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Eureka Whirlwind Bagless Canister Vacuum Review

Tested using Methodology v1.2
Reviewed Aug 12, 2020 at 08:22 am
Latest change: Test bench update Dec 14, 2023 at 11:24 am
Eureka Whirlwind Bagless Canister Picture
8.3
Bare Floor
8.1
Low-Pile Carpet
7.6
High-Pile Carpet
7.4
Pets
7.7
Stairs
7.5
Cars
5.6
Workshop

The Eureka Whirlwind Bagless Canister is a great canister vacuum. Although it has a plasticky body, its simple design is fairly easy to maintain and there are virtually no recurring costs. It has exceptional performance on bare floors and, although it struggles to pick up small and large debris a bit more on high-pile carpet, it still does a good job overall. It also has good maneuverability, and if you want to reach into smaller spaces, you can use it in a different configuration with its soft bristle brush. However, it doesn't come with very many tools and brushes and its electrical cord is very short, which limits its range.

Our Verdict

8.3 Bare Floor

The Eureka Whirlwind Bagless Canister is excellent for bare floors. It's able to capture most pet hair and all small and large debris, which is fantastic. Although some users may not like its plastic body, it's fairly lightweight and has good maneuverability. It's also easy to maintain and if its parts are regularly maintained, there are virtually no recurring costs.

Pros
  • Picks up most pet hair on all surface types.
  • Able to clean up all small and large debris.
  • Easy to maintain and virtually no recurring costs.
  • Can be used in another configuration with its soft bristle brush.
Cons
  • Limited brush and tool set.
8.1 Low-Pile Carpet

The Eureka Whirlwind Bagless Canister is very good for low-pile carpet. It can pick up most pet hair and large debris, but it struggles a bit more with small debris. While the vacuum feels plasticky and a bit cheap, it's easy to maintain and it has virtually no recurring costs. It also has good maneuverability.

Pros
  • Picks up most pet hair on all surface types.
  • Cleans up most large debris and a good amount of small debris.
  • Easy to maintain and virtually no recurring costs.
  • Can be used in another configuration with its soft bristle brush.
Cons
  • Limited brush and tool set.
7.6 High-Pile Carpet

The Eureka Whirlwind Bagless Canister is good for high-pile carpet. It's able to pick up most pet hair but it struggles a lot more with small and large debris. That being said, it's mostly made from plastic, but it has good maneuverability and it's easy to maintain. As long as its filters are taken care of, you won't need to replace them either, which is nice.

Pros
  • Picks up most pet hair on all surface types.
  • Easy to maintain and virtually no recurring costs.
  • Can be used in another configuration with its soft bristle brush.
Cons
  • Struggles to pick up small and large debris.
  • Limited brush and tool set.
7.4 Pets

The Eureka Whirlwind Bagless Canister is great for pets. It picks up most pet hair on the first pass on all surface types, although hair can get stuck in its brush bristles. Although it has an okay plastic body, it's easy to maintain and if you take care of it, there are virtually no recurring costs. It also has good maneuverability.

Pros
  • Picks up most pet hair on all surface types.
  • Easy to maintain and virtually no recurring costs.
  • Can be used in another configuration with its soft bristle brush.
Cons
  • Limited brush and tool set.
7.7 Stairs

The Eureka Whirlwind Bagless Canister is good for stairs. It's a mostly plastic vacuum but it's lightweight, which makes it easier to carry around. It also has a long hose and with the vacuum head removed, you can use its smaller soft bristle brush as well. However, the electrical cord is quite short and you may have to switch outlets if you have a long staircase. That being said, it does an overall great job on all surface types.

Pros
  • Easy to maintain and virtually no recurring costs.
  • Can be used in another configuration with its soft bristle brush.
Cons
  • Limited brush and tool set.
  • Short electrical cord.
7.5 Cars

The Eureka Whirlwind Bagless Canister is good for cars. While its cord isn't that long, it's easily portable and its extension wand can help you get at hard-to-reach places. It has a small soft bristle brush configuration that you can use to clean car seats and floors, and it does an amazing job picking up pet hair as well as small and large debris from low-pile carpet. It has a plasticky body that some may find cheap or flimsy-feeling, and it takes up a bit of space when storing away. It also doesn't have a crevice tool.

Pros
  • Easy to maintain and virtually no recurring costs.
  • Can be used in another configuration with its soft bristle brush.
Cons
  • Limited brush and tool set.
  • Short electrical cord.
5.6 Workshop

