I am really impressed with Hoover''s new cordless Linx handheld vacuum. We have 3 dogs in our home: 2 chocolate labs and one yellow lab. The yellow lab sheds three times as much fur as the two chocolates combined. You cannot sit down on our sofas without getting fur all over you. And while we have a great upright vacuum, it is huge and not good for when you want just a quick pick up. I''ve been looking for a cordless handheld for a while. I almost caved in to getting a Dyson, and I am so glad I held out!Pros:
* 18 volt Lithium-ion battery that doesn''t fade (runs at full power until dead). My Black & Decker chain saw, drill and edger all use 18 volt batteries to power them. This little vacuum has some serious power!
* Most vacuums have handheld brush attachments that are powered only by the suction of the vacuum. This bad boy is actually motorized and is great at picking up fur!
* The Hoover Platinum Collection Cordless Pet Hand Vacuum also comes with a limited six year warranty on the vacuum, limited two year warranty on the battery and charger.
* I have to disagree with the other reviewer who did not like having to take battery out to charge it in the charging stand. I for one love this! It is so much nicer to have a small charging stand that the battery slides into that can takes up such little space. If it used a stand that the whole vac plugs into, it would have to stay out always. Now, it gets put up and on the battery stays out (and is next to my B&D charging stations).
* Emptying this vacuum is simple and clean. Some bag less vacuums aren''t designed intelligently and end up making a huge mess when you try to empty their canisters. The Hoover cordless was definitely well thought out!
Cons:
The price is still a bit high, but this is definitely a better value than the Dyson handhelds. I do own a few handhelds that are not cordless, and this cordless blows them away!
Would I recommend this handheld cordless vacuum? Definitely!
Pros:
* Lithium-ion battery that doesn''t fade (runs at full power until dead). Has LED guage for battery life left.
* Motorized brush works great at "fluffing up" my newly carpeted stairs and picking up the dog hair. The brush attachment also swivels, making it stay in contact with the floor as you move it across the stairs. The brush roller is designed to easily unsnap for cleaning in case hair, string, etc get wrapped around it.
* NO HEPA filter -a gimmick for a hand vac (IMO) that just lessens efficiency and requires frequent cleaning. The filter in this is foam and can be washed in cold water.
* Not nearly as noisy as my cordless Black & Decker vac was.
* 2 year warranty?! Wow.
Cons:
* Have to take battery out to charge it in the charging stand --it is really easy to do, but still would be easier to have a stand that the whole vac plugs into.
Notes:
* After a few weeks of use, the flip down crevice tool broke off. It was a poor design. I mainly use the vac with the motorized brush, so I wasn''t too upset. I continue to use my Black and Decker cordless vac for the smooth floors, and I use the Hoover for the carpeted floors and stairs.
Edit: 6/9/2011
* battery charger broke -the blue light flashes fast. Hoover tech support confirmed that it was the charger. Instead of sending out a new one, Hoover made me take it to a service center. The service center guy said we''d be lucky to get a new charger in 4 months because Hoover''s warranty service is so slow. My stairs are gonna get awfully dirty. What''s the point of the warranty??? BTW, I only use the thing once a week, so having the charger break is disappointing.
Buy Hoover Platinum LINX Pet Cordless Hand Vacuum Now
The power brush is a real necessity for this hand vac. I have the older model and ordered the power brush and the improved dirt cup and prefilter insert. The newer one allows better air flow. I now cut a circle of used dryer sheet to cover the sponge filter to catch larger debris since this can be messy to clean the filter otherwise. The cone-shaped prefilter allows more dirt to cling to the filter but the used dryer sheet can be peeled away when the vac needs emptying. There is no need to affix it in any way, it will stay on when it''s inserted in the cone.The dirt cup has been improved also, it''s been molded so that one can get a better grip on it when it''s time to empty. It still requires a firm grip to get the cup off but that''s necessary for a good leak-resistant seal.
The other attachments include a dusting brush and an upholstery tool with plastic ridges designed to rub pet hair into a ball where the suction can remove it. I needed nothing more than the power brush and the improved air flow that the cone prefilter allows.
The issue with the swing-up attachment seems to have been addressed as
well. It feels more sturdy than the arrangement on the earlier model. You won''t need a rubber band to hold it in place!
If you had been holding out for something better based on the reviews, now''s the time to spring for it, this is a definite improvement over the original. I do NOT work for Hoover!
Read Best Reviews of Hoover Platinum LINX Pet Cordless Hand Vacuum Here
First of all, after buying the LINX standup vac I was blown away by the power it had. So, I decided to jump back on board and get this as its companion. Well, the brush accessory that is powered works wonderfully. However, normal dustbusting without the accessory was just average. When you spend this kind of money you expect better suction than a low cost Black and Decker Hand Vac. That''s the area where I think it could have been better. The other gripe I have is the way you empty the collected dirt. Seems it could have been made easier. When you sit it upright without the brush attatchment on, the slightest nudge will knock it on its side as well. As far as the battery goes, it''s powerful and charges quite quickly. Why did I keep it? It gets the job done and there aren''t really any other choices out there in the Lithium Ion market. Conclusion, when you buy the LINX upright you can expect an amazing lightweight hardfloor cleaner but when you get this dustbuster don''t set your expectations too high.Want Hoover Platinum LINX Pet Cordless Hand Vacuum Discount?
Obviously, I bought this because it said "PET" in the description, and I wanted to be able to pick up pet hair both that flying around on non-carpeted floors (as it does) and furniture.I''ll give you this: the vacuum is lightweight, well made, and has great attachments. It''s the quality I expect and receive from a Hoover (which has been around for my entire lifetime).
Here are my suggestions for when it''s a GOOD solution:
* If you have a cat/dog/rabbit/etc. that is very small and/or doesn''t shed too much. I think if you have more than two pets you''d be pushing the feasibility.)
* If you have to clean a small area in a pinch e.g., when someone happens to be coming over.
* If you are traveling by car or RV and want to do some quick cleanup. (It will also pickup your typical bits of dirt, crumbs, etc.)
* If you are able to point it directly at the hair you want to vacuum. (See my comment about the side vent, below.)
* If you require something lightweight and easy to hold because you have some physical limitations.
Here''s why it IS NOT feasible in other pet situations:
=> The cup fills up too fast. I spent more time unlocking the cup, emptying it, checking under the filter, pulling out any hair that didn''t make it into the cup, etc. then I actually spent using the vacuum.
=> The brush on the crevice tool did not stay locked in place. If you push on it just a bit, it becomes unlocked and slides down the plastic tube. For me, this didn''t just happen one time: it happened every time.
=> The battery lasted 10 minutes total. The description says it has "2X longer run time and fade free power," and based upon what I have read for other products of this type this is probably true. However, that''s still a much shorter time than I expected. (There is a battery light with three settings so you can see when the power charge will be gone sort of.)
=> The vent on the side blows away what you''re trying to vacuum. This is a major nuisance if you are working on a non-carpeted surface such as wood or tile floors. You will end up chasing around one piece of hair while blowing others, and seem like you''re doing nothing but waving this thing around. By the time you do all this, it would have been easier to simply pickup the clump of hair with your hands! (I think this also one of the most common complaints for other handhelds.)
For my situation/needs, this wasn''t the right choice. I wish the title had said, "SMALL PET HAIR" because I would have looked for something else.
>>WHY DID I GIVE THIS ONLY 3-STARS?
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