Electrolux UltraFlex EL4335A Canister Vacuum

Avg. consumer rating = 83/100 

The Electrolux UltraFlex EL4335A has been getting some good consumer ratings. This bagless canister vacuum has a washable HEPA filter and a sealed system which make it ideal for those suffering from allergies or asthma. It is also designed for bare floors and low-to-high pile carpet, and comes with specialized bare floor and carpet nozzles. The pros outweigh the cons with this vacuum, however there are a few issues such as the narrow cleaning path width and smallish dust canister.

 

Quick Specs
Type	Canister
Bagged/Bagless	Bagless
Best for...	Hard Floors & Low to High Pile Carpet
Pet Hair Features	No
Approx. Weight	11.6 lbs
HEPA Filter	Yes
Power Cord Length	21 Feet
Motor Driven Brushbar	Yes
Warranty	5 Years

 

Consumer Ratings
433 consumer ratings were found for the UltraFlex.  When averaged these generate a respectable score of 83 out of 100 (or about 4.15 stars out of 5).  Check out our canister vacuum ratings table to compare. 

 

Consumer Insights
A very thorough review of owner comments provides the following likes and dislikes:

PROS
- Rinsable HEPA filter
- Easy to empty dust canister
- Very good on both carpet and bare floors
- Good at pulling up pet hair on carpet
- Height of nozzle is adjustable
- Fairly quiet
- Adjustable suction feature
- Powerful suction
- Retractable power cord
- Includes 2 nozzles
- Easy to assemble
- Very maneuverable

CONS
- Fairly short power cord
- Bare floor nozzle is a bit narrow
- Dust canister is on the small side
- Tools stored on handle sometimes fall off

While the pros clearly outweigh the cons, owners still highlight a few shortcomings with the unit.  One of the most commonly mentioned “issues” is the short power cord.  The power cord is 21 feet long and several owners report that this results in having to constantly search for an electrical outlet as you move from place to place.  While 21 feet is considered short by a number of consumers, it is quite common to see a 21 foot power cord on a canister vacuum.  This is a standard power cord length on several Miele canister vacuums for example. 

There are also a few comments that the vacuum is on the heavy side.   These comments may be from folks who are used to very lightweight machines.  At 11.6 lbs the EL4335A is actually lighter than many other vacuums. 

In addition, several people report having to frequently empty the dust canister as it has a small volume.  One usually finds a larger dust canister on a larger machine.  Smaller, more compact machines like the UltraFlex often have small dust canisters.  Of course the extent to which you have to empty the dust canister is also a function of the size of your house (and to some extent the amount of dirt/debris).

As for consumer comments regarding the more popular aspects of the machine, there are many.  One that comes up frequently is the adjustable suction.  There is a suction knob on the back of the canister – turning it left decreases suction and turning it right increases suction.  This feature can be found on a number of other vacuums but it is not particularly common.  It is very handy however. The ability to dial down the suction is useful when cleaning delicate materials such as curtains, decorative pillows, some area rugs, etc.

As previously indicated, some owners report that the vacuum is on the heavy side.  However there are also many owners who feel the unit is lightweight and easy to carry from floor to floor or room to room.  Folks who feel the UltraFLex is heavy are in the minority.

There is quite a bit written by consumers regarding the maneuverability of the UltraFlex.  It turns corners on a dime and is easy to move and weaves around furniture very well. 

Also, there are many comments indicating that the vacuum performs very well on pet hair, effectively pulling it up from carpet and also bare floors.

Other common positive comments include the fact that the vacuum is fairly quiet, that is performs well on all levels of carpet (nozzle height can be adjusted), that it is solidly built, and that it has a stylish attractive design and colors.

You can read more owner comments on Amazon if you wish.

Details & Specifications
This is a bagless canister vacuum that uses cyclonic technology.  It is compact, lightweight and has a low center of gravity which helps to reduce tipping and improve stability.

The EL4335A has a HEPA filter which is a great feature if you suffer from asthma or allergies.  These filters remove 99.97% of all particles 0.3 microns in diameter or larger.  This includes the likes of tobacco smoke, dust mites, pet dander, pollen, mold spores, etc. (you can read more in our HEPA filtration article if you like).  In addition, the HEPA filter can be rinsed and re-used, saving money on consumables (the dust cup filter is also washable).  The HEPA filter still needs to be replaced occasionally however, and Electrolux suggest buying a new one every 2 years or so.

The vacuum also has a completely sealed filtration system.  This is a very important feature in getting the best performance from your HEPA capable vacuum cleaner.  A “sealed system” ensures that all of the air taken into the vacuum is passed through the unit’s filters before being exhausted back into the room.  It does not allow any air to bypass the filters, nor does it allow unfiltered air to leak out through cracks or seams in the vacuum body.  Many vacuums do not do this, although any good “allergy” vacuum should have this feature.

The UltraFlex has a 21 foot power cord with automatic rewind, a very popular feature.  In all, with power cord, hose, handle and wand, the Electrolux UltraFlex has a 33 foot cleaning reach.  This is about average for a canister vacuum. 

The vacuum excels when dealing with different floor surfaces.  It is designed for bare floors as well as different heights of carpet.  The unit comes with a bare floor nozzle (FlexPro nozzle) and a carpet nozzle (BrushRoll Clean Powerhead).  The vacuum has 4 height adjustment levels – operated by a foot pedal.  Heights include Lo, Med, Hi, and Extra Hi. 

The carpet nozzle has a powered brushroll which is important for maximum cleaning ability.  This means the brushroll in the nozzle is driven by a motor – as opposed to some systems in which the brushroll is driven simply by the vacuum suction.  Brushrolls that are motor driven generally deep clean carpets much more effectively and don’t stall as easily.

In addition, the UltraFlex comes with on/off brushroll controls that are easily accessible on the vacuum handle.  Generally one keeps the brushroll off for wood, tile and other hard surfaces (on hard surfaces an engaged brushroll can sometimes cause scatter of debris and it can also damage some delicate hard surfaces).  The brushroll is turned on when cleaning carpet.

Another special feature on the UltraFlex is the self-cleaning brushroll (Electrolux refer to this as "BrushRoll Clean Technology"). Brushrolls have a tendency to get quite tangled and one often has to get a pair of scissors and cut this material away.  However on the UltraFlex there is a foot pedal that, when pressed for about 15 seconds, removes most tangled hair and fibers – although the system may have to be used repeatedly and it may not remove everything. 

Several tools come in the box including the following:
- Crevice tool
- Dusting brush
- Upholstery tool

Tools can be attached to the end of the vacuum hose or the telescopic wand.  The wand telescopes to a full 24 inches.  The crevice tool and dusting brush store on the vacuum handle, although several owners mention that these sometimes fall off.

Other Electrolux UltraFlex features include an 11.5 inch wide cleaning path width (a little narrow in our opinion but not bad), a 12 amp motor (fairly standard), soft wheels to prevent scuffing or marring of hard surfaces, swivel steering, and a bottom-empty dust canister.

The vacuum is UL certified and it carries a respectably long 5-year warranty.
 
Vacuum Cleaner Manual
You can check out the vacuum manual here: Electrolux UltraFlex EL4335A Manual.  It is a little on the short side and frankly could use more detail but it does cover many of the key areas.