Customer Reviews

Eureka Boss Smart-Vac Upright HEPA Vacuum Cleaner, 4870MZ

5 star:		(199)
4 star:		(140)
3 star:		(46)
2 star:		(49)
1 star:		(57)

 

 

Although most the reviews are for the 4870GZ and I bought the 4870MZ, I suspect the machines are basically the same so I won't repeat what others have already said about it except to say this is a solid machine with excellent suction and it did a great job on my carpets, both deep cleaning and returning the nap to a plush feel.

I'm writing to say that, contrary to many reviews, the Power Paw does in fact attach to the vacuum. At least mine does. It comes with a clear plastic cover that attaches to the vacuum just below the top D-handle. If you look closely you'll find the mating point. You then simply clip the paw into the cover and it stores on the handle.

Also, contrary to some reviews, the bare floor setting works fine. You just need to press the tab hard until you hear a click and it engages. The brush is then disabled for bare floor vacuuming.

I really wanted to justify a Dyson but at 1/3 the price, this machine is all that I need. I'm extremely satisfied with the purchase.

**Update to the below review** It is two years later and my vacuum cleaner is still working great and I still love it! The power paw attachment is great for vacuuming the stairs - we have two sets and it is easier to use the power paw than balance my canister vac on the stairs.

My 12 yr old Sharp upright gave up the ghost so I needed a new upright for upstairs. I read a lot of reviews here and at e-pinions and decided on this Eureka. First I will say it is very important to read all of the manual, because it actually addresses some of the issues people have with this vacuum, such as: (1) this machine is no heavier than my old one, but people complain it is heavy and hard to maneuver - the maneuverability and "heaviness" of it are greatly improved if one selects the proper brush height. Set it too low and yes, you will be struggling to pull this vacuum back toward you. The first time I used it OMG - it was quite a workout. I figured when I vacuumed I would count that as my upper body workout! Then I read the manual and duh! I raised the brush height one notch and what a difference. It's not light as a feather, but much better. (2) people complain that the brush roll stop (hard floor) switch is hard to move. The manual says it will be easier to move if the machine is on, the handle is released and you rock the machine back so there is no weight on the front wheels. It is hard if you try to move it otherwise. (3) the foot pedal for the handle release is pretty stiff, but if you find the "sweet spot" it's fine - just have to experiment with where to push. On my machine the hard part is getting the handle locked back up. I hope I don't have the belt breakage problems some people have had, but so far I'm pleased with its performance and it seems fairly sturdy to me. I had recently cleaned my carpets with Capture (a dry powder) and this new vac got up quite a bit of powder my old vac left behind. I loathe using tools on an upright thus I have a canister vac for that action - so I can't address the utility of that, but it looks way easier than on my old upright. So far I am happy with this vac, and I am a neat freak who likes her carpets to look perfectly clean! Hope this was helpful...

My wife and I have been around the block a time or two and, as with many of you, have been through our share of vacuums over the years. I'm here to tell you this one works.
Stay away from the TV "infomercials" plugging no-name vacs and making outlandish claims. Remember the old saying, "if it sounds to good to be true, it probably is". Trust the "trusted" names.
Eureka has been around a long time. We checked Consumer Reports before investing in a new upright vac. They listed 3 as being excellent buys. 2 were Kenmores and the third was the Eureka 4870 series. The letters at the end of the model don't mean much (the MZ has the "power brush", but the 4870 is important. The ratings of all 3 vacs were basically the same, but the Eureka was half the price.
The sucking power is incredible. It's not the quietest unit in the world, but I'll gladly trade that for the job it does. Right after buying this vac, someone (we have many young, devilish grandchildren), put eggshells in my wife's washing machine (front-load). The shells got into the front seal of the washer, as well as all through the dryer before we saw them. I took the crevice attachment of the Eureka and cleaned both machines out completely in the blink of an eye. By the way, I've seen complaints that the new "power brush" doesn't work. We've had no problem with this attachment. In fact, it's been everything Eureka says it is. If you don't want to try it, there are several other versions of the 4870 that offer the traditional brush instead. We're very happy with this unit.

I bought this vacuum a year ago and within a few months the foot pedal release popped off of the machine completely. I had it replaced and it quickly popped off again. This time the clear plastic housing broke and would cost $29 to replace the part and $29 in labor. It can only be replaced with the same cheap clear plastic housing. It still works, and though heavy, i have been ok with it's performance. However, without the foot pedal, it will not stay locked in the upright position and falls when nudged or tugged slightly. This makes some operations difficult, especially when using the hose attachement.

