Vacuum Cleaners Discussions

http://www.hooverpressroom.com/

The Hoover Platinum Collection according to ASTM608 carpet testing includes the best cleaning bagged upright and best cleaning cyclonic bagless upright on the market today!


Includes:

*Linx cordless system with 18v Lithium ion technology on a hand and light/stick vac.

*Bagged Upright: Most powerful lightweight vacuum in the marketplace removes more dirt in one pass than other uprights(ASTM F-608)

*Baggless Upright : Removes more dirt than any other bagless vacuum on the market using multi-stage cyclonic filtration system and Hoover’s patented WindTunnel™ technology which utilizes three suction tunnels to lift and remove even the hidden dirt (Per ASTM F608)

*New Carpet Cleaner Removes more dirt from carpet than any other leading brand of carpet cleaner (test FCTP-0024)

*Best in class 6 yr warranty!

Venson wrote:

Hello Venson:

Six years warranty on cordless hand [MSRP $130] and stick cleaners [MSRP $180] is an industry first.  But of note is that the battery and charger are covered for only 2 years.  Run time?  Billed as 2X normal for battery charged running times.  I'd suspect this means 20-30 minutes on a regular charge.  A nice feature is the battery indicator: Comparable to a vehicle's gas gauge.  Interestingly, the PL stick has the famous WT technology and a brush roll.  Hence the lofty MSRP.  But as you say, maybe worth it.  Why?  Is this the first step toward a full size cordless battery operated upright.  Maybe!  if so, the next major accomplishment in the vacuum industry to rival the robotic cleaners.

Your question about presentation is very insightful.  The Dirt Devil Accucharge handheld is at Wal*Mart stores for a regular price of $45.  Will W*M stores carry the higher priced Platinum Linx cordless stick and/or hand vac in the stores?   I think yes.  Why?  W*M [and COSTCO for that matter] are the only retailers holding their own with sales this year and with predictions for the future.  How well will the high priced PL products sell among the hoi polloi?  Depends in large part on the answer to your question. 

Carmine D.

Hi Carmine,

Eureka tried it way back when and Westinghouse -- or some company using the name -- had a go at this just a few years back. First issue for the Westinghouse was that it didn't clean well per CR tests. I don't know if the battery proved an issue as a back-up for continued cleaning was available.

Nilfisk now has the GD911, a commercial canister claimed to give 60 minutes of run time.

http://www.nilfisk.com/Products/VacuumCleaners/CommercialVacuumCleaners/CommercialVacs/GD911BATTERY/GD911Battery/Introduction.aspx

(Sorry no auto-link this time. I'm using a beta version of Internet Explorer 8 and it most annoyingly has changed the view when I log on. Can't see the toolbar here anymore.)

Best,

Venson

CarmineD wrote:

If the battery run time *is* 20-30mins, then (the hand held) is desirable to the Dyson DC16. However, given that they don't give a run time and the animated chart shows figures for Ni-cads compared to Li-Ion, I'd suggest this isn't the case. Dyson were here two years previous, which much the same design - 'must have saved them a fair whack on their R&D... again.

In Dyson land, the car and boat DC16 handheld makes an appearance :-

http://www.dyson.co.uk/store/product.asp?product=DC16-CARANDBOAT

It simply appears to offer a 12volt charger in place of the mains charger. Great for caravan / boat use, but limited benefit for car, since it doesn't appear you can use it direct from the supply.

M00seUK wrote:
Hi M00seUK,

How's it going? I think first they should concentrate on the version with the revolving brush. AND -- I don't know if this is unreasonable ask:

A. They could go for a rechargable model that can run on battery or be plugged into a household electrical outlet not just for charging but for continued use same as an electric razor.

B. They might consider the same idea for running one of these of a car's electrical system.

As usual, my main argument is that Dyson is charging too much for a bit more convenience not to be built into its handhelds. I could get the same cleaning result for fifty bucks or less and be just as happy.

Best,

Venson

Venson wrote:

Hi Venson:

Familiar with the Westinghouse, tho not the EUREKA.  Mike W. pointed out at the time, 2003, that Salton was the maker and used, with sanction, the Westinghouse brand name.  Salton/Westinghouse frequently advertised the vacuum with the claim: "We just made history."

It even revived the famous slogan: "You can be sure.......if its Westinghouse."  Called the Unplugged Cordless Vacuum.  MSRP $299.  Came with 2 battery powerpacks with a run time of 30 minutes each.    Linens-N-Things, now in bankruptcy, carried the Unplugged Cordfree Westinghouse along with other retailers.  Used nickel-cadmium batteries.  Very shortlived.  After July 2004, Consumer Reports stopped rating and it's last comments:  "Best" for light duty jobs and cleaned bare floors well."  CR rated it a "fair" for rug cleaning, an upright's primary function.  I believe CR was generous in deference to the storied name.

