Vacuum Reviews

The HEPA filter works great but is limited to only dry pick-up and using an expensive special paper bag which does make for easy clean up but does limit versatility.

I bought a Cleanair Gortex HEPA filter from Lowes for $29.99 that fits the Red-Coded Craftsman vacuums. This forms a perfect seal and works for wet and dry pick-up. You only need to either plug the hole in the bottom of the filter with a plastic plug you can get at Lowes or any car parts store or use a 3/8" x 2.5" carriage bolt, nylon washer, and wing nut to more securely fasten the filter. Better filter, better price, easier wet/dry vacuuming.

When you buy a woodworking tool, the manual doesn't warn you, but if you do a bit of research you'll discover that prolonged exposure to finer dust (smaller than 1 micron, or the size of smoke particles) can lead to sinus and lung problems; some serious. Most shop vacuums come with filters that retain dust as small as 5 microns (a piece of copier paper is about 100 microns thick). If you want to protect yourself, you need a HEPA filter, which will retain particles smaller than 1 micron.

This filter is pretty expensive, but without it, why buy the vacuum? For woodworking and sanding, a shop vacuum without a HEPA filter is probably a waste of money.

Commercial dust collectors large enough for larger power tools, that remove particles smaller than 2 microns, are not yet available at home shop prices. So even with a HEPA filter, if you're using a power saw, planer, etc., you should also wear a respirator with HEPA filters and have something to clean your shop's air before it goes into the rest of your house (and before you remove your respirator). The alternative is to shell out more than the cost of the power tool for a suitable industrial grade dust collector, or to build your own (there are instructions and parts on the Internet).

I was concerned that the HEPA filter would reduce the vacuum. Although it must somewhat, I could not detect it. Also the filter is protected by the cloth filter that comes with the machine. Very nice!

It's simple, the bag won't come out of the vac after it is 2/3 full. It will rip apart first. Would not recommend this product under any circumstances.

I bought this wet/dry vac about a year ago and so far, it has held up well to on the job use. Considering the reasonable price, I feel that it was a very good value and I expect to get another year out of it before replacing it with the same model if still available then. It has excellent suction power although the hose cannot be reversed for blowing. This is probably the main reason why the motor is so mercifully quite. With an empty tank, the vac is light enough for me to easily pick up and load in the truck but still heavy enough to roll smoothly on a concrete or plywood floor. The vac has an eighteen foot long power cord and came with a six-foot 2-1/2 inch diameter locking hose and accessory kit including a floor brush with squeegee, two 2-1/2 foot long extensions, a crevice tool and a disposable fine dust filter bag. I immediately ordered an additional eight-foot locking hose, hose coupling, right-angle brush attachment and two reducer/adapters for connection to my table saw and miter saw when needed.
For regular cleanup, such as woodchips, I just use the included standard wet/dry paper element filter without a bag. When using the vacuum to clean soot from oil burner/gas furnace flues and stack pipes, wood stove/fireplace ash or drywall dust I always use the #90673 high-efficiency fine dust bags and have never had a problem with soot or dust blowing out of the motor exhaust and into the room. These filter bags come in two-packs and are a little expensive but can last for quite a while if you don't use them for everyday cleaning jobs. Of course, the twenty-two gallon tank does have a drain for liquids, but for continuous wet pickup below grade when no sump pit is available, I remove the top motor assembly and use a utility pump with a garden hose to drain the tank rather than try to lift it or fiddle with adapters for the tank drain. Overall, I have been very satisfied with this wet/dry vac and have no problem recommending it.

Just got this model for my first shop vac. All the reviews said it was quiet and had lots of power, and they were right. It is even quieter than I was expecting. I did have a few issues though and will list some pros/cons for readers.

PROs: Long cord, stable base, quiet, lots of power, large size hose, hose screws onto unit for secure connection.

CONS: -short hose.

If you follow the manual for assembly you end up with two plastic washers left over. I went through the manual again and nowhere does it show this piece. I assume that they go on the back wheels since they look the right size and it would make sense, but you have to put them on in the beginning since you hammer a metal cap onto a steel rod and you probably don't want to take it apart. Even the manual says to make sure it is right before you hammer it.

