For years, I thought my home was clean. I vacuumed weekly, ran a tight ship, and believed my trusty old vacuum was doing its job. Then came the reality check. A ray of afternoon sun hit the living room rug just right, illuminating a constellation of dust motes and fine pet hairs that my vacuum had clearly abandoned. It was a disheartening moment for any proud homeowner. That barely-visible layer of grime is the silent enemy; it dulls the vibrancy of your carpets, triggers allergies, and quietly announces that your current cleaning arsenal isn’t up to the task. It’s a frustrating cycle of cleaning without achieving a true, deep-down freshness. This is the exact problem that sends people searching for a machine with more power, more intelligence, and more versatility—a machine like the EUREKA NEU800 Upright Vacuum Cleaner Lift-Away, which promises to end that cycle for good.
- QuickShift Technology: Eureka OmniVerse keeps the powerful suction power of traditional vacuums while also including a movable canister, improving your cleaning experience through innovative design...
- Anti Hair Wrap: The vacuum cleaner's Tangle-Free Technology is intended to keep the brush roll from becoming tangled with hair, fibers, pet hair, or other debris and reduces the need for frequent...
What to Consider Before Buying an Upright Vacuum Cleaner
An upright vacuum cleaner is more than just an appliance; it’s a key solution for maintaining a healthy and pristine living environment. For those battling persistent pet hair, deep-pile carpets that trap debris, or family members with allergies, a high-performance upright is non-negotiable. Its main benefits lie in its powerful, motorized brush rolls that agitate carpet fibres to dislodge embedded dirt, and its typically larger dustbin capacity, which means fewer interruptions. Unlike smaller stick vacuums, a corded upright provides unrelenting, powerful suction that doesn’t fade, ensuring a consistent deep clean from start to finish. It’s the workhorse of the vacuum world, designed for serious, whole-house cleaning.
The ideal customer for this type of product is someone facing the challenges of medium to large living spaces, particularly those with significant carpeted areas and pets. If you find your current vacuum leaves behind a trail of pet fur or fails to lift the pile on your rugs, an upright is your answer. However, it might not be suitable for those who live in very small apartments with limited storage space, or for individuals who have difficulty maneuvering a heavier machine. For them, a lightweight cordless stick vacuum might be a more practical, albeit less powerful, alternative for quick clean-ups.
Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:
- Dimensions & Space: Upright vacuums are larger than their stick or canister counterparts. Consider the machine’s footprint (22L x 25.7W x 119.3H cm for the Eureka NEU800) and ensure you have a dedicated cupboard or corner for storage. Also, think about its weight (8.33 kg); while this model is reasonably agile, it’s a factor for carrying it up and down stairs if you don’t use the Lift-Away feature.
- Capacity/Performance: This is where uprights shine. The EUREKA NEU800 Upright Vacuum Cleaner Lift-Away boasts a respectable 1.3-litre dustbin, reducing the frequency of emptying. More importantly, look at the power, rated here at 850 watts. Features like a Dual Cyclone system are critical as they maintain suction power even as the bin fills, which is a common failing point for lesser models.
- Materials & Durability: Look for robust construction, primarily from high-grade ABS plastics that can withstand accidental bumps. Pay attention to the smaller components, as some user feedback points to potential weak spots like the wheels on certain models. While a plastic body keeps the vacuum lightweight, ensure it doesn’t feel flimsy or cheap.
- Ease of Use & Maintenance: A great vacuum shouldn’t be a chore to maintain. Look for features like washable filters, as this saves money on replacements over the product’s lifetime. An easy-to-empty dustbin, onboard tool storage, a long power cord (the 9-metre cord on this model is a huge plus), and features like LED headlights all contribute to a more seamless cleaning experience.
Choosing the right upright vacuum is about balancing raw power with everyday usability to reclaim your home from dirt and allergens.
While the EUREKA NEU800 Upright Vacuum Cleaner Lift-Away is an excellent choice, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. For a broader look at all the top models, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:
- HIGH PERFORMANCE, PORTABLE CORDED UPRIGHT VACUUM CLEANER - Multi-cyclonic performance with lightweight design to easily clean around the home
- 【600W/60Kpa Powerful Suction】This corded vacuum cleaner features a 600W motor, delivering strong suction power up to 60Kpa. It effectively removes dust, dirt, and debris from various surfaces,...
