Customer Reviews

Dirt Devil 083900 Power Flex Stick Vacuum

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

I am used to powerful uprights, but my new (small!) apartment just doesn't have the space to either maneuver or store one. I was reluctant to purchase a "stick vac," but I am totally impressed with the power, the features and the low price.

* Really lightweight, easy to carry up/down stairs, doesn't take up much closet space.
* Much more powerful than I expected. I have hardwood and tile floors plus lots of area rugs, and it easily picks up everything.
* "Corner cleaner" feature is AWESOME and it bends really easily.
* Hose attachment is easy to use and it's perfect for dusting/tight spaces like behind toilets.
* Like that it is bag-less and the filter also seems to do a fair job of keeping in the dust particles. (There is a "static cling" effect on the head of the vacuum).
* Haven't had problems with it tipping over, but I do find it irritating that the head quickly locks into upright position and it doesn't have a hand release. (You have to steop on it.)
* Cord is a bit too short.

I thought of titling my review "This vacuum cleaner sucks," but then I realized that would be a lie, because, in fact, this vacuum doesn't suck anything. More appropriate title:

"THIS PRODUCT BLOWS."

And I mean that literally. The exhaust fan from the unit blast to smithereens anything you might think of vacuuming before you can get there.

Other horrific product defects:

- The unit does not stand up on its own.
- The hose attachment is so short that you have to hold the unit in one hand, and the hose in the other, meanwhile trying not to blow your dirt pile into the air with the exhaust vents.
- The suction is too weak to work well on carpet.
- The whole unit is flimsy and cheaply constructed. I estimate it will completely fall apart in a year.

In summary:

Do not, under any circumstances buy this product. If I could have given it negative stars, I would have. One star is too many for this embarrassingly ineffective vacuum cleaner.

Having replaced most of the carpet in our house with tile, we wanted a vacuum that would do well on hard floors, and the salesman at the vacuum store recommended this one. We've had it a bit over a year, and are now looking for something else.

Pros:
* It's reasonably lightweight
* The suction is better than you might expect from a stick vac
* The "Flex-edge" nozzle is good for getting into corners and tight spots (but needs to be more flexible)
* Hose attachment is easy to use
* Can lie very close to the floor, making for easy access under some furniture

Cons:
* The bagless system is a royal pain. Emptying the dirt canister and cleaning the filter are MESSY jobs, and doing so inside the house can leave you with almost as much dirt and debris on the floor and in the air as before you vacuumed
* The power cord is too short
* The whole unit tips over very easily. It can't stand on its own, but there is nothing from which to hang it either
* The wheels come off easily. They can be popped right back on, but they come off repeatedly
* The on/off switch is in an inconvenient, awkward location
* The vents located at the front of the unit blow debris EVERYWHERE. Just as you head toward that dust bunny, the front vents will blow it up into the air or elsewhere in the room.

I cannot recommend this unit. My advice: keep looking.

We have a regular cannister vacuum and have been using it on our hardwood and tile floors as well as carpeting. We had a dustbuster to clean up small areas but the battery kept running out. Now with the Dirt Devil Powerflex, we have a vac that is much easier to move around and does a much better job on our hard floor surfaces. It is light and rolls easily so getting into tight spots and under cabinets is a breeze. It has a lot of power and does a much better job than our old dustbuster. The hose attachment is great for reaching areas above floor level.

All in all, if you have tile or hardwood floors, this vac is a must and a perfect addition to your old vacuum!

Let me just say that everything Cythia Rhodes said (bottom) is true. And to add insult to injury it broke today, not even 3 months after I bought it. The base is soooo flimsy that it broke at the joint!!!! It did serve its purpose for me while it lasted (I only live in a studio though) but its not worth the hassel!

I was so excited to get this vacuum. What a great idea to put a flexible head on it! However, I couldn't be more disappointed. I have hard floors throughout the first floor and I am baseng my reviews on that use. I have only used it once or twice on rugs when I didn't feel like running upstairs to get the big vacuum. I have to report that this vacuum is not made for carpet and should be considered for hard floors only.

Pros: *lightweight
*flexible head worked well in corners when it was new.

Cons: *Doesn't stand up on it's own!!!
*The placement of the vent stirs up dust while I'm trying to vacuum.
*The on/off switch is on the side and I keeping hitting it with my knee as I vacuum and turning the thing off.
*The bagless/filter system is difficult to clean out.
*It has been repaired twice and will not suck up more than dust or dirt. Cheerios are out of the question.
*It tipped over once and the collar piece broke off and they didn't want to warrantee it. The small, cheap-looking plastic collar was so expensive, Dirt Devil considered the vacuum "totalled". It just tipped over. I didn't throw it down the stairs, like I am tempted to do now! It was three weeks old. I put up a fight and they just replaced it. It took 9 weeks to get the new one.
*The flexible head is so lightweight, that it doesn't rest tightly against the floor. It doen't get the floor real clean.

I am so unhappy with this vacuum. I am visiting the Amazon site tonight looking for a replacement. I have generously given it two stars because it 1)still turns on and 2)sucks up a wee bit o' dirt now and then.

Currently the suction is so low that it only vacuums through the direct center of the flexible head (an area the size of a credit card).

There have got to be better vacuums on the market. Don't buy it or don't say I didn't warn you.

I purchased this stick vacuum as I had recently replaced rugs with ceramic floor tiles, and I have a cat who loves to track things around my house. Had I paid more attention to the other reviews I may not have selected this unit. The cord is shorter than my old "Regina" that finally ceased to run. It is only shorter by a few feet, but in my case.... it's "just a few feet to short" to reach the ends of the room. I went to hang the unit up...and... there is no place (I could find) to hang it from. The dirt container is very messy to empty... you need another vacuum to vacuum up the mess, and the suction is poor. It actually works better on low pile carpeting than my tile. The flexible part that rides on the floor is also too flexible, and you have to keep pushing is down. I put the unit out by the dumpster at my condo... and someone took it--- it's still new. My real surprise was when I saw it (I guess it was mine) back out at the dumpster the next weekend. I know Amazon.com would take it back... but I had used it. I am willing to pay for my mistakes... and the stick broom was a big mistake.

This vac is powerful enough for hard surfaces. The construction is mostly of plastic which makes it very light and easy to carry around the house including up stairs. The unit pretends to stand upright but it falls over easily and a clumsy fall can scratch your furniture or television set if you're not careful. The hepa filter works well and is easy to clean. The hose attachment is convenient but is so flimsy that it's only useful for light jobs. The "head" of the unit folds back for cleaning corners, which is a very cool feature. Overall this is a well thought out product and the price easily compensates for its shortcomings. I use it every day for picking up cat hair and litter.

This vacuum worked great for about a year and then literally broke into two pieces.

I bought this broom vac hoping to take care of my small apartment in manhattan without having to store a huge unit. I have owned other dirt devils and was very happy. This one is HORRIBLE. Even on hardwood floors it spits the dust out all over the place. And on Rugs? FORGET IT. It is really really bad. And I only have small pile rugs that aren't plush at all.

Skip this one and get another. I will have to now.