Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)This vacuum has some really nice features, a little technology over the competition, but it is a major pain to empty.
This Panasonic vacuum cleaner is a direct competitor to Dyson's never loses suction vacuum cleaners. Panasonic had the Dyson DC14 and 28 models in mind when it built this vacuum. They did a pretty good job at imitation. The cyclone dirt separator works very well. The whole bag less design, the clear dirt basket with all the cyclone parts exposed, the size, the weight, and all the plastic are direct decedents of Dyson. I'm using a Dyson DC14 for comparison to this Panasonic.
Where the Panasonic excels is with the motorized beater bar - it really moves and really beats your rugs hard - the whole wand arrangement with a height adjustable handle, and the electronic dirt sensor. That electronic dirt sensor is one very cool piece of technology, as you vacuum and the IR sensor sees dirt flying in, the light is red. As soon as the air stream is cleared up, no more dirt is flying in, the light turns green. That sensor works really well. I had to vacuum a very old rug for quite some time to finally get it clean, and yes it is very clean now. A dense oriental wool carpet took a lot less cleaning. High traffic areas lit up red for a much longer time than low traffic areas. It is pretty useless on hardwood or tile floors, there just isn't that much fine dirt on those surfaces.
Panasonic fails miserably with the canister design. My first emptying of the canister, I spilled dirt everywhere. There is a large opening near the top of the canister and if you carry the canister at even a 45 degree angle with that hole pointing down (it is actually a pretty natural angle given the canister handle design), dirt spills out everywhere. So I got to try the dirt indicator on a hardwood floor again. If you rotate the canister around unnaturally, and hold that hole up, no dirt will ever escape. The other problem is with the trap door latch to empty the canister; it is very oddly placed, and has a little thumb rest to improve leverage. It's actually kind of a pain to use. The Dyson, one big button to remove the canister, and the same one to flip open the trap door. I never read the Dyson instructions and in 3 years have never spilled any dirt with that vacuum.
July 6, 2010 update: Did a little refrigerator cleaning this weekend. The good news, that wand extension helps get down to the coils underneath a refrigerator. The bad news, that red inner 'pre-filter' inside the unit, clogs super fast with medium sized dust. I had to empty and clean off that filter 6 times while cleaning my refrigerator coils. Once plugged, the vacuum loses suction. And you have to mostly peel off the crud from that filter. The Dyson does nothing like this, you can vacuum away for days and it won't lose suction.
The other sad design choice is all the complex molded plastic parts. The canister is a dizzying number of parts, a main tube, a funnel, a lock ring, another tube, and the cyclone innards. At some frequency these are supposed to be pulled apart and cleaned. For reassembly don't lose the owner's manual - I actually forgot one part and ran the vacuum for a while without it. The HEPA (super fine particle filter) is below a molded plastic cover. There's a foam filter you are supposed to wash monthly located behind a very complex clear plastic panel. The panel looks like it could break over time. The headlamp is behind a brittle styrene plastic headlight that is not very easy to remove. The beater bar belt is behind a fairly thin plastic panel held down with three one quarter turn screws. That panel is very flexible plastic, but really doesn't look very sturdy. The beater bar belt is fairly easy to replace. The belt is a nice design, a six V groove style that looks solid. The beater bar is made of wood.
The wand handle is very adjustable. I'm six foot two and appreciated that I could raise the handle to a very comfortable height, much higher than the Dyson. I have no basis for this, but trying to twist the vacuum over obstacles on the floor, I'm convinced I would eventually bend the wand tube and then basically ruin the vacuum.
This is a pretty heavy vacuum cleaner, about the same weight as Dyson. I could see how it might be fatiguing if I were vacuuming a lot of hours in a day. The wheels are smaller and tend to follow the carpet nap as opposed to where you guide it. The Dyson rolls exactly where you point it. The Panasonic wheels sound really cheap on hardwood floors. The Dyson sounds solid and rugged, mostly due to the much larger wheels.
When lowering the vacuum to push it under beds or other obstructions, it is possible to go too far and lift the vacuuming end up off the floor. I'd say the lowest obstacle this can navigate is around 18 inches. The Dyson gets under much lower things, and it never lifts off the ground.
The wand pops off fairly easily. Attachments pop on and off easily and fast. The air turbine attachment is really nice - sort of a small beater bar vacuum attachment that cleans area rugs or mats well. The trouble with the design, pushing the expandable hose back into it's holders is a pain in the neck. The wand extends really far; I was able to clean walls up to an eight foot ceiling.
The vacuum is a bit quieter than the Dyson. It's still not a quiet vacuum cleaner.
Overall, this vacuum cleans, it sucks up the dirt. The canister design is what ruined this vacuum cleaner for me, it is small (doesn't hold a lot of dirt), a pain to open, prone to spillage, and has way too many parts. I really liked the dirt monitor that is a fantastic bit of technology. And I loved the color, the metallic red is handsome. My honest view of this vacuum cleaner, if you are going to spend this much, why not save up a bit more money and get the genuine deal, a Dyson?
