dimist's Full Review: Eureka 431A Optima Bagless Upright Vacuum
With a 12 Amp motor, this unit has a lot of suction. But here are some of the less obvious features that make it great in my opinion:
The rolling base fits snug to the floor, and there is something like a weather strip on the bottom that helps sweep debris towards the rotating brush. This creates great suction (but, of course, makes it harder to push the unit on carpets). Pushing the unit gets quite hard on soft carpets with long fibers. But there is an important side benefit to snug-fitting base. With my regular vacuum I had to be extra careful not to run it over wires, mats and cables to avoid chewing them up with the brush. This unit’s base sits so low to the floor that it actually pushes cables and wires away and does not run over them.
The rolling base is very low-profile and fits easily under furniture. It is also narrow enough to clean corners easily.
The brush on/off feature is great on floors and when you need to clean, say, a doormat.
Suction can be directed from base to hose. This means, for example, that if your brush is clogged with hair, you stop the brush, direct air flow to the hose, and clean the brush off with the hose accessory, very convenient. Also, if the hose ever gets punctured, this does not affect the primary cleaning functions of the unit.
Telescoping handle does make the unit compact enough to easily clean stairs. There is even a special handle below the dust bin to hold the unit when cleaning stairs. Very nice!
The jury is still out on durability, but my overall impression of quality is favorable. The vacuum looks well-made and put together. Dust bin and filter can be removed easily and fit tightly. The telescoping handle adjusts freely and does not wobble. All controls have a nice tight feel. The hose casing looks a little thin for my comfort, but, as explained above, air does not flow through the hose all the time.
With a compact size there is a single trade-off – a small dust bin that has to be emptied frequently. The worst part is cleaning the filter, because a lot of dust and fibers get lodged between the dust bin top and the filter housing. The manual recommends doing it with a brush, but I found a better way. I clean the filter with another vacuum cleaner, and this is relatively mess-free and easy (you do not have to own two vacuums to do that, buying an extra filter for the Optima and exchanging them will suffice).
I think this unit is great and has the most to offer in a small house with lots of stairs and mats and multiple floor coverings. However, if you live in a gym carpeted with llama fur, this unit is not for you.
Fantastic prices with ease & c...(Stock status: N/A)
The new Eureka Optima offers the power of an upright at 1/2 the weight! It also features the ONLY soft-grip looped handle that adjusts to more than 8 ...More at Amazon Marketplace
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