My vacuum cleaning superhero (Vax VZL-6017 Mach 7)

Member Name: Happyjaw

Product:	Vax VZL-6017 Mach 7
Date:	13/11/08 (611 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Excellent cleaning to a superior standard

Disadvantages: It weighs more than is ideal

After some deliberation about what make and model I cashed my DooYoo earnings in on the Vax Mach 7 and I'm so glad I did.

Now, my initial thought was 'It sounds more like a razor than a vacuum cleaner.' Which it does but this merely refers to the model of the Vax, the latest I hasten to add, in a long lineage of dirt busting machinery.

The box arrived, more than a metre high and weighing at a baby elephant I did wonder if this was the right product for me. At 10.47 kg it is heavy but the cleaning power outweighs the excess weight.

I opened the box to find the smaller items in moulded polystyrene and surrounding the detached handed with the main body of the machine in the box below.

The parts were easy to put together and instruction not really required, a Phillips head screwdriver, two screws (provided) and a minute later the machine was ready to go. It is the handle which must be slotted into place and secured before use. When erected it stands at 1.12 metres in height which should be comfortable for most people.

The Mach 7 looks quite mean in dark graphite with chrome buttons but the chrome is pretty cheap looking though it works well enough aesthetically. It is a dark and broody looking machine and it even features a light which illuminates the floor ahead for ill lit places, rather like Batmans searchlight, seeking out the dirt and brutally dealing with it!

The machine features multi-cyclonic vacuum cleaning which has no loss of suction due to the clever design. Also wind-tunnel technology which apparently improves suction. With 1500w giving great power to propel the cleaning beast of the Mach 7.

Turbo tools, handy for pet hairs, awkward nooks and crannies like stairs and corners and for upholstery too. It's a 2 in 1 upholstery and brush tool plus there's a crevice tool

A 2.6 litre dirt bin capacity, this is the clear cylindrical shape at the front which holds all the grit and grime you vacuum up, easily emptied with just a simple push button release and then a twist to remove the lid before emptying. Very simple and lightweight. Bagless means no further outlay when it gets full, a money saving feature.

Push button cord rewind, again very simple unless the cord is kinked. Simple chrome button which when depressed will reel the cord back and when released will stop.

Brush bar on or off control for different cleaning surfaces. Also a height wheel which helps raise or lower the machine as required

Long lasting HEPA filters, no need for replacements.

Long stretch hose to reach the whole stairs whilst the machine remains on the ground floor, allowing you to clean without the extra weight. I can testify that it reaches, even on my cornered stairs and reaches the next floor landing with ease. 8.5 metres of hose length in total.

The suction claims are highly promising on the all packaging and it's genuinely accurate. I have cream carpets, entirely compromised by my devilish twins and yet with the first use the power brush on it's lowest setting did absolute wonders in returning my carpet close to it's former glory. The shade brightened, the dirt bin was full and my carpet was vastly, visibly improved.

The lowest setting for the vacuum combined with the brush setting gives the machine greater drag, seemingly increasing the weight but wonderfully increasing the cleaning power. It cleans edge to edge too for best results.

It only cleans dry surfaces, but frankly with the strength of this vacuum cleaner dry cleaning who needs it. It will clean carpets and hard floors which makes it a handy gadget to have the house.

My purchase was on Amazon at a very reasonable £99.99 but you can also find it at Argos at £199.99 and Tesco at the same price.

There's a 6 year guarantee on the Mach 7 and you don't even have to take it back to the store, you just call the customer services number provided and they'll deal with it and send you the parts by post generally.

For me it's the best vacuum cleaner I've ever had. My carpets are by far cleaner than my last machine could muster and I have faith in this machine lasting a long time, further strengthened by the 6 year guarantee and I think my carpets will last, cleaned and brighter than we would otherwise expect.

The only blemish on this otherwise rave review is the weight of the machine, far from ideal for some and therefore lowering the rating for ease of use.

Summary: A phenomenal cleaning machine

Processing/Quality:
Reliability:
Ease of use:
Cleaning/Maintenance: