Electrolux EL6988E Oxygen Canister Vacuum Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
We had two mid-range Kenmore canister vacs prior to this.
The Electrolux Oxygen (EL6988E) is many ways better and many ways worse.
Check out the list for what matters most to you.
Prices bounce around. Low tide for this model is about 325 delivered.
Better:
* Quieter (significantly)
- Power head pivots in both directions and has larger wheels. Easier to maneuver.
- Wand length adjusts (34" to 47")
- 2-year warranty (vs 1-year for Kenmore)
- LED headlights & height indicator
- Bag-full indicator light (Kenmore's is less visible)Toss-up:
- Suction is quite good
- 3rd party bags: 36 Oxygen Vacuum Bags are available at 50% savings (as with Kenmore)
- Auto shut-off when motor overheats or power head stalls
- Weight: 22.8 lbs (16.9 without power head). Kenmore is 21.5 lbs (16.3)
- Floor Brush: Electrolux is 60 % wider (13.7" vs 8.5") (but suction is less concentrated)
- Both Kenmores died after 5.5 years. Will Electrolux last longer?Worse:
* Cord is only 20.3 ft long (Kenmore is 30% longer. 26.5 ft. Very handy.)
* Dust bag is 40% smaller (appx 180 vs 300 cu. in.) (More expense, more hassle)
* Hose is flimsy (Big difference vs Kenmore) (and replacement is $47)
* Lacks swivel hose mount on base unit. (Hose kinks and will eventually crack)
* Power switch is on the base, not the handle. (and is easily confused with the cord-retract button)
* Floor brush can't be stored on-board (Small nozzle & furniture brush store on the wand handle)
* Generic nozzles won't fit. Only Electrolux nozzles.
* More expensive. (Check Panasonic model that's almost identical to the Kenmores we had.)
- Manual is less useful. Fewer tips & troubleshooting details. Doesn't include full parts diagram & part numbers. Electrolux provides fewer product specifications at their Web site.
I am comparing to a 2005 Kenmore mid-range vac. Current models may differ.
Check reviews for the Panasonic MC-CG902 Canister Vacuum Cleaner. It's about identical to the mid-range Sears Kenmore canister vac.
Summary: A good vac with lots of flaws: 3.5 stars.


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iRobot 610 Roomba Professional Series Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I've used the Roomba 610 and 560. I now have two refurbished 560s in our house, at the same price as one 610. And it's definitely a better value.
Before I talk about the 610, let me share what's good and bad about Roombas in general, based on my experience with both the 560s and 610:
Pros:
- You don't have to vacuum, the Roomba does it for you
- Scheduled cleanings so you don't even have to worry about it or be home to hear the noise
- Floors stay clean without much effort
- One button start it and forget about it
Cons:
- Absolute pain in the butt to clean these things. There's the two brushes, the front wheel, the spinning brush (which requires a screwdriver to remove), and the dust bin. All of these must be disassembled, cleaned, and reassembled, at least once per cleaning session.
- It's not effort free. As I said above, lots to clean, which requires 5-10 minutes each time you want to run the Roomba.
- With pets, the fur gets wrapped around EVERYTHING. Maybe without pets our cleaning of the Roomba would be easier, but the whole point of these devices is ease, and they do not deliver.
So the nice things about the 610 are:
- Easier brush cleaning than the 560. Not much easier, but easier. Hair & fur still get wrapped around the edges of the brushes and into the mechanisms, but it's 5% easier to clean on the 610.
- The accessories case and accessories. The brush cleaning tool is nice, but it doesn't clean the brush holders, where all the stuff actually gets wrapped up and is difficult to clean.
Not so good things about the 610:
- No carrying handle. This seems inconsequential, but after having a way to pick up my 560 without having to pick the whole thing up from the bottom, where all the dust and dirt accumulates, you appreciate a carrying handle. Why didn't they include this on the 610?
- Only two lighthouses. They say it can clean four rooms, but they only include two lighthouses. My experience has been that three rooms is pushing it, so unless you have small rooms two lighthouses may be OK.
So why did I get two 560s if I have so many problems? I hate to vacuum, and I'd rather clean all the brushes and edges once a day than push the vacuum around for 45 minutes. So it's a trade-off.
Read other forums and you'll see that the 610 is not recommended, it's basically a 560 with lipstick.

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Hoover WindTunnel Canister Vacuum, Anniversary Edition, Bagged, S3670 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I purchased a Hoover carpet shampooer recently, and was very pleased with performance and quality, so naturally I looked at Hoover's line of vacuums. The price for the canister was a bit much, I thought---but I liked the idea of the freedom it offered, having had uprights for the last 10 years. My first impression was that the quality of the plastic wasn't there, so only 3 stars--for example, if you open the top to reveal the two small attachments (the other two: floor/brush and upholstery won't fit anywhere), the lid seems like it wouldn't take much pressure to accidently snap it off. Also, when it arrived, the plastic window covering wasn't attached--no problem, it snapped right in---but it left me with an unsettled feeling about my purchase. The good news is that it's pretty easy to roll, the handle is adjustable, and for the first time in ages I can actually vacuum under my bed :) I also like the way the canister secures the handle; it doesn't take much more room than the upright. The suction is good, as I haven't seen my carpet's nap in a while; it's around 5 years old. Overall, I think if it were priced a little less or the plastic was more durable, I'd feel better...but with both Hoover products, my carpet is looking more like its old 'new' self.
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From 3 Stars to 1: About 8 months to a year after the purchase, the retractable cord started to have issues, and there seemed to be a power-connection problem too. This year the handle (or wand), which was my favorite feature because it moves up and down has broken somewhere, and it won't hold a new position. Suction isn't good anymore, and the bag changing is frequent and messy. Finally, while initially I felt it gave me more freedom in ease of use, it actually is a royal pain to maneuver anywhere: frequently tips over, and pivotal hose difficult to pivot.
UPDATE Nov 2010: I purchased a Shark Navigator in October, with a Square Trade Warranty---and feel LOTS better about it. The Hoover is now my husband's choice for vacuuming out the cars.
(Knock yourself out dear :)

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