Home & Garden

Let me tell you my vacuum story here…I have been looking for a vacuum for about two months after Eureka upright I own for 3 years started dying. I want a long lasting, quiet and bagless vacuum. After searching and saw a good review on Dyson, I bought it but a plastic piece was broken and I returned it. It was expensive and pretty noisy. Then I saw this new vacuum. I always wanted Panasonic and I ordered it last week hoping this is the one and it came today. I was so excited to try so I will be the first one to write a review with five star. After carefully assembled, I turn it on but nothing happened. The ON/OFF switch which located on handle is pushed down and got stuck there. This vacuum looks nice but it has to work as vacuum. That is why I’m giving a star at this time. This one is made in Malaysia. I don’t know this has to do with a quality of the product. I guess I have to return this one and look for another vacuum.
Rating: 1 / 5

My Kenmore 12 amp ate a tuc (wool watch cap) and it ate it and so I ordered the MCCL485 just to have something to tide me over a few months to a year. Hope it does that. When I got it, I was immediately put off by the small floor sweeper compared to my (275.00 5 years ago) Kenmore. Then I thought the wand was made for little people or there was a tube missing; then I discovered the extending tube function–nice, very nice, and even very nicer for storage I found later. I’ve seen a complaint that the power switch is on the body, but you have to consider what it takes in wiring, weight, and complexity to put it on the handle: I’ve never liked all that plug-in junk. Besides, the switch is always no further than leg length so it’s easy to just tap it with your toe. Less complicated–less likely to fail–with the switch directly where the motor is. The weight and mobility, including when lifting and carrying–the handle is perfect–is awesome; I feel like I’m painting more than vacuuming. The sweeper is not really that much smaller than my Kenmore, but it probably doesn’t have the motor behind it that the Kenmore does, because it is much lighter and probably would not push through as much as the Kenmore. Of course that makes the Panasonic much easier to work. I found myself pushing furniture and things aside, whereas I used to go through and entire stage of relocating everything from one side to another and piling things on tops of tables and counters and beds, and, oh yeah, there’s another stage of putting it all back when you’re done. The mobility and ability to do fine work and lift over unwanted surfaces like vents with a slight lift of the wrist are simply wonderful. The telescoping wand allowed me to shorten it when I was up under things like the bed or dresser, so that the head didn’t tilt up like it does when stretched out on a full wand (another thing that would probably be difficult with the switch wired to the handle). As for the power, it’s only 1 amp lower than my Kenmore, and it sure doesn’t push as big a sweeper rotor, so the suction does a man’s job. I mean, don’t be looking for something built like a tank–but it’s a sweetie. Moreover, with that thing it isn’t a problem to go over a particular traffic spot 6 or 7 or 15 times…it is so light it’s like doodling or fiddling with something. I found myself being very perfectionist, whereas before I just seemed always to be caught on something or slamming into something, the usual frustration of vacuuming. Finally, the design: the canister is so simple and neat to empty, and the sweeper (I broke my Kenmore trying to open the sweeper to get to the belt and reset switch–best to take it to the shop) comes apart with a coin. The vacuuming experience was almost–enjoyable (ever heard THAT one before?!) Hope it lasts.
Rating: 5 / 5

Panasonic MCCL485 Bagless Straight-Suction Canister Vacuum Cleaner

This Vacuum Cleaner is easy to assemble, light weight and bagless. It works great on hard wood floors and linoleum too! I have two pets and it did a great job sucking up pet hair on smooth surfaces. I found it easy to work with on the stairs because it is so light weight. I like all of these features. Using it on indoor-outdoor carpeting is difficult because it is difficult to push and pull the straight suction nozzle because it does not self-propel at all. Now I know exactly what straight suction means! It is wonderful for hardwood floors, stairs, cement basement, and other smooth surfaces. It is quite a work out to clean a large carpeted area though.
Rating: 4 / 5