Review: Electrolux Clean 600 (EP61C21SN1)

In our big test of premium stick vacuums not long ago, the Electrolux Hygienic 800 did really well. But it wasn’t cheap and it still lacked some accessories. Perhaps the Electrolux Clean 600 is an even better buy as you actually get more useful accessories for half the price!

Accesories

In addition to the large motorised floor attachment, the box includes a narrow crevice brush for tight spaces like radiators, a small brush for dusting small surfaces and a large brush for larger, delicate surfaces. And actually a motorised nozzle with rotating brush for furniture. This is a must if you have pets that shed hair on sofas and beds, and was actually something that was missing from the more expensive model. It also comes with a charger and a simple wall mount. A downgrade from the more expensive model’s excellent floor stand.

You can also purchase a range of accessories if you find something missing. These include the rotating mop attachment that was the centrepiece of the Hygenic 800 and the mop bucket that it was missing. You can also buy a special car cleaning kit, a smart dusting cloth and even the missing floor stand.

Practical use

At just the right distance from the handle are the two control buttons. One is simply the power button and the other controls the suction power. It can be set to low, medium or maximum, but this cheaper model lacks an auto mode that automatically adjusts the suction power to the surface. The machine is among the lighter ones we tested, so it was no problem to clean with it even for extended periods. According to the manufacturer, this means 40 minutes at the lowest power, while we measured 8.5 minutes at the highest power. Electrolux is actually quite honest about its runtime. Most of us probably run at the medium level anyway, and then you end up somewhere around 25 minutes, which is reasonable.The motorised attachments have a large, clear button to release them and the same goes for the handle when you want to use it as a hand vacuum. When you want to release the floor attachment, there’s even a foot pedal so you don’t have to bend down. The smaller tools can be pushed and pulled without much effort.

 

To remove the dust container, simply press a button and pull it out. Then point the underside into the dust container and open the lid and most of it falls straight down. There are no annoying nooks and crannies where dust gets stuck, so it’s easy to get it out. The two filters are easy to pull off and can fortunately be cleaned under the tap. However, one should be replaced once a year and the other twice a year.

Vacuum cleaning

We were pleasantly surprised by the motorised mouthpiece. They usually have trouble being effective on both hard floors and carpets. But there was hardly a speck of dust left on the floor and the carpet was as good as new, even though we left the cats there a little extra before the test. As one of the few mouthpieces we tested, it didn’t get stuck in our short-haired carpet either. If there’s one complaint, it’s that many of the hairs actually get stuck in the brush. This is where many competitors have solutions to minimise tangles. Fortunately, it’s just a two-handed operation to loosen the brush and remove the hairs manually. The LED light is better than nothing, but it doesn’t illuminate dust as effectively as Dyson’s laser.

Even the furniture nozzle had issues with tangled hairs, which is almost a little strange as it was designed to remove hair from upholstered furniture. It’s quite effective, but not as good as Dyson’s super nozzle. Fortunately, you can also detach the brush and rake the hairs off. The small dust nozzle is relatively effective, while the large one is probably better for crumbs than dust.

Conclusion

Given that the Electrolux Clean 600 is only half the price of the previously mentioned Hygienic 800, we didn’t have high expectations. But it turns out that it cleans really well on both hard floors and carpets. It’s lightweight so your hand doesn’t get tired, but it could have had a longer battery life. However, there are better choices if you have pets or long-haired family members, as hair gets tangled in the motor brush attachments. However, they are easy to clean. Emptying the dust container is also easy and we like that you can clean the filters under the tap. The Clean 600 is a really good basic vacuum cleaner that includes the most necessary accessories.