Eureka 71A Handheld Vacuum Cleaner
- Details
Avg. consumer rating = 87/100
This hand held vacuum cleaner truly looks like a winner. There are great reviews all around. Detailed information is limited but this is in part due to the fact that this is a pretty simple vacuum with no fancy features to expound upon. If you are looking at vacuum cleaner ratings you will find that consumers report the Eureka 71A gets the job done. Note that the 71A has been replaced by the 71B which is virtually the same handheld vacuum.
The Eureka 71A is very good for cleaning rugs and picking up animal hair. The vacuum is well suited to getting into corners or crevices (comes with a special crevice tool) and for vacuuming couches or even for car interiors. The 71A has an innovation that Eureka coins the Risor Visor. This is a clear plastic cover that can be flipped up to expose the rotating brushes and allows for effective cleaning of the vertical carpet on stair risers. Consumers report that this works surprisingly well.
While this is not a cordless vacuum, it does have ample reach due in part to a 20 foot cord and an on-board stretch hose which stretches to about three times its length. The 71A is bagless and uses a filter and an easy-empty, clear plastic cup. These can be manually cleaned. However it is suggested that you change the filter every 6 months. The filters are about 7.00USD. The 71A also has two motors one for operating the brushes and the other for suction. Consumers report that the suction on the vacuum cleaner is excellent and that the dual motors are not too noisy.
The brush roll can be turned on and off. This is useful if you are using the vacuum on hardwood floors, delicate rugs, or certain automotive interior components. Turning the brush roll off will ensure the stiff bristles do not whisk across the vacuumed surface and potentially cause any scraping. Leaving the brush roll on is useful when cleaning typical rugs/carpet.
Pricing for the unit is very reasonable. It should be noted that the latest version of this vacuum is the Eureka 71B Hand-held vacuum - it is virtually the same. At Amazon it is about 40USD. Other sites typically report between 35 and 50 USD. There is a limited one-year warranty on defects in materials and workmanship.
Pros:
Not expensive
Good suction
Reasonably quiet
Cons:
A little heavy for some folks
Corded (even though the 20ft reach is substantial)
What do Consumers Report?
| Source | Consumer Rating | # Reviews |
| Amazon | 4.3 out of 5 stars | 6681 |
| Epinions | 5 out of 5 stars | 5 |
| Kohl's | 4.8 out of 5 stars | 72 |
| Walmart | 4.6 out of 5 stars | 528 |
| Overstock | 4.5 out of 5 stars | 11 |
Specifications:
Power - 5.5 amps
Weight - 4 lbs.
Cord Length - 20 ft.
Shipping Weight - 7 lbs.
Dimensions - 7" x 15" x 8"
Owner's Manual:
There is an online owner's manual at the Eureka site.
January 2016 Update: The updated model - the 71B - continues to get great consumer reviews and we've now found over 7000 consumer ratings for this machine. These ratings average 87/100 which is a good score. The vacuum is still quite affordable.
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