Vacuum Reviews

If you can manage to disconnect most of your preconceptions of vacuum cleaners and start with a fresh outlook this thing is great! I've had mine for about 2 weeks and was at first somewhat disappointed, but once I realized that it is just "different" more than "bad", I like it. It sounds like it's struggling on really deep pile carpet, but if you keep up a fairly brisk pace and don't let it load up it works fine. Once again, forget the sounds that it's making...just look at the results on the floor and the amount of dirt collected!
I also have a Kirby, which isn't a fair comparison. I would put this vacuum in the same cleaning class as my old Oreck, although it certainly isn't as light, but the trade off is ease of use, which is a major plus. My biggest concern before I received it (mail order) was how batteries could possibly power something well enough to do a decent job. When I saw the batteries and charger for the first time, this fear was allayed. My son's comment was to never get rid of the batteries; that Westinghouse would probably make other machines to go with them; like maybe a jackhammer or backhoe.
Overall, the machine is, once again, no Kirby and about equal to an Oreck (in just my opinion). But it sure takes the pain out of vacuuming!

I bought this at Bed, Bath and Beyond on clearance. After getting it home and charging the batteries (yes it does take a long time, but it's worth it). I used this on my rug that had just been vacuumed with a eureka corded vac, I could see the dirt in the fill cup. It is convenient and easy to use, although it is a bit heavy compared to my eureka. It works well on my rug, wood floors and ceramic tile.

Customer service is a dream. Since I bought the floor model, I was missing some pieces. I called customer service and they shipped me all four parts, free of charge (did not even ask for a receipt). I received them in less than a week.

This vacuum gets used every day in my house and does a great job vacuuming up pet hair (two dogs, two cats and a rabbit) along with the messes my 18 year old, 11 year old and 2 year old boys leave.
Although I would probably never spend the $300 regular price on any vacuum, I think this vacuum is a great value(...).

From the moment you pull it out of the box, you'll realize the unplugged is unlike any vacuum that's come before as it's got a very futuristic and stylish design. 2 large supporting pieces of the main structure are constructed of brushed aluminum as is the accessory hose/wand - something you rarely see in contemporary vacuums these days.

The charging/battery system is both innovative and easy to use. I've heard other reviews complain about the initial 24 hour 'conditioning cycle charge' per battery but I feel this is an extremely small inconvenience considering the benefits of cordless vacuuming. Also the amazingly 30 minute normal charge time per battery more than makes up for it.

I've read some of reviews on this site regarding the lack of suction power for this vacuum. While I'll admit the suction is not as strong as that of a corded vacuum, I found it does pick up very well. I think in the case of vacuums, 'the proof is in the dirt cup.' That said, after just 3 minutes of vacuuming, the dirt cup had a dust/fuzz ball the size of an adult fist along with a bunch of loose debris from a white carpet that initially didn't even appear very dirty!

Regarding the brush roll, I will agree that it does slow down on carpet and would not be appropriate for medium to long pile or shag. On low pile however it does a great job. This vacuum is also wonderfully QUIET which is more than I can say for many of the corded uprights (especially Eurekas) where ear plugs almost seem like a requirement. The Unplugged really proves that a good performing vacuum does not have to have a LOUD motor!

The vacuum has 3 onboard filters - 2 small ones and a larger HEPA one. The way the unplugged is designed, dirty air passes through the 2 smaller ones first before reaching the HEPA. The best part is these 2 filters (1 foam and 1 of a white pleated material) are a cinch to clean - just rise them under tap water or soak in soapy water (as per the instructions). As they keep much of the dirt from reaching the HEPA, it rarely needs cleaning and lasts for approximately 7 years before requiring replacement. This is a significant improvement over many of the upright bagless models today with large, single, un-washable HEPA filters located directly inside the dirt cup that can only be cleaned by being banged against the side of a trash can.

In conclusion, I found this vacuum to be a great performer with very innovative features. As I stated previously, it works best on low-pile carpets which I don't personally consider a drawback since Shag carpets aren't quite as common as they were 30 years ago. That said, you won't miss the cord and you'll have fun using this vacuum!

I've owned the EP238 for a year now and have been really very happy with its performance and durability. It works extremely well on hardwood and ceramic floors and the "air powered" rotating brush attachment for denser carpets works like a charm. The attachments all work well and the adjustable suction control is really convenient when you're using the dusting brush. Best of all, it is quiet and easy to move around. Its only shortcoming is a short (17 ft) power cord. I'd buy another one without a moment of hesitation.

