Hoover UH30010COM Platinum Lightweight Bagged Upright Vacuum Cleaner with Canister

Product Description

The Hoover Platinum lightweight upright removes more dirt in one pass than other uprights. The lightweight design (less than 12 lbs) is easy to maneuver and transport up stairs and room to room. With direct air flow technology and Hoover's patented Windtunnel Technology, it makes it easy to remove even the hidden dirt. The HEPA bag traps 99.97% of dirt, dust and pollens for better indoor air quality. There is even a bag check indicator to tell you when to change the bag. The quick release self-sealing bag prevents dirt puffs from escaping when changing the bag. It comes with illuminated In-Handle controls which allows you to control the on/off power switch and the ability to switch between high and low speeds. The upright comes with a portable canister and tools. The canister has a detachable shoulder strap, dusting/furniture brush, crevice tool, and bare floor brush. Best-In-Class six year warranty.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #829 in Kitchen & Housewares
• Brand: Hoover
• Model: UH30010COM
• Released on: 2009-02-22
• Dimensions: 38.25" h x 13.00" w x 15.50" l, 5.50 pounds

Features

• Lightweight bagged upright vacuum cleaner with powerful 12 amp motor
• Direct air-flow technology and Windtunnel Technology for fast, efficient results
• Illuminated fingertip controls; 2 speeds; self-sealing HEPA bag; check-bag indicator
• Includes canister vacuum, bare-floor brush, dusting brush, crevice tool, and telescoping wand
• Measures approximately 15-1/2 by 13 by 45 inches; 6-year limited warranty

Amazon.com Product Description
Removing more dirt in a single pass than other lightweight bagged uprights, this powerful vacuum cleaner combines direct air-flow technology with patented Windtunnel Technology for fast, efficient results. Weighing less than 12 pounds, the cleaner moves effortlessly from room to room and up and down stairs. It also provides illuminated fingertip controls for easily turning the power on and off or switching between high and low speeds. The upright vacuum cleaner uses a dust bag with a HEPA filter, which traps 99.97 percent of dirt, dust, and pollens down to 0.3 microns for better indoor air quality. The quick-release, self-sealing bag prevents dirt puffs from escaping, and the cleaner's check-bag indicator illuminates when the bag needs to be changed.

Other highlights include a 12 amp motor, a 14-inch-wide nozzle, automatic height adjustment, and edge-cleaning brushes, as well as a lifetime LED headlight, a comfortable D-shaped handle, and a 35-foot power cord. Even more, the unit comes with a canister vacuum for above-the-floor cleaning and for bare-floor surfaces. Simply attach the included bare-floor brush, dusting/furniture brush, or crevice tool to the end of the telescoping extension wand for thorough, detailed cleaning throughout the house. A detachable shoulder strap for conveniently transporting the canister vacuum comes included, along with a Type Q upright HEPA bag, a Type I portable canister HEPA bag, and a user manual for both the upright and the canister. The upright vacuum cleaner measures approximately 15-1/2 by 13 by 45 inches and carries a six-year limited warranty.

Customer Reviews

Terrific product! (3/14/09)
Hoover Platinum Lightweight Bagged Upright with Canister (UH30010COM) (3/14/09)

Overall, this is a terrific vacuum. The person who will be happiest with this combination is the person who: (1) wants a lightweight vacuum, (2) has mostly carpet in their home, (3) has carpeted stairs, and (4) uses attachments.

I liked my old vacuum, so using the LBU has been an eye-opening experience for me: I didn't realize how much effort I was exerting with my old upright with attachments - not only heavier, but so much bending and stooping to change settings or get tools.

At 11 pounds, the LBU is 2 to 3 pounds heavier- but less expensive - than competing models. Bonuses: it has a longer cord and a stair cleaning handle.

Competing models -
Hoover LBU, 11 lbs list $300/retail $300 (includes canister), 6 yr warranty
Riccar RSL5; 8 lbs list $710/ retail $500 (without canister), 3 yr warranty
Oreck XL Gold: 9 lbs list $600/ retail $500 (includes canister), 5/10 warranty
Oreck XL Platinum: 9 lbs list $800/ retail $600 (includes canister), 10 yr warranty

All of these uprights (including the LBU) are similar to commercial models, but you don't get the same auto carpet height adjustment, lifetime belt, HEPA filtration, and warranty on commercial models.

The supplementary canister has a strap and a 25 food cord. I didn't like it the first time I tried it, but the second time I adjusted the strap to fit me (DUH!), and then I LOVED it! The canister carries the crevice and brush attachments on board, so switching is easy, and the wand is extendable. (I don't use the floor tool, because I use a stick vac on my hardwoods.)

If you want details about specific features, read on:

PROS

FINGERTIP CONTROLS - Wonderful. Many models have this type of control now, and now that I have used it I wouldn't buy one that didn't have it.

HEPA SYSTEM - Remarkable. My old vacuum was a HEPA model with HEPA bags, but there is no comparison to this model. The air on this vacuum comes out smelling fabulous. I bought and returned a top rated Kenmore canister that had the exact same amazingly clean exhaust (turns out I don't like using a canister), so I think this is the new hallmark of quality vacuums.