- Lightweight & Compact Design: Designed for effortless maneuverability, this upright vacuum cleaner makes cleaning stairs and navigating tight or large spaces a breeze. Its compact, upright build...
First Impressions: Unboxing a Modern Cleaning Powerhouse
Upon opening the box of the EUREKA NEU800 Upright Vacuum Cleaner Lift-Away, we were met with neatly organized components, a sign of thoughtful packaging. Assembly was straightforward, taking just a few minutes with the help of a screwdriver to secure the handle, a minor step that adds to the unit’s overall sturdiness. The black and purple colour scheme gives it a modern, dynamic look that stands out from the monotonous grey of many competitors. In hand, the main unit feels solid without being excessively heavy. The push-button controls are intuitive and well-placed. What immediately sets it apart is the prominent ‘Lift-Away’ release button. This isn’t just another upright; it’s a modular system designed for versatility. The promise of its QuickShift Technology and Anti Hair Wrap features felt like a direct answer to the most common frustrations we hear from homeowners, especially those with pets and long-haired family members.
What We Like
- Incredibly powerful suction that provides a true deep clean on carpets.
- Innovative Lift-Away feature offers excellent versatility for stairs and above-floor cleaning.
- Anti Hair Wrap technology genuinely reduces brush roll maintenance.
- Extra-long 9-metre power cord provides fantastic reach across large rooms.
Drawbacks
- Extreme suction can make it physically difficult to push on some dense or high-pile carpets.
- Some users have reported concerns about the long-term durability of smaller components like the front wheels.
A Deep Dive into the EUREKA NEU800’s Cleaning Prowess
A vacuum’s worth is measured in its performance, and after extensive testing in a busy household complete with a dog, two cats, and carpets that have seen better days, we’ve put the EUREKA NEU800 Upright Vacuum Cleaner Lift-Away through its paces. It’s a machine of impressive, and sometimes surprising, contrasts.
The Heart of the Machine: Unrelenting Suction Power
Let’s be unequivocally clear: the suction on this vacuum is phenomenal. The 850-watt dual-motor system, combined with the Dual Cyclone technology, creates a level of pull that we’ve rarely seen outside of premium, high-priced brands. On our main low-pile living room carpet, the first pass was genuinely shocking. We had vacuumed with our old model just two days prior, yet the 1.3-litre dustbin was a quarter full of fine dust, dander, and embedded pet hair after just one room. As one user aptly put it, we were “horrified at how much came out of a ‘clean’ carpet!” The EUREKA NEU800 Upright Vacuum Cleaner Lift-Away doesn’t just clean the surface; it feels like it’s pulling dirt up from the underlay. The LED headlights, which can sometimes feel like a gimmick, proved their worth by illuminating dust bunnies under the coffee table we’d been missing for weeks.
However, this raw power is a double-edged sword. This sentiment was echoed in numerous user comments and confirmed in our testing. On a thicker, plusher bedroom carpet, the suction created such a strong seal that pushing the vacuum required a significant amount of physical effort. It’s a workout. While some users with less physical strength found this to be a deal-breaker, we found that once you “get it rolling,” as one reviewer noted, the results are worth the effort. The machine has two power levels, accessible via a simple switch on the handle, which helps mitigate this on different surfaces. On hard floors, the brush roll speed is reduced, and it glides beautifully, picking up everything from spilled cereal to fine dust along the baseboards with ease. But be warned: if you have deep, foam-backed, or delicate carpets, you may find the power to be too much. For most standard carpets and all hard floors, this vacuum’s aggressive cleaning power is its greatest asset.
Game-Changing Versatility: The Lift-Away & QuickShift System
This is where the EUREKA NEU800 Upright Vacuum Cleaner Lift-Away truly distinguishes itself from traditional uprights. With the press of a button, the main canister and motor unit detach from the floor head, transforming the machine into a portable, handheld canister vacuum. This “Lift-Away” or “QuickShift” technology is, frankly, a game-changer for whole-house cleaning. Our staircase, once a dreaded chore involving a heavy vacuum balanced precariously on each step, became simple to clean. Carrying the lightweight pod in one hand and using the wand with the Pet Turbo Brush in the other, we were able to deep-clean the carpeted stairs in half the time and with none of the usual awkwardness.