Next problem was that the handle did not line up with the screw holes on one side. Problem was that it fits under a lip in the casing, and so when you line up the screws it didn't fit under the lip. No amount of force would make it work, so I ended up drilling the hole a tiny bit so the screw can fit. It doesn't appear that my minor modification will impact it. In fact you can't even tell I did it, since I could see half the hole and just had to widen it on one side a bit. I don't think that it is a actual defect, and you probably won't have this problem with all of them.

next item is that the picture is wrong. The picture shows 4 casters, but there are only 2 casters in the front. The back has actual wheels. This limits the turning of the unit a bit as straight wheels don't swivl. Second discrepency is that this unit has a bar handle that attaches to the sides and stands up behind the unit. This is a nice bar and allows you to push the unit around with it instead of pulling the hose all the time. I find that the handle also makes a nice place to wrap the cord around.

Packaging of the unit was not the best. They put some cardboard sections in the bottom, but all the attachments were just thrown in either inside the unit or just laying on top of it in the box. Nothing was broken but I would like it better if everything was packaged nice and safe.

The extension wands are plastic, but my very first night I started a bad habit of dropping them on a concrete floor. I am concerned that one day it will shatter as it looks more on the brittle side than the tough rubber side.

A piece not included in the kit is the adapter to connect to standard power tools. (the hose with this thing is too big). They list it as an attachment but it is not part of the unit. (it should be in my opinion)

This is a horrible vaccum. Avoid at all costs. It won't pick up anything unless you use the hose. Extremely dissapointed in this "product." Had to buy another vaccum a month later this one was so bad... and it blows this thing away. ...

I spent more years selling cleaners than I care to admit. (20) I was a rep for Hoover, so, I've been around the block. This cleaner sells at a retail level for [$$$]. It cleans very well and the filtration is magnificant. East to use, clean and exceptionally quiet. I've recomended it to friends...and yes, they're still friends :)

I have only used this vaccume 3-4 times but on carpet and hard wood floors and it seems to work fine. I also bought it NEW not USED so that might make a difference.

The vacuum works ok...good suction, and rolls around well. The wand tubes don't stay attached to the hose, no matter how hard you force them in. The attachments are a joke, except for the floor attachment, which is plastic and is easy on floors and furniture. The hose is too short to reach an 8 foot ceiling unless you stand the vacuum on end. The cord retracts well, but could be a few feet longer. Forget about finding bags. Apparenty you throw the vacuum away after you use the two bags it comes with.

I bought this vacuum having had good luck with Panasonic products in the past. The vacuum is fairly quiet and follows well as you move around the house. However the hose and cord are both too short making cleaning more difficult than it should be. Also, this vacuum does not pick up as well as the Eureka it is replacing. Not sure if this is a problem with the suction or floor tool. Last, my wife broke some of the plastic parts when replacing the bag today. This may have been her fault but I would like to think that she could not break the vacuum just by changing the bag no matter how hard she tried.

Living in a shared apartment with 3 others, I'm glad we don't have wall-to-wall carpeting. However, sweeping the tile and old hardwoods never seems to do the job, and you can spend a small fortune on Swiffer cloths...what's a guy to do? Buy an inexpensive vacuum cleaner.

I first bought a Euro-Pro Shark canister vac with HEPA filtration from a homegoods store. I wasn't wild about it, as it had some design quirks I didn't like. One month later, a roommate moved out and took it with him (I'm not kidding).

I did more research, and found some good reviews of Panasonic vacuum products in general. I decided to purchase this model, and I used it last night for the first time. I was impressed. The suction is very good, and the tools are well thought out and easy to use. The canister rolls very easily, so it follows you around without incident. It is surprisingly quiet compared to other machines, at least to my ear. I used it on tile and hardwoods, but also did a little bit of carpet cleaning: the suction was able to pull dirt out of a low-pile carpet, but this is really a machine for bare floors, as there is no agitator brush.

One design I had some concerns about were the two plastic pieces that form the cleaning "wand". Instead of a chromed metal extension wand, this machine has two interlocking plastic pices. I was afraid that they would come apart often, or reduce the suction of the machine. Fitting them together tightly is just fine, and I haven't had them come apart while cleaning.

Two really important features, in my view, are the on-board tool storage and the ability to hook the cleaning wand and floor attachment onto the canister. Without on-board tool storage, try finding the crevice tool when you want to clean your computer keyboard or the dusting brush when you want to clean blinds: having them in the vacuum is priceless. The ability to hook the extension wand onto the machine while cleaning or for storage is great, if you've ever had a vacuum sprawling all over a closet floor. It makes storage in an apartment much easier.

This is not a high-end vacuum, but definitely one I feel very satisfied with for the money.

