Is the Eureka Rapid Clean 41A a good buy? Learn more from this review.

Cleaning the stairs or removing pet hair from carpets can be very tiring, if not frustrating, for most homeowners. If you find these small tasks irritating to perform, then why don’t you invest in a handheld corded vacuum like the Eureka Rapid Clean 41A? This is a handy machine that is small yet powerful to clean hard floors, carpets, and carpets.

This vacuum is a newer and more improved version of the Eureka Rapid Clean 71B. Both vacuum cleaners have similar designs, although this version has more power, and a different front head.

This vacuum cleaner is powered by a 6 amp motor. It has dimensions of 15” x 8” x 7” with a six inch cleaning path. It is of the bagless type with a 28 foot total reach including a 3-foot extension hose. It weighs around six pounds.

It has a bare floor brush that is designed for cleaning non-carpeted stairs and other hard surfaces, and a brush roll  that enables that vacuum to thoroughly clean carpets as well as bare floors. For easier transport, the model has easy roll wheels. These are also designed for protecting hard floor surfaces.

The manufacturer, Eureka, is a reputable company that offers various vacuum cleaner types such as uprights, handhelds, canisters, and battery-operated vacuums. It is no pushover in the vacuum cleaner production. Its Boss SmartVac has been recognized as ‘best vacuum’ and ‘best buy’ by Consumers Digest for many years. In 2007, it won the coveted Good Design Award from the prestigious The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design.

The Good

The Rapid Clean was designed by Eureka with cleaning wood flooring and stairs in mind. This can be seen with the cleaner’s bare floor brush that is appropriate for cleaning hard floors. The bristles of the brush uproot ground-in dirt while the vacuum cleaner’s powerful suction sucks it up. This enables the Rapid Clean 41A to pick up litter like pet hair.

The Rapid Clean 41A has more power than its predecessor, the 71B. Its motor has 0.5 amps of extra power compared to the Rapid Clean 71B. This enables the vacuum cleaner to remove dust easily. Its double filtration system, meanwhile, prevents dust from escaping during vacuuming.

For cleaning soft surfaces, the vacuum cleaner has a bare floor brush. This can be flipped up for cleaning carpets and upholstery.  Users can easily switch from cleaning hard and soft surfaces by flipping the brush roll switch.

Another proof that Eureka intended this vacuum cleaner for cleaning stairs and other hard-to-reach areas is the 28-foot long reach of the Rapid Clean 41A.  The cord is actually 25 feet long, but a three-foot hose can also be attached to it for an extensive 28 foot reach. This is one of the longest for any handheld vacuum type.

With its reach, this vacuum cleaner will be very handy for cleaning an entire staircase or the car interior in the driver without having to unplug it.

The easy roll wheels also make it easy for users to bring the vacuum cleaner from one part of the house to another. Moreover, the wheels won’t scratch or damage hard floors at all.

It does not have an internal dust bag. Instead, it has a dust canister with washable filters for ease in cleaning and maintenance.

And when you’re done cleaning, you can easily store this vacuum cleaner. Its hose and cord wraps around the base for easy storage, while you can store the crevice tool at the back.

The Bad

The Eureka Rapid Clean Step Handheld corded vacuum cleaner is far from being perfect. It has its share of design flaws that can disappoint its users, and which you should be aware of.

For one, the bagless design of the vacuum cleaner may make its maintenance worry-free, at least on the surface. But a closer look at the dust canister with washable filters of the vacuum cleaner reveals a problem—the dust collector isn’t large enough to contain debris. As such, you could find yourself constantly emptying the canister which may test your patience, so to speak.

The filters also quickly block the motor, reducing its suction power in the process. Thus you’ll have to regularly empty it. This may sound like a minor annoyance but it can become tedious quickly.

This vacuum cleaner isn’t lighter than its predecessor. It weighs around six pounds, about 1.2 pounds heavier than the Rapid Clean 71B. The added weight may be insignificant, but try using it for several minutes and you could find your arms tired. Of course, the extra weight may have been brought about by the sturdiness and extra power of the Rapid Clean 41A.

Another design flaw of this vacuum cleaner can be spotted when using its brush roll. When used on horizontal surfaces, the brush roll’s bristles stick out around an inch to the front. So when you use it to clean the floor, there’s a tiny area that cannot be cleaned if you are to roll the brush forward. Thus, you may have to turn the cleaner sideways to clean the floor.

The vacuum cleaner isn’t also quiet when in operation although as most of those who have reviewed this tool point out, vacuum cleaners are really noisy especially the more powerful ones.

The Verdict

Not all vacuum cleaners are free from design flaws, and the Eureka Rapid Clean Step handheld vacuum cleaner is no exception. Sure, it has its shortcomings but these should not be enough to discredit the good points of the vacuum cleaner.

It is easy to use and powerful enough for both hard and soft surfaces. Its long reach makes it an appealing option for people who often get tired of cleaning stairs. And the price is very reasonable—around the mid-range.

Simply put, if you are looking for a powerful and useful cleaning machine, then this is one model you should consider getting.

Performance: 4/5 stars

Quality: 4/5 stars

Design: 3/5 stars

Ease of use: 4/5 stars

Value for money: 5/5 stars