This versatility extends beyond stairs. Attaching the crevice tool to the long 2.5-meter hose allowed us to finally reach the cobwebs in the ceiling corners and the dust along the curtain rails. We took the pod out to the car, and it made short work of cleaning the upholstery and floor mats. Several users highlighted this as the feature that sold them on the vacuum, calling it “incredibly versatile” and “perfect for cleaning stairs and other hard-to-reach areas.” While one reviewer found attaching the hose a little “annoying,” we quickly got the hang of it. The freedom it provides completely changes the dynamic of cleaning, turning one powerful floor machine into a comprehensive, multi-surface cleaning system that can tackle virtually any task you throw at it.
A Pet Owner’s Dream: Anti-Hair Wrap and HEPA Filtration
Living with pets means living with a constant barrage of hair. It weaves itself into carpets, clings to upholstery, and creates “fur bunnies” in every corner. The EUREKA NEU800 Upright Vacuum Cleaner Lift-Away is explicitly designed to combat this. The star of the show is the Anti Hair Wrap technology in the main brush roll. After several full-house cleaning sessions, we turned the vacuum over for the dreaded hair-cutting ceremony and were stunned. There were only a few strands wrapped around the brush, a stark contrast to our old vacuum which would be completely choked with hair after a single room. For families with long-haired members or shedding pets, this feature alone could save hours of frustrating maintenance over the life of the machine.
The included Pet Turbo Brush is another powerful ally. It’s a smaller, air-driven handheld tool with a spinning brush roll that is ruthlessly effective at lifting stubborn pet hair from sofas, pet beds, and car seats. Combined with the vacuum’s strong suction, it restored the fabric on our dog’s favourite armchair to a near-original state. Beyond visible hair, the Complete Seal HEPA Technology is crucial for allergy sufferers. It captures over 99.9% of dust and allergens, trapping them inside the vacuum instead of releasing them back into the air. We noticed a tangible improvement in air quality after cleaning, with less dust settling on surfaces in the following days. For homes where pets and allergies are a concern, these specialised features deliver exceptional value and peace of mind.
What Other Users Are Saying
The general consensus among users is one of pleasant surprise, particularly regarding the vacuum’s power-to-price ratio. Many, like one reviewer who bought it for £140, were “dubious” at first but became converts after seeing the sheer amount of dirt it pulled from their carpets. Phrases like “incredibly powerful suction,” “very effective,” and “brilliant” are common threads in positive feedback. The long 9-metre cord is almost universally praised, with one user noting they could clean their “whole bungalow in one go” without changing sockets.
However, the feedback isn’t without its criticisms, which provide a balanced picture. The most frequent complaint is a direct result of the vacuum’s main strength: its powerful suction makes it “hard to push on the carpet.” This is a crucial point for potential buyers to consider. A more concerning issue was raised by a couple of users who experienced problems with the durability of the front wheels, with one stating they had “worn away within 6 months,” causing the vacuum head to scratch their floors. It is important to note, however, that this user also updated their review to praise the company’s “surprisingly quick” customer support, which sent a brand-new replacement immediately. This suggests that while there may be occasional quality control issues, the manufacturer stands behind its product.
How Does the EUREKA NEU800 Compare to the Competition?
The EUREKA NEU800 Upright Vacuum Cleaner Lift-Away enters a competitive market dominated by well-known brands. While it holds its own with unique strengths, it’s important to see how it stacks up against some popular alternatives, especially for buyers with different priorities.