Dyson DC14 All-Floors Cyclone Upright Vacuum Cleaner
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Panasonic MC-UL915 Canister Vacuum Cleaner, Red Metallic FinishProduct Description: Equipped with a 12 amp dual-motor system, this bagless canister/upright combination vacuum cleaner provides maximum suction power for thorough cleaning throughout the home, from top to bottom. Great for busy households, especially those with kids and pets, the unit effectively removes dust, dirt, pet hair, and dry spills from both carpets and bare-floor surfaces, and its 14-inch-wide cleaning path means less passes needed to get the job done--perfect for last-minute touch-ups before guests arrive.
The versatility of a canister, but with all the convenience of an upright. Canister/Upright Combo for Complete Home Cleaning
Thoughtfully designed, the vacuum cleaner's nozzle provides automatic height adjustment to accommodate low- to high-pile carpeting, as well as edge cleaning, soft non-marring wheels, and a headlight for illuminating dark corners. When vacuuming carpets and rugs, a built-in dirt sensor helps save time by indicating when the area needs more attention or has been thoroughly cleaned. With the touch of a button, its EZ Bare-Floor Switch turns the agitator off for safely cleaning bare-floor surfaces, including tile, linoleum, hardwood, and more.
QuickDraw2 telescopic wand and on-board tools make it easy to transition to above-floor cleaning. On-Board Tools
The unit's 12-foot stretch hose, aluminum telescopic wand, comfortable soft-grip loop handle, and on-board tools make above-floor cleaning a snap. Use the air-turbine brush for removing stubborn pet hair from stairs and upholstery, the crevice tool to access narrow spaces like between couch cushions, and the combination upholstery/dusting brush to clean tabletops, bookshelves, furniture, and other surfaces throughout the home. Extend to 17 feet with the attachments for a total reach of 52 feet--cleaning high over-head areas and far back underneath furniture is no longer a chore. A bonus floor brush also comes included, making quick work of removing spilled cereal on the kitchen floor or kitty litter tracked down the hallway.
JetSpin cyclonic action separates the dirt from the air. Washable Dust Cup with JetSpin Cyclonic Technology
In addition to its HEPA exhaust filter for cleaner indoor air, the unit comes equipped with an easy-empty dirt cup that can be washed--which means no bad odors over time like with typical dust cups. Even more, its cyclonic filterless cup technology spins air at jet speeds inside the cup to separate the dirt from the air, reducing the amount of debris that moves through the filter. This not only prolongs the life of the filter, but it also means lower overall maintenance required.
Washable dust cup comes apart for easy cleaning. User-Friendly Design
The vacuum cleaner provides the versatility of a canister, in that it works well on bare-floor surfaces, stairs, and hard-to-reach areas, but it also supplies the convenience of an upright: it can handle large open areas, offers one-handed cleaning, and ensures smooth mobility (no dragging part of the vacuum along behind)--giving users everything they need all in one machine. A useful addition to any busy home, the canister/upright vacuum cleaner measures 13-1/4 by 14-1/4 by 39 inches and carries a one-year limited warranty.
Built-in dirt sensor indicates when the carpet is dirt-free. Features and Benefits
Pet-friendly bagless upright design with 14-inch-wide cleaning path and built-in dirt sensor
12 amp 2-motor system--motorized nozzle allows for gentler carpet cleaning and extended belt life
Automatic height adjustment; soft non-marring wheels and illuminating headlight
EZ bare-floor switch turns the agitator off for safely cleaning bare-floor surfaces
Stretch hose; Quick Draw telescopic wand; soft-grip loop handle; on-board tools for above-floor cleaning
HEPA exhaust filter; cyclonic filterless cup technology reduces the amount of debris that goes through the filter
Measures 13-1/4 by 14-1/4 by 39 inches; 1-year limited warranty
What's in the Box
Bagless upright vacuum cleaner, pet air-turbine brush, crevice tool, combination upholstery/dusting brush, and floor brush.
MC-UL915 Specifications
Design Color Red Metallic Amperage 12 amp Weight 20 pounds Dual-motor system Yes On/off switch On body Handle type Looped with soft grip Wand type Aluminum telescopic Dirt sensor Yes Clean-out port Yes Cord length 35 feet
Nozzle Cleaning path 14 inches Headlight Yes Agitator Wood Bare-floor option Yes
Nozzle (cont.) Soft wheels Yes Height adjustment Automatic Edge-cleaning Dual active Base plate material Molded
Tools On-Board Attachments Combo brush, crevice tool, pet air turbine, and bonus floor brush Attachment reach 17 feet Total reach 52 feet Hose type Stretch
Filtration Exhaust filter HEPA
Replacement Accessories Belt type MC-V360B, type UB-10 HEPA filter MC-V194H
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