The H2O vacuum, as seen on TV (most notably from thane.com) has proven to be a great system for those of us who suffer from indoor allergens. There are a few things to consider when using this vacuum, however you will not be disappointed by its performance.
The first thing you notice when unpacking the vacuum is its robotic design with the large, slightly colored plastic bubble being the largest percentage of the total size of the vacuum. There is a handle on top for carrying the vacuum when going up and down stairs, but normally the flexible vacuum hose that locks into the main body can pull around the vacuum during normal operation. The body of the vacuum is on three wheels for easy maneuvering around tight corners and obstacles.
The amount of suction from the vacuum is really a surprise, considering how simple in design the system is. No matter how much area, or how dirty the job, the H2O vacuum seems to never lose its suction, (doesn’t a certain other vacuum also make this claim!). In addition to this powerful suction is the ability to adjust the amount of suctioning with a simple lever on the front of the vacuum. You actually hear the motor speed and sound vary when this feature is used, (instead of some valve arrangement which merely closes down the hose but keeps the vacuum running at the same speed).
By using the variety of attachments that come standard with the vacuum, you are able to get into almost any area and clean. The additional deluxe powerhead attachment provides even more cleaning since the suction of the vacuum is used to spin a roller in the powerhead and really clean into those carpets.
Cleanup after vacuuming is accomplished by removing the main “bubble” section and disposing of the water and debris. A quick rinse of the container and it can be placed back onto the chassis for storage. No other parts of the vacuum even see any dirt and will probably hardly ever need cleaning. There is a HEPA filter in the motor section of the vacuum (which removes from the water container while filling and dumping of the dirty water), which will need replacing sometime, but 3 extra filters can be ordered separately that should last a lifetime.
Overall, I would have to give the H2O vacuum an 8 out of 10. Here’s why I had to knock a couple of points from the perfect score:
The water bubble can be easily filled from a sink or the bathtub, but the handle inside the bubble (in the cavity where the motor section sits), can get you into trouble if you’re not careful. The first time I filled the bubble and lifted it out, the handle was a little unseated and I nearly dumped the water all over the floor. Just be careful and use two hands when lifting the filled water bubble and you should be okay.
Next I found that the slip together vacuum hose and attachments, especially the powerhead, tend to slip off rather easily while vacuuming. I normally have to twist the parts together several times during one vacuuming session. While other vacuums have the same mechanism for twisting the attachments together, I think the best I’ve seen with this are the vacuum hoses that have the little button that you press to separate the pieces, but keeps them locked together while vacuuming.
So far, pretty minor stuff, but now I’m cruising around, vacuuming and noticing there really isn’t any dust in the air like many vacuums create, instead a moist smelling air that is really nice during those dry winter months replaces it. As I’m pulling the vacuum along by the hose, I suddenly notice a change in the sound of the machine. Looking back I gasp in horror as I see the vacuum has turned over onto its side. The water inside the bubble section is now up near the motor section! We all know that water and electricity don’t mix very well and here I had a vacuum cleaner that had a powerful electric motor spinning with water that could easily be sucked up into the thing!
I quickly grabbed the plastic (and dry) handle of the vacuum and righted it back onto its wheels, at the same time hitting the button that shut it off. After unplugging the vacuum, I inspected the bubble, motor, and filters, which all looked like there was no damage. Not knowing what else to do, I plugged it back in and started it, with full intention of hitting the power button if it still sounded strange. To the vacuum’s credit, it sounded fine and went right back to vacuuming, again without losing suction, and without spurting water out the side, or anything like that. I was pleasantly surprised at the recovery, but I have noticed since then that the vacuum does have a tendency to want to tip over quite easily while pulling it, especially on thicker carpets. While this accident ended on a good note, I would not recommend anyone trying it to see if his or her vacuum recovers as gracefully. That water and electricity thing is really something to avoid!
One last thing to be aware of is the fact that water is used in this vacuum. When dumping the water after use, you will probably need to dump it down the toilet. Don’t try dumping the dirty water in the sink, it’s really disgusting and will clog up the drain in a heartbeat. Also, when the vacuum is not in use, you will need to leave water out of it and make sure the top of the water bubble is left open so it can dry out. If moisture is left in the bubble, it will produce a mildew smell for a moment when you use it next, quite unpleasant.
Again, aside from these “cons”, this vacuum is really something to use and can handle almost any other job that other vacuums can. We have literally stopped using the 3 other vacuums that we owned (upright, canister, and small handheld) and have switched to the H2O vacuum for all our household cleanup, no matter if it’s wet or dry vacuuming, since the vacuum is putting everything into water anyway. You can’t go wrong with this little powerhouse of a vacuum.