I have mostly wood floors in my house so i've been wanting a canister vacuum. Finally made a decision and bought this one. So far no regrets. The attachments are great, the suction is great, the size, and price can not be beat. I am a little disappointed with the "wood floor" type attachment, but it's definately doing the job. Even the carpet attachement works well on my one area rug. I too am excited to try out new euro pro products.

I cannot believe so many have had so much trouble with this vac. The last one I had lasted a good three years. And that was three years of daily use and abuse. I used it to clean floors and rugs. Cat hair and litter and every day dirt. It only died recently after the motor died. I cannot complain about this vac. I have bought many over the years, and this is the best one I have ever bought. Just my opinion and experience.

I bought the Bissell Spotlifter Powerbrush and had the same problems mentioned in other reviews. It is a very poorly designed product with almost no suction and poor spray. I contacted Bissell and they sent me another one that doesn't work either.

We struggled between buying this unit and the comperable Dirt Devil offering, when we saw them at the local discount stores. Liking the stiffer dual-rotating beater-bar style brushes on the Bissell better than the much softer brushes on the spinning disk the Dirt Devil had, we settled on the Bissell. At the store, the only negative factor for the Bissell appeared to be it's one-year warranty, versus the two-years offered with the Dirt Devil.

We did not consider a cordless model, presuming they would be less powerful. We also did not consider a model without scrub brushes.

I used our new Bissell briefly last night on a couple of recent pet stains, and it did a good job. Today, I used it on all the rest of the pet stains on our light living room carpet, many of which were old. Almost all of them lifted well.

The Bissell clean tank will hold a full 8 oz. (3-4 oz. cleaning product and 4 oz. water), compared to the Dirt Devil that only holds a total of 6 oz. It does a decent job of suctioning up liquid. Many with the Dirt Devil seem to complain that it's suction is inadequate, and we did test its suction at the store and agree that it is weak.

The manual doesn't document the total clean tank size, how many ounces the "Formula" fill line is at, or how many the "Water" fill line is at, but I measured them. This way I know the proper dilution, if I choose to mix some of the cleaning product into a regular spray bottle for pretreating convenience, without hauling the heavier unit around. (They suggest leaving the pretreat on for 3-5 minutes.)

Note that once you've filled the clean tank, if you have a lot left over you do not have to empty it. You can save it for next time. (The disadvantage to doing this is that you would no longer have warm water to help you clean better.)

The 20' cord was more than adequate for us to get to the areas we needed to clean. Others complain that the Dirt Devil's cord is too big, but I'm not sure if that means diameter or length. The cord on the Bissell flows nicely. It isn't stiff and doesn't stay too curled up to be able to be used easily. It even had a convenient velcro strap that stays attached, to help you manage the cord for storage.

The unit is really easy to fill, operate and clean. Both the clean tank and the dirty tank detach and reattach very easily. Even the beater brush cartridge removes easily for cleaning. It only took me a few minutes to have it ready for storage again. Dirt Devil users complain that reattaching a tank is not always easy.

This is not a full size steam cleaner and I don't think it's fair to expect it to behave like one. It's great for the purpose it's designed for. Be sure to vacuum your capet before using it, if you haven't done so recently. This will minimize the amount of hair etc. to clean out of the brushes when you are finished using the Bissell. I did not do this, and it still wasn't bad to clean out the brushes.

The unit has a solid and durable feel to it. Dirt Devil users seem to think that unit is flimsey and has an awkward manual solution/water sprayer.

I think the product works well and would recommend it over the Dirt Devil. I am happy with it

I bought this Bissell Spotlifter a few weeks ago. I chose this one because I only needed it for the occassional pet stain or baby food spill. It works great for me! I immediately put it to work and it got stains out that had been in my carpet for months! I do see how people could complain some about the suction but I think it gets most of the dirty water up fine. It took me a while to decide between this one and the more expensive "Little Green" and I think I made the right decision. I'm sure the other one is better, but it's also almost as expensive as an upright and this one gets the job done just fine. This is a good little cleaner for the money.

I know you have probably read the other reviews, and chances are, you won't get to this review. If you do make it here, take it from me-YOU DO NOT WANT THIS VACUUM! It's as simple as that. I stumbled upon this page, because I have exhausted my "on foot" search for the vacuum cleaner belts. It has been over a year-and I CAN NOT find the belts for this vacuum. Then, the thing smells like burnt rubber, all the time- works when it wants to,and yes CLOGS ALL THE TIME. I will not throw it away because the vacuum is almost brand new. I yelled at my husband because I thought he broke the vacuum after having it for a month-I didn't know everyone was having similar problems. Everything that everyone else described happened to us. I have been using an older vacuum of mine until I get "the belt" - now I know, I am getting a Hoover.

