Eureka Whirlwind NEN110A Canister Vacuum: features, specs and who it suits

The Eureka Whirlwind NEN110A is a corded, bagless canister vacuum for carpet, upholstery and hard floors. At 8.15 lb (about 3.7 kg), it's light enough to carry from room to room and up the stairs, and an airflow control on the handle adjusts the suction as you move between surfaces.

How a canister vacuum works

On a canister vacuum, the motor and dust cup sit in a compact body that rolls along behind you, connected by a hose to a wand and floor tool. You only hold the wand, so it's easy to reach under beds and sofas, along baseboards and up stairs. The trade-off is that you pull the body along as you go, and there are a few more parts to manage than with an upright.

960 watts and the airflow control

The Whirlwind's motor is rated at 960 watts. Wattage tells you how much electrical power the motor draws rather than how well it cleans: airflow, the design of the floor tool and how well the hose and wand seal all affect the result.

An airflow control on the handle lets you change the suction with your fingertips. Lower suction helps with curtains, cushions and upholstery, which strong suction tends to grab; higher suction suits carpet.

Weight, steering and the metal wand

At 8.15 lb, the body is easy to lift onto a stair or carry to another floor. Swivel steering helps it follow you under and around furniture rather than catching on table legs.

The telescoping metal wand adjusts in length with the slide of a button and snaps securely into place. An adjustable wand lets taller and shorter users work without stooping, and extends your reach under low furniture.

Tools built into the handle

A 2-in-1 crevice tool is built into the hose handle, so it's always at hand and can't go missing. Detach the handle to switch between the crevice tool, for corners and tight gaps, and a dusting brush, for windows, shelves and other surfaces where bristles help lift dust.

Bagless cup, washable filters and cord rewind

There are no bags. The 2.5-litre dust cup empties with one button, and the filters are washable: rinse them as needed. As with most washable filters, they should be completely dry before they go back in, so it helps to plan rinsing for when you won't need the vacuum for a while. Emptying any bagless cup releases some dust, so many people empty it outdoors or straight into a bin.

The power cord is 16 feet (about 4.9 metres) long. Step on the pedal and it rewinds into the vacuum automatically, so there's no cord to wind by hand. Being corded, it runs as long as you need, but you'll move the plug between outlets in larger rooms and from room to room.

Who it suits

It suits homes with a mix of carpet and hard floors, people with stairs, and anyone who wants a light vacuum that is easy to carry from room to room, with the tools for upholstery, corners and windows built in.

What to check before you buy

• Your floors: check that the floor tool suits your carpets, especially thick or deep-pile ones.
• Cord reach: 16 ft from the outlet; picture how many times you'll move the plug in each room.
• Filters: they're washable, but check that replacement filters are easy to get when they wear out.
• Weight and stairs: 8.15 lb is easy to lift, but you'll still carry the body up each flight.
• What's in the box: check which floor tool and attachments come with it.

The short version

• A corded, bagless canister vacuum with 960 watts for carpet, upholstery and hard floors.
• Weighs 8.15 lb, with swivel steering and a telescoping metal wand.
• Airflow control on the handle and a 2-in-1 crevice tool and dusting brush built into the handle.
• 2.5-litre dust cup with one-button emptying and washable filters.
• Automatic cord rewind with a 16 ft power cord.

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