The 'Ole Devil That Devours Dirt (Dirt Devil DD150SL)

Member Name: Nar2

Product:	Dirt Devil DD150SL
Date:	31/12/06 (513 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Powerful, lightweight, optional tools, motor driven brush, can be used with paper bag or cloth bag.

Disadvantages: Old fashioned design, belt removal for use with hose

In the last twenty years, there have been so many different hand vacs on sale it’s hard to keep track what is actually available and what should last the longest in terms of design and build. Hand vacs are not the same as the rechargeable "Dust Buster," design as led by Black & Decker. The hand vac traditionally (they were in existence just after 1950's) used the same principle from its bigger sister upright vacuum cleaner, using a small motor to provide suction, a belt driven brush roll, a bag at the back to catch all the dirt from the floor and used mains power electricity.

** This is a long review where parts of it appear elsewhere such as Ciao **

You can buy Dirt Devil's more modern Ultimo hand vac which now features an additional turbo brush attachment but the whole affair is bulky compared to this machine and the latter design also means that with the lack of eventual suction as the dust cup starts to fill up, the moving brush bar is often compromised. As time has gone on, the tools on my Ultimo are beginning to show signs of wear and I had enough of the main hose popping out of the main mouth of the cleaner on the body for far too often for my liking.



** Nar’s Quick Skip Product Spec **

• Original model uses just the outer cloth bag to collect dirt
• Can be used with a paper bag or not at all.
• Power brush driven by a belt drive.
• Tool kit supplied consists of a round upholstery tool; single extension tube; belt drive lifter tool; storage wall clip; crevice tool; long plastic ribbed hose with press down lock. Hose and tools can be used without extension tube or vice versa.
• 180 watts of power
• 7.5 meter cord.
• Lightweight (2.27kg)
• Previously sold at Argos £28-50 (from 2003)
• My price = £15-00 from EBay without tools.
• Tool kit, if not supplied costs around £9-99 for box of tools and hose.
• Online prices (2006) around £35 to £38 unless EBay second hand considered.

Optional Cost Option Consumables:

Dirt Devil Handy replacement cloth bag (Code DBGDD150CB): £8-99
Dirt Devil Drive belts, 2 pack (Code PPP129): £3-99
Dirt Devil Paper dust bags, 5 pack (Code SDB147): £3-99 upwards.

(Above have been quoted from sources online)


** The Look **

The colour of red is the colour that Dirt Devil has always used to highlight their company branding and whilst the machine is proud to show the colour, there is white and black writing on the main emblem at the side panel of the machine whilst the motor rating is clear to see on the underside of the main suction head.

The bag proudly displays "Dirt Devil" in black lettering against a red background. The main body is a thick plastic with an uncompromising handle which feels good to hold, despite its speckled top; the speckles actually have a purpose - they allow you to grip the cleaner whilst in use without fear of it falling away from you. It is also handy at the end of the cleaning task to grip the handle whilst winding the power cord around the motor.

Located at the base of the handle is the push down rocker power switch, black in colour with numerals 0 and I to indicate the activation. Here you just switch on and immediately the brush roll starts to move.


** Using It **

In terms of size this Handy model belies its power even though it resembles part of an upright motor with a tiny floorhead and a bag at the back. The reason for main purchase was to use it at home in my parents garage or garden shed but since I have started school I find using it in the classroom ideal. The school's Henry cylinder is useless at picking up things which have been ground into the carpet and the carpet needs something with a moving brush.

Dust busters and other hand vacs that don't have a moving brush often suffer from the same problem - no matter how many times you try to clean something up using pure suction only, the carpet needs agitating before the dirt can loosen. The paper bag capacity is a large 2 litres which is quite big for something as compact as this and it’s no wonder that the machine is still available to buy today even if availability is scarce and does look old fashioned.


** Use in Home Environments **

At home in particularly on stairs, this little machine excels itself although it doesn't have a true side edge brushing capability, the floorhead is compact enough to fit into the cracks of stairs, particularly areas where paint has attached itself to on carpet pile at the sides. Moving the machine over the stairs, one at a time seems like a bit of a hassle but unless you have a really small compact cylinder that sits on the stairs without falling over, or an upright cleaner with a large lengthy hose, as an owner 8 times out of 10, you will find that you have to stoop in someway with attachments to get right down the carpet on stairs. At least with a small power brush on this machine carpets get a chance the first time around without giving up. The 150 is ideal for use in the car but you must of course have an extension lead to add length to the already 7 metres of cord which is additionally fitted.

Motor noise wise, there isn't much noise to get worried about. You certainly know that the machine has a brush roll the moment it hits carpets but aside from that I deem the motor quiet compared to more modern hand vacs which feature more power, more heat from the motor vents and more noise!


** Changing The Vac into a Suction only device **

Included in the kit that comes with this model, is a plastic rod, long and cylindrical at one end with a hook whilst at the other end a hole in the plastic allows this item to be hung up and stored when not in use. The front of the machine is where the drive belt door is, similar to many Hoover Juniors from the 1960's and ahead. Consumers who have had the experience of Hoover Juniors will know exactly what to do here! Here though, this is a rubber door on a permanent hinge which can be peeled away and upwards which reveals the drive belt shaft. Push the lifter rod into the hole and pull the belt off the pulley. Then fit the hose into the hole, pushing the metal prised lock into the connecting slip on the hole and you are now ready to use the machine for pure suction.

