Carpet Cleaners Reviews

I have the model 410A and it is absolutely horrible. I only have an apartment and one cat and the vacuum's foam filter has to been cleaned after I barely get through one room. I get about a quarter inch of dirt or hair in the holder and I have to stop and clean the filter. Only positive I see in this vacuum is that it is small, good for storage in an apartment. Don't waste your money. I can't believe people actually like this vacuum unless they significantly redesigned the filter.

I know this is the 410BT version of the vacuum, but I bought the 410AT version back in December 2002 (I'm assuming the BT is just a newer version of the same vacuum). Hopefully they've improved on some of the flaws in the updated model.

When I bought the vacuum back in 2002, I was originally pleased with the suction power and lightweight. I can handle this vacuum easily with one arm and move it up and down the stairs in my 3-story townhouse. Suction power is acceptable (*only* when the filter is freshly cleaned and empty) on carpet, pretty bad on hardwood floors, and good with the attachment.

Having owned and used this thing for 3 years, here are some of the flaws I've found over time. First, the vacuum is not particularly sturdy. It just doesn't "feel" very solid or well made. The seals and gaskets around the filter system are also pretty flimsy which affects its performance. I've had to unjam the rollor a couple of times when it got clogged by my girlfriend's long hairs (we have no pets). However, I will admit that I'm not sure if this is a common problem for people with long hair and vacuum. It could be something that you just have to deal with and be aware of. It's also possible this contributed to the second problem I've had, which is that the roller will sometimes stop working after some extended use. Turning the vacuum off, banging on it a little bit and turning it back on will usually fix the problem and the roller will start working again. As other people have mentioned, the capacity of the filter system is puny and the filter gets clogged very easily which really cuts down on the suction power. My house is about 2000sq ft of hardwood floors and carpet, but I have to empty the filter cup after every floor or set of stairs. Granted, I vacuum very infrequently, but that has been my experience. Lastly, related to the filter design, I've found it to be pretty "leaky". By leaky, I mean that the vacuum does a very poor job of trapping dirt and dust that has been sucked up. I can tell because of how dirty the housing of the vacuum gets after each and use and cleaning. The area around the exhaust gets coated with a fine layer of white dirt/dust which got passed the filter. It seems to pass a lot of dirt through the system and just spit it back into the air...

Overall, I'll say the vacuum was worth the money I paid for it. I bought it on sale from Amazon with a bunch of coupons and discounts, so it was very cheap. I'd say I got my money's worth in 3 years (I'm looking for a replacement right now), but knowing what I know now I would definately not pay full price for this vacuum. I wouldn't buy this for anything other than light-use (perhaps a college dorm room or small apartment?). You'll want to go with something better for a townhouse or bigger.

Pros: Small, lightweight, good attachment suction, cheap (if you can get it on sale)

Cons: Not very durable, poor filter system/effectiveness, build quality.

I have had the 410A model of this vacuum for over five years, and I think it is outstanding. If you have a small apartment (not a huge house), it is ideal. The refuse bin is very easy to empty, and the removable filter is easy to clean by flicking it several times against a trashcan. You can wash the filter in water on the very rare occasions that the foam gets saturated with dust. It is easy to disassemble if you get usually large leaves or hair stuck in the internal piping. (Other reviews noting low suction power perhaps have something stuck inside). I have saved an enormous amount of money on filters with this durable and convenient workhorse, and I never had to run out to buy filters or bags.

...but this worked great for me!! My dog has an infection on his front leg that stinks to high heavens when he pulls the bandage off. I never thought I'd get rid of the dog smell in the carpet from it, but Bissell's cleaner worked so good I was actually able to get on my hands and knees without smelling it at all! Wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't shampooed the carpet myself...Am going to get some more tomorrow and do my couches. Would highly recommend (and I have TWO dogs).

I purchased the LadyBug XLT with Tancs in February 2006, and am very happy with the machine's performance, the ease of use, the cleaning results, etc. All the things they say about it are true- the house smells much cleaner than before, superior cleaning without toxic chemicals. Frankly it is also fun to use, so you clean things that you might not ordinarily- for example, the heat resistant fabric seal on the inside of your oven. Now, very clean. I am veering away from the attachments, suprisingly. I find that I use it like a trigger bottle of cleaner- steam and wipe with a paper towel. Of course, I did love using the brass brush on the oven. The machine is very well made- the instructional DVD is helpful and easy to understand. It is like having a down-to-earth knowledgable instructor teach you how to use the machine.

Downsides- can be drippy when not used with a towel- so the window tool for windows, mirrors, etc., is not the same experience you are used to with Windex, for example. I use it to clean my 8 ft glass dining table, and I don't think that it takes longer, but you have to manage the dripping. The machine does "beep" a lot. You MUST compare prices, shipping, return policies and included accessories when shopping online- there is a big difference. Use the Better Business Bureau online to help make your choice.

The real thrill comes when you realize THAT YOU HAVE STERILIZED YOUR BATHROOM, KITCHEN, FLOOR.