daydrmgirl's Full Review: Eureka 431A Optima Bagless Upright Vacuum
My Green Monster
I bought the Eureka 431A Optima Bagless Upright Vacuum at Costco last year. Priced at $48, it was the cheapest vacuum available at the store. I had just moved into an apartment with thick carpet in the bedroom and needed a powerful vacuum. The word "lightweight" also caught my eye (I'm a girl).
Bringing It Home
The box measures approximately 14'L x 12'W x 30'H and has a carrying handle on top. I walked 5 blocks home with it and it wasn't too bad. The assembly was easy and the unit was up and running 3 minutes out of the box.
Operating the Monster
Plug it in, turn it on (to "I" for bare floor or "II" for carpet), then push it around! The suction is powerful so do clear away objects in the path. The brush (setting "II") cleans my thick carpet well. There are also different apparatus for use with the hose. To use the hose, simply flip the large round switch near the bottom of the unit from "floor" to "hose." There is a long thin adaptor for corners and a brush head for screens. Detach the head of the hose from the unit and attach the head (also stored on the unit), then turn it on to "I". The suction is strong. Just make sure you switch it back to floor after you are done.
When it's not working
If suction is weak, check if you've flipped the switch back to floor (or hose). If that doesn't do the trick, check if the filter is clogged.
Cleaning the monster
The cup is released by simply pushing the "cup release" button on top of the unit. Another twist will open the cap. Empty the cup "inside" a plastic shopping bag to avoid the dust flying all over the place. Use a brush to clean the filter. Finally, bang the filter a few times on the trash can to get rid of the fine dust (wear a mask if you have one while doing this).
Why the green monster?
My mother affectionately call the vacuum cleaner my "green monster." Partly because it makes A LOT of noise, and partly because it's still too heavy for her. It's certainly a workout every time a vacuum. The ergonomic grip helps somewhat but the effect is limited by its still hefty weight. For this price though, this is a powerful vacuum for those who are budget-conscious.
Why not?
I would not buy this unit for my mother. It's a lot of weight to wrestle for me, let alone for her. I also don't appreciate the cloud of dust when cleaning the cup and filter (so not for those with allergy and asthma). It's a good starter vacuum but I would upgrade to a better one (maybe with a HEPA filter) with my next vacuum.
Other Similar Models
431A, 431AXZ, 431B, 431BXZ, 433A, 433B
Specs
Power - 12 amps
Weight - 11.4 lbs.
Cord Length - 20 ft.
Shipping Weight - 14.6 lbs.
Cleaner Dimensions - 13" x 15" x 44.5"
Parts
Dust Cup Filter DCF-14
Dust Cup Filter DCF-10
Fantastic prices with ease & c...(Stock status: N/A)
The new Eureka Optima offers the power of an upright at 1/2 the weight! It also features the ONLY soft-grip looped handle that adjusts to more than 8 ...More at Amazon Marketplace
Epinions.com periodically updates pricing and product information from third-party sources, so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it.
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.