So you like the idea of good maneuverability and powerful suction? Well then, it may be time for you to explore the world of canister vacuums. This week, we will be taking a look at the Eureka Mighty Mite canister vacuum and all that it has to offer. Is this vacuum the right one for you? There’s only one way to find out!
A Versatile Canister with Reverse Suction
Eureka Mighty Mite Canister
The Eureka Mighty Mite is a versatile canister vacuum. Users have the option to suck up messes or blow them away by simply changing the location at which the hose is plugged in. The lightweight design and powerful motor create a canister vacuum that could be a good solution for almost any household.Check PriceContinue reading below to discover if the Eureka Mighty Mite is the best canister vacuum for you.
Pros
- The lightweight design of this vacuum allows for great maneuverability.
- The Eureka Mighty Mite has strong suction and a variety of cleaning tools, making it a versatile unit overall.
Cons
- Struggles more with larger debris types, especially on high pile carpets.
- Adjusting the variable suction is more difficult due to an adjustable slip ring on the hose.
Table of Contents
Design
The Eureka Mighty Mite canister vacuum has a slightly different design than most other canister vacuums we have reviewed. Instead of rounded edges and more of an egg-like shape, this canister vacuum offers sharper edges with more of a square shape.
Two large wheels and one smaller wheel allow the Mighty Mite to sit slightly elevated from the ground while in use. Additionally, these parts allow the vacuum to be moved around with ease. A hose connection point is at the front of the vacuum.
A blower port is located at the back of the unit, which is also where the extra cleaning tools can be stored.
On the hose is a “slip ring,” which can be adjusted for variable suction power. There are no buttons to change suction power, but this slip ring is designed to have the same effect.
Aesthetically speaking, this Eureka canister vacuum comes in a few different colors (blue, purple, and yellow), but for the purpose of this review we will be focusing on the yellow one. The yellow is bright and accented with black all along the vacuum, adding a little pop to the appeal of the unit as a whole.
- Accessories
- Blower port
- Power button
- Hose connection point
How It Cleans
The Eureka Mighty Mite canister vacuum cleans through direct suction applied to dirt / debris. A 12 amp motor powers the unit, and there is only one cleaning mode available.
After the vacuum has been turned on, the suction cannot be adjusted, and it will continue to clean with the same strength until the bag is full or the unit is turned off.
A couple of cleaning tools are also included with this vacuum cleaner, meaning users have the ability to clean both on and above ground. Regardless of the cleaning tool being used, the suction power is still the same.
Eureka also added a blower port to the tail end of the unit. You can attach the hose to the blower port and use the Eureka Mighty Mite for outside projects like blowing leaves, sawdust, or other debris together.
This Eureka canister vacuum utilizes a bagged design, storing dirt / debris inside of a bag instead of allowing it to float freely in a dust bin.
Size & Dimensions
The Eureka Mighty Mite is one of the smaller vacuums we have tested to date. Weighing in at 8.6 pounds, the total dimensions of this vacuum cleaner are 17.5″ x 11.3″ x 9″.
- Length – 17.5″
- Height – 11.3″ (canister), 54″ with hose
- Width – 9″
Accessories & Parts
This Eureka canister vacuum does not come with a ton of extra parts and accessories. The essentials are included, as well as a few extras:
- Hose
- Floor cleaning tool
- Crevice tool
- Dusting brush
- Dust bag
- Cleaning tools
- Hose
- Wand
Cleaning Tests
The following vacuum cleaner tests are designed to show how the Eureka Mighty Mite performs on different surfaces, picking up a variety of debris types. We test on three different floor types, including hardwood floors, low pile carpet, and high pile carpet. For each floor type we test the vacuum cleaner against:
- Rice – 3 ounces
- Dry Cereal – 1 ounce
- Kitty Litter – 3 ounces
- Sugar – 3 ounces
Each of the aforementioned debris types was spread across our testing lane. The base surface of our testing lane is an engineered hardwood floor. For our carpet tests, we slide in a low pile and high pile carpet insert on top of the hardwood floor.
