I finally received my new Shop-Vac today. Ordered it from Amazon.com and got the whole thing for $62.99 including free freight. Not the fasted freight delivery service but it was free. Took 10 days total for the ground shipping including the day it shipped.
It’s a model QAL80A All Around Series with 3 gallon capacity, 8 AMP/4.5HP and the full array of attachments. It has a 18’ cord, 6’ (1-1/4�) locking hose, two 16� (1-1/4�) extension wands, 12� nozzle with swivel end, brush insert, squeegee insert, one gulper nozzle, one round brush nozzle and one crevice tool. Also comes with one foam sleeve, one disposable collection bag and one reusable dry filter and locking ring. Total weight for shipping was only 14 lbs. so it is very light.
Here is a picture of the vacuum and the attachments which come with it.
I really like the new disposable collection bag which makes switching from wet to dry or dry to wet service very quick. To go from dry to wet service, just pop the top (two side snaps) and set it aside, un-screw the inlet hose, pull out the collection bag. Screw the inlet hose back on and drop the top back in place and push down and secure the two side snaps. You’re ready to go. Turn it on and suck up water or cleaner fluid from your carpet, mats or cloth seats. Same basic process to put the collection bag back in for dry use.
It has 4 swivel wheels and is very light so moving it around is easy. It will also fit in the trunk of my Honda Accord standing up.
First test was cleaning my floor mats. I brushed them as usual to loosen any trapped dirt. I tried the gulper nozzle since I would be switching to wet service once I sprayed and brushed them again. The vacuum had no problem pulling enough suction to be able to completely lift the front floor matt and hold it off the ground. Completely cleaned any visible debris from the mat with two complete passes, one pulling across the short length of the mat and one pulling across the long length of the mat.
Applied my carpet cleaner and brushed in until the entire mat was covered in suds. Next sprayed a layer of clean water to dilute the cleaner. Removed the disposable collection bag and went into wet service. Still using the gulper nozzle, made three passes over the mat to remove the diluted cleaner. By the end of the third pass, the mat was not wet, only lightly moist to the touch. Placed the mats out in the sun to dry. The mats where dry to the touch in less than 1 hour.
While the mats where drying, I use the vacuum to clean the rest of my car. I was very easy to get the little dirt particles up with this vacuum. I even sucked up a couple of items I did not know was under my passenger seat, between the seat and the consol that the other Shop-Vac I was using did not get. I had to hold the dash mat down when I vacuumed it as this Shop-Vac would pull it up from the Velcro holders.
Rating:
On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the best, I would rate this Shop-Vac at 9.
Pro’s:
Small, light and easy to use and move around.
Easily changes from wet to dry or dry to wet service.
Powerful yet pretty quite.
Lots of attachments.
Inexpensive.
Con’s:
No place to put the attachments (use a small box I guess).
Needs small nozzle with scrubbing brush built in.
It’s a model QAL80A All Around Series with 3 gallon capacity, 8 AMP/4.5HP and the full array of attachments. It has a 18’ cord, 6’ (1-1/4�) locking hose, two 16� (1-1/4�) extension wands, 12� nozzle with swivel end, brush insert, squeegee insert, one gulper nozzle, one round brush nozzle and one crevice tool. Also comes with one foam sleeve, one disposable collection bag and one reusable dry filter and locking ring. Total weight for shipping was only 14 lbs. so it is very light.
Here is a picture of the vacuum and the attachments which come with it.
I really like the new disposable collection bag which makes switching from wet to dry or dry to wet service very quick. To go from dry to wet service, just pop the top (two side snaps) and set it aside, un-screw the inlet hose, pull out the collection bag. Screw the inlet hose back on and drop the top back in place and push down and secure the two side snaps. You’re ready to go. Turn it on and suck up water or cleaner fluid from your carpet, mats or cloth seats. Same basic process to put the collection bag back in for dry use.
It has 4 swivel wheels and is very light so moving it around is easy. It will also fit in the trunk of my Honda Accord standing up.
First test was cleaning my floor mats. I brushed them as usual to loosen any trapped dirt. I tried the gulper nozzle since I would be switching to wet service once I sprayed and brushed them again. The vacuum had no problem pulling enough suction to be able to completely lift the front floor matt and hold it off the ground. Completely cleaned any visible debris from the mat with two complete passes, one pulling across the short length of the mat and one pulling across the long length of the mat.
Applied my carpet cleaner and brushed in until the entire mat was covered in suds. Next sprayed a layer of clean water to dilute the cleaner. Removed the disposable collection bag and went into wet service. Still using the gulper nozzle, made three passes over the mat to remove the diluted cleaner. By the end of the third pass, the mat was not wet, only lightly moist to the touch. Placed the mats out in the sun to dry. The mats where dry to the touch in less than 1 hour.
While the mats where drying, I use the vacuum to clean the rest of my car. I was very easy to get the little dirt particles up with this vacuum. I even sucked up a couple of items I did not know was under my passenger seat, between the seat and the consol that the other Shop-Vac I was using did not get. I had to hold the dash mat down when I vacuumed it as this Shop-Vac would pull it up from the Velcro holders.
Rating:
On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the best, I would rate this Shop-Vac at 9.
Pro’s:
Small, light and easy to use and move around.
Easily changes from wet to dry or dry to wet service.
Powerful yet pretty quite.
Lots of attachments.
Inexpensive.
Con’s:
No place to put the attachments (use a small box I guess).
Needs small nozzle with scrubbing brush built in.