VAX 2100 - wouldn't be without it (VAX)

Member Name: christinemc

Product:	VAX
Date:	09/11/00 (975 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: effective vacuum plus great carpet cleaner all in one

Disadvantages: none

This is one of the traditional cylinder VAX machines, we got it in 1995 when we moved house and our old vacuum packed up. As the carpets needed cleaning, we figured it would make sense just to buy a VAX ourselves rather than a new vacuum plus hire of a carpet cleaner. It has proved a very sensible decision.

Most of the time it is simply used as a vacuum cleaner. It is very effective, has 4 different heads, on board storage for the 3 not in use. The main head has 2 settings so that you can use with or without bristles, which is useful if you have carpets of different pile, or wooden floors. The unit itself is quite heavy, but is on castors and can be pulled around easily. Going up the stairs isn’t quite so easy. In our current house, which has a dogleg staircase, I can only do half my stairs before having to take the VAX up to the top. However, in our last house, which had a straight staircase, I could vacuum all but the last step from the bottom, so that gives an idea of how long the hose is.

As a vacuum, I would say it is nothing special, it does the job well enough, sometimes struggles with pet fur a bit which is a shame as we have 2 cats, but on the whole it’s fine. Where it really comes into it’s own is as a carpet cleaner. To use it as a VAX, you have to remove the part with the filter in and replace with the cleaner reservoir, then attach a clear hose to the normal hose (by means of simple clips) to carry the water, turn a knob on the machine to put it in VAX mode, and hey presto you’re away. I find that a single reservoir of water, about 4 litres, is sufficient to clean my lounge/diner. It is very good at removing the water from the carpets again and although they feel slightly damp underfoot, you can walk on them straight away (though it’s best to wait til they dry).

We now have 2 young children and a third on the way, and having a VAX has become a necessity. Having said all that, I st
ill hanker after a Dyson…..

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