After receiving and assembling my NEW vacuum cleaner, I tested it on my brand NEW wall-to-wall carpeting. After a few seconds, I noticed the motor sounded slightly different. As per the manual's instruction, I checked for obstructions, there were none. I then tested it on my kitchen floor and saw with horror that it was leaving greasy black streaks on the floor. I went into the living room to retrieve the manual and AHHHHH! there was a big black greasy stain on my NEW wall-to-wall carpeting, which will probably never be completely clean. I went back into the kitchen to turn on the vacuum and the motor wouldn't come on! I waited overnight (not just 30 minutes) before trying it again and it still won't come on, but the light is on. I'm currently wandering through the maze of website options and phone options to reach a human being.

I purchased this vacuum from a local dealer (and spent way too much,[$]). Chief complaint is that in order to use the tools, you have to connect BOTH ends of the hose... one to the vacuum and one to the tool you want to attach. You also have to change the bare floors pedal on the nozzle (floor thingy) with your hands. My thumb is sore and I have only had the vacuum 5 days...
It picks up dirt very good, but be careful on rugs with fringes.

This is a very good mid-priced vacuum. We replaced a 3 year old Hoover, and this is definitely a step up. The suction is great, and it's much easier to maneuver than the other vacuums I've used. It's also highly rated by consumer reports. The only real drawback is that the tools are a little bothersome to use, but that's easy to get used to.

I have had this shop vac less than 3 months and the front casters have broke. One of them has been totaly destroyed. It (the) shop vac has not been abused at all. The other day I noticed that the shop vac was moving poorly on my drive way. So I checked it out and found that one of the front casters was totaly broken. How do I GET new casters for this shop vac. model #LPV550/ 16gal, 5.5 hp. I went back to Lowes and bought a new set of casters but they did not fit. Please Help. thanx

I bought this vac when my old shop vac started spewing dust due to worn out filters and seals. I use this type of vac to clean pet hair, dust, sand and dirt from the hardwood and tile floors in my home. I didn't want to deal with a consumer quality vac that would lose efficiency as it filled with dirt.

1. The tank is stainless steel, but could be dented if you abuse it. I wouldn't drag it down the stairs by the hose. With proper care, it should last a lifetime. The handle and wheels are permanently attached to the unit, so it might be hard to invert the tank for cleaning purposes. The motor, cord, attached filter and top lid completely remove from the tank for cleaning.

2. The cord is plenty long enough for most homes, and the 12 foot hose is fantastic. You can reach ceiling fans without having to carry the vac up the ladder.

3. The wheels are sturdy, and make moving the vac very easy.

4. The motor is reasonably quiet (at least compared to my Sears unit), and sufficiently powerful to vacuum sand from the floor, through the 12 foot hose, and into the tank. Although the HP rating seems small, the motor is a two stage unit which much more efficient than the single stage units seen on cheaper vacs. Even after three days of cleaning a very dusty house, garage, and automobile (without emptying the dust bag), there was sufficient suction for efficient cleaning. I ran the unit from 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM for three days, and didn't notice any heat problems or strange noises indicating that I was overtaxing the motor.

5. This unit comes with a paper filter, and I added vacuuum bags to eliminate any possible release of dust from the unit. The vac bags are a great idea. They protect the paper filter, keep the inside of the vac clean, and make for very easy cleanup. On the down side, they do prevent you from easily retrieving property that accidentally gets sucked into the vac.

6. The tools are pretty rugged, but not typical of the $400 industrial vacs that I've seen. This is probably a good thing since such tools are very heavy, bulky and hard to handle. The supplied tools will probably last for years.

Shop Vac's customer service was great (I called them with a number of questions), and they were nice enough to tell me that parts could be purchased at Wal-Mart (instead of having to order them from Shop Vac directly).

If you're going to be vacuuming an office, a small shop or a home, this vac will last a lifetime. I'm very happy with the purchase.

My virtually identical ten-year-old vac came with a hose more cheaply made than the older display unit's one; even ten years ago the product was being cheapened, but aside from a tendency to clog at the tank fitting it has worked reliably in shop and home cleaning. The metal tools are certainly better than plastic, but not as good as more expensive commercial vacs offer. In all, this vac has been easy to use and dependable but noisy.

This travel mug is horrible. I bought it two weeks ago and it drips continuously. Stay away from it.

I've been using my tumbler regularly for almost a year. It DOESN'T drip, and the sip opening is large enough to get a good swallow, but small enough to protect you and your car if you hit a bump. It also keeps the contents VERY hot for quite a while. The coffee stays hot for more than an hour (I'm a slow sipper).