You cannot use the hose until the drive belt has been taken off though. It's an old fashioned way of course, but one that works well in an application such as this. To put the belt back in, the rod must be inserted to be able to grab the belt and must be fixed to the main pulley from the Left to right hand side. Trial and error often shows if the belt slips and the brush roll doesn't move then the belt has been placed on incorrectly.

Compared to more modern hand vacs on the market now - this old fashioned cleaner uses a prise lock method which is better and more secure to hold the hose in once and for all.


** What Can Be Picked Up **

General dirt can be picked up with this machine, although stones and solid dust seems to hurt the plastic fan impellers but for a handy vac this is quite impressive - very rarely anything is chucked back out. Suction is surprisingly strong which is more noticeable with the hose added and removing general dust and dirt is no problem for this little machine. I rather like the old fashioned look too and I have yet to come across dust which can't be picked up. So far it has coped even with cement particles taken up on my garage floor and more recently lawn feed granules...of all things! But this is a rather excellent all rounder in general.


** What Can't Be Picked Up **

Hot ashes and liquids must never be picked up either through the hose or drive brush. I guess its common sense that you wouldn't dare try with something as plastic and unprotected as this - so generally, common sense dictates the rule at the end of the day. If you wouldn't try with your normal upright, don't go thinking this hand vac is any different. It's just the size and general design which impresses and reminds me of a full length vacuum without the bulk.



** Quality **

On the base of the machine, there is a chrome soleplate which is removable via two screws, one on either side. What is more revealing is the brush bar itself - one strip of brushes are located on either side of the moving bar and there are no beater bars, which makes this an ideal machine to be used on virtually any surface. The bristles on this machine are also additionally soft whilst the main brush bar itself is a pine like wood bar. The metal sole plate makes all the difference - particularly over time, whilst it may get scratched, it won't bend out of shape or get cracked which happens from time to time with plastic sole plates.

The bag itself - the outer bag has been stitched well, and its something as a owner of such a machine becomes more apparent if you don't have the optional dirt bag in place. As such without it, the outer bag's insides will be the only means of collecting the dirt out the back of the machine, and whilst this may not sound ideal, the bag is completely removable via a zip which runs down the centre of the bag and an additional rubber ring which is fitted to the back of the machine to ensure there are no leakages of air or suction. The outer bag is therefore washable, on a low temperature washing machine programme but I would advise to allow the bag to dry naturally rather than tossing it into a tumble dryer - otherwise the heat will eventually render the plastic zip useless. Importantly the DD150 model can take paper bags but you can use the outer soft bag if you run out of paper bags.


** The Manual **

Two user manuals were supplied with this machine, one in English and another in several different European languages such as German, French, Spanish, Dutch and Greek. Additionally the manuals not only show how to use the hose and additional tools but how to empty. For once, and perhaps because of its general age and longevity, this manual has proper pictures of the machine with good labelling for reference.


The Handy is aptly named even though it goes by its model number 150 SL rather than the name at the side of the machine. It’s handy to take out when you need a quick clean on a carpet, or additionally need to clean up something on a hard surface. Because the bristles are soft and no beater bars have been put on the bar, this machine can be used on any virtually dry surface.


** Emptying The Dust **

There are three options:

1. If there is no paper bag fitted, the main soft bag will be the only means of collecting dirt and you'll know when its full, as the bag will bulge with dirt. Here, you can either prise off the main rubber ring which surrounds the back of the motor and dirt channel and take the whole bag to the bin and shake out all the dirt.

2. Or, with the central zip, unzip the whole bag out of the bin to allow both sides of the bag walls to open up, thus revealing its interior and ensuring that all dirt has been removed.

3. Obviously with a paper bag, you just grab the bag and dispose in a bin.


** Any Disadvantages? **

The only existing downside which I don’t particularly like is the fact that the drive belt has to be taken off if the suction only hose is used. I find that however outdated this system is, Dirt Devil could have provided another hole for the tubes to insert into without removing the drive belt.


** Conclusion **

At 2.27kg the Handy hand vac is very light to carry and storing is easy as the tools included come with a storage mount which allows the cleaner to be mounted on a flat level wall surface via 2 screws. The hose, tubes and vac itself can be stored on this plastic hinge which means it's an ideal compact utility machine worth keeping for around the house and outside in the garage. Additionally the power cord can be wrapped around the circular rim of the motor just below the handle.

The Handy vac has also proved to be very powerful and more versatile compared to other hand vacs I have used, particularly rechargeable dust buster types which lose power over time. Yes, it isn't cyclonic and it isn't the most modern of hand vacs but for a design that has barely changed over the years, it is worth considering. Thanks for reading. ©Nar05/Nar2 06

www.dirtdevil.com (Model available internationally is DD140 either under brand name Dirt Devil or the home company, Royal)

Summary: A powerful traditional mains corded hand vacuum

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