There's Nothing Super About It! (Electrolux 161A Superbroom)

Member Name: Nar2

Product:	Electrolux 161A Superbroom
Date:	15/04/07 (209 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Lightweight stick vac

Disadvantages: Everything else

Introduced amidst a flurry of cordless hand vacs at the end of the 1990s, Electrolux released a series of stick vacs to create a foothold in budget low priced floor cleaners. Competing with other companies such as Bissell, Electrolux made the exception bringing these models into the High street shops rather than mail order which the latter rival company relies upon.

Designed as a second machine or portable electric sweeper, depending on how you see it, this model’s basic design is nothing more than a dust buster powered by mains electricity with a long handle to maximise practicality and a larger floor head.

This model was bought as a replacement to the long standing mechanical floor sweeper which never managed to withstand an accident falling down two flights of stairs and breaking up into three parts! The difference between this machine and that sweeper is purely that this model is electric and has a maximum wattage rating of between 120 to 140 watts. As a replacement for the mechanical sweeper, this model has failed to impress. Why?


** Quick Skip Product Spec **

• Model Z161A Superbroom.
• 120 to 140 watts motor.
• Stick vac design with washable paper/nylon dust cup.
• Pivotal up/down universal floor brush – no pedals.
• Price brand new: £19-99.
• Lightweight and compact.



** Setting Up **


Out of the box the Supabroom comes already made up, even though you have to screw the main stick pipe to the body of this little green gremlin. Once that is done you’ll find a 6 metre power cord which can be hooked from the top of the pipe to the main cord fix at the bottom located on the body. There is no actual cord release so you do have to pick up the cord when you want to use the vacuum.


** In Use **


It’s not great news, despite the long 6 metre power cord. Whilst the Electrolux manages to stretch across a room well enough, on carpet the model suffers from an apparent lack of suction and thanks to its universal floorhead it can’t pick up threads and general dirt well enough unless it happens to be visible crumbs. For a replacement mechanical carpet sweeper, it doesn’t do a good job in this respect.

The floor head will glide along a hard floor and lino coverings with ease because it has two very small rubber roller wheels but it cannot manage so well as you try to plough it through deep pile coverings for example but for hard floor clean ups, the Electrolux does a reasonably good job even if the motor is slightly noisy.

The floor head however is hopelessly designed; it has a very small opening and the edge cleaning facility fails to impress as it never managed to take most of the corners and the dust at the side with comparative ease. Whilst it can be put under beds with the floor head adjusting on a free hinge to get underneath I have to move the stick via the thin handle at angles and it is here that the metal pipe of the cleaner feels like it will break off easily.


** Build Quality & Emptying the Dust **


When it comes to emptying, the edges of the bin are quite rough so you have to be careful on how you handle transferring it. A button on the top of the machine by the motor releases the dust cup and it is here that you get the main access to the dust cup. The cup can be tapped into a bin as most dust clings to it, and once you realise just how much dirt the filter sucks up then you realise just how small the suction capacity this machine has; once the filter clogs, there’s no more suction!

The dust bin is of a good capacity though – 1.5 litres infact which is bigger than some dust buster boxes – with a washable permanent cloth paper type filter too but this is the only filter you get.

The colour of the body is dark green with gold writing advertising that it’s a “Supabroom,” but believe me, there is nothing super about it while the 3 page manual is not particularly aspiring, only warning the consumer that the cleaner cannot pick up hot ashes - if only it could pick up ash in one go!

Not much in the way of added PVC bumpers or fittings have been included which withstand bumps and scrapes either.


** Conclusion **


With the advent of other rivals and more models appearing on the market from time to time, featuring cordless or mains corded benefit, the design of a dust buster with a stick isn’t too technological and from Electrolux there are other models in their range which have a decent moving beater bar which this green model lacks. Tie in poor suction, nasty plastic edges, noisy motor and the air vents which may keep the motor cool but sometimes emits dust which seems to bypass the filter, and you have one of the worst appliances on the market.

The only saving grace of this machine is that it is 114cm in height and weighs in at 1.4/1.8 kg. So if you see it on eBay and other places online, just avoid it! A mechanical carpet sweeper is so much better in this respect! Thanks for reading. ©Nar2 2007.

Summary: A waste of money

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