AUTO CARPET HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT - Works beautifully. I used to have to stoop down to change the carpet height adjustment on different rugs, but the LBU self-adjustment really works - no problem pushing vacuum over even the thickest pile.

CORD PLACEMENT - Smart! It comes out the behind the top of the bag rather than the bottom. This means I have even more useable cord, because I don't have to hold part of the cord up to avoid running over it.

CLEANING ABILITY - VERY effective carpet cleaner, my 15 year-old carpets look & feel (to bare feet) remarkably cleaner, and even look & feel newer. Excellent at removing pet hair from carpet. The upright is 5.5 amps with direct air flow, like the Riccar & Oreck models listed. The canister is 7 amps. (The combined total is listed in the product description - very confusing. I suppose that Hoover thought consumers want a 12 amp machine, but amps are like gas mileage; if you get more suction for less amperage it's like getting better mileage. That's good, not bad. Plus you won't blow your fuses!)

EASILY MANEUVERABLE - One expects this of a lightweight model, and all the models I tried turned easily and so forth, but the Riccar & Orecks I tried had to be kicked or tipped up over the edge of an area rug placed onto another carpet. In my home I have area rugs in several rooms on top of the wall-to-wall carpeting, and the LBU moves seamlessly over the edges (even on my thickest area rug) without needing a kick or an extra hard push.

LIFETIME LED HEADLIGHT - Brilliant! (Literally!) It is brighter than any other light I have ever had on a vacuum, and is it actually aimed at the carpet! I think having the LEDs has allowed them to aim the light better than with a standard bulb. I am sure other LED equipped models are comparable, so look for this feature,

LIFETIME BELT - YES! I've replaced SO many belts over the years and I won't have to do THAT anymore, thank goodness.

STAIR-CLEANING HANDLE - Finally. It is comfortably shaped & works well. To use competitors' models on stairs, you have to hold them by the back tube, which I've tried, and it isn't nearly as easy as using the handle. However, see cons below.

CORD RELEASE - (6/9/09 edit) I thought it didn't have one until another Amazon customer posted a commment to me (see comments) that it most certainly does; then I tried it again and VOILA! it does. Because I couldn't figure it out before, I got into the habit of just winding up the 35' cord on my arm and plopping it into the top cord holder. The LBU doesn't threaten to tip over at all when I do this, so it works just great and saves me yet another bend and stoop - but it's a good feature to have, so I'm glad the engineers didn't leave it out.

CONS

STAIR-CLEANING HANDLE - Good grief! I assume it really WAS necessary to vent the motor exhaust toward the stair-cleaning handle (!), so rather than curse the engineers, hold the handle on the right-hand side. It's big enough to do that, thank goodness. Or vacuum the stairs first, before the motor gets warm.

NO BRUSH ROLL ON/OFF - Hmmm. This is in the description (and competitors' models are the same), so it means that the vacuum is intended ONLY for people with mostly carpet. I have about 80/20 carpet/bare floor, so it works for me. I use a stick vac on my hardwood, and the other person I talked to that has hardwood floors and this vacuum says she doesn't care because her hardwood floors aren't new anyway. But if you have brand-spankin'-new hardwood floors, will you really want to use a brush-roll on them?

EXPENSIVE BAGS - Really, $5 each? But they are huge, and they are the very high quality type with fabric-like paper, so we'll see. I used to have to change my old ones ($3) fairly often, so maybe this will work out the same or even cheaper.

CARRY-STRAP FOR CANISTER - Not padded. Anyone know where I can buy a pad for a 1 ½ inch strap?

This review is longer than I would like, but since there are so few reviews out there as yet, I wanted to be thorough. Sorry for the length but hope this helps!

(7/19/2009 edit) By the way, the original price on this was $400 and now it has dropped to under $300! This is a terrific value at this price!

Finally ... a Vacuum Cleaning System Worth the Money
First, a disclaimer of sorts .... I'm a long-term, died-in-the-wool Hoover evangelist. No, I don't work for Hoover, but I've always used them religiously for over 30 years. I've tried switching off to other top-of-the-line brands (Oreck, Eureka, Kenmore, etc.), but I always return to Hoover for their unsurpassed cleaning power and reliability.

That does not, however, mean they were perfect.

* The Hoover WindTunnel U6439 bagged upright that I've had for the last several years would suck up a Buick. Unfortunately, it also rivaled a Buick in the weight category. Although it's supposedly a "self-propelled" model, I felt like I had to go into training in order to vacuum my house. It became something I would put off because I wasn't sure I had the strength to wrestle this bulky beast all over my house.

* The WindTunnel controls which allow you to change the brush height from carpet to floor were manual, hard-to-move levers on the brush housing which required you to shut the machine off in order to properly manipulate them.

* The HEPA filter on my old WindTunnel seemed to work only for the first few months. After that, all manner of airborne particles would fly around as I vacuumed, even after I cleaned/replaced the filters.

* Lastly, noise of my previous WindTunnel was something akin to a jet taking off.