1. Shark NV602UKT Corded Upright Lift-Away Pet Vacuum
- TRANSFORMS INTO A PORTABLE VACUUM: Go portable with Lift-Away to comfortably clean stairs, sofas, up high & more
- 2 FLOOR MODES: Switch between carpet & hard floor modes with controls on the handle & adjustable suction control
The Shark NV602UKT is perhaps the most direct competitor, hailing from the brand that popularised the “Lift-Away” concept. It offers a very similar feature set: Lift-Away technology, a pet tool, LED headlights, and anti-allergen seal technology. The Shark has a slightly smaller dustbin (1.1L vs. Eureka’s 1.3L) and a slightly shorter cord (8m vs. Eureka’s 9m). The main differentiator often comes down to brand reputation and specific tool design. Buyers who prioritise the established Shark ecosystem and are willing to potentially pay a bit more for the brand name might prefer the NV602UKT. The EUREKA NEU800 Upright Vacuum Cleaner Lift-Away, however, often presents a more compelling value proposition with slightly better on-paper specs in key areas like capacity and reach.
2. Hoover HU300PT Upright Vacuum Pet Hair Attachment
- PERFECT FOR PET OWNERS: This pet upright vacuum cleaner comes with a mini turbo brush to help remove stubborn pet hairs from cushions, sofas and carpets. Rotating bristles penetrate deeply into the...
- LIGHTWEIGHT: Weighing less than 5 kg in use, this upright vacuum cleaner is easy to lift, manoeuvre and steer around your home.
The Hoover HU300PT takes a more traditional approach. It’s an agile, steerable upright that forgoes the Lift-Away feature in favour of a lightweight, all-in-one design. Its key selling point is its “No Loss of Suction” multi-cyclonic technology and its focus on being lightweight and easy to manoeuvre. It’s a strong performer for pet hair, but it lacks the transformational versatility of the Eureka’s detachable pod for cleaning stairs, cars, or high places. Consumers who want a simple, powerful, and maneuverable upright for floor cleaning and are less concerned with above-floor tasks might find the Hoover to be a better fit. The Eureka is for those who want one machine to do it all.
3. Shark NZ801UK Corded Upright Vacuum Anti Hair Wrap DuoClean
- ANTI HAIR WRAP TECHNOLOGY: Removes hair from the brush-roll as you clean. Perfect for long, short & pet hair.
- FOR ALL FLOORS: DuoClean floorhead glides from carpets to hard floors, with 2 motorised brush-rolls in 1 floorhead. LED headlights illuminate hidden dust & hair.
This higher-end Shark model introduces two key technologies not found on the Eureka: DuoClean and Powered Lift-Away. DuoClean features two brush rolls in one head—a soft front roller for hard floors and a traditional bristle brush for carpets—offering superior performance on mixed flooring types. Powered Lift-Away means the main brush head continues to receive power and spin even when the pod is detached, which is excellent for cleaning under furniture. While it also has Anti-Hair Wrap technology, it comes with a smaller 0.83L dustbin. This is a more premium option for users who want the absolute latest in floor-cleaning technology and are willing to pay for it. The EUREKA NEU800 Upright Vacuum Cleaner Lift-Away offers 90% of the functionality for what is often a significantly lower price point, making it the superior choice for value-conscious buyers.
The Final Verdict: Is the EUREKA NEU800 Upright Vacuum Cleaner Lift-Away Right for You?
After thorough testing and analysis, the EUREKA NEU800 Upright Vacuum Cleaner Lift-Away emerges as a formidable contender in the upright vacuum market, offering incredible value and power. Its suction is brutally effective, providing a deep clean that can genuinely revitalise tired carpets. The Lift-Away design is executed brilliantly, transforming it from a mere floor cleaner into an all-purpose home detailing tool that makes short work of stairs, upholstery, and high-reach areas. For pet owners, the combination of the Anti-Hair Wrap brush and the Pet Turbo tool is a certified game-changer.
It’s not without its quirks, namely the sheer power that can make it a challenge to push on some carpets. However, for those seeking uncompromising cleaning performance without the premium price tag of its main competitors, this vacuum is an absolute powerhouse. We recommend it for homeowners with mostly hard floors or low-to-medium pile carpets who are desperate for a true deep clean and value the versatility of a modular design. If you’re ready to see what’s really lurking in your carpets and want a machine that can clean every surface of your home, the EUREKA NEU800 Upright Vacuum Cleaner Lift-Away is an outstanding choice that you can check out right here.
Last update on 2025-11-09 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API