SUCKER FOR A BARGAIN? (Electrolux Z4431S Full Size 1800w Bagged Cylinder Vacuum Cleaner)

Member Name: snowbunni

Product:	Electrolux Z4431S Full Size 1800w Bagged Cylinder Vacuum Cleaner
Date:	13/11/06 (734 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Economically Priced, Easy To Use

Disadvantages: Questionable Quality, May Not Be Built To Last

BACKGROUND: This wasn’t the vacuum cleaner that I’d had in mind. Looking back, I have only myself to blame, but when our faithful old Hoover shuffled off its electronic coil back in May, I was frankly desperate. I must have been. After all, what else could possibly have induced me, on a Saturday afternoon, to dispatch a 41 year old man with a pathological dislike of appliance shopping and (in my opinion) negligible recent experience of vacuuming (enter husband at stage left), along with a two year old sidekick with a proven record for sabotaging even the most elementary of shopping expeditions (enter son at stage right) to secure the replacement?

The Hoover’s death had been as protracted as it was upsetting. Firstly, there were the noises. Merely odd, at first, gradually becoming unsettling, before developing into the sort of full-blown, high-pitched squeals which can only portend imminent catastrophe. These final death wails had been accompanied by the unmistakeable scent of burning rubber. And then there was silence.

So, husband & son had been duly dispatched to the local Comet with instructions to purchase a red 1000W Henry. They returned with a silver Electrolux Powerplus 1800W. Confused? I certainly was. Apparently, Henry’s menacing little face had terrified my little boy on sight, and the blameless Electrolux, displayed nearby, had seemed a reasonable compromise. The ‘Powerplus Z4431S’ isn’t the cheapest model in the Electrolux stable, but it comes fairly close. I rather suspect my husband had been applying that same strange logic that once prompted an old boyfriend of mine to always order the second least expensive item on a Wine list. Still, the vacuum cleaner looked conventional enough, the brand is well known, and anyway, as said, I was desperate.


FIRST IMPRESSIONS: Once out of the box, the Powerplus looked much as it had appeared on the packaging. It has a glossy silver finish, a nicely rounded shape, and measures approximately 18 x 11 inches. The handle at the top is comfortable to hold, and the feature buttons are satisfactorily self-explanatory. These consist, quite simply, of two large black buttons (an on/off switch to the left, and a cord retraction switch to the right). In the centre of the machine, there is a Min/Max power dial, which allows you to adjust the strength of suction. There is a clasp at the rear of the machine for clipping the main head into place when not in use. Finally, two small attachments are neatly concealed beneath the hood (more on these later). It is when I first go to lift the appliance, however, that I get a bit of a shock. Not of the electrical kind, I should hasten to add! It is simply that the machine is much, much lighter than I had imagined. It seems to weigh next to nothing. Furthermore, on closer inspection, the plastic outer shell feels rather insubstantial and the shell makes a slightly cheap, hollow sound when gently tapped.


FEATURES: Key features of this model include a so-called ‘micro-filtration’ system, which helps to confine dust to the cleaner and protect air quality. I’m unsure as to how this actually works, but I must say that the machine does not seem to blast out a faint scent of stale, recycled dust the way my old Hoover used to, even when the dust-bag is filled to near capacity. The appliance comes equipped with both a standard disposable paper bag, as well as a reusable cloth bag, which is an excellent idea, being both environmentally friendly as well as ensuring that you never need worry about running out of bags. There is a small ‘Dust-bag Full Indicator’ on the lid of the machine, which changes from green to red when the dust-bag requires emptying, and the On/Off and Cord Retraction buttons are both designed to be used as foot-pedals as well as by hand. The ‘Variable Power Control’ gauge, alluded to earlier, is another very useful feature. This enables you to soften the strength of suction depending upon the surface being cleaned, making it easier to vacuum things such as curtains and upholstery, which may ordinarily be sucked right up the nozzle of a conventional cleaner. The cleaner’s hose swivels 360 degrees, for manoeuvrability, and clips in and out very easily. In addition to the floor nozzle, which can be adjusted to one of two settings depending on the floor surface being cleaned, two further nozzles are concealed in a hatch on the top of the machine, namely, the ‘Upholstery Nozzle’ and the ‘Dusting Brush & Crevice Nozzle’.


USABILITY: In terms of ease of use, I really have no complaints whatsoever with this Electrolux. As mentioned, this model is extremely light and manoeuvrable, and in a house with a lot of stairs (two & a half flights, in our case) a lightweight vacuum cleaner can only be a good thing. However, I remain concerned that the machine’s lightweight exterior means that it will prove a lightweight in terms of staying power, too. The plastic casing feels cheap and insubstantial, and it looks as though it would crack quite easily, if dropped down a couple of stairs, for example, or otherwise mishandled. The nozzle hatch seems similarly fragile, and has come off in my hands on a couple of occasions when opened. It did, however, click back into position quite easily. As such, the machine’s supposed fragility remains largely hypothetical. Furthermore, in all fairness, I have used it now for almost 6 months without incident, and despite fairly heavy use, it does not even appear particularly scratched.
On the other hand, the two nozzle attachments, whilst serviceable enough, have not proved as useful as those supplied with our previous cleaner. In particular, the combined ‘Dusting Brush & Crevice’ nozzle with its fold out brush is fiddly to use, and the brush itself is extremely small.


VERDICT? In terms of sheer disposability, the modern vacuum cleaner must surely rank alongside other household appliances such as the toaster, and possibly the kettle, in the environmental Hall of Shame. Having said that, my mother has had the same Swedish made Volta since 1981, albeit periodically fortified by the odd replacement part from a trusted supplier, so top of the range machines can certainly have the potential to last. The Electrolux Z4431S, however, must be considered as falling into the former, more ‘disposable’ category. I don’t expect it to last forever, and if I get a good five years out of this machine, I will be more than satisfied. Of course, in less busy households, the appliance may well last even longer. In conclusion, especially in view of its very reasonable price tag (around £50), I believe that this machine represents good value. It is attractive, well designed, easy to use and thus far at least, proving very reliable.


FACTS & FIGURES: The exact dimensions of the Powerplus Z4431S, as supplied on the Electrolux website, are as follows: height 24.6 cm, width 45.8cm and depth 29.4cm. The appliance weighs just 4.7 kg. The exact cord length is 4.5m, allowing a ‘cleaning radius’ of 7.3m. The dust bag capacity is 4 L, and the product comes with a 12-month guarantee as standard.

Further information is available here

http://www.electrolux.co.uk/node111.asp?ProdID=33 452

Although generally priced at £59.99, this model is available at Comet and amazon.co.uk for £49.99.

Summary: A Very Decent & Reliable Vacuum Cleaner

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