Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I've owned this vac for about 2 months and began experiencing loss of suction and poor performance. I was literally at wit's end and ready to throw the thing out the window. I bought new filters and still the same problems. I read the instruction manual over and over, looking for some reason. Here's the deal that the instruction manual DOESN'T mention: there is a pre-filter inside the plastic "bagless" collector part you pull out and empty (NOT related to the grey sponge or the HEPA filter). Open the bottom of the dirt/dust collector. Empty the contents and look up inside. There is a black cylinder inside a clear cylindrical receiver. I hold the bagless collector in my left hand so when I turn it upside down, the assembly is on the right. You can't miss it, although I did for 2 months. That is where all the hair and other light-weight junk builds up!!! Give the black cylinder a counter-clockwise twist, pull it out, and clean. I literally pulled out about a packed 8-ounce cup of hair and fibers and that is what was causing loss of performance. Be sure to clean the little perforations at the top of the black tube, too. Reinsert and twist clock-wise to re-engage the retaining tabs. Voila. Good as new!! As far as overall design and performance, this vac's performance is on target with it's price point. It's best suited for hard floors but mine works equally well on low- and medium-pile area rugs. Picks up litter my cat throws out of his box with ease. Yes, it's a little bulky for something marketed as EZ-Lite. It's a canister vac so as you use it, it will get caught on furniture and door jambs unless the user compensates. I'm a guy so the extra effort on medium-pile area rugs is worth it. Just go slowly and let the vac do the work. Just remember to clean that hidden pre-filter and you shouldn't be disappointed!