how did I manage without it (Electrolux Z61A)

Member Name: cerys82

Product:	Electrolux Z61A
Date:	25/06/09 (74 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: very powerful, really gets rid of cat hair

Disadvantages: quite heavy, small amount of storage for what it picks up

I bought this handheld cleaner, primarily because I was finding that it was impossible to hoover pet hair off our stair carpet. I looked in the Argos catalogue, which indicated that this specialised in the removal of pet hair. Also because I wanted to be able to hoover the stairs easier. Currently we have a normal Dyson hoover, however, I found this too difficult to handle and manoeuvre, and frankly dangerous to get up and down our steep sprialled staircase.

I went for a plug-in one rather than a cordless as I find them not powerful enough, too unreliable and even when fully charged they don't go for a particularly long time, although they are light.

When I brought it home, I was pleasantly surprised by the length of the lead which enables me to hoover all the way up my stairs and in some of the rooms upstairs from a plug socket downstairs (although granted I do have a 2 bedroom ). It wraps around the machine nicely when not in use. There is also a nozzle for cleaning skirtings and other, smaller places. There is a slot in the back of the machine to put this in, safely out of the way also.

The power of this thing is also immense - a cautionary tale though - you'll be shocked at how much pet hair lives on the carpet and what colour your carpet actually is under it! I previously thought that we did quite well with the hoover and that my shorthair domestic cat didn't moult that much - I was wrong! It is also great at just general dirt, although the bag itself isn't that big so you have to empty it quite frequently. However, it is easy enough to do this compared to other cleaners , the front just slides off when pushing the button on the top and slots back in nicely.

I think it would be really good for cars as well due to its highly effective nozzle attachment, but I am keeping this one for the house and letting my other half buy his own if he wants it so badly!

It is quite heavy so I wouldn't recommend it for people who have problems lifting heavy things. However, I don't think it is too heavy for most people.

In conclusion, it is one of the household items that I really wonder how I ever lived without!

Summary: very impressive corded vacuum cleaner

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