Review of the Swivel Sweeper: Does it Live Up to the Claims Made on the "As Seen on TV" Infomercial?
Can the Swivel Sweeper Replace Your Regular Vacuum?
I was convinced that I had to have one. Luckily for me, I didn't have to pay the high shipping and handling charges because my local Home Depot carried the Swivel Sweeper for less than $40.00.
When I took the Swivel Sweeper out of the box I noticed that the gray sliders, which allow you to empty the dirt tray, were broken. Back to Home Depot I went to get a replacement. Home Depot gave me a replacement and I was all set to try out this new gadget.
I was surprised to find that I actually enjoyed using the Swivel Sweeper. It was extremely light - only two pounds - and because of the handle extension I didn't have to bend over like I do with other cordless vacuums. It seemed to float over our hardwood floors (it doesn't have wheels - it has sliders) and effortlessly picked up cat fur, crumbs, and dust bunnies. I loved how I didn't need to move the dining room chairs because the Swivel Sweeper fit so easily underneath them. With the 360 degree swivel head I could go forward, backward, sideways and in circles. With the four side rotating brushes I was able to reach crumbs under the cupboards that my regular vacuum was never able to reach.
I was having so much fun with the Swivel Sweeper that my 10-year-old son begged to try it. He loved it! Every day he asked if he could vacuum. I never thought I'd hear that coming from him!
My two-year-old saw how much fun my son was having and decided she too wanted to try the Swivel Sweeper. The quiet operation of it didn't scare her like ordinary vacuums do. And it is so light that even a two-year-old can handle it with ease.
For three glorious months my house was free of cat fur, crumbs and dust bunnies. And best of all I didn't have to do any of the work - my kids did it all! It was like a dream come true!
But like so many dreams, reality started to kick in. I found out the hard way that if you go from one type of surface, such as hardwood, to another type of surface, such as a rug, the tipping action of the head causes the Swivel Sweeper to spew out everything that is in the dirt tray. I had debris everywhere and had to get my regular vacuum out to clean up the awful mess. The same thing happened to my daughter who tried using it on the couch cushions. The uneven surface of the cushions caused the Swivel Sweeper to spit out its entire contents all over my couch. Once again my regular vacuum had to come to the rescue.
Cleaning the Swivel Sweeper is supposed to be an easy task. While it is easy, it requires sliding the gray tabs over to release the dirt tray. These are the same tabs that were broken on my original Swivel Sweeper, so I cringe whenever I have to slide them over for fear of breaking the cheap plastic. Another step in cleaning the Swivel Sweeper is to get the hair and fur out of the four side brushes. The Swivel Sweeper comes with a special cleaning tool which looks like a seam ripper. I tend to lose this tool, so I often end up cleaning these brushes by hand which is not fun or easy with all of the pet hair that is wrapped around the brushes.
The final disappointment is that after three months the battery started to fail me. It was no longer as powerful as it was in the beginning, and it certainly didn't last for 45 minutes like the infomercial had promised. I looked into buying a replacement battery, but they cost almost as much as a brand-new Swivel Sweeper.
I checked out other people's reviews of this product and saw similar complaints about the battery. Their attempts at contacting customer service were not successful. So I have decided to just live with the fact that my Swivel Sweeper will not be the great tool it once was.
I still use the Swivel Sweeper whenever I'm too lazy to get out my regular vacuum. It can still pick up small messes like food crumbs and dust bunnies. But gone are the days when my kids begged to use it and my floors were cleaned on a daily basis. Back to reality, and back to dragging my big old corded vacuum around the house.
I sure do miss the glory days of my beloved Swivel Sweeper.
Published by Julie Lind
Julie Lind is a piano teacher, mother, composer and a writer. View profile
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- The Swivel Sweeper is so fun, kids will want to clean for you!
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241 Comments
Post a CommentCheck out my article about the differences between the G2 and the Original Swivel Sweeper: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/7745180/swivel_sweeper_g2_or_original_which.html?cat=6
We have had one of the sweepers for about 3 months. The last month the battery acted likeit would no longer charge. Today, after using the sweeper ,It was turned off and while doing nothing but sitting there the battery must have shorted out, because it began to melt and smoke. We are done with this little guy.
I got 2 of them But either one worked, why won't they work, I haven't use it much, I guess I threw my Money away, What can I do!
I am very dissapointed in the batteries I can't keep the sweeper going for 5 minutes nevermind 45 minutes very frustrating love the sweeper but wish I could actually use it!.
any suggestions?
handeling charges outrageous: $32.97
For what? handling my order
I just watched the infomershal w/Bob Veila? and the tool dude pitching the swivel sweeper.I thought this would be IDEAL for incidental sweeping of my tile/hardwood surfaces and carpet under furniture where my vacume just won't go. I was going to call and order the 2 for 1 deal. Just happened i was on my P.C. while watching T.V. and went to the web ad, saw real customer comments, click, read a couple pages, and now want to thank you all misfortunate people that trusted this company/people and got RIPPED OFF! Sorry, but thanks for your stories..
I just watched the infomershal w/Bob Veila? and the tool dude pitching the swivel sweeper.I thought this would be IDEAL for incidental sweeping of my tile/hardwood surfaces and carpet under furniture where my vacume just won't go. I was going to call and order the 2 for 1 deal. Just happened i was on my P.C. while watching T.V. and went to the web ad, saw real customer comments, click, read a couple pages, and now want to thank you all misfortunate people that trusted this company/people and got RIPPED OFF! Sorry, but thanks for your stories..
OK So I'm an idiot for buying not 1, not 2 but 3 swivel sweepers within 14 months. The product does exactly what it says for about 3 months when used daily. But then it dies a slow gruesome death. It seems like its the battery but changing the battery doesn't help. Because I hated dragging out a vacumn, I kept buying more of these damn things. No more, I'm done. I got a Shark -Yippeee(no more problems).
I saw the informational on tv. I thought this was definitely the vacuum for me.I was having hip surgery a month later. I thought this would work for me since it said that it was light and did such a great job plus I didnt have to bend down to reach those hard to reach places. Purchased it at walmart. the price was great for all it said that it could do plus I didnt have to pay shipping and handling. I was so excited when I first used it. It never did pick up heavy stuff that had spilled on the floor but just the thought that it was so light and it picked up all the dog hair, sand,dirt and dust was good enough for us.It was too good to be true. Im still home recuperating and although I can use it the battery only last for about 12-15 minutes if that.so I recharge and try again.I looked up to get another battery and I might as well get a new vacuum.definitely a waste of money.Now I wait till my husband or friend can vacuum for me. DONT WASTE YOUR MONEY AND TIME
I just put my 2nd sweeper in the trash. The first one I had was alright but that second one I don't know what you all did yo it. It would not pick up it just blew it away from the sweeper. I am also sorry to say that my flooring is now all scratch up. If you come out with a better one and can stand behind i will think of buying another one.