Dyson Hard: An Easy Solution for Cleaning Hard Floors

This week Dyson has unveiled a new addition to their Digital Slim line of products, the Dyson Hard.  This new model combines their handy (and excellent) cordless stick vac with a new cleaner head, designed to vacuum and mop hard floors in one action.

The main difference here from the DC35 and DC44 is the new cleaner head, designed specifically for cleaning and sanitizing hard floors.  In the center of the head, a disposable swiffer-style wipe is sandwiched between two suction channels in the front and back.  The result is a product that vacuums up crumbs forward and backward, and wet-wipes the floor clean as it does so.  True to Dyson's pursuit of maneuverability, the new head swivels easily, very similar to using a regular Swiffer.  The idea of a broom that also mops the floor is very appealing, and as usual, Dyson earns ingenuity points.

This is the first Dyson product sold in the US that requires expendables to use  (not counting the optional Zorb cleaning powder).  The wipes that attach to the cleaner head are disposable, a design decision that is contrary to what usually earns Dyson bragging rights (they've already said goodbye to bags and paper towels).  We're also curious to know if the cleaner able to vacuum up spills.  From what it appears, if someone, for instance, spilled a glass of milk in the kitchen, cleaning up the spill would still require a towel first, then the Dyson Hard could finish the job.  Dyson has also clarified that for durability reasons (people have a tendency to really put some elbow grease into mopping), the new cleaner head is not compatible with other Dysons.  Owners of their current stick vacs will not be able to purchase the cleaner head for their machines.

The original DC35 Digital Slim, with its cordless freedom, excellent battery, cyclones that don't lose suction, interchangeable attachments, and modern ingenuity has proven to be one of the handiest appliances to have around a home (and car!).  The DC44 (with its more aggressive cleaner head) was a logical and welcome improvement.  The new Dyson Hard looks like a clever device that could take some of the labor out of mopping, and might be a great fit for someone who primarily has hard flooring in their homes.  We look forward to trying out the product!

$329.99.  Coming soon to dyson.com, and stores nationwide.

White Glove Check Review: Hoover Windtunnel Air Pro Steerable Vacuum Cleaner

The crown of Hoover's forward-thinking Air vacuums

Hoover has recently launched an expansion to their line of Air vacuum cleaners.  The original Hoover Air debuted a few years ago, and has been largely well-received for how lightweight and versatile it is.  It's quickly become one of Hoover's most popular models.  Hoover hopes to continue this momentum with their new line of Air Steerable models.

There are two new models:  Hoover Air Steerable, and Air Pro Steerable (Model: UH72450).  The smaller Air Steerable ($189.99 retail) is more of an upgrade to the original Air, while the Air Pro ($229.99 retail) is substantially changed over its predecessor.  Notable upgrades include improved performance on carpeting, attachments that are designed to be more user-friendly, Hoover's smallest and most-advanced cyclonic filtration setup, a larger dirt cup, and the twisty steerable function of the vacuum.  Both new models are backed with a very generous 5 year warranty.

As a happy owner of the original Hoover Air (I use it at the office, and it's a great machine for the price), I decided to pick up the upgraded version for home use.  A quick tool-free assembly, and it was ready to go!

Hoover's really stepped up their marketing and packaging.  Appliances used to just come in brown boxes.

Usability and Performance:

As far as cleaning performance goes, the Air Pro does not disappoint.  Although the brushroll looks similar to the original model, a new larger motor powers it, and it does a great job beating the carpeting.  It lifts the carpet pile nicely, and pet hair shouldn't be an issue.  It does an equally impressive job on bare floors, and in homes with lots of bare flooring, it could largely replace a broom and dustpan.  Hoover's Windtunnel 3 technology helps spread the suction and airflow evenly across the cleaning path, which helps with pickup.  Larger objects on bare flooring would likely need to picked up with the hose first, as the vacuum cannot be 'tilted back' to drop down onto things like Cheerios.  The vacuum has a pretty generous 30' power cord, so I was able to clean my entire home using two outlets.

Easy to dump, and large capacity.

The vacuum was easy to assemble, and even though it's full-featured, it's easy to use.  The steerable feature of the Air Pro works well, and lets the vacuum maneuver around things and into tighter areas.  The redesigned cleaning head of the new models is slightly larger than the original, but is still low profile, so I was able to clean thoroughly without having to move any furniture.  Because the vacuum is larger and has more to it, it's a few pounds heavier than the original Air.  It is definitely heavier in the hands to operate, and it is heavier to push around. The vacuum is more powerful, and everything about it is more substantial.  Some vacuums are 'brush-propelled,' where the brushroll pulls the vacuum across the floor, making it very light and easy to use.  The original Air is like this.  The Air Pro.. not so much.  So in this case, weight is a slight trade-off for superior function.

