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Light Vacuums, Vacuum Accessories

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In this review:
  1. Cheap Vacuum Cleaners, Best Cheap Vacuum Cleaner
  2. Bagless Vacuum Cleaners, HEPA Vacuum Cleaners
  3. Light Vacuums, Vacuum Accessories
  4. Vacuum Cleaner Reviews
  5. Vacuum Deals
  6. Discount Vacuum Cleaners Features Comparison Table
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Related Guides: Canister Vacuums, Handheld Vacuums and Robotic Vacuum Cleaners

Vacuum Cleaner Features (continued)

Discount Upright Vacuums Weight.

Twenty years ago, light vacuums weren't even an option. Most vacuum cleaners were bulky beasts that often weighed 30 or 40 pounds.
They cleaned well, but were cumbersome. Over time, motors entered the market that were smaller and lighter, and the major vacuum manufacturers began incorporating stronger and lighter metals and plastics into their vacuum cleaners, eventually producing light vacuums. The better-performing and pricier vacuums still often require larger motors and more room for air to flow, which tips the scale towards heavy (the Miele S7580 Tango, for example, starts at $850 and weighs nearly 35 pounds). Among the cheap upright vacuums on our list, the Dirt Devil M088160 Breeze is the lightweight vacuums champ at a mere 13 pounds and the Bissell 3950 Velocity is takes the heavyweight crown at 24 pounds. In ascending order is the Eureka 4700 (14 pounds), Hoover U5140-900 Tempo (18 pounds), Kenmore 3701 (19.5 pounds), and Eureka 4870 Boss SmartVac (21.5 pounds).

Budget Upright Vacuums Hose Length and Vacuums Accessories.

Hose length and the variety of on-board attachments range widely on cheap upright vacuums. Although many models don't list hose length, the Bissell 3950 Velocity features a hose that stretches 14 feet, compared with eight feet on the Eureka 4870 Boss SmartVac and five feet on the Hoover U5140-900 Tempo and Dirt Devil M088160 Breeze. Most low-cost upright vacuums, including those we researched except for the Eureka 4870, come with at least one extension wand for reaching the tops of windows and other difficult spots; this particular Eureka model instead provides a Power Paw designed for stair risers and upholstery. Aside from the extension wand, common attachments on inexpensive vacuums include a crevice tool, dusting brush, and upholstery brush or nozzle. The Bissell 3950 Velocity and Hoover U5140-900 Tempo feature all three, while the Dirt Devil M088160 Breeze Upright comes with just a crevice tool and dusting brush.

Lower-priced Vacuums Power Cord.

The length of the power cord is often an afterthought that can frustrate thrifty consumers who quickly find the cord too short for normal use. Depending on the area to be vacuumed, five feet of cord can mean the difference between cleaning efficiency or frustration. In the cheap upright vacuum segment, the Bissell 3950 Velocity and Eureka 4870 Boss SmartVac are champs, with their 35- and 30-foot power cords, respectively. The Eureka 4700, Hoover U5140-900 WidePath, Dirt Devil M088160 Breeze, and Kenmore 3701 all come with a 25-foot cord.

Review continues below

Upright Vacuums Warranty.

Pets in the house take a heavier toll on a vacuum cleaner's durability, regardless of price. Also, more vacuums are sold during the winter months when pine needles from holiday trees clog motors and overall use increases because folks spend more time indoors and clean more often. Some discount upright vacuums, like the Eureka 4870 Boss SmartVac, Bissell 3950 Velocity, Hoover U5140-900 Tempo, and Eureka 4700, come with a one-year warranty on parts and labor. The Dirt Devil M088160 Breeze provides a two-year warranty.

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Read user comments below

Best Cheap Vacuum Cleaners

Bissell 3950 Velocity Bagless
Gold Medal

Bissell 3950 Velocity Bagless

This upright vacuum has a cleaning path of 15 inches, on-board tools with a TurboBrush for detail work, and a bagless, two-stage cyclonic design that users praise for ease of use and cleaning performance. Read more »
Vacuum Cleaners Deals
Eureka 4870 Boss Smartvac
Gold Medal

Eureka 4870 Boss Smartvac

With a 15-inch cleaning path, 30-foot power cord, and headlight, this powerful upright earns high marks from users for ease of use and cleaning power despite its hefty 21-pound weight. Read more »
Vacuum Cleaners Deals

Good Inexpensive Upright Vacuums

Hoover U5140-900 Tempo Widepath Bagged Upright
Gold Medal

Hoover U5140-900 Tempo Widepath Bagged Upright

Less glamorous and feature-rich than other uprights in its price class, the TempoWidepath locks horns with competitors on power and filtration, and as the name implies, cleaning width; user reviews consistently give this budget upright a solid grade.
Vacuum Cleaners Deals
Dirt Devil M088160 Breeze Upright Bagless
Gold Medal

Dirt Devil M088160 Breeze Upright Bagless

With many of the basic features of more expensive models, including a powerful 12-amp motor, stretch hose, and on-board cleaning tools, this lightweight Breeze with its 13-inch cleaning path is a solid choice for various floor types and carpets.
Vacuum Cleaners Deals
 
 
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Don't Bother Cheap Upright Vacuums

Euro-Pro NV30 Infinity Bagless Cyclonic

Although this upright entry in the cheap market segment is described in user reviews as stylish, the consensus is that this is a poor performer with both function and design issues.

Eureka 2996AVZ Bagless

At first blush, this bagless model has all the needed features, including a HEPA filtration system, but user reviews of economical uprights complain about weak suction.

Eureka Upright Vacuum Bagless 4700

Users complain that the Eureka Upright Bagless 4700 overheats easily and needs to cool for at least 30 minutes before vacuuming again; they also report the hose tends to clog. This model has a narrow 13-inch cleaning path wide, 25-foot power cord, and weighs 17.5 pounds.

Kenmore 11 Amp Upright Vacuum 3701

Clogging and poor suction are the main gripes consumers have with the Kenmore 11 Amp Upright 3701. This bagless vacuum weighs 19.5 pounds, includes a HEPA filtration system and eight-foot hose, and cuts a 15-inch cleaning path.

 
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