The Boss Mighty Mite Canister Versus the Boss Mini Lightweight Upright

When choosing a vacuum cleaner you may need to ask whether a canister or an upright is right for you. I compared two very excellent products by the same manufacturer Electrolux Home Care Products and decided to put their Eureka canister and upright to the test by a head-to-head competition.

First up was the Eureka Model 3684D Bagged Canister Vacuum called "The Boss Mighty Mite". Weighing in at 11 lbs, it has a red glossy plastic exterior, 12 amp motor and 20 foot cord. The dimensions are approximately 11" wide, 15" long and 8" high. This is your typical canister with tool caddy and attached wand assembly. It has a long reaching hose and extra long electrical cord which has a quick release cord hook and automatic retractable feature. It sits on three wheels which is handy for use on stairs. The best feature of this vacuum is the suction which is excellent and I tried two different ones to make sure it was not just a fluke. It works just as well on bare floors as it did on a mid-length shag-style carpet. The downside is that this vacuum is very noisy. I did not like the wand which was lanky and cumbersome and has a suction control ring (air leak hole in the wand to adjust the suction) which just seemed unnecessarily burdensome. The brushes had to be cleared off consistently and the canister body heats up too fast. It has an automatic shutoff when it gets too hot, which did happen to me twice, which was frustrating.

The worst part is cleaning out the bags, which must be replaced properly and is a dirty mess. Hair gets trapped between the hose and canister and in the hose which also need to be cleared out occasionally. The replacement bags are not always easy to find at the stores, however, they are inexpensive. This mighty little vacuum was ideal when I lived in a two-story loft and needed the long wand and other tools to reach high places and easily go up stairs. The cost varies depending upon the store and can be as little as $95.

When I moved into my new place, I purchased the 402A "Boss Mini" Lightweight Upright. Weighing in at 8 lbs, it has a cheery bright yellow plastic exterior. There is a 3.5 amp motor which works pretty well and a 20 foot cord which can wrap around the holders on the handle easily. The dimensions are approximately 27" high by 10" wide, very tiny and cute in comparison to its bigger cousins. When it comes out of the box you do need to assemble the handle which is collapsible for storage, but it just pops into place. There are two wheels on the backside and a separate lift-off handle on the base, which can lift the main vacuum off for stair cleaning like a hand-held.

The best feature of this vacuum is the lightweight compactness and ease of maneuverability. The low, short wheel base makes it easy to get under and between things. This vacuum is loud too, but not annoyingly so. It has handle controls to adjust for carpet height which are easy to reach and these dual motor controls are designed to switch from carpet to bare floors. The dust collection cup is transparent so you can see how full it is getting and is easily removed and dumped by squeezing the clip-on attachment. There are no messy bags, but there is a filter in the cup which needs to be cleaned. The downside of this vacuum is the suction power. It does a great job, but I foresee over time it may not hold up to any heavy-duty jobs. The best part was its lightweight ease of use and the price, on sale for only $40.

After working with both vacuums over a period of time, I decided that they both are so specific to their uses, that it was difficult to choose one over another. The canister vacuum was the better choice for heavier jobs on a thicker carpet. The long wand made it useful to get into tiny crevices and reach high walls. I could always count on the vacuum doing the job properly. The drawback to a "bagged" canister is that you have to replace the messy bags. This can add up in time and expense.

Many people avoid uprights because of the weight and movement. The new, lighter models which weigh only 8 lbs are a breeze to lift and store. I love the new bright color which makes the task a little less dreary. The fact that the control buttons are on the wand handle means you do not have to stoop over. The best part is the dirt cup holder which not only shows you when it is full, but lets the dirt slide right out when you are done. With the removable hand-held feature, it was like getting two vacuums in one. For these reasons, I believe the Eureka upright was the clear winner.

Both vacuums are manufactured by Electrolux Home Care Products. Their customer service department is located at PO Box 3900, Peoria, Illinois, 61612. They both carry a one-year warranty on parts and labor and can be found by going to www.eureka.com.