One disappointing thing I have noticed (after a few thorough tests in different home environments) is that the vacuum will literally glue itself to thin area rugs (think patio rugs, or a cheap rug you'd buy from a closeout store), making the vacuum extremely difficult to push.  The Hoover Air Pro has terrific airflow, but the nozzle isn't properly vented (it seals to rugs), and the brushroll isn't aggressive enough to pull the vacuum along.  My home has wall-to-wall plush carpeting, and the vacuum is very easy to waltz around, but if your home is filled with very thin area rugs, you may find it too arduous to use.  For a vacuum that's designed to be so versatile, not being able to vacuum one very common type of flooring is a letdown. Hopefully this something Hoover will address and update on the machine over time.

The cleaner head is low profile, and with the swivel, it can get into more places than most full-size vacuums are able to.

Above Floor Cleaning:

The turn-of-a-dial away.  

Another noteworthy feature of the Air Pro is the redesigned long attachment hose.  Instead of having to attach 2 hoses to the wand (like on the previous Air), the hose and wand are now always attached and ready for use! There's now a large dial on the side to let the user select between floor cleaning and tool use.  The hose is very long, and is ideal for cleaning stairs, or dusting an entire room, top-to-bottom. The hand grip is fairly comfortable, but because it's a stretch hose, and the vacuum has strong tool suction, it does tend to 'pull back' some during use (something I've noticed has loosened up after a few uses).  The overall attachment setup is still far ahead of most upright vacuums available today, and among the best Hoover has ever designed.  Also, the brushroll shuts off automatically when the cleaner is in the upright position.  That means you don't have to worry about accidentally gobbling up the cord while grabbing cobwebs.

While not superior to individual attachments
 for cleaning tasks, the combination tool
  is handy for furniture, dusting,
and above-floor cleaning.

With the wand, combination tool, and long stretch
hose,the vacuum can easily reach high and  far!

Besides the hose and removable wand, the Air Pro comes with 2 other attachments:  A crevice and dusting brush combination tool, and Hoover's turbo tool for cleaning furniture and carpeted stairs.  The combo tool is a bit on a small side, and is actually a step back from the attachment that came with the original model.  The crevice tool would be more versatile if it were a bit longer, and the dusting brushes are a bit too short, and cover a small cleaning area.   It can be used for general dusting, but a wider cleaning area would have been welcome.  The turbo tool works fairly well, and is a welcome addition.  It bogs down more than Dyson's turbo tools, but it's overall better than most of the competition.

Maintenance:

One of the smartest touches on the Hoover
Air Pro is the easy access points for blockages.
If something accidentally gets stuck
on its way to the dirt bin, it should be a simple remedy.

Like any vacuum cleaner, some work to maintain the machine will need to be done on the owner's end. Besides dumping the bin, there are two filters in the vacuum, and the main one (located above the dirt cup), will need to be washed periodically.  Hoover says every two months, which sounds like a fair estimate under normal circumstances.  If the bin needs to be cleaned out (if it's overfilled with pet hair, the shroud screen at the top of the bin can become tangled with hair), all the parts untwist and come apart somewhat easily.

A very smart touch on this new model is all the easy access points built into the hoses and dirt pathways.  If the vacuum ever has a blockage, it should be easy to access.  The brushroll is on the narrower side, and long hair that wraps around it will need to be cleaned out occasionally.  The vacuum has a lifetime belt and reusable filters, so there shouldn't be any extras that need to be purchased down the road.


Filtration:  

Excellent. Two sealed filters will ensure the vacuum expels clean air.  Vacuum cleaner filtration has come a long way in the last decade.  Hoover's latest system is completely sealed!

Right when you open the box, the first thing
 you see is a friendly reminder that
 the vacuum uses a washable filter.
Hoover recommends washing the filter
 every 2 months to maintain strong performance.

The machine's two filters.The one on the left is washable,
and will have to be washed in coldwater periodically.
The one on the right is a non-washable large HEPA filter that should last a long time.  

Noise:

Following a popular trend and selling point in newer vacuum cleaners, and a quality that was praised on the original Air, the Air Pro is pretty quiet!  A lot of bagless vacuum owners are accustomed to their vacuums screaming during operation, but the high pitched whir of the Air Pro is nicely muffled.

Overall: 

If you've never owned a bagless multi-cyclonic vacuum cleaner, you will really like Hoover's latest ambitious product.  You will be genuinely pleased with how much cleaning you'll be able to accomplish with just a vacuum cleaner.  If your current vacuum is enormous and bulky to use, you'll love how streamlined and simple all the features are on the Air Pro.  It's powerful, maneuverable, quiet, versatile, and has a great wand and hose setup.  It does everything the original Air does, but more conveniently, and with better performance.  The lightweight novelty of the Air is missing from this new top-of-the-line model, but it's a still a great product for the money, and easy to recommend.  If you're in the market for a new vacuum cleaner, this is a very compelling choice.