Freak369's Full Review: Dirt Devil M0886 Scorpion Handheld Vacuum
The first Dirt Devil Scorpion I purchased was promptly returned to Wal-Mart after I opened the filter and saw that it was clogged with hair. Obviously someone had purchased this and returned it to the store. They obviously didn’t check it before they put it back on the shelf ... I obviously wasn’t about to clean hair gunk out of a filter. When I went to return it, the customer service person gave me a little bit of a hassle; she opened it up to make sure everything was in the box and that everything on the vac was in place. When she saw the filter she asked me if it was defective ... this is after I explained why I was returning it. I asked for a manager and got some major attitude from the clerk; I was in no mood to have to explain things over and over. I did eventually get a new Scorpion but made sure to check it from top to bottom before I left the store. It didn’t surprise me in the last when I went back a few days later and saw the box that I had returned back on the shelf. Let this be a lesson if you are shopping for any type of hand held vacuum; make sure you check it when you get home to see if anyone else has used it. Since this one requires the use of a filter the last thing you want to have happen is it burning out from it being clogged by someone else’s funk or gunk.
Dirt Devil Hand Held Cordless Scorpion Vac
My Dirt Devil Classic Hand Held Vacuum has seen better days; it still works like a champ to pick up dirt but I wanted something that was cordless that I could take from room to room with me when I clean. I spotted the Scorpion at Wal-Mart for $14.98 [or something close to that] and fell in love with it. I liked the features that it had, that it could be mounted to a wall and that it had a crevice tool built into it. This is perfect to use around table legs, to get into the side pockets of the couch, on window sills and in corners. As I said, the first one I purchased was returned about three hours after I got it but the second one has been around for a few weeks now and I really love it. I still use the corded Dirt Devil for larger jobs but for quick pick ups, this is definitely the way to go. I did have a little trouble getting used to snapping it into the base to charge and recharge it but once I got used to it, it was a piece of cake.
When you first get this you are going to want to read over the instructions and precautions for it. Never attempt to use this to sweep up coals or ashes from a fireplace unless you are 110% sure that they are out. Likewise, don’t try to use this on anything that is wet or to clean up a wet spill; you run the risk of serious damage to the unit not to mention getting electrocuted. Once you read over the basic instructions of the unit you are ready to charge it; it doesn’t hurt to take it apart and look to see if there are any styrofoam pieces that need to be removed. You never know when someone is going to go overboard when packing these things. Charging the first time takes about two hours to get it running at full capacity. There’s no green light to let you know when charging is complete, the red light that you see on it lets you know that it is properly seated in the base. Snapping it in and out of the base isn’t exactly easy to do if it isn’t wall mounted; the easiest way to do it is to make sure that the little prong that sticks out of the base is lined up with the slot on the vac.
This doesn’t weight a lot, I don’t have a scale that will give me an accurate weight on it but I’d have to say it’s around two to three pounds. Of course you have to empty it from time to time to keep it as light as possible and when you are emptying it, it never hurts to check the filter. The one thing that really ticked me off about this is that the underside of it scratched the first time I used it. I went to suck up some dirt in the corner of the kitchen and when I flipped it over to look at it, there were three or four long scratches on it. I know, this seems like an insignificant thing but to me it shows poor design and cheap plastic. The crevice attachment slides out from the bottom of the vac and lets you get into corners or areas where the nozzle of the vac simply won’t fit. This is great for going around the corners and legs of tables, sucking up things like glitter and doing the baseboards. It slides out easily but it does take a little practice to lock it into place when you pull it out of the slot.
This does have a good bit of power to it and it will pick up almost anything and everything on the floor. The first time I emptied it, it was like Christmas. I found a missing earring back, several small Lego pieces, a dime and some small beads that we used for Christmas cards. If you are a crafter this is really nice to have around to pick up glitter, string, paper cuttings, beads and hole punchings. It’s not all that loud when it is running either; the dogs don’t really care for it so my idea of running it over them to pick up loose hair went right out the window. As soon as I snap it back in the base they calm down but when it’s running they are barking like mad at it. What I like most about it is that I can use it anywhere in the house, no longer will I be tormented by spider webs in the corners that I would otherwise have to clean with a rag on the end of a stick. No, I am liberated from such pesky things as hair balls, salt that gets tracked in from outside when it snows and leaves that mysteriously appear by the back door in the kitchen.
Warranty
Royal provides you with a nice warranty although you will have to do some research to find out exactly how long the warranty is in effect depending on the state in which you reside. They don’t give you this information on the warranty card so you will have to call customer service to get that information. When I called they told me that I had a one year warranty on parts and workmanship excluding misuse, using it in a commercial setting or not changing the filter. You can call customer service at [800] 321-1134 or visit the website [www.dirtdevil.com] to get more information about the warranty and how it applies to you. Of course you have to remember to fill in and mail out the registration card that will activate your warranty; you can also do this online if you have the model number and pertinent information. You will need to have everything that they ask for on the registration card to complete this online.
Price
I picked this up at Wal-Mart for $14.98 [or something close to that] and I consider it a great deal. Most of the other cordless vacuums were more than what I needed [wet and dry or with a steam cleaner etc] so this was the best pick. I really liked that it had the crevice attachment built in and that it had enough power to suck up pretty much anything that was on the floor. If you are thinking about buying this model make sure that the store you purchase it from also carries the replacement filters. These can be cleaned to remove hair and lint but eventually they will need to be replaced when they get too clogged with dirt and dust. You’ll need to get F4 filters which cost about $3.00 for a two pack.
The Bottom Line
I won’t be getting rid of my other Dirt Devil vac any time soon but this is really nice to have when I am going room to room and need to clean up something that the big sweeper missed or something that the critters have gotten into. The crevice attachment makes getting into corners a lot easier and lets me suck up dirt from window sills, shelves and the entertainment unit. It doesn’t weigh a lot and it is super easy to use. It holds a charge for about a week before it needs to get snapped back into the base and you can wall mount it or have it on a counter. This makes for a great gift for just about anyone; guys can use it in the garage, kids can use it in their rooms and domestic goddesses can use it everywhere else. The instruction sheet is easy to follow and is printed in English, Spanish and French with all the warranty information, contact information and warnings clearly listed.. I am really pleased with this purchase and I am sure that The Scorpion is going to be around for a long time. It’s something that sucks ... but in a good way!
Scorpion Hand Vaccuum Cleaner Find a wide variety of Household & Pet Products at drugstore.com, where you get 5% back and free shipping!More at drugstore.com
This rechargeable cordless hand vac has a quick flip crevice tool and retractable brush strip. It also has a 3 year warranty and weighs less than 2 po...More at Home Depot
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