I researched for several months before making this purchase and i'm very happy with this vacuum. Cleans exceptionally well and the power paw is great for picking up cat hair. The HEPA system actually works because I don't sneeze at all while vacuuming and I have chronic allergies. (It made me realize how poorly my hoover upright worked. And it was only 2 1/2 years old.) Yes, it's a little heavy, but every vacuum that has strong suction is. I guess it's because of the large amp motor. If you have pets, you won't be dissapointed. The only thing I wished it had was an automatic cord rewind. But for the price, I have no problem living without it. My last eureka lasted me 10 years, and when I finally got rid of it, it was because It was so beat-up, but it still worked great. Not the case with my 2 1/2 year old Hoover. This unit is a great deal for the money.

Love this vacuum. I also owned it's predecessor and due to no fault of its own, I needed a replacement. Eureka has proven themselves again. The suction on this thing is unbelievable. I love the spinning brush that whips the carpet as I vacuum. It feels new again under my feet as I vacuum. The box says it's 60% more powerful than the Dyson but at half the price. The first part I believe, the second is a fact. I had wanted a Dyson but I despise bagless vacs and I didn't want to spend that much $$. We don't have pet hair we need to stay on top of, so I'm more than pleased with this purchase.

I am a senior and have usually purchased at least one vacuum a year in the last decade. The Eureka Boss Smart -Vac Upright Hepa Vacuum proves to be a good vacuum at a reasonable price. I wind up giving my own away or buying new for people I meet who need a vacuum, and thus I buy several over the years. I always go back to Eureka as I find it is the most reliable and does a great job with all its attachments and ease of use. The air dust not smell dusty when you vacuum so I know it is doing a good job filtering. Plus, the inside of the vacuum stays clean and all the dirt goes in the micro-filtration RR bags which are easily available online or in local stores. The hose is very easy to switch to and use while you vacuum and really has a lot of suction. Buy one, you'll save yourself all the comparison purchases I did of other brands (some much more expensive) and you'll be very satisfied with this product.

The Kirby vacuum we had spent a small fortune on 13 years ago finally went to its great reward and we were faced with replacing it. After doing much research (including the very helpful reviews here at Amazon) we decided on this model. After using it several times, we couldn't be happier. It honestly cleans better than our Kirby ever did -- I can't believe what this thing picks up! We have two kids who are in and out of the house constantly with their friends and a long-haired cat so there is plenty to clean up after. The attachments are stored right on the vacuum so it's very convenient and easy to clean an entire room (blinds, furniture, baseboards, etc.) while you're vacuuming. I don't think I will ever dust again -- I'm using the vacuum for everything and love how clean it is when I'm done. We have a two-story home and we like it so much we bought another one to keep upstairs. At that price, it was worth it. It is no heavier than our Kirby was and I don't feel it's difficult to use at all. We have frieze carpet and it feels soft and brand new every time we vacuum it now -- it really is amazing! The switch to bare floors is a little tricky -- you feel like you're going to break the lever because you have to push pretty hard -- but after you get the hang of it, it works really well. My only complaint is that the hose could be a little longer to reach certain areas (high window framing, long flights of steps, etc.). Save your money and don't buy more expensive models -- this one does everything you need in a vacuum (and more) for an awesome price!

This Vacuum is all that I'd hoped for; plenty of power, nice varity with the attachments and the Power Paw attachment was a great idea. I use the Power Paw attachment for under furniture where that dust tends to build up on the carpet and the attachment cleans the carpet great. Pet hair comes off furiture, rugs and clothing easily with this tool. The reviews I read before buying were all positive. The Only thing I can say which some reviews had mentioned is the weight. It is a little heavy to lift, but not bad.

I purchased this item from Amazon ($147). From my experience the manufacturer has poor quality control.
1) The box was missing a part (the wand).
2) The foot peddle is poorly designed and seems prone to damage
3) The belt fails to disengage when in the upright position; this caused the belt to slowly burn out. This may be the cause of the belt problems others are complaining about. This issue may be isolated to my machine, however, the poor foot peddle design makes me wonder if this product was fully thought out in the design stage.

On the bright side, Amazon arranged for a UPS pick up at my home and provided a refund. I'm happy with the Hoover UH50000 (Amazon $199) that I ordered in its place.