Our vacuum cleaning process strives to be as consistent, fair, and true to real world use as possible. Our tests utilize the following procedure:
- Measure the weight of the testing debris and the weight of the empty vacuum debris container.
- Spread the respective debris type evenly across the central portion of the testing lane.
- Run the vacuum cleaner over the testing lane.
- Measure the weight of the now filled container and take notes on the cleaning performance.
Hardwood Floor
The Eureka Mighty Mite did well on the hardwood floor tests, for the most part. Rice, kitty litter, and sugar were all cleaned up to a level of 99% or higher. On the other hand, cereal was cleaned up to a level of 84%.
The main issue with cereal was the vacuum’s tendency to roll over it. On the hardwood floor, the cereal was pushed forward and some was vacuumed up along the way. Therefore, the final amount of cereal cleaned up was 84%.
Cereal
84%
Kitty Litter
99%
Rice
99%
Sugar
100%
Low Pile Carpet
The low pile carpet tests were actually less of a challenge for the Mighty Mite vacuum. Each one of the debris types was cleaned up at 94% or higher. Cereal was not an issue during testing due to the friction created between the cleaning head of the vacuum and the carpet itself.
The cleaning head was able to roll over top of the cereal, allowing the vacuum to suck up the cereal with ease.
Cereal
99%
Kitty Litter
99%
Rice
94%
Sugar
100%
High Pile Carpet
This Eureka vacuum showed tenacity when tackling the rice, kitty litter, and sugar, but struggled with the cereal. Unlike the low pile carpet, the Eureka sank into the high pile carpet. In other words, the cereal was then pushed on top of the vacuum’s floor head tool, leading to less being sucked up with each pass through the debris.
In order to remove all of the cereal I had to place the head of the vacuum directly on top of the cereal. This allowed the cereal to be sucked up versus being pushed around. That said, I would have liked to see the vacuum handle the cereal better while being pushed and pulled through our testing lane.
Cereal
63%
Kitty Litter
99%
Rice
100%
Sugar
96%
Usability
Setting up the Eureka Mighty Mite canister vacuum is quite simple. The process consists of unboxing the parts and piecing them together. This is a corded unit, so there is no charge time required before using this Eureka vacuum.
As we move onto using the unit, there is not much to it. Plug it in, turn it on, and get to cleaning.
One small usability change I would like to see on this vacuum is the power button. There is no image, wording, or indicator to let you know where the power button is.
Instead, it is just a small button located at the front of the vacuum that blends in with the yellow color scheme.
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After locating the power button, putting the unit to work was easy. Choose what cleaning tool you’d like to use, attach it, turn the Mighty Mite on, and let the suction power do the rest of the work for you.
In addition to using this unit as a vacuum, users can remove the hose from the front of the vacuum, connect it to the blower port on the back, and use the air to push dirt and debris away.
This could be beneficial for those who are frequently dealing with dirt and debris on porches, in garages, or in / around other areas of a home.
Maneuverability
Maneuverability is one of the better performance attributes on the Eureka Mighty Mite. A 7′ hose, 20′ cord, and extendable wand give this canister vacuum a large cleaning radius. Additionally, the unit rolls quite easily, allowing users to move it around without much effort at all.
- Weight: 8.6 pounds
- Power: 20′ cord
- Hose: 7′
- Motor: 12 amp
Overall, the maneuverability of this Eureka canister vacuum is essentially what you make of it.
The hose and wand combination acts almost like a handheld vacuum. Therefore, you are able to apply direct suction to the debris field and clean up the mess. You also have the option of pushing the cleaning head back and forth, which adds to the versatility of this unit as well.
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Finally, the lightweight design of the hose / wand combo allows users to clean above ground just as easy as on the ground. Whether you’re cleaning floors, drapes, or a taller piece of furniture, the Might Mite’s design makes maneuvering around convenient.
