monk-ey-boy's Full Review: Dirt Devil MD8230T Handheld Vacuum
Soon after our long-haired tabby cat moved in with us, it was clear our upright vacuum attachments were inadequate to keep our dark fabric couch presentable. I took to rolling the upright over the couch which proved effective (due to the beater-brush action) but very awkward on the vertical and rounded parts.
I had always perceived Dirt Devil products favorably, now was the time to see if they lived up to the high-profile/high-style image their advertising projected.
The Dirt Devil Ultra certainly gets the job done but not in an effortless manner. To effectively employ the beater-brush's action requires a specific, consistent vacuum-to-surface working angle.
For an especially large couch or hairy pet this requires a certain amount of stamina, a positive for me since I work inside at a desk, but not for everyone I'm sure.
The hose/crevice tool is always at hand and the vac is easy to convert from one mode to the other. One idiosyncrasy on my vacuum is that the hose tends to fall out when in use. I discovered if I simply hold the vacuum handle in a reverse fashion I avoid subjecting the hose attachment to the stress that causes it to disengage.
I recently recommended the Ultra to my Father for detailing his car and found the current models have a captive hose that does not disengage (we purchased our Dirt Devil some 3-4 years ago so they have apparently fixed this problem).
This vacuum is VERY loud. I employ inexpensive foam earplugs when using my little Devil (these can be had anywhere chain-saws and/or lawn mowers are sold). I consider this a minor inconvenience for the robust performance it provides.
I do not have stairs to vacuum, but the Ultra's long power cord should come in handy for those who do. The coiled cord also stores conveniently on the provided strap.
This vac is well suited to cleaning your car, but suddenly feels rather large when attempting to maneuver in tight spaces. The best technique I have found is to use the beater-brush head on large, flat expanses and the hose in the awkward corners. It is very easy to convert from one mode to the other.
We have found the Ultra to be well-constructed and durable. For best performance keep the beater-brush clean and unclogged, and replace the bag regularly.
The belt and beater-bar can be removed easily but are rather tricky to re-install.
The belt has a twist between the motor shaft and the beater-bar. If you remove the belt in cleaning, take note of the direction of the twist. When installed incorrectly the belt will come off the shaft immediately upon startup.
For quick, dry cleanup of hard surfaces the Dirt Devil Ultra is probably overkill, a cordless model would be much more convenient.
For hair or ground-in dirt on carpet, however, this little vac really shines. Don't expect it to do all the work though.
P.S.
A veteran epinionater has pointed out that I did not mention a couple of features for this vac.
The Ultra model has a convenient two-speed thumb switch recessed in the handle. I however choose the High setting as default... I'm willing to wear earplugs to use this thing because it's a powerful unit, not because I think I look good using it. ;-)
When you need to switch to hose mode simply rotate the fixed shroud on the front downward to cover the rotating brush. This diverts the suction to the attached hose without shutting the brush off.
I have a read another reviewer also note that she left the cover in this position when storing the unit.
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