If you have laminate or hardwood floors, the biggest headache would be keeping these floors dust free.
One option would be whipping out an upright to clean up these pesky dust bunnies. Another option would be to buy a cordless stick vacuum to get rid of the cords.
Good compromise
But if you don’t mind the cords, the Sanitaire SC3683A would a good compromise because it doesn’t weigh as much as a full sized upright. And you won’t risk running out of power in the middle of a cleaning session.
This is a canister vacuum designed to clean hard floor surfaces as well as area rugs (and very low pile carpet).
If you’re home doesn’t have carpet or has very minimal carpet this machine may be the lightweight solution you are looking for.
Good quality product
By the way, Sanitaire is owned by Electrolux which has been in business for several decades so the quality of this product is pretty good.
Take note that this is a bagged vacuum so you will have to buy replacement bags but they’re fairly cheap at less than $1 per bag.
And while it doesn’t come with a HEPA filter, it has a sealed system that prevents most of the allergens from coming back out at the exhaust. Also, you can purchase HEPA filters separately for less than $20 if you or any family member in your home has allergies.
A quick look at the features
- A lightweight canister that only weighs 10 pouncs
- Has a 20 foot power cord (sorry, no cord rewind)
- Uses a sealed bag system (you can purchase HEPA filters separately)
- Has a 7 foot hose and a telescopic wand
- 2 year warranty on parts and labor
Pros
- As light as a cordless vacuum
- Decent reach when you combine the 7 foot hose and telescopic wand (approximately 12 to 14 reach above the floor)
- You can replace the standard filter with a HEPA filter
- Cheap for a commercial grade vacuum
- Great for people with asthma because it is a bagged vacuum and uses a sealed system
- Comes with a shoulder strap
- Strong motor
Cons
- You can’t use this to deep clean carpet
- Short power cord
- Durability is a concern because of the plastic tools/attachments
What to expect from this lightweight canister?
Compact and easy to maneuver would be my first impression when I saw this vacuum.
And when you look at the stats, it weighs only 10 pounds which is the same as a cordless vacuum but remember that this has a 20 foot cord.
Great for bare floor
This machine is specifically designed for bare floor surfaces. When you look at the main floor attachment, it doesn’t have a motorized brush roll that you’ll need to agitate and deep clean carpet.
If your home has hardwood surfaces that are prone to scratches, this canister is a great option because there is very little risk of scratching it because there are no brushes.
No motorized brush
It relies solely on suction to get the job done. And there is decent suction (135 cubic feet per minute) from the 10 amp motor.
The floor tool also can be used on low pile carpet and area rugs. You will need to push a lever to push down the brush for agitation. It won’t deep clean though and only pickup surface dirt.
Aside from the floor tool, it comes with other attachments for above the floor cleaning.
These tools include a crevice tool, dusting brush and upholstery nozzle. So you can pretty much cleanup your whole home using this machine.
It doesn’t come with a HEPA filter but you have the option of purchasing one if you are concerned with allergens or have a condition like asthma. The HEPA filters will cost less than $20.
Bare Floor Performance
This machine will pick up large debris like cheerios and fine stuff like dust on bare floor without any problems thanks to the strong 10 amp motor (1,200 watts) that has 130 cfm of suction.
It won’t match a Shark Rocket or a Dyson DC59 but since you’re only using this on bare floor it should be enough.
Carpet Performance
Don’t expect this to deep clean carpet because it doesn’t have a motorized brush or the suction to do so. Only use this on very low pile carpet or area rugs.
Upholstery Performance
I mentioned earlier that the SC3683A comes with an upholstery nozzle which is great for cleaning fabric upholstery. If you have leather upholstery, you can use the crevice or dusting brush to remove loose dirt or dust.
Pet Hair Removal
This machine can also clean up pet hair but only on bare floor, furniture and upholstery. Don’t expect it to pick up hair in carpet.
Attachments and Accessories
It comes with a total of 4 attachments (see below) along with a 7 foot hose and telescopic wand.
Cord Length
Cord is around 20 feet long but it does not have any cord rewind.
Filter Cleanup and Maintenance
There are no filters to clean since this is a bagged vacuum but you have to replace the HEPA filter once every 6 months.
Warranty
Sanitaire backs this up with a 2 year warranty.
Product Specifications
| Attachments | 1 1/2" diameter curved aluminum wand bare floor tool dusting brush Crevice tool |
| Cord Length | 20 feet |
| Auto Cord Rewind |  |
| Motorized brush | |
| Brush on/off switch | |
| Swivel | |
| Headlight | |
| Filter clogged indicator | |
| Full bin indicator | |
| Bagless | |
| Multi-surface |  |
| Self propelled | |
| Noise level | 71 Db |
| Net weight | 10 pounds |
| Shipping weight | 14.9 pounds |
| Hose length | 7 feet |
| Cleaning Path | 10" |
| Dirt capacity | 2.6 Qt |
| Filter type | Bagged + HEPA filtration |
| Power | 10 amps |
| Voltage | 120 volts |
| Manufactured in | USA |
| Warranty | 2 years |
Customer Reviews
When you look at reviews in Amazon, consumers who gave high ratings loved the combination of compact size, versatility and suction power. Even if it doesn’t match the suction of a Dyson, it still did a decent job on bare floor surfaces.
One consumer in particular said that when you will be better off getting this red commercial grade vacuum which costs $40 more because it has a stronger motor and a better quality hose.
This versatile canister is capable of cleaning stairs and area rugs. The HEPA filter is a nice addition particularly for people who have asthma or any respiratory ailment.
It also comes with a shoulder strap to free up your hands in doing other stuff.
The downsides of this canister include the short power cord that only is 20 feet long and the floor tool that doesn’t have big wheels to help in terms of maneuverability. Another complaint is the quality, several consumers complained about the plastic quality being poor because of its tendency to break prematurely or fall off if you don’t fasten it securely.
Overall despite the complaints, a majority of consumers still would recommend this canister vacuum for homes with bare floor and some area rugs because of its weight, compact size and decent suction.
The plastic attachments does concern me long term because it can crack if you’re not careful.
Where can I buy this?
You can buy this canister vacuum from Amazon for less than $110. And it’ll be eligible for the 2-day free shipping if you join Prime.
To wrap up
This product would be great budget option for small to medium sized homes with mostly bare floor (hardwood, tile, etc.).
It has just enough suction to clean up dust bunnies and allergens that are oftentimes a headache on hardwood surfaces.
The floor tool is small enough to reach deep into areas under the bed or sofa where an upright vacuum would have trouble fitting in, too bad though it doesn’t have a headlight.
It also has a 7-foot hose and telescopic wand plus 3 other attachments and make this a great above the floor cleaner.
Since this advertised as a commercial vacuum, it should be able to withstand the rigors of everyday cleaning for years to come. One consumer said that you should pick up this instead of the non-commercial version because the attachments feels more solid.
The bottom line is this lightweight canister vacuum is a great option for homes with mostly bare floor surfaces.
