Enough with the Whining Already, It's a Great Vacuum Cleaner!
Written: Jan 20 '06 (Updated Jan 20 '06)
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Pros: Amazingly strong performance; design; quiet; cord-length; price; HEPA filtration; clear tubes; easy to assemble
Cons: A bit heavy; can take some effort to pull back; contributes toward insufferable Epinion whining
The Bottom Line: Quite possibly the best vacuum cleaner you'll ever own (or be frightened away from)
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| djs22867's Full Review: Eureka Smart 4870DT Bagged Upright Vacuum |
It's been almost four months since purchasing my Eureka 4870DT and I'm pleased to say that so far I couldn't be happier with it. First and foremost, it does what a vacuum cleaner is supposed to do: it cleans and does so incredibly well. In fact, in terms of actual cleaning performance the 4870DT is far and away the best vacuum cleaner I've ever owned (including my old bank-account-depleting Kirby, may it eternally roast in the flaming bowels of hell.)
As others have pointed out, it has very strong suction. The roller-brush does a great job of lifting the carpet pile so that the suction can make short work of dirt, lint, hair, downstairs neighbors, etc. In fact, it works SO well that the 4870 actually leaves the pile fluffed up and soft, something no other vacuum I've ever owned has done. Too cool!
It's got good edge-cleaning ability, both along the front and lateral edges, and with a second push of the handle release the handle can lower completely to the floor, allowing for easy access under chairs, beds, etc. This "second-push" technique wasn't mentioned in my owners manual for some reason but I'm not taking it personally.
The 4870 is one of the quietest vacuums I've ever heard and is the only one I've ever owned that hasn't sent my dog scrambling away in a terrified urine-releasing panic whenever I turn it on.
It comes with the usual assortment of attachments, about which there's not much to say one way or the other. They fit into the unit housing pretty well and so far haven't managed to come loose or fall off during use, which can be quite annoying and can sometimes drive one to do terrible things to nearby objects, such as mirrors, vases or hamsters.
It has a light but like most vacuum lights it's pretty much useless unless you're vacuuming a closet. Better to turn on the lights and open the shades to see what you're doing than to rely on the light in the vacuum cleaner.
Another nice feature is the extra-long cord. No, I haven't measured it (I'm not a measurer by nature and tend to be a very secure man) but suffice to say that it's long enough that I spend a lot less time moving from outlet to outlet, with the result being that vacuuming the whole house actually goes quite a bit faster. This leaves me more time to write nasty letters to Kirby and terrify the hamster.
I also like the fact that the roller-brush stops spinning when the handle is placed fully upright, a nice touch and one that not only makes it a bit quieter but also saves some wear and tear on the carpet itself.
Now, about the whining. Some of my Epinions bothers and sisters have complained about how difficult it is to depress the handle release. I have to agree, it does take some effort. However, once you figure out that the release under the button is to the right and thus the best place to apply pressure is on the LEFT side of the button (rather than stepping on it dead-on) it really does become quite a bit easier. I've also noticed that the release became easier to depress over time. Yes, it takes a firm press and it can be a little annoying when you're trying to finish vacuuming in a hurry so you don't miss the next episode of "This Week with George Stephanopoulos" but it really is a small price to pay for such a tremendous cleaning machine. To those who found it troubling in the extreme I say this: Get over it! Life's too short, ya' know?!?
There's also been a lot of talk about its weight. Again, much ado about not much at all. Is it heavier than a banana? Yes. Is it heavier than a Volkswagen? No. It's a vacuum cleaner, folks, not a feather duster. That's why they put wheels on it, so you can roll it around and scare the cat with it.
It's not like it's three times heavier than most of the other vacuums out there. It's got a few extra pounds, just like most of us. Does this make it a bit more cumbersome when vacuuming stairs? Maybe a little, but I defy anyone to find an upright without a detachable power-head that's NOT cumbersome on stairs. It's a consequence of the very design of an upright; the extra three pounds has nothing to do with it.
Look, if you're elderly or unusually unsteady or weak then you probably shouldn't be using any of the mainstream vacuum cleaners in the first place but rather one of the ultra-lights. But for the rest of us, unless you're simultaneously holding the 4870 in one hand and a different vacuum cleaner in the other, I doubt that it'll feel much heavier than any other vacuum you might have lugged up the stairs in the past. And if it does, think of it as exercise and get on with your life.
Along with weight, there have been a lot of complaints about how difficult this unit is to pull back. I must admit, the 4870 does offer a surprising degree of resistance when pulling the unit back toward you, due largely to the powerful action of the roller-bush and, to a lesser extent, the superb suction that the 4870 generates. However, I've found that by adjusting the carpet height selector as the manual suggests, the problem can be largely eliminated (albeit with a slight but not unbearable decrease in cleaning performance.) Just one more benefit of being one of those geeks that actually reads owners manuals.
For what it's worth, I've chosen to keep it at its lowest setting. This allows for the deepest cleaning and also gives me a bit of exercise to boot. Not like running a marathon or bench pressing Wynonna Judd or anything, just a little extra effort that I know my heart appreciates. And when I don't feel like burning those few extra calories I simply turn the carpet height adjustment knob a couple of clicks and it's smooth sailing all the way. Knobs...is there anything they can't do???
Folks, this is a terrific vacuum cleaner. Consumer Reports doesn't always get it right but this time they nailed it with their recommendation. I'm a pretty frugal guy yet I can honestly say that I'd have been happy with it even if it had cost twice as much. The 4870 works incredibly well, is quiet, has a long cord, clear tubes (so you can more easily see if there's a clog) and HEPA filtration. If only that friggin' Kirby had done half as good a job it wouldn't have found itself tossed out of that 3rd story window to the jagged rocks below.
To anyone considering the 4870, if you've read this far then you know what you're in for if you decide to purchase one (and, like me, you probably also need to get a life but that's beside the point.) You can either let the whiners scare you away and continue searching for just the right vacuum cleaner while your friends spend THEIR time dating, having fun and enjoying their lives or you can turn lemons into lemonade and avail yourself of the greatest bargain you're likely to find for a long, long time.
Amen.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 139.99
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Epinions.com ID:
djs22867
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Member: Dave Satterlee
Location: Maple Shade, NJ, USA
Reviews written: 11
Trusted by: 0 members
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