Consumer Reports' Latest Vacuum Tests Suck the Air Out of Product Claims

Two Dirt Devil Kone Models Judged Not Acceptable for Safety Risks

YONKERS, N.Y., Sept. 2 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In its latest report on
vacuum cleaners, Consumer Reports found that while some upright and canister
brands are touting easier handling and versatility, some robotic vacs promise
to do all the cleaning for you. Still, other models are aimed specifically at
bare floors or pet hair. But Consumer Reports' tests of 81 models sucked the
air out of some of those promises.

Months of Consumer Reports vacuum tests on carpets and bare floors found that
design often trumps performance. The Dyson DC24 upright, $400, is a smaller
update of the swiveling-ball design that provides easy maneuvering, but
Consumer Reports tests showed carpet cleaning mediocre and airflow for tools
meager. While the Bissel Pet Hair Eraser upright, $150, delivers fine
pet-hair pickup, it was less impressive at other tasks.

Tests also revealed hybrids that disappointed. Kenmore's Premalite upright,
$400, has a handle that detaches and doubles as a tool wand. But the clip
that holds it arrived broken on two models and cracked on a third during
testing.

Consumer Reports also found a robot that rebels. The Roomba 560, $350, roved
on its own for 35 to 45 minutes before returning to its charger, but it was
among the worst in Consumer Reports' tests at cleaning edges and corners, and
it sometimes roved beyond its electronic borders.

Safety Alert: Problems with some models of the Dirt Devil Kone

The best-selling handheld vacuum, the Dirt Devil Kone, has been touted as an
elegant, sculptural form, but Consumer Reports found issues with the Kone
M0213, $45, and M0212, $43. Four of the M0213 and two of the M0212 test
samples threw some of the fine silica sand Consumer Reports uses to test
cleaning for all vacuums out their exhaust ports and towards the faces and
eyes of the testers. Both models also released small particles of sand found
in many backyards and glass from broken lightbulbs in the same way.

Consumer Reports contacted the Consumer Products Safety Commission and the
manufacturer, TTI Floor Care. TTI confirmed that both models share the same
design and, through its own testing with silica sand, linked what it called
"blow-by" to an undersized filter adapter on some Kones with an "L" on the
unit and box. TTI said it had received no injury reports and believes the
"blow-by" does not pose an issue. TTI said that M0213 models with a "J" are
from a different plant and have a better-sealing adapter,

and that the improved adapter fits all "L" versions, including the M0212. TTI
told Consumer Reports it will send the newer part free of cost to owners who
ask for it. Consumer Reports tested new "J" units and older "L" versions that
it retrofitted with the newer filter adapter and found these models kept fine
silica sand contained.

But Consumer Reports' findings remain troubling given that roughly 1 million
Kones were produced and that L-code units were still in stores at press time.
Because handheld vacs typically put users' faces and eyes near the machine,
Consumer Reports believes the L-code Dirt Devil Kone M0213 and all M0212
models pose a safety risk and have judged them Not Acceptable. Consumer
Reports recommends that owners of L-code models not use the product until they
contact the company at 1-800-321-1134 and receive and install the
better-sealing filter adapter.

Vacuums That Get The Job Done

Upright vacuums are still best overall for deep-cleaning carpets and are lower
priced and easier to store than canisters. For most consumers, Consumer
Reports found that the Kenmore (Sears) Progressive 35922, $350, which is quiet
and excellent on carpets, the Kenmore (Sears) (Sears) Progressive 36932, $350,
which is a bagless option, and the Eureka Boss Smart Vac 4870, $150, which is
inexpensive and impressive on bare floors, are the best choices. All three of
these models are designated CRBest Buys.

Canisters are a great option for consumers who are in the market for a vacuum
that cleans bare floors, stairs, drapes, and upholstery. Canisters are more
stable on stairs and flexible around and under furniture than uprights.
Consumer Reports found that the CRBest Buy Kenmore Progressive 27514, $300,
offers fine pet-hair performance and the CRBest Buy Hoover WindTunnel Bagless
S3765-040, $250, offers higher airflow for tools.

How to Choose
-- Prioritize Cleaning - Uprights are still better overall on carpets, but
canisters remain best for cleaning bare floors, stairs, drapes, and
upholstery.
-- Be Picky About Features - If allergies or respiratory problems are an
issue, uprights and canisters with a bag hold more dirt and spread less dust
when emptied than bagless vacuums. Manual pile-height adjustments allow users
to raise or lower brushes for carpets and bare floors, and a brush on/off
switch helps prevent scattering dirt and debris.
-- Choose A Cord For Bigger Jobs - While cordless sweepers ran up to 49
minutes per charge, most small cordless vacuums lasted from six to 15 minutes
per charge, which is fine for small spills but a cord frees you from the time
factor.

The full report on vacuums is available in the October 2008 issue of Consumer
Reports, which is available wherever magazines are sold. The full story is
also available online at www.ConsumerReports.org.

OCTOBER 2008
(C) Consumers Union 2008. The material above is intended for legitimate news
entities only; it may not be used for commercial or promotional purposes.
Consumer Reports(R) is published by Consumers Union, an expert, independent
nonprofit organization whose mission is to work for a fair, just, and safe
marketplace for all consumers and to empower consumers to protect themselves.
To achieve this mission, we test, inform, and protect. To maintain our
independence and impartiality, CU accepts no outside advertising, no free test
samples, and has no agenda other than the interests of consumers. CU supports
itself through the sale of our information products and services, individual
contributions, and a few noncommercial grants.

SOURCE Consumer Reports

Lauren Hackett of Consumer Reports, +1-914-378-2561 lhackett@consumer.org or
Lisa Bruno, +1-212-300-2407, lbruno@catalystpublicrelations.com, for Consumer
Reports