I bought my first Shark EP708 from JC Penneys.... in a month it had kept overheating... called the company and they were going to pick up the old one and repair it. I complained at paying the postage to get their defective machine back to them for repairs.... they sent a new one and picked up the old one at their costs..... new one has worked well for 1 1/2 months (although a mess to empty), then the rotary belt broke. That's why I'm on the internet now... trying to find a new one....can't find one locally... found one on the company website... $15.00 + s&h, and includes bulbs that I don't need.... think I'll forget it and buy a Hoover!

This vacuum has a powerful look and a powerful suction to go along with it. But, the dust cup accummulates "fine dust particles" quickly which reduces the suction power. The "tap" cleaning of the dust cup is quick, But very messy. Just "tap" the dust cup on the inside of your waste basket and watch the dust cloud as it dirties your floor, your hands, and your clothes.
The worst part is that the accessories are not found in your local retail store so you must order then by mail or the internet. This is a hassle all of its' own. I have placed an order for accessories, which has now been on backorder since June 13, with another 30 day notice just sent to me. I can't tell you about the life of this product because as of now it will last FOREVER, sitting there in my closet waiting for accessories, instead of vacuuming my carpet.
My advice, stick with a known company, one that has high standards for customer service.

I inherited this vacuum cleaner from my parents two years after they bought it. It is loud, causes a dust storm with each use (triggering my guests' allergies and leaving very odd smells in the air for over 6 hours after use), and does not seem to pick up even those paper particles that I can see! Do not buy this vacuum cleaner; it is a complete waste of money and will leave your room dirtier and more smelly than it started out.

I bought this vaccum one year ago to replace a similar version from Hoover. The Hoover vaccum had lasted 5 years. This one has lasted one year and is going to the dump.

I have to admit in the beginning the Featherlite was really cool. It was a neat color, and was picking up better than my Hoover had been in it's last days. Boy was I fooled!

My Featherlites final turn around my living room ended with smoke coming out the bottom and a terrible smell. It's now sitting in the driveway! I read a review on another website that this is due to bent parts in the motor. The reason the vaccum is so light is because they put a cheap motor inside!

For a light weight, inexpensive upright vacuum, it does okay. I find the hose to be quite short and it pulls out easily when being used. There is no hose extension available from the company. Its rather noisey as well. I, personally, prefer a throw-away-bag to getting my hands dirty and have dust flying around cleaning those filters with the bagless type of vacuum so this suits my needs.

PROS: Great Cleaning Power
HEPA Filter
No bags or belts to buy
CONS LOUD, LOUD, LOUD
No 1-800 customer service
Roller on-off switch not easily accessible

I bought this vacuum after trying out a friend's Windtunnel that worked very well. I decided to go with the V2 after much research because of the beltless feature. I unpacked the vacuum put it all together (VERY easy, even my husband could do it). I vacuumed my living room with my old vacuum and then with the new one and got up so much dog hair, dust and carpet fiber! I thought this thing is awsome, but a little loud. After vacuuming the whole downstairs of my house I just couldn't take it anymore, the thing was shrieking like a banshee! I tried changing the hieght settings and it didn't help. It must be the gear system because it only does it when the brush rolers are on.

I called customer service this am (another problem - no toll free number and the website's no help) and explained the vacuum was whining loudly - is this normal? She states " Well the gears do whine a little bit." I said " NO, this is very loud." She says "Yes it is a little loud." Needless to say, I returned it this morning.

Also, while the on-off brush feature is nice, it is hard to get to. It is down on the front of the vacuum with the carpet height adjustment, and both swithches are recessed in to a hollow, so you can't use your foot. So you have to bend over every time you go from carpet to hard floor.

If you can live with the loudness and bending over, this vacuum cleans great! But this wasn't the vacuum for me!

The one great thing about this vacuum is that it does a excellent job of cleaning carpeting. I haven't had a problem with clogging or hair gathering around the brush, since my one pet has very short hair. The WindTunnel V2 is very heavy, carrying it up and down stairs is awkward, and you definitely have to have some upper arm strength to guide it across carpeted areas. On wood/tiled floors, it's suction is definitely less effective.

Like so many others here on Amazon, my main problem is with the errant dust and dirt flying when you empty the dirt canister--it sends me into sneezing fits. The canister is removed easily enough, but it's very obvious that the filter is not thoroughly cleaned, and it's also a messy process. I'm keeping it (inertia is a powerful force), but I wouldn't recommend this vacuum. Keep looking!

