Dirt Devil Proce 1400 Bagged Handheld Vacuum Review

Running a vacuum cleaner is not one of my favorite household chores. Luckily, I don't need to perform this task very often so it's not really something I dread, like with other people. Still, when I do have to run the vacuum, I usually have very little cleaning to do. I have a large, upright vacuum, but it gets little workout time since I don't usually need it. What I usually reach for, in place of my large vacuum, is my Dirt Devil Proce 1400 Hand- Held Vac, a small piece of machinery that is just right for cleaning up small messes.

Vacuum Commentary:

This Dirt Devil model is small but it packs a powerful punch and it works effortlessly on small vacuuming jobs. I purchased the Dirt Devil for several reasons and chief among them was the fact that I got tired of going to the hassle of getting out my large vacuum for small jobs. Second, I thought that the small size of the Dirt Devil would make it just right for cleaning my couch and chairs, and the inside of my car. For the most part, Dirt Devil has made things easier. Using this vacuum in the car, though, presents some challenges because the nozzle is often too wide to reach into the small places. It's times like this that I wish I had purchased the optional hose attachment.

Dirt Devil is small, lightweight, and portable, making it handy for using in many types of places. On the downside, though, the unit is quite noisy. The powerful motor makes it sound like a much larger vacuum than it really is. And because of its small size, the bag fills up with dirt and dust rather quickly and must be constantly emptied. I haven't purchased any paper bags for my unit, preferring instead to just empty the cloth bag when it fills up. This saves a little money and it's fine for someone like me who doesn't use the vacuum very much. But you need to be very careful when you empty the cloth bag. You need to aim the contents as far down into a large trash bag as possible. One false move, and the air in the room will be saturated in a cloud of dust.

Dirt Devil has only two settings: on and off. You cannot adjust the speed. You also need to be careful when and where you decide to use the unit. Since the nozzle is small, it isn't capable of picking up large items, like a full- size vacuum. You can end up clogging the unit or causing excessive strain on the engine if you try to suck up things that are just too large for the small opening.

Bottom Line:

Overall, this is a good portable- size vacuum for cleaning up small messes and vacuuming upholstery. It's not really intended to take the place of a larger vacuum, and it can tire you out with all of the bending and stretching that are sometimes required for its use. But it's a good little devil that makes a meal out of small messes with its powerful sucking action.