A Review Of The Eureka Optima Bagless Vacuum Cleaner - By: Robin OBrien

I’ve been using the Eureka Optima for several months. Whilst it does have some drawbacks (what vacuum cleaner doesn’t?) I’m pleased with my purchase, especially as the Eureka Optima Bagless Vacuum Cleaner is attractively priced at around $60.

The main strengths of the Eureka Optima vacuum cleaner are its attractive price (sixty dollars or less), its lightweight construction, the ergonomic design (the loop handle) and good suction power. The Main drawbacks are the noise, the odd placement of the "suction switch" (the one that makes the suction come from the hose or from the bottom unit) and the downright silly placement of the "exhaust" – this causes dirt to be blown away from the unit.

The box the Eureka Optima ships in is quite small. Assembly of the vacuum cleaner is minimal – I didn’t even need to read the manual. The components are well designed and fit snugly together, the quality of the materials used in the construction are good for a vacuum as cheap as this. The hose is transparent, which I like because you can easily locate obstructions.

I was pleasantly surprised at how easy the machine is to operate. The design of the handle is fantastic; its ring shaped and allows me to hold the unit comfortably under all angles – this handle design is used on other, more expensive, Eureka vacuum cleaners. Another selling point is that the handle can be easily extended, so people of any height can use it without bending. For a handle that was ergonomically designed, there is a flaw; the switch that controls airflow (from hose or from "bottom unit") is placed very low, so older or infirm people might find it difficult to operate. Having said that, the switch turns with ease. The hose is also a little on the short side so using the tool isn’t as easy as it should be.

The Eureka Optima vacuum comes with an extension tube that you can plug onto the hose as well as a brush that can be attached to it; both are well stowed away on the vacuum. The simple design of the vacuum means that there is only one switch – something I appreciate; there are three settings: off, on without brush and on with brush. I don’t much use the brush, and it seems to struggle to reach its operational speed. My floors are mainly hardwood but the rugs I vacuum are well cleaned since this vacuum has a lot of suction power. On my hardwood floors it performs very well, however, the two wheels do not have a rubber lining and I worry about maybe getting scratches on my floors. And on hardwood, one of the biggest problems with the vacuum become apparent: The exhaust vent of the Optima is directed forward and is placed right above the "mouth" of the vacuum, close to the floor, so some dirt is being blown away before it can be sucked up - not a major problem, but still.

Although the Eureka Optima vacuum cleaner is a small and light appliance, the width of the brush is quite large enough to vacuum a large room without getting blisters under your feet. I do find the Optima to be rather noisy, certainly more noisy that my last vacuum.

I wish I hadn’t been taken in by the hype surrounding bagless vacuum cleaners. The container of the Eureka Optima is reasonably large, but every now and then it requires cleaning. Like all dust cups, you have to be careful not to generate a cloud of dust when pouring it in the trash. The filter can also get clogged quite easily and then you have to spend some time cleaning it. However, it is easy to disassemble and reassemble. Because of its cheap price, there is no HEPA filter on the Eureka Optima bagless vacuum cleaner, so if you are an allergy sufferer, this may not be the best buy for you. Thankfully I don’t have a problem in that department and, overall, I am very pleased with the Eureka Optima vacuum.

About the Author

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