When I saw a TV commercial for the Hoover Platinum series machines, I was definitely intrigued. I loved the idea of getting two separate vacuums together for one price (brilliant marketing idea there, Hoover). But I was skeptical; could the power of a Hoover truly be housed in something that weighs only 11 pounds? I'd tried other lightweight vacuums in the past and their suction was dubious at best.
I made a beeline for the Internet to start researching. Over a couple of days of intensive reading (yes, I'm very thorough), I decided to continue my trust in Hoover and took the plunge. I bought the entire two-machine system online (eBay) for a total price of $379 (no tax and free shipping).

Both machines come packaged together in a single tall box which was waiting for me on my front porch when I got home from work. The first thing I noticed was that I could actually lift the entire box into the house without grunting like a Sumo wrestler... that was promising. After removing everything, I was stunned at the weight ... or lack thereof ... for both machines.

The physical appearance is very appealing; the upright is sleek and slim with a 35' long cord, and the canister has tools-on-board, along with an ingenious shoulder strap so you can "wear it" while you vacuum. You will be stunned by how little these machines weigh ... a child could easily lift them both. But could they clean?

When I fired up the Platinum upright, the word that kept coming out of my mouth was WOW. First off, no more jets taking off in my living room ... just a pleasing HUM. Second, this impossibly lightweight wonder gives a whole new meaning to the term self-propelled. It seemingly FLOATED over my carpeting all on its own, while still having the suck-up-a-Buick power I expected from a Hoover. It cleaned better in one pass than its older U6439 WindTunnel behemoth cousin did in several passes. I was picking up stuff I didn't even know was there. How about making a pass underneath your bed, or behind your dresser that you haven't moved since you moved in 15 years ago? It was astonishing how well this machine worked in just one pass.

I have a rather large, bulky throw rug in my kitchen that I had been preparing to replace because it had become so un-vacuum-able in recent weeks. The Platinum upright made it look brand new. And hallelujah for a TRUE edge cleaner! Everyone claims to have edge cleaning ability on their uprights, but this one truly delivers on the promise. Think about those sneaky areas in your house where all sorts of stuff lingers ... like that dead zone along the baseboards tucked up under the bottom of your kitchen cabinets where they meet the kitchen floor. This Platinum upright sucked up all that debris immediately ... right to the edge.

The maneuverability of the Platinum upright is astonishing. It truly is as light as Hoover claims and it moves as easily as a Dyson. The upright portion of the machine lowers completely parallel to the floor so it really can move under coffee tables with ease. It also moves from carpeting to floors effortlessly with an intelligent, lighted, fingertip control right up there on the handle.

The HEPA filtration is light-years ahead of my previous WindTunnel ... think HEPA with a Hemi under the hood. Yes, I know that bags are expensive, but you can find discounts if you search online and buy in bulk. Plus, I don't mind paying for a product that truly works ... these bags, and this new Platinum HEPA filtration system, truly work. No dust or other airborne nasties were visible anywhere.

The Platinum canister has a carrying strap, which makes so much sense. The maintenance crew who cleans my office building uses strap-on canister vacuums and I always thought that was such an intelligent design ... now, I've got my own. And all the tools are right there attached to the unit, ready and waiting for you. I toted that canister all over the house, cleaning window sills, ceiling corners, air conditioning vents, everything! Then I walked into the garage and started cleaning the inside of my SUV. It's quiet, powerful and incredibly portable ... the best "canister" I've ever used.

In my first test run of this Hoover Platinum "vacuum system," I found myself LOOKING for stuff to clean; I couldn't get enough of it. The Hoover UH30010COM Platinum is, quite simply, the best vacuum PERIOD I've ever owned. I absolutely LOVE this machine ... and to get 2 vacuums - an upright and a canister - for the same price just makes terrific economic sense. It has extraordinary power in a relatively quiet, sleek, lightweight package that doesn't leave me feeling deaf, sore and exhausted. Bravo, Hoover!

Run, don't walk, to get the Hoover UH30010COM Platinum vacuuming system ... you will not be disappointed.

This is the vacuum I have always dreamed of having! 100 Stars!
I would truly give this vacuum 100 stars if I could. Do you know what it is like to receive something that exceeds your expectations 10-fold? This was not an impulsive or inexpensive purchase, but it was worth every cent to have everything I have wished I could have in a vacuum. I have had an Oreck for the last 7 years and knew I could never use a non-lightweight vac again. I was thinking I would "have to" buy another Oreck, then saw a commercial for this Hoover. After doing some research, I ordered one, never thinking it would be THIS good. It says it is a couple pounds heavier than an Oreck, but it feels lighter to me, and handles more easily. It is beautifully constructed, and has an exceptionally long cord. The handle is honestly comfortable to hold, and the vac easy to lift and use on stairs - especially with the special handles. But the AMAZING thing about this vac is it seems to propel itself effortlessly back and forth!!!! The Oreck was difficult to push on my dense, low carpets, but this machine feels like it does the work for you. The controls are conveniently placed, and the two speeds very useful. I have never been so excited over an appliance in my life. The portable canister & attachments it comes with are actaully pretty nice, too, although I didn't buy it for those. I will be telling everyone I know about this vacuum and highly recommend it.