Maintenance
The following table indicates the frequency at which you will likely want to replace the various parts and components of the vacuum. The following replacement frequencies are what the manufacturer recommends. However, your individual experiences may vary.
Accessory / Part | Replacement Frequency | Replacement Cost |
---|---|---|
Dust bag | 1-2 months | Check Price |
Pre-motor filter | 3-4 months | Check Price |
HEPA filter | 6 months | Check Price |
Maintaining the Eureka Mighty Mite is fairly simple. There are three main parts that need to be changed:
- Dust bag – The dust bag should be emptied after every use and replaced every 1-2 months.
- Pre-motor filter – Needs to be replaced every 3-4 months.
- HEPA filter – Needs to be replaced every 6 months.
Based on Eureka’s replacement recommendations, users can expect to pay between $36 and $55 in annual maintenance costs.
Noise
All vacuum cleaner reviews on Modern Castle are put through our standard noise test. For this test, we use a sound meter to measure noise in terms of decibel level approximately 3′ away from the vacuum.
The Mighty Mite vacuum was definitely on the louder side at 81 decibels. It was the loudest canister vacuum we’ve tested to date. In fact, It’s 10 decibels louder than Miele’s C1 Compact and 4 decibels louder than the Bissell Hard Floor Expert.
Value
The Eureka Mighty Mite offers a good value, but there are some things I would’ve like to see done differently with this vacuum cleaner. The price is fair for the cleaning performance you receive, but the maintenance costs and replacement frequencies are a little higher than expected.
When moving into the lower price tier for a canister vacuum, annual maintenance costs should be closer to $10-$20 per year, not $36-55, in my opinion.
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The company’s warranty and return policy is about average. It offers a 1-year warranty on the vacuum in addition to a 30-day return policy (via Amazon).
Overall, this canister vacuum does offer a good value, but you will want to be sure you’re okay with the higher maintenance costs and bagged design.
Specifications
Below is a complete list of important specifications and features included on the Eureka Mighty Mite canister vacuum:
Specifications | |
---|---|
Type | Canister |
Manufacturer | Eureka |
Model | Mighty Mite |
Length (inches) | 17.5 |
Width (inches) | 9 |
Weight (pounds) | 8.6 |
Floor Type | All (indoor) |
Filter bag | 2 liters |
Cordless | No -20' cord |
Bagless | No |
Returns | Varies by retailer |
Warranty | 1 year |
Price | Check Price |
Who Should Buy the Eureka Mighty Mite?
The Eureka Mighty Mite’s name says it all. This vacuum is small, but powerful. If you’re looking for a portable vacuum with strong suction power and good levels of maneuverability all for an affordable price, then the Mighty Mite could be worth giving a shot.
I would recommend the Eureka Mighty Mite if you’re looking for the following features in a canister vacuum:
- Lightweight design – The Eureka Mighty Mite weighs less than 9 pounds, making it easy to move around for most users. Additionally, you are not pushing the main unit, so the 8.6 pound weight only comes into play when you have to pick up the vacuum’s base.
- Dust bag design – This Eureka vacuum uses a dust bag instead of a dust bin. Therefore, this is another piece you will have to replace / empty fairly often.
- Powerful suction – Powered by a 12 amp motor, this canister vacuum has a strong degree of suction and does a nice job of lifting most debris up.
For more information on the Eureka Mighty Mite visit here.
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Design - 90%
90%
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Performance - 94%
94%
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Quality - 88%
88%
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Usability - 92%
92%
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Value - 94%
94%
Summary
The Eureka Mighty Mite is a canister vacuum designed to make cleaning on and above ground easier for consumers. The lightweight build, powerful suction, and high degree of maneuverability all combine to create a vacuum that could benefit a wide variety of users. If you can’t decide between an upright or a handheld, the Eureka Mighty Mite canister vacuum could be an easy answer for your problems.