Having published an article about the launch of the new Vax Air³ Vacuum Cleaner on UK Home Ideas, on September 22nd, 2012, I was pleased to accept an offer from VAX, to trial the new machine. See our article here:
http://www.ukhomeideas.co.uk/ideas/other/cleaning-services/vax-launches-ultra-light-easily-manoeuvred-vacuum-cleaner/
The Vax Air³ machine was delivered as promised and on unpacking, I found the vacuum cleaner and the components were securely packed and well protected.
On lifting the upright machine from the box I was pleasantly surprised at how light it was! I also noted that the cleaner not only looked smart and well designed, but also appeared robust and of quality manufacture.
The Quick Start Guide (attached to the machine) was very clear and made easy work of preparing it for immediate use.
Comprehensive operating instructions are available online at Vax Support, including detailed illustrations, machine maintenance advice and safety instructions. I found each function was fully explained and the FAQ section valuable.
Testing the Vax Air³
The controls are to hand at the base of the handle, which can also be easily adjusted up or down to suit the user’s preference. I found that the correct handle position for your height was important, for ease in controlling the machine.
When switched on the brushes start to rotate at high speed and the powerful suction is immediately felt.
I felt the machine required significant effort in making manoeuvres, due to the deep cleaning brushes and the effect of the powerful suction.
However, my present vacuum cleaner is a “cylinder†type, where the main body of the machine is on the floor, which reduces the weight effect. So perhaps I’m just not used to handling an upright cleaner.
That apart, I found the cleaner was very manoeuvrable, moving left and right and under furniture easily and dealt with carpet edges more closely and provided much better results than my existing machine.
A RED flashing light on the front of the floorhead warns the user of a
jammed brushbar, which is useful.
The brushbar is easily reached by removing the cover for clearing stubborn blockages such as hairs.
After clearing the blockage you reset by pressing the red button, which then turns green again.
Fitting Accessories
This machine comes with a 2-in-1 tool (crevice tool/dusting brush) and an upholstery tool, which can be attached to the telescopic tube or directly to the hose. I had no difficulty with fitting the accessories by means of the simple spring clips.
Emptying and Maintenance.
The dust container is easily removed at the push of a button near the base of the handle and the dirt is simply emptied from the bottom, with a release button at the back of the container. I was impressed by the amount of fine dust in the container, which confirmed that the brushes, suction and filters were doing a thorough job.
I thought the dust container capacity was rather small, however I expect a larger capacity would add more weight to the machine, thus defeating the lightweight aspect!
If you have stairs in the home as in my case, a hose extension and turbo head (available as accessories) would be a must as the hose doesn’t extend far enough.
Overall, I was very impressed with the new Vax Air³ Vacuum Cleaner and in operation found it efficiently delivered on its promises of light weight, powerful suction and manoeuvrability.
For further information and to view the complete range of the Vax Air vacuum cleaner models, visit the Vax website: