The Dirt Devil And I Are Doing It

I admit to being something of an impulse buyer when it comes to some items. But regarding most ordinary, even necessary things, I manage to do quite well with the on-its-last-legs-but-still-working ones. For instance, my alarm clock is almost 20 years old, but even though the radio only produces static, it still works as a basic alarm. Why throw it out? My pots and pans have dings and the cover of one doesn't fit snugly because dropping it changed its shape. But, hey, I can still cook. So what if the non-stick interior is all but gone?

One of my biggest 'hang-on-til-it's-dead' items is/was my vacuum cleaner. It was my key appliance when I moved into my first apartment sans roommates. It picked up more dog, cat and people hair not to mention crumbs, kitty litter and every day gunk than I care to remember. And then it died. It didn't go peacefully. I kept dragging it out and trying to get it to eat a little more. And then I had to face reality. My trusty Kenmore had gone to vacuum heaven.

After looking at tons of vacuums on the market and realizing that each had good and bad points, I finally settled on the Dirt Devil MVP Swivel Glide. It was red - my favorite color.

Better than Red?
Even though I didn't use the most advanced method in choosing my new vacuum, I think I did pretty good. It has some pretty good features, including:

Ð-> Hepa-filter. It is noted to trap 99% of all dust and allergens. It's very helpful with two long haired cats in the house. There are also two different air freshening filters to prevent that 'just vacuumed smell' without using powders.

Ð-> Long 25 foot cord that is held outside the unit. I've always preferred the kind that retracts into the casing of the vacuum. But so far it hasn't proven to be a problem.

Ð-> 12 amps of power. I really took this on a test drive the the first time I used it. It took me close to a month to purchase a new vacuum and my living room rug told the tale. Cat hair had been ground into it but it took less than 10 minutes to get it all up. Ironically, my old vacuum could never do a good job and I always wound up getting on my hands and knees to 'scrape' up the hair until I was satisfied. I didn't have to do that with the Dirt Devil.

Ð-> On board attachments. Everything is right at your fingertips. Easily removed to use and stored again. No more digging around to find the right attachment, especially when switching from barefloors to rugs. Included are: crevice tool, telescopic wand, upholstery tool, and power edger tool.

Ð-> Power Edger. This one is new to me and really useful. A small round piece can be attached to either front corner of the vacuum where a short suction hose (like an upholstery tool with bristles) is placed. As the unit is moved around baseboards and corners it scoops up everything in its way. Marvelous idea!

Ð-> Swivel casters. This makes maneuvering around so much easier. The smooth movement of the casters make this unit seem much lighter than it is. Caution: Rolling the unit from room to room is NOT recommended because of the swiveling action. You must grasp the unit and carry it.

Ð-> Bag full indicator light. There is a spring inside the front opening just above the midway point of the bag. When it becomes full the bag pushes on the spring and causes a light to come on. I am not sure if this is a good thing or not. While not having to open up the unit to check the bag often, it may cause one (me?) to become lazy and have it blow up when not watching.

All of these points make for an excellent vacuum. But best of all, it is red!

Can Red Be Wrong?
There is one thing that is bit annoying to me and I suppose this comes from owning a older machine for so long. The casing of this vacuum is made of a heavy duty plastic. I don't know that I'll have occasion to drop it and test how heavy-duty it is, but I would have preferred a stronger casing. Just for peace of mind.

In addition, it has to be partially assembled. (This is something I fear most in life.) But, even though I am not mechanically minded, I can use a screwdriver and follow a few diagrams. I think I can honestly say I had more trouble trying to figure out which attachment went where.