ElectronicElectronics: Cleaning House
by LATF Staff
These days there are so many different types of vacuums in the market, so LATF decided to test out the best of the best, in all shapes and sizes. We each have our favorites, but at the end of the day, these are our top choices that work for any budget.
The Dyson Cinetic Big Ball Animal + Allergy Vacuum
Cleaner
reviewed by Otis
The Dyson Cinetic Big Ball vacuum cleaner is their latest
series of upright vacuum cleaners. After taking it out for a
test run, I found that it has quite a few positives, versus
a few negatives. On the positive side, the vacuum has a
powerful suction and cleans the carpet deeply. The included
array of attachments makes it easy to clean in
hard-to-get-to areas, as well as for vacuuming higher areas.
Detaching the dirt bin is simple and emptying it just takes
pushing the button that releases the bottom.
Regarding the negatives, because the suction is so strong,
it makes maneuvering the vacuum very difficult on thicker
grades of carpet. Also, the ball design doesn’t turn as
easily as advertised, making vacuuming quite a bit harder
than it should be. If you don’t mind having to use a little
more effort and strength to do your vacuuming, then this is
a great vacuum.
Has an active base plate that automatically adjusts the
cleaner head height to seal in suction across all floor
types.
All Dyson upright and canister vacuums come with a five year
warranty – parts and labor.
Certified asthma & allergy friendly™. No other vacuum
expels cleaner air.
Tangle-free Turbine tool removes hair from carpets and
upholstery.
The Reach Under Tool has a paddle-shaped profile, robust
bristles and flexible construction.
The Multi-angle brush is amazing for ceilings, above doors,
and other high-reach cleaning.
The Mattress tool removes dirt and allergens from mattresses
and upholstery.
Dyson Cinetic™ tips oscillate at up to 5,000 Hz, separating
the microscopic dust that clogs all other vacuums.
Price: $699.99
For more info visit: http://www.dyson.com
Shark® Rotator® Powered Lift-Away®
reviewed by Pamela
Using a Dirt Devil compared to a Shark Rotator Powered Lift-Away is like day and night. This powerful machine can take the age off of an older carpet, restoring the texture close to its original state. The Shark is very easy to use, whether it’s upright or if you choose to release the canister and access hard-to-reach spaces in your home. Rotator is certainly an appropriate word for the Shark as the vacuum effortlessly moves around furniture edges, corners and in between small spaces. One of my favorite features on the Shark is the powerful LED headlights on the nozzle and handle. When you’re vacuuming in dark closets or under chairs and couches, it helps for visibility in hard-to-see spaces. When you’re ready to empty the canister, it’s very simple to lift it up and release the opener into the trash bag. Unlike bag vacuums, you don’t have to worry about the dust exploding in your face.
Other features include:
Rotator® power nozzle with motorized brush that deep cleans
and reaches further under furniture
Fingertip Controls for easy transitions between hard floors,
carpet and area rugs
Hard Floor Genie™ bare floor attachment picks up large
debris and fine dust in one easy step
Extra-long 30 foot power cord provides maximum range for
cleaning large spaces
The Shark has specialized tools to offer versatility in cleaning which include a premium pet power brush, upholstery tool, flexible crevice tool and canister caddy. I have a dog and a cat, so the Shark saved the day. It must pick up twice, if not three times, the amount of fur, hair and dust as my previous vacuum. By now, you’ve most likely heard an advertisement for Shark. Well, everything you heard was true. It’s a great machine. So if you’re cleaning house this spring, consider the Shark.
Price: $299-$349
Visit www.sharkclean.com/SharkRotator for more info and
details on the Lifetime Warranty.
Neato Botvac™ 80
reviewed by Michele
I’ve always wanted to try a robot vacuum and the Neato
Botvac 80 was the perfect choice because it’s the best for
picking up pet hair. Well, I have three dogs! The Neato is a
great sidekick for surface cleaning. Animals leave behind
plenty of crumbs and track dirt from the yard. You don’t
always want to take out the vacuum every time, so the Neato
is here to back you up. The Botvac 80 has a combo brush
feature that is uniquely designed to pick up pet hair. It’s
quiet and it works on hard wood floors, tile and carpet.
Its patented laser-guided technology scans and maps the
room, plans, and methodically cleans, automatically moving
from room to room. My only criticism is that you do need to
be aware of the Neato getting stuck in certain places.
Although you can set room parameters, you can find it having
trouble maneuvering around and underneath some furniture.
Other than that, it’s a great robot vacuum. It’s also
wonderful for those who are older or who have injuries and
don’t have the strength to clean with a heavy up-right
vacuum. When you first start using your Neato, give it some
time to explore. It will discover the environment, where to
turn and get the job done!
Features include:
50% larger brush, bigger-is-better dirt bin, extra-large
filter, and precise edge cleaning brush pick up more dirt
and debris.
You can schedule daily cleanings or push a button for
instant multi-room or spot cleaning.
And one of the best parts about my Neato: it will
automatically go back to its charging base when it’s done.
Price: $499
For more info visit: http://www.neatorobotics.com
BISSELL® PowerGlide® Pet Vacuum With SuctionChannel
Technology™
reviewed by LATF Staff
This was the best vacuum to test around the office, since
LATF is a dog friendly environment. The Bissel PowerGlide
Pet Vacuum has great suction power for pet hairs on the
carpet’s surface, as well as deep below the fibers. This
particular Bissell has SuctionChannel Technology™ which
creates a direct suction path, allowing the vacuum to pick
up more, edge-to-edge. The lightweight design and swivel
steering make it easy to maneuver and the brush roll on/off
switch takes cleaning from carpet to hard floors simply.
Power through pet hair with the Pet TurboEraser tool and
tackle stairs with the extended reach hose. Similar to the
Dyson, the PowerGlide can be a little difficult to move
around on carpets with thicker fibers.
This is the perfect vacuum for pet owners on a budget. It’s
affordable and it’s great quality.
Features include:
9X multi-cyclonic with no loss of suction
Swivel steering and brush roll on/off switch to easily clean
the carpets and hard floors around your home
Pet TurboEraser® tool, crevice tool, and extended-reach hose
for full-stair cleaning
Bottom-empty dirt tank and multi-level filtration
Powerful, lightweight design
27-foot power cord
5-year limited warranty
Price: $149.99
For more info visit: http://www.bissell.com