I purchased the green V2 and had to take it back to the store because the extremely short hose (for attachments) came off the unit. I plan to purchase another V2 that has an extra flex hose attachment - making it easier to use. Though there are several cons with this vacuum, I will try it again because I think it is a very effective cleaner. We have dogs that shed so much each day that you could knit a small sweater with the stuff every week. This vacuum pulled up dog fur and lint like nothing I had tried to date.

The down side:
* No easy way to empty the cleaner without getting the fine dust back into the air (messy-yuk. If you have allergies, you might be better off with a bag unit).
* Very hard to push around and heavy to lift up and down stairs(if you need the work-out, this is for you).
* Doesn't do as well on hard floors (even with the brushes off - silly placement of the off switch). A floor attachment like on a canister unit would work better, but this isn't usually available on uprights.
* The cord wrap system never stays in place.
* The flex hose is way too short and not well designed (broke off on ours)
* Very loud - wear ear plugs!

The upsides:
* Picks up dust, fibers, and pet fur very effectively
* Powerful
* Bagless feature saves on trips to the store for bags and the clear cup lets you see at a glance when you need to empty (rewarding to see the gunk you are getting rid of).
* Good storage placement of the attachments
* The small brush unit is powerful for a non-motorized attachment (works on suction) and the crevice tool has awesome suction.
* Bends fairly flat for easy cleaning under furniture.

I was very disappointed with this vacuum. I bought it because I thought there would be a real advantage to having a bagless vacuum with a HEPA filter. Having allergies, less exposure to dust is very important. I quickly realised that using this vacuum actually makes exposure to dust much more a problem! When I use it, I can actually see dust collecting outside the lid rim of the canister. Just to be sure that I wasn't doing anything wrong, I checked and rechecked how I had the placement of the lid and the canister after an emptying (it really is a straight forward proceedure). Even changing the canister every vacuum session has not stopped this problem. And don't bother trying to pick up the vacuum by the handle if it's running. Dust will really shoot out into the air. Emptying the canister is just plain awful. You have to hold your breath while you are doing it. Save your money and don't buy this vacuum!

Today the vacuum cleaner started smelling of burnt rubber. I discovered the belt was broken. After reading the reviews below I guess this will be a common problem. The bagless design is a terrible mess when it comes to emptying the chamber. My wife makes me put on a dust mask prior to emptying it and then I have to shower to remove the dust residue.

In summary I would not buy this vacuum cleaner, stick to bagged models and SAVE YOURSELF!!!!

I thought I just used the vacuum too much, but after reading the other reviwers comments I must agree. I'm online now shopping for a vacuum with A BAG! I have severe allergies and it was a MESS to empty the canister. The large filters cost aprox. $30. I found myself trying to clean the filter to save money! We have gone through many belts. I am having a lot of dust "escaping" from the compartment and have tried to remedy it in every way the manual has suggested.

I have to admit though, In the beginning it did pick up great, but now it's a pain!

I have owned my Fantom Canister for four years. It has been a wonderful vacuum cleaner, surpassing all my expectations regarding cleaning. But, it has had its problems, too. Anything plastic on it has broken, including the power switch cover and the cord retractor. And, just recently, it tripped a circuit breaker when I turned it on (impending motor burnout??)
Anyway, to make a long story short, I was about to order a Fantom upright cleaner, when I read about the Company's recent demise and the horror stories others have written about their Fantoms...and changed my mind. It is just a shame that Fantom has had to go out on such a sour note....

I have 3 homes, and I have a Fantom Lightning Canister Vacuum Cleaner in each one, so I own 3 of these. I owned Fantom uprights before these, and they were great, but these top those.
Much easier to use, much lighter weight, and in two of my homes I have carpeted steps, so I purchased the separate attachment for stairs. I love the way the vacuum sets on the steps, no chance of it falling, very secure. I really enjoy being able to see the dust and dog hair that this picks up, and I have a very hairy large Cocker Spaniel. 2 of my homes are totally carpeted, and the 3rd has carpet and tile, works great on any surface. Also it is very easy to vacuum mop boards and under beds. If I were to need another, I would definitely buy a Fantom.

My Fantom Lightning is four years old. I also have a Fantom Cyclone Xt, and used to have a Fantom Thunder that I gave to my grandmother.They all work excalent and are all four years old. They were all purchased in the last four monthes used. Just today I vacuumed with the cyclone and then went over the Carpet with the Lightning that I just got yesterday. Boy , I gave the cyclone Xt a 5 star ratting, but when I went to empty the Lightning there was about half as much as what was in the cyclones canaster in the Lightning. And no the cyclone was not clogged The hepa filter works great.Thanks, for reading.

