Dirt Devil Power Air Lightweight Stick Vac

If you're looking for a quick rating of the Dirt Devil's performance, it gets five stars. But as they say, the devil is in the details. Below is a brief overview, with discussion to follow.

Pros:

* Very powerful suction

* Assembles quickly

* Large dirt cup capacity

* Removal of dirt cup is fast

* Fairly quiet

* Electric cord length is about 20'

* Sturdy wheels

* Low-profile cleaning head

* Capable of hanging storage

Cons:

* Replacement of dirt cup requires precision

* Weight of vacuum a factor in some cases

* Plastic casing

If you are accustomed to a battery powered stick vacuum, you will be pleasantly surprised at the performance of this electric powered, lightweight, stick vacuum. It has the ability to pick up small and larger pieces of dirt on both hard floors and those with carpeting. (It performed beautifully on tile floors, oriental rugs, and thickly padded, dense carpeting.) And this is despite not having a vacuum's traditional beater bar with bristles. It does have a toothed, small, rubber strip that may assist in lifting dirt to be sucked into the unit.

To assemble, simply attach the cleaning head to the unit. The handle (stick) clicks into place and is attached to the vacuum. Depending on your proficiency, this can take from one to three minutes.

The dirt cup is located on the front of the unit. That makes it very easy to remove and empty. However, replacing it is not so easy and fast. I couldn't align the cup to the unit by bending over the vacuum. To do it, I had two choices. I could put the vacuum on the kitchen counter (not hygienic) or, put the stick under my arm with the unit resting against my body. In that position, I could see how to align the two pieces. Being short, this may be a problem only for me and not for most consumers.

Four plastic wheels move this vacuum; two tiny ones at the front of the cleaning head and two much larger ones in the rear. Not having rubber wheels means no residue peeling off as you vacuum--a definite plus.

The cleaning head is 1 ½" in height. This low profile means that getting under a low sitting piece of furniture is possible. The center of the head is higher so, only one-half of the head will fit. That gives you several inches of clearance to clean. Beyond that, you would have to move the piece of furniture. If you've ever thoroughly vacuumed, leaving a visible dust line just under a hard-to-reach item, you'll appreciate this feature.

The electric cord length is ample for cleaning a generously-sized area. Of course, it needs to be relocated as you move from space to space. The cord probably won't stretch up a flight of stairs, but the unit's weight (about seven pounds) might discourage you from using it there. The cord stores neatly when wrapped in the place provided.

Storage should not be a problem. It stands upright on its own. Its size makes it an excellent choice for those with little storage capacity. Additionally, the manufacturer has thoughtfully provided a very large `O' at the top of the stick, for storing the vacuum in a hanging position.

A possible negative feature may be the vacuum's plastic casing. It doesn't appear to be very strong. For example, hanging it on my garage wall with heavier items, means that I have to be very careful to not let them touch one another, for fear of cracking the vacuum's casing. Or, if I hang it and it falls, will it still be useable? Think of where you store bikes, carriages, strollers, suitcases, sports equipment, etc. and try to keep them from your Dirt Devil.

Overall, this stick vacuum is devilishly good.

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