. It functions fine, but you will need to empty it more often than most other vacuums in this class.

Weight

At 16.3 pounds, this vacuum is about a pound above the average for upright vacuums. However, it is actually lighter than its main flagship competitors. The Dyson Ball Animal 3 is a full pound heavier at 17.3 pounds, and the Shark Stratos comes in at 17.2 pounds. So while it is heavier than average for upright vacuums in general, it is lighter than average for flagships.

Wand Design

When you pull the wand out, the handle stays attached to the wand. Some users may prefer to remove the wand from the handle so that tools can be attached directly to the hose for more flexibility. As it is, you have to attach the tools to the wand, which makes above-floor cleaning slightly more awkward than it needs to be.

Noise Level

This vacuum was a little louder than average at 84 dB, compared to the 82 dB average. This is not a major issue, but it is worth noting if noise is a concern for you.

Long-Term Reviews

As a brand-new product, there are not a lot of long-term reviews available yet. The reviews that do exist are mostly positive. A few people have mentioned edge cleaning being underwhelming, but retesting found it to be pretty good.

Buying Advice

The Bissell Pet Hair Eraser DualBrush 42943 is a strong choice for anyone looking for a versatile upright vacuum that performs well on both hard floors and carpets. The dual-brush floorhead delivers excellent pickup results, and the sealed HEPA system adds genuine value for allergy sufferers.

If you have a mix of floor types in your home, or if you have pets and need reliable hair pickup, this vacuum is worth serious consideration. The smaller dustbin and slightly above-average weight are the main trade-offs, but the competitive price helps offset those concerns.

For those who prioritize above-floor cleaning flexibility, the wand design may feel slightly limiting, but the Lift-Off canister technology provides a useful alternative for stairs and other elevated surfaces.

Conclusion

The Bissell Pet Hair Eraser DualBrush 42943 is an impressive entry into the upright vacuum market. It combines strong cleaning performance, thoughtful ergonomics, and a sealed HEPA system at a price that undercuts many flagship competitors.

This is the highest any Bissell upright has ranked on the Vacuum Wars Top 10 list, and it is easy to see why. For households that need a capable upright vacuum for mixed flooring and pet hair, this model delivers on nearly every front.