Table of Contents
I recently bought a cordless vacuum cleaner from GearBest – a Chinese online store crammed with bargains. I’ve bought from them before so I know what to expect.
The reason I got this Dibea F6 was that it could be used in different configurations. With its short head attachment I could hoover up crumbs from the dinner table and with the longer one I could do the floor or even get those cobwebs in the upper corners of my room.
Basically it seemed to combine the good bits of an upright hoover (i.e. not having to bend down to do the floors) with the functionality of a Dustbuster. Also it was cheap and looked cool in the pics, and I could use it without having it plugged in. Also – bagless.
So how did it turn out? That’s what I’m here to tell you! (Forgive me if I don’t go overboard about technical specifications and stuff. Unlike the normal crew who write for Best Carpet Cleaner Guide, I’m just a regular dude.)
Click here to see the full specs and latest price on GearBest.
Packaging
The Chinese stores have an interesting relationship with packaging. I’ve never had anything damaged during shipping but sometimes get things wrapped up as tight as those shrink-wrapped suitcases you see at airports. My Dibea came well-protected from the evil DHL.
“Many rolls of sellotape died to bring you this parcel.”
Accessories
Man, there was a lot of stuff inside that box!
The power cable, plug adaptors (looks like they got the whole of Europe covered), and various head attachments. And one of the worst manuals in the history of print.
First Impressions
I set about putting the thing together, and was impressed by how nicely things slotted together. The more I messed about the more I appreciated the cleverness of the design. This bit clicks into that bit, swapping out the other bit takes a few seconds, the dust lid twists open and closed, and basically it’s very complicated but in a way that is simplicity itself.
I think it’s quite elegant and I love the idea of these engineering geniuses copying the best bits from other models and putting their own spin on things.
Suction
Amidst all the nifty features and accessories, it’s easy to forget that the whole point of this is to suck things up. I made a couple of videos of me using it, but I don’t really want to have to make a Youtube account just to upload them. So I’ll describe the videos using TEXT instead.
ACT ONE
Interior. My kitchen.
We see a floor covered in bread crumbs from this morning’s messy breakfast. Then the camera lovingly glides up and down the magnificent purple shaft of the Dibea F6. Before the scene gets too erotic, we hear a whiny Mancunian voice trying to sound confident.
THE AUTHOR
Let’s take this baby for a spin!
The vacuum whirs into action, and its long neck begins sucking up bread like an anteater at work. The neck of the head twists left and right as directed, and soon the bread is gone.
There’s a pause as The Author realises how underwhelming this video actually is. Scene ends.
Okay so you get the idea – it does the basics just fine. Doesn’t spurt out rainbows or anything and isn’t as powerful as the premium Dyson models.
Next I set up the ‘crevice’ attachment, mostly because I love the word crevice. I used it on the sofa and it was really great at removing my girlfriend’s hair. By the way, how come she still has hair on her head when there’s so much of it on the couch?
Pros and Cons
- It seems to be pretty powerful. No complaints there.
- It’s a bit heavier than I expected. It’s probably not designed to clean a whole room, but you could, and it’d be a little workout for your arm.
- Emptying the dirt out is easy.
- There’s a HEPA filter inbuilt.
- It’s got some attachments I haven’t used yet. One is a microfibre cloth thing. My girlfriend and I had an argument about what you’re supposed to do with it. It’s probably obvious to anyone with a brain. (Update – it’s a kind of mop thing and it’s surprisingly effective on wooden floors!)
- Gives you about 30 minutes of use before it needs recharging. In practice you’ll be using it for spot cleaning little messes or working around the kitchen table after meals so that should be plenty.
- It’s about 76 decibels. Not quiet, but not excessive either. Normal hoover volume.
- The joint on the head attachment is great – very flexible and easy to manoeuvre around chair legs and whatnot.
- You turn it on like pulling a trigger on a gun – that’s fun. And the long handle has a grip like on a chainsaw. Not going to lie, but I did have a huge grin when WIELDING it for the first time!
Should You Buy One?
If you’re looking for something bagless, cordless, affordable, and with flexibility, then yes. Go right ahead!
My only real complaint is that there are so many attachments you have to store them somewhere. But complaining about getting extra features is really a First-World Problem.
Click here to see the full specs and latest price on GearBest.
Note – try the offer code alibuyF6 for an even bigger discount!