Ugh! There's dog hair everywhere!

Well, there used to be dog hair everywhere - but no more! A couple of years ago, we finally decided we needed a new vacuum cleaner. The old one just wasn't getting the job done anymore, we have a big dog who sheds a lot, and we had a new baby on the way. I just couldn't see letting my kid crawl around in dog hair all the time!

We already had a handheld Dirt Devil, and had been very satisfied with it. When we started looking for an upright vacuum, a Dirt Devil seemed like a good choice. We selected this model because it has a 12 amp motor, and was still reasonably priced. Several of the others we looked at were either too expensive, or we thought the motor would not be powerful enough for our needs.

So, you want to know how well it works?
By the way, did I mention that our very big dog is a black Rottweiler, and that our carpet is champagne-colored? Well, you can see how important it was for us to find a vacuum that would really pick up the dog hair. This Dirt Devil has proven to be a great buy. It is powerful enough that it will clean the carpet thoroughly without having to go over the same area several times.

What kind of features does this model have?
There are many features about this vacuum that I really like. First of all, the attachments are all "on-board." No going back to the closet every time you need a different one! Also, the attachments are easy to use, and work well.

Second, the power switch is easy to find. It is on top of the main body of the vacuum, and so you easily see it when you glance down.

Third, the handle release works easily - just step on it with your right foot. Our old vacuum had three handle positions. This Dirt Devil has three, also. The difference that I like is in the middle position. It is not "rigid." When you have the handle in this position, it will move up and down about 45 degrees. This makes it much easier to push the vacuum under tables, etc., without the base coming off the floor. (There is also a third position that will let you lay the handle out flat, to get under really low things, like your beds.)

Fourth, this model seems to be very durable. We have had no problems with either the main vacuum or the attachments.

Fifth, the bag is very easy to change. Just open the front cover, and there it is!

There must be SOME problems with it!
Yes, of course, there are a couple of things I don't like about this vacuum. First, the height adjustment is difficult to operate. You move it with your left foot, and it is really tight. Now, maybe it has to be this way to keep it in place. However, I have difficulty getting it to move just one position. There are four height positions, and I am constantly going from 1 to 3, when I really want to be on 2!

Second, the extension tube attachment is a little loose in its on-board storage place, and it will sometimes fall out when I am vacuuming. This usually only happens if I bump into something a little too hard and jar it loose, though. :)

My overall opinion
I would recommend this Dirt Devil model to you. We have generally been very pleased with it. It gets up all that lovely, black dog hair, which is our main concern. Of course, now that my son is two, he rolls around with the dog and gets hair all over him, anyway (sigh). They are awfully cute together, though!