P.S. I recommend that you wash it by hand. I suspect that most problems with dripping come from washing it, or any of these products, in a dishwasher (the extended contact with very hot dishwasher water, the harsh detergents, and the very hot drying cycle will misshape the cap, causing a poor seal).

I've had 2 of these Travel Mugs for several years without any problems. My coffee stays hot for 3 hours and the wrap grip makes the travel mug easy to hold without a handle. Coffee mugs with handles don't appeal to me. The handle gets in the way for use in many car cup holders.
I suspect the first reviewer was unlucky enough to get a mug with a bad seal or he let the o-ring slip out of it's proper position. I've never had a leakage problem unless you count the times I unwittingly try to drink with the top oriented the wrong way :) Perhaps having a cup handle to orient the cup properly is not such a bad idea afterall.....

This vacuum is very lightweight and looks nice, but it is very weak. I got this to replace my dirt devil hand vac and it seems my hand vac was about 5 times stronger. Where I would only have had to make one stroke with the hand vac to pick something up, I have to run this thing over it 5 times. It won't pick up anything minutely stuck to the carpet (a string). It picks up makes clumps of hair, but doesn't suck them in, so it gathers on the rim and I have to pull it out. There is no bag so when you open up the lid it's very messy and dust goes everywhere. This vacuum would probably work best to pick up little crumbs, but if you plan on using it for anything else, get something else! I recommend a hand vac.

Nice looking product, worked OK for awhile. Rather quickly started falling apart. Burned through many belts, seems to clog really quickly (and is a pain to take apart to unclog). Probably fine for very light work.

This vacuum is more than it's worth! I just got mine today and vacuumed my whole apartment and picked up everything! That is very impressive since I haven't vacuumed in months! Not only is it powerful, the bagless feature is perfect for easy clean-up. It's lightweight and yet gives a heavyweight performance. Excellent!!

I purchsed this thinking I too would receive all the items the non-reconditioned unit had....it does not. I do love the unit though...use it all the time, especially for marinating beef and chicken and preserving salads. I had to buy all the containers though!

I bought the foodsaver thinking i was getting a foodsaver kit with the canisters and the suction lids and the bottle savers.
What does come with this kit is the foodsaver 1050,large roll of bags,a video tape on how to use it and a tube to fill the accesories that you dont get with this kit. The 179.99 price I saw for full retail included a couple of canisters and a bottle saver and the lid savers that you dont get with this kit so i was a bit dissapointed with this kit for the price. However I think they have a terrific product and the video tape is very informative.

I am very happy with my Foodsaver 1050 Factory-Reconditioned unit. I was concerned buying a reconditioned unit, but after receiving the Foodsaver I am very satisfied. It looks and works just like a brand new unit and even comes with a 1 year warranty.

With new low pile carpeting (berber) and tile floors elsewhere in my home, this seemed to be the perfect solution and alternative to my trusty Kenmore. The Hoover was easy to handle, descent suction, fairly easy to empty the canister (albeit slightly messy as the dust/dirt tended to "fly" a bit), long electrical cord and an overall lightweight appliance easy enough to manage under tables and chairs and such. However, the third use resulted in a crack in the foot that attaches to the body - this resulted merely from preparing to turn off the machine - too much pressure when placed upright? One crack lead to another, then chunks flew off to the point that the bottom no longer stayed attached to the unit, no way to replace the part without replacing the entire base/foot - not cost effective and of course, past the 30 day return. If the hard plastic connection from foot to base were reinforced or if a preventive measure of duct tape or such around the connection were made I believe this minor adjustment would resolve this unfortunate complication. A call to Hoover netted "ah, sorry to hear of that, never heard of a problem like that before". I didn't know the one I bought for my sister had done the same thing until after I shared the details of my call to Hoover with her. She agrees it's a good concept, but plagued by an otherwise minor flaw.

Got the S2200 Flair Bagless Stick Vac for Christmas. Have been using it for a month and am very satisfied. Have a small apartment with wood floors but I do have a cat. It really does a good job of picking up dirt and cat hair and it does pick up kitty litter! Emptying the removable cup and filter can be messy. It also does not stand upright on its own but overall I am happy with it.

Fairly good stick vac. We use it mostly for cleaning our tiled kitchen area. Has adjustment for bare floor vs carpet. Good suction and light weight for easy handling. Only critiques are the base floor piece does not have a locking attachment to the body, though its unlikely to come off easily. Also the flaired, oblong shape can make maneuvering a bit funny at times.