~~DIRT DEVIL ULTRA HAND VAC~~MY STAIRS ARE CLEAN ALREADY?
Written: Nov 11 '01
Product Rating:
Ease of Use:
Durability:
Ease of Cleaning:
Style:
Pros: Cleans stairs and other small areas efficiently without bringing out the large and heavy vacuum.
Cons: Motor is very loud; nozzle must be rotated back and forth to use hose.
The Bottom Line: For quick cleanups and easy use on stairs and upholstery, investing in a powerful yet lightweight Dirt Devil Ultra Hand Vac would make a timesaving purchasing decision.
melissasrn's Full Review: Dirt Devil MD8230T Handheld Vacuum
Last March, my family and I moved into a much larger home as we had outgrown our previous residence many years ago. But then the birth of our third child in the year 2000 finally gave us that push that we needed to purchase a house with more space than what we had before. Our house has carpet in the bedrooms, but the hallway, living room and dining room are covered with hard wood flooring. Only the steps leading down into our basement den remain carpeted, so it can be quite a job keeping them clean on a regular basis. So instead of lugging my large and heavy upright vacuum cleaner down the stairs every time they need vacuuming, I decided to invest in a smaller hand held vacuum to help get the job done quickly and easily. My final choice was the Dirt Devil Ultra Hand Vac 08230, which was purchased at our local Wal-Mart for $29.96. I have since used it many times and am very satisfied overall with the quality and performance received from this handy product.
~~~The Vacuum~~~
The Dirt Devil Ultra Hand Vac is a small red and black vacuum that measures approximately 15 inches in length and 6.5 inches in width with a generous 20 foot cord. A powerful 4 amp motor is located under durable plastic in the front with vented slots to let heat escape during use. At the top is an easy grip handle containing the “on-off” switch as well as the extra long power cord mentioned above, which can be neatly rolled and attached to the unit by a black plastic strap with ease. The rotating cleaning nozzle brush is located underneath this front section of the Dirt Devil Ultra Hand Vac, which is attached to a flexible and stretchy back insta-hose with an detachable red plastic crevice tool perfect for cleaning those hard to clean corners with ease. Displaying the Dirt Devil logo is the rear canvas section containing the disposable and replaceable vacuum cleaner bag that collects all the dirt and dust particles that are picked up. These type “G” bags may be purchased separately in convenient packages of 3 at any store that sells Dirt Devil products.
~~~Features~~~
Easy to maneuver with it’s rear cloth bag and front mounted stretch hose, the Dirt Devil Ultra Hand Vac is the perfect lightweight size for cleaning stairs, furniture upholstery, and the interior of your vehicle without the burden of having to lug the large and heavy upright model out of the closet every time. Ultra convenient with the attached onboard tools, small messy areas are deep cleaned instantly with the revolving brush and the 4 amps of vacuuming power. Ultra light for vacuuming the stairs with ease with the help of the built-in stretch hose and crevice tool, the Dirt Devil Ultra Hand Vac makes one handed clean-ups a breeze. Ultra versatile with 2 speeds (high and low) for delicate items and stubborn pet hair that clings to everything in sight, this small yet handy cleaning tool is a must have appliance in any household with steps, kids, and/or pets.
~~~What I Like~~~
Vacuuming my basement stairs takes only a few moments every time I use my Dirt Devil Ultra Hand Vac. I simply plug the extra long cord into the wall, turn the switch on, and I’m ready to go. As I push this small red machine with it’s deep cleaning properties across each step, dust, dirt, and pet hairs are removed with ease by the powerful yet lightweight motor. When I want to remove stubborn particles from those corners with the stretch hose and crevice tool, all that has to be done is to rotate the plastic nozzle forward to cover the rotating brush and transfer vacuuming power from the cleaning section to the hose. When the job is complete, I can tidily attach the coiled cord to the Dirt Devil Ultra Hand Vac and place it neatly into storage until the next time I am ready to use it. A much dreaded chore with my regular upright vacuum cleaner is complete almost as soon as I got started: thanks to this convenient and versatile cleaning tool.
~~~What I Don’t Like~~~
Although the Dirt Devil Ultra Hand Vac does an excellent job at cleaning stairs and other small areas, the motor is quite loud and annoying. The replacement bags are also small, so they must be replaced rather frequently, especially if this machine is used on a regular basis. And just like the majority of numerous other products on the market, the Dirt Devil Ultra Hand Vac is designed for use most comfortably by a right handed person as the power cord naturally coils to the right during use. When a lefty like me uses it, the cord often gets in the way and I have to frequently remove it from the space I am cleaning at the time. This can be very irritating, but over the years I’ve learned to adapt to living in a “right handed” world. Finally, it can be a bit tiring and time consuming to rotate the nozzle back and forth as I switch from using the brush to the hose and back to the brush again, but I’ve found that I get faster performance from my Dirt Devil Ultra Hand Vac when I clean all of the areas needed with the crevice hose first and then switch to using the brush to complete the job.
~~~Overall Recommendation~~~
When cleaning small hard-to-reach areas such as carpeted stairs as well as automobile and furniture upholstery, a product such as the Dirt Devil Ultra Hand Vac is more than just a luxury item in my home: it’s actually a necessity. Most people do not enjoy spending hours every day keeping their houses and other areas clean, so any appliance that makes life a bit easier by decreasing chore time is definitely worth the money spent and then some. So consider investing in a Dirt Devil Ultra Hand Vac today if such a convenient and handy cleaning tool would be of use in your household or as a thoughtful gift for someone in need. Nothing escapes the power of a Dirt Devil. So take cleaning a step beyond. My stairs would most likely stay dirty and covered with pet hair otherwise, for there are other more important things I’d rather do with my time: like write more Epinions reviews for starters!
For more information on the Dirt Devil Ultra Hand Vac, check out their website online at:
www.dirtdevil.com
Questions or comments?
1-800-321-1134
ROYAL APPLIANCE MFG CO
7005 Cochran Rd
Glenwillow, OH 44139
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