I'm one of many "victims" who bought this vacuum because of #1 rating published in Consumer Reports magazine a couple of years ago. The light went off very quickly, but it was minor. The major problem we encountered is that at some point it started overheating after 10-15 min of work. When it is overheated it automatically shuts off and you have to wait 10 more minutes until it cools down. I could not find any explanation for it. I replaced bags, a filter and a belt, but it did not help. I would not recommend to buy this model to anyone.

This Hoover does a good job in the suction department. We have 2 large dogs and 3 indoor-only cats and the vacuum is a part of the daily routine in this house. However...

This thing weighs a ton. I am not frail, nor am I physically restricted. It pushes along well with the self-propelled feature, but it is very difficult to lift it off of the floor...
very cumbersome...and it is NOT a breeze to haul it out for a quick hair pickup.

If you have to get down on the floor to use an attachment to reach under something (such as the woodstove, etc.)be careful.
The hose is connected to the middle of the back of the machine.
When using the springy hose to reach back under, it can pull the handle end down on top of you. I wouldn't purchase this for my elderly Mom or for those with physical limitations.

The bags are pricey (about 7 bucks for 3) and the filters are about 8 bucks.

Although this monster does an acceptable job at cleaning, I would check the bagless options next time and look for something a bit easier to handle.

We bought this to replace a more expensive model we were given as a wedding gift in 99. I higly recommed this vacuum to anyone who is looking for a quality product that helps relive allergens. This is just as good as the vacuum that we had before, and it was double the cost.

I was very excited when we purchased our Fantom Crosswinds from Overstock.com...(for around $180-200) it's nice-looking and from the features it offers, we thought we had found a goldmine for a vacuum. After only cleaning one room, we noticed it began to lose power, overheat and shut itself off. Sooo, we're left standing there with many more rooms needing vacuuming. Uh, okay, what do we do now? Well, we checked the filters, read the manual and it explains that if it should overheat (if??) you will need to check and clean the filters after every use. Well, in our case every use meant after one room of use!!! This is VERY annoying and a complete and utter waste of money and time because the manual also states that your vacuum should cool down and be ready for use again in a few hours! That's a lie!! Our Fantom will not even power up again unless we wait 24 hours!! So, if you can picture this: a washed out filter lying on the edge of the bathroom tub (which has to stay there for 24 hours to completely dry before we can use it again) and a "dead" overheated vacuum which won't work for 24 hours...after only cleaning 1 small room area. This is what we deal with with our Fantom!! We will NEVER buy another Fantom again!! I cannot believe this company has so eloquently deceived the public with their more-than-phenominal infomercials into believing their products are any better than a $70 upright my husband bought over 20 years ago! We still use that old upright--(not that I want to, but we have to because of the Fantom)--the old Hoover still works, yes, it's very loud (I call it "Old Bessy" because it moans like a cow) and we do have to change bags and belts when they break, but at least we can vacuum the house without waiting 24 hours to do one more room! I urge everyone NOT to buy Fantom products! NEVER!

I bought this vacuum aboot 4-5 months ago. The biggest problem I've run into is that if the 2 filters are not kept absolutely clean, the vacuum clogs. Even worse the company is now out of business. I tried getting replacement filters from my local store and they told me they can't get them because Fantom is out of business. Go figure Enron and now Fantom! So I've been left to devise my own rigged filters to keep this thing running. My wife will never let me choose appliances again!!!
Thanks Fantom.

Ok firt I have owned 2 different FANTOMS well kind of 3. A fantom fury and a fantom lightning and they are both still great but slowly dying after the years of labor they have gave me. the almost 3RD but it is a westinghouse wired DELUX same as fantom CW600 and I love it. It is by far one of the best machines I'v owned. yes fantom is out of business but there are plenty of carriers of fantom parts on the internet if you even need any. [which I havent] my machines have only gotten cloggeg a couple times [ONLY THE FURY] the reason for this is that I have a long haires bichon in my house and the fury was an older model [the first fantom] and I gues it was a faulty design problem that was worked out before they made they next models [thunder, lightning, cyclone xt, and all crosswinds and special editions]. I was able to unclog it by simply opening the flap in the back on the bottom and removing the hair. I belive that after all the service I have recieved from my vacuums that fantom is the BEST!!!!!!!!!