What is the “What Were They Thinking?!” Product of the vacuum world?

[powerstarenergy]

We all know of the infamous Hoover Z700. Hoover overdid being unique with this model. Someone on here even asked how did this machine make it to the production phase. But I want to know if there were any other products like this that were overshadowed by the Hoover Z700.

 

[amtraksebo1997]

I've said it before and I'll say it again...

I hate the Rainbow D4C. It is by far the worst vacuum cleaner I've ever used. I don't feel like going on a long tangent about my hatred for it, so I'll just bullet-point them.

*The D4 I have has two separate hoses, one for the power nozzle, and one for the hose. I can understand the 2nd one for wet pick up, BUT WHY CAN'T YOU USE ATTACHMENTS WITH THE PN HOSE!?

*The water basin is a pain to fill and clean.

*The PN had lousy performance in my experience.

In general, I think water filtration vacuums are not worth your money, but the D4 takes the cake as one of the worst machines I've ever used. I'd only recommend them to collectors (except this one, obviously). I'd rather take a $50 Bissell Powerforce over a Rainbow.

 

[gottahaveahoove]

But, really, don't hold back! looolol

True, The "Z" wasn't Hoover's finest hour.  But, I have one, used only twice at minimeets.  They do work. BUT,  they are loud, clumsy, etc.... They were geared toward "MEN"...


But, one should have one in their collection.

 

[human]

The Electrolux Intensity was sort of a variation on the Hoover Z theme and also a pretty awful machine. A handheld masquerading as an upright with way too much fragile plastic. I used to work for the discount store Tuesday Morning, and we got a bunch of them in one time, probably just after they were discontinued by whichever version of Electrolux made them. Easily a third to half of them were returned and promptly consigned to the dumpster, since we couldn't resell them. I could have had one of the returns for free, but it didn't interest me.

 

[durango159]

The white colored Z400 was the base model of the Z platform with a few less features over the sky blue. Definitely an odd ball machine and you can't bash Hoover for trying something new. It did work. Heck I find Kirbys unique and awkward.

 

[eureka1998]

My aunt had two I can think of

The Windtunnel 2 with the self cleaning hepa filter. Such a shame the filter mechanism would get caught up with dust because I think when it actually functioned, it was rather well performing vacuum cleaner. And it looked cool. Years later she got a JOY Super Chic multi vac. That thing couldn't run for three minutes without the motor overheating. Basically a really bad version of the original Shark cyclonic stick.

 

[dysonman1]

In my opinion, the Tandem-Air line of vacuums from Tacony are horrible. For many reasons. For me, the nail on the head happened when a tandem-air Radiance from the assembly line caught on fire as they were testing it before boxing at the factory. I have video of the flaming monster being thrown down the concrete stairs at the factory before a fire extinguisher was turn upon it.

All Regina Housekeepers should have gone from the assembly line into the tip. Worthless!

The Halo was a terrible vacuum and a stupid concept. Worthless! I have both models, neither pick up dirt better than a push broom.

 

[niclonnic]

There is only one I could think of...

The Hoover SteamVac Agility. A carpet cleaner that claimed to make deep cleaning as easy as vacuuming, its fatal flaw lied in the internal recovery hose. It was WAY too short and could not stand up to repeated raising and lowering of the handle during normal usage. This hose split open after about a year of use. As a result, the machine would only suction at the base while locked upright, preventing the use of the SpinScrub brushes. The separate stair and upholstery hose, on the other hand, worked just fine, essentially demoting the Agility to a large spot cleaner.

When the SteamVac Agility was new, it was a very well-performing carpet cleaner, not to mention it looked stylish. I actually wrote an in-depth retrospective article on this machine a few years back.

 

[powerstarenergy]

A Direct-Air Carpet Washer.

Tomorrow will be one year since I created my Forgotten Bissell Products thread. I revisited the thread today and I found a product that could fit in this category. The Bissell Quicksteamer Plus. Apparently, this was a direct-air carpet washer, and considering how direct-air machines work, this product is the exact meaning of “What were they thinking?”. According to you niclonic, the brush roll didn’t loosen dirt well, and according to RoyalFan103, the motor would slow down because the motor was weak and the water was too heavy for the motor. This is also your photo Nick.

 

[niclonnic]

Powerstarenergy

That is indeed the infamous QuickSteamer Plus that my mom received from a coworker of hers. And yes, it does have a direct air design. When I disassembled the machine, I was shocked to see an impeller mounted close to the suction opening. When dirty solution is picked up, it goes through this impeller and is then sprayed back into the dirty water tank. The 4-amp motor then becomes bogged down due to the pressure of the water. And the stationary "Cross Action Brush" simply didn't loosen dirt as well as a machine with moving brushes. This QuickSteamer only cost around $80 at the time it came out (equivalent to $135.03 today). I had to revisit my own old thread to recall this information.

 

[ihavetotryagain]

Direct air carpet washer?

Surprised none of those caught fire...

 

[kirbyg6]

I know it’s not an actual vaccum but what about the kirby inflator deflator tool I mean what were they thinking of making a tool that could actually damage it if not used properly

 

[powerstarenergy]

Niclonic

I was looking for some products to add to this thread when I remembered my forgotten Bissell Products thread. I saw the reply about the Bissell Quicksteamer Plus and saw your username and was like "Niclonic... wait, is that the guy from my what were they thinking? thread?" And sure enough, it was. So I decided to mention you.

 

[niclonnic]

PowerstarEnergy

Thanks for noticing! When I saw that you posted my photo of the QuickSteamer, I had to clarify that it was my mom who owned that machine at her apartment. Just a couple months after the machine died, I plugged in the QuickSteamer and tried running it one last time; the motor ran very slow and made the lights flicker rapidly. So I just put the machine by the dumpster where it belongs.

 

[amtraksebo1997]

KirbyG6

What exactly do you mean by that?

 

[centralvacs1928]

I believe it means that if you run a Kirby with very little airflow for long enough (not sure how long it takes to happen) the fan will overheat and warp. It happens most easily on high speed, with the hose inlet blocked. The inflator nozzle only passes a few CFM...not enough to cool the fan. The shampoo tank also blocks nearly all of the outlet, but since the machine is run on low speed for shampooing, doesn't seem to cause a problem.

 

[eurekaprince]

I’d like to nominate Eureka’s Vibra-Beat nozzle for “what were they thinking”? Consumer Reports famously said the noisy tool was really “much ado about nothing” as the vibrating rubber bars really did not increase cleaning effectiveness. The rows of vibrating bars seem to block air flow more than anything, and so unless you passed over the carpet really really slowly, all the beat up dirt and dust just remained on the carpet.

 

[evolutionclean1]

Oh, the Vibra Beat

I have one all it would be good for is pissing off the neighbors. Really gets going on my Electrolux E!

 

[luxlife]

I tried one on an my Olympia One once.

That noise was outrageous! They should’ve called it the “Flatu-laire” . LOL