Good info on the Nifisk battery powered cann/upright.  60 minutes for run times, if true, is impressive.  I suspect pricey, tho not sure.  And apparently only 220 volts.  Do you know price info?

Carmine D.

Hi Carmine,

The Eureka was an all red hard-bodied upright called the "Freedom" (or something to that effect). Advertisements for it popped up in magazines but before you know it was gone. I did not see it in any stores.

I'll check out the price on the Nilfisk GD911 on Monday. A rechargeable version of the company's Back-uum is being sold as the Acro-Batt in the U.S. Link to a PDF brochure follows.

http://www.advance-us.com/~/media/Products/Vacuums/AcroBatt/Factsheets/l1651a%20adv%20com%20acrobatt%20cfs.pdf.ashx

I have a corded version of this machine. It's built for user comfort and is pretty good for general cleaning although the bag is small.

Venson

Venson wrote:
Hi again Carmine,

The Eureka Freedom was model 6350A. Can't seem to dig up a full image of it but did find an exploded diagram (link follows).

http://www.elkypro.com/hoops2005/vacuum_parts/eureka/e_6300.html

Venson

Venson wrote:

Hello Venson:

Thanks for posting the above info on the cordless vacuums.  It appears the TTI Platinum Linx line has some current and past standards in the industry to be measured against.  Will be interesting to see how well TTI measures up in sales, performance and price. 

The Nilfisk Acro-Batt cordless is an interesting machine.  Tho, I suspect that the claim to clean 30,000 sq feet on its 22 minute run time [btw this is less than the 60 minute run times for the Nilfisk up/cann which begs the why question] applies to an olympic champion in this cleaning event.  I can do about 1500 plus sq ft in a leisurely mode [with an 11 year old English lab shadowing me] in about a 25/30 minute run time [HOOVER Slider, btw after two years of charging the run time has halved].  While mine may not be the best measure and environment, there is quite a discrepancy. 

Nilfisk acro-batt uses nickel metal hydride batteries [the choice of most power tools] which take 75 minutes to charge.  Decent charge time.  Does your corded model have the "articulated joint?"  If so, how well does it work?  I thought that this is an interesting feature from a comfort perspective for the user.  And opined how it would have been conceived and added by the company, lest it specifically asked users for feedback.  Is your bag 3.3 quart capacity too?  Which measures up/bests most full size bagless dirt bins, but falls short of the better bagged capacities.

The EUREKA Freedom appears to be a model from the 90's?  Is that the correct time?  Curious why it died w/o mention?

Thanks Venson.  All forthcoming intelligence is appreciated.

Carmine D.

CarmineD wrote:
Hi,

I believe the Eureka 6350A was produced some time during the latter 1980s.

My landlord used to kid me about the Nilfisk whenever I'd have it out. It looks something like whatever that thing was they carried around on their backs in Ghost Busters. (Every now and then he asks if I still have it.)

That joint is a flexible rubber fitting between the motor unit and the bag chamber at the top. Nilfisk has been using this design for a good while and it's a much better design idea than the standard backpack vacuum as the split unit flexes as you bend. Working with it is quite a comfortable situation when doing stairs or cleaning overhead but it can be a problem if you move into tight confines and need to turn here or there.

The Back-uum produces great suction and the bag size for my purposes is fine. I would wonder how well it would fare in a large commercial environment where there's lots more fine dust to encounter. The hose is narrower at its working end and wider at the end connecting to the cleaner to help prevent clogging. Electrolux used to use the same idea.

My model, a rarity, also has an outlet for a power nozzle but I was never able to find an electrified hose or external cord set that would have allowed me use of it. It's a fine machine if you do vacuuming only. However, for normal duty where you may well need to leave off vacuuming to handle other cleaning tasks as you go, it may mean having to take the machine off and put it on again repeatedly.

By the way, I checked out the Hoover site to see if they sold replacement batteries for your Slider but all I saw was the charger replacement. Per the user manual, replacing the battery is doable. What the cost is -- I don't know.

Best,

Venson

Thanks for the info Venson: 

I should have known the 80's, its upright style is a giveaway.  EUREKA revamped uprights for the 90's.

The Nifisk Back-um sounds exciting as does the cordless.

You're right, the lux 30's started the tapered end hose and used for many years on their models. 

BTW, I purchased over dozen HOOVER Sliders and gifted most away.  But kept 2 for me.  With both charged now and ready for usage, I can cover the same cleaning area, if I chose [1500 sq feet], with 30 minutes of total run time. 

Thanks Venson.  Onward and upward.

Carmine D.