Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I read many of these reviews. I go right to the negative ones to get worst-case scenario. Most prevalent criticism was overheating. Bought the thing anyway. Figured 7-minute duty cycles was acceptable. Got it today. Pet hair nightmare in this old Victorian house. The Eureka EasyClean is perfect for furniture and stairs. Even if they look clean, a once-over up carpeted stairs will show you how much you don't see. Pretty amazing. I find backward strokes work best with brushes on. The reviewer who said the back part of the vacuum drags on the floor must've been leaning on it like a Tonka truck! Yes, you need to adapt to the instrument and develop technique. This is a very effective vacuum. Another reviewer said the cord was too long for the twist (the place you wind the cord around). That is not the problem I had. When the cord was wrapped, and the plug snap came off of the wound cord securing it, the cable LEAPT OFF THE TWIST! I mean came to life, fully animated, spewing power cable about. Bizarre. But all of that is OK. Problem is: It simply was not built to last. Adding up three 7-minute duty cycles, I can already see fray and wear on the brushes. Especially the outer ones. Not good. I am hearing that you can order parts, but replacing them on your own is iffy. I am game. But I guarantee you, the brushes will need replacement before the filter does. Speaking of which, the filter is a taxidermist's delight. It neatly stacks pet hair in the filter! That is cool. It is also nice that the fill bin is front and center so you can immediately see what you are getting. And all that jive about the exhaust fan? It is not emissions. Emissions would be what you are supposed to be vacuuming up leaking back into the exhaust. Not the case. But the exhaust is fierce. Why? Two reasons. It's a kick-ass little vacuum, and that air has to go somewhere. And, because the motor is so strong, and the damn thing has heating issues anyway, it needs to be constantly cooling itself. So that's it. The guy who said you basically rent it for a few months may have it right. It's sad. Planned obsolescence and all. But when it works, it really works. Eureka should have a recycling program for this unit or shame on them. Or, they could make it more user-serviceable. Or, they could just charge more and make one that lasts. But Eureka definitely needs to make a move soon here.