found a new toy in the trash!

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Well, I was going to my car to go to work yesterday and I noticed a red stick vac looking thing in the grass by the garbage cans. I had hoped it was a Hoover Flair, but it wasn't... it was a Dirt Devil Quick Power. I decided if it was still there when I got home from work that it was a sign I should take it in and rescue it. It was, so I did.

I brought it in and examined it. There was so much hair wrapped around the brushroll that I coudn't even see the bristles! I cut all the hair off (how nasty!). It is cordless, and the charger was not laying beside it... luckily, I had an adapter for something else that fits just the stick vac just fine. I washed the filters and charged it overnight. Sprayed the entire thing with Lysol and then went over it with Clorox wipes.

I tried it this morning and it works. It's not very powerful, but it wasn't designed to be. It did a decent job of getting cat litter up and I was surprised to see all the cat hair in it since I just vacuumed with the Kirby G5 yesterday! The filter does clog pretty fast, but that's to be expected with these things. I think the fold down handle is useless. The swivel neck isn't much better, it doesn't swivel very much. I do like that the switch is right on the handle, it's usually in a less desireable place on cheap things like this. I don't like Dirt Devil products (save the old Broom Vac which is the only other Dirt Devil I have and love, and the more modern Cruiser self-propelled vac that I want), but for free I may keep it a while. This model still sells new for 30 bucks, so while it isn't rare or expensive, I got a great deal! If I decide I don't like it, I can throw it back in the garbage or give it away.

3-28-2009-11-33-17--Vacuumfreeeke.jpg
 
Hoover Flair

We have a Flair at work. It just sits in the closet where it belongs as a symbol of money that wasn't well spent. The brushroll works well, it has decent suction (without the cup installed) but that stupid filter just clogs so fast it's unreal. Any dirt AT ALL stuffs it up so badly that the suction drops and the high amperage motor starts to overheat.

The one we've got actually has the post-motor filters removed to help with the motor overheating problem. In all, its just poorly designed from the start. I guess if you're sucking up paper it's fine, but anything with dirt or dust? Forget it...
 
Looks like a fun little machine, deep cleaner no, but then it was never made for that. Still useful and handy for a quick touch up.
 
Exactly.... like I said, I don't like Dirt Devil either, but it was free and as long as you have realistic expectations, there is no disappointment. I like the looks of the Hoover Flair better, and the fact that it is corded.
 
Just wanted to give an update now that I've had the machine a little while. I hate to say it, but I LOVE it! It works very well, and even when the filter is clogged, it picks up the surface litter on the first pass. Great for the kitchen floor, really a fun little thing. I'm actually glad I found it!
 

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