Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Another vacuum cleaner purchase?, February 21, 2009
Yes, in economic crisis, I purchased an expensive German vacuum cleaner, today, when I already have an expensive German vacuum cleaner in the cleaning closet. "Why? Just to boost the economy?" you might ask. Well, I wasn't using the other vacuum enough. Vacuuming, despite dustmite allergies, is a cleaning task I tend to avoid until absolutely necessary (or someone else is paid to do it for me). But, about a month or so ago, I was on a retreat for a week and my chore was to vacuum for about 20 minutes daily. During that week I used five different up-rights. One even had bells and whistles that alerted me to unseen dirt! I started dreaming of getting an upright of my own. Obviously that expensive highly rated German vacuum cleaner that graces my cleaning closet is a canister. Yes, my mother used one when I was growing up and still does. Was I about to change the family tradition?
I didn't shop for vacs after I returned home from the retreat. Oh, now and then I would stop by a local shop and inquire about the up-right model, same brand as my canister, but the shopkeeper never seemed to get one in. And then this week I was passing by another sewing and vac center and decided to pop in for a moment just to take a look and there she stood, a deep blue upright, compact in size, with yellow accents, "anti-allergy hospital grade" written next to its name on the vac's housing -- A Sebo marked on sale at $502.00... The woman who waited on me told me that the Sebo was the only vac she would ever purchase, that her daughter and daughter-in-law both had one going on five years now, and they LOVED their vacuums... (I wanted to love mine, too.) The shopkeeper suggested I go home and research the Sebo on the internet. I took her advice and spent part of the evening reading consumer reviews and looking up ratings (5 star by an on-line allergy purchasing club). I returned to the shop a day later to check the model number. Seeing that it was the X4 and at a $200 discount from on-line prices, I made my purchase.
Have you ever bought a new car only to realize shortly after that your old one had wheels and took you places, too? I mean, what was the point of spending all that money -- was that new fangled gadget really worth it? That's sort-of how I felt as I drove home with the new vac in the back seat. But, I carried it into the house, and after putting away the groceries, took the vac for a first spin. I starting in the living room and progressed to the bedroom. Except for one button (the one that releases the handle) and a few flashing lights, starting up was a no brainer. One simple button on the handle powers it up and it automatically adjusts to the height of the floor covering, carpet, tile, area rugs, whatever. Two lights indicate up or down floor adjustments , a third light flashes when the bag (over a gallon) needs changing, a fourth flashes if something is blocking the suction (if you don't pay attention to that light, within 30 seconds the vac shuts off in an act of self-preservation). There's also an indicator light if the rotating floor brush is wearing out. The entire vacuum can be disassembled and reassembled with NO TOOLS. The floor brush is removed for cleaning via a small door.
After turning the vacuum on and the height adjustment, the vacuum gently progresses forward on its own taking any strain out of pushing it. I was vacuuming in the far corner of the bedroom when I realized I had not moved the cord to a closer electrical outlet, definitely an improvement on the canister. It's cord would have been moved at least once by that spot in the room. Moving cords take time... The vac easily slipped under the bed and dresser to do a thorough cleaning. I vacuumed the bathroom floor next and was pleased to find another time saver as I used the attached cleaning nozzle and crevice tool to get into corners unreachable by the powerhead. With the canister, I would have had to turn it off, unplug and remove the powerhead, and adjust the wand length before I could use any of the accessory tools, and afterward put the whole thing back together to continue with the floors, repeating this routine several times as I moved from room to room. Thus the simplicity of the Sebo wand feature removed another barrier saving more time, alleviating frustration, and a tendency to avoid tasks that took more effort. Although I only intended to try out the vacuum in one room, I ended up vacuuming all the rooms downstairs relocating the power cord only once. The most amazing byproduct of using the Sebo was found after the vacuuming was done as I easily transitioned into making dinner -- i.e., I was NOT tired, sweaty, and my back didn't ache -- all of which I usually experience with my canister. No wonder I wasn't vacuuming as much I needed to -- vacuuming was a chore that proved miserable with a canister, however, well made and highly rated it is.
The Sebo isn't perfect. I found an area for improvement. First, the long cord has to be handwrapped unlike the canister's cord which is retracted back into the vacuum (much easier and efficient). Second, the cord easily slips off the back of the Sebo which, although that has advantages, may make it difficult, if not impossible, to extend only part of the cord without unwinding the rest. Third, the wound-up cord blocks the removal of the hose and nozzle...
One warning: I was unfamiliar with the use of a wand and hose on the up-right and I did not put the wand securely back in place. Suddenly the vac was missing debris by the back door and seemed to be creating dirt. Not a good sign for a new vac. I found the problem quickly enough. The wand had disengaged from the Sebo due to human error, i.e., I had not hooked the wand securely back in place on the notch designed for that purpose.
Could I have purchased a cheaper up-right? Yes. However, the reviews on the Sebo 4, the filter system (designed for those with allergies), the price break, and relatively small compact size of this model sold me on it. If this first use was any indication, the Sebo will be easier and faster to use than the canister and I will come away with no ill effects (tiredness and backaches). I think the Sebo has potential for improving the housekeeping around here as I will be willing to use it and may even look forward to doing so! Time will tell.
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