Pros
  • Easy to maintain and virtually no recurring costs.
  • Can be used in another configuration with its soft bristle brush.
Cons
  • Limited brush and tool set.
  • 8.3 Bare Floor
  • 8.1 Low-Pile Carpet
  • 7.6 High-Pile Carpet
  • 7.4 Pets
  • 7.7 Stairs
  • 7.5 Cars
  • 5.6 Workshop
  1. Updated Dec 14, 2023: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.2. This update builds on our previous 'Suction' test with a new 'Airflow' test that more accurately measures a vacuum's ability to generate air movement. If you'd like to see an in-depth look at the reasoning and methodology behind this change, you can see our full changelog here..
  2. Updated Aug 22, 2022: This vacuum's suction force has been retested with a more accurate manometer. The test results for the 'Maximum Suction' and 'Normal Suction' fields have been updated. All relevant scores and text have been updated.
  3. Updated Aug 03, 2022: Converted to Test Bench 1.1.
  4. Updated May 02, 2022: Converted to Test Bench 1.0.
  5. Updated Aug 12, 2020: Review published.
  6. Updated Jul 30, 2020: Early access published.
  7. Updated Jul 22, 2020: Our testers have started testing this product.
  8. Updated Jul 20, 2020: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
  9. Updated Jul 07, 2020: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

Compared To Other Vacuums

The Eureka Whirlwind Bagless Canister is a great canister vacuum. Even though it doesn't have a lot of tools or features, it has virtually no recurring costs, and it has a better performance on all surface types than other canister vacuums like the Dyson Cinetic Big Ball or NaceCare HVR 200 Henry. On the downside, it has a very short cord length, which may be limiting, especially if you don't have a lot of outlets in your home or room.

Eureka Mighty Mite

The Eureka Whirlwind Bagless Canister and the Eureka Mighty Mite are similarly-performing canister vacuums. The Whirlwind feels better built, has less recurring costs, and offers better performance on low as well as high-pile carpet. However, the Mighty Mite is slightly better on bare floors. It also comes with more tools, it's a bit more portable, and it has a longer range. User maintenance is much easier, and its dirt compartment holds more.

Shark Navigator Lift-Away Deluxe [NV360, UV440]

The Eureka Whirlwind Bagless Canister is a better canister vacuum than the Shark Navigator Lift-Away Deluxe. The Eureka is easier to maintain, incurs lower recurring costs, is more portable, and has better maneuverability. It also outperforms the Shark on bare floors as well as low-pile carpet. However, the Shark does much better on high-pile carpet, its dirt compartment is larger, and it's easier to store.

Miele Complete C3

The Miele Complete C3 is a better overall canister vacuum than the Eureka Whirlwind Bagless Canister. the Miele is better built and easier to maintain. The Miele has a better performance on bare floors as well as high-pile carpet, and it's more maneuverable. Its dirt compartment is larger, and it comes with more tools and brushes. However, the Eureka is a bit better on low-pile carpet. It also doesn't have any recurring costs.

Miele Classic C1

The Miele Classic C1 and the Eureka Whirlwind Bagless Canister are similar canister vacuums, but the Miele is better overall. The Miele has better performance on low and high-pile carpet, it's more maneuverable, it comes with a couple more tools and brushes, and its dirt compartment is larger. It's also significantly better built, and much easier to maintain and store. In contrast, the Eureka has virtually no recurring costs, it's bagless, and more portable. It also performs a bit better on bare floors.

Dyson Cinetic Big Ball Animal [Animal Pro, Multi Floor]

The Eureka Whirlwind Bagless Canister is a better canister vacuum overall than the Dyson Cinetic Big Ball. The Eureka performs significantly better on all surface types, it has a better build quality, and it's more portable. However, the Dyson is more maneuverable, it comes with several tools and brushes, and it's easier to maintain.

NaceCare HVR 200 Henry

The NaceCare HVR 200 Henry is better than the Eureka Whirlwind Bagless Canister, though the Eureka is still a good choice if you want something cheap. The Eureka is bagless, resulting in minimal recurring costs, and is substantially lighter and smaller. It also has an easier time dealing with pet hair on bare floors. However, the NaceCare has a more potent suction motor, resulting in superior deep-cleaning performance on high-pile carpet and in cracks and crevices. It also feels much better-built, is more maneuverable, comes with more tools and brushes, and has a substantially longer range.

BISSELL Zing Bagless Canister

The Eureka Whirlwind Bagless Canister is a better bagless canister vacuum than the BISSELL Zing Bagless Canister. The Eureka is easier to maintain, incurs practically no recurring costs, and doesn't struggle nearly as much with large cereal-like debris. Conversely, the BISSELL is a little lighter, has a larger dirt compartment that requires less frequent emptying, and performs better overall on high-pile carpet.

Milwaukee M18 FUEL 3-in-1 Backpack Vacuum Kit

The Eureka Whirlwind Bagless Canister and Milwaukee M18 FUEL 3-in-1 Backpack Vacuum Kit are differently-designed vacuums for different use cases. The Milwaukee's cordless design and backpack/handheld form factor make it much easier to clean hard-to-reach areas. It feels much better built, has a considerably larger dustbin, and is fitted with an allergen-trapping HEPA filter. However, the Eureka's corded design ensures that you don't need to worry about running out of charge partway through a cleaning session. It also delivers better performance on low-pile carpet and has a floorhead with retractable bristles, allowing you to adapt to different surfaces on the fly.

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Test Results

perceptual testing image
Design
6.5
Design
Build Quality
Vacuum Type
Canister

The Eureka NEN110A Whirlwind Bagless Canister Vacuum Cleaner has an okay build quality. While the vacuum looks a little cheap, most of it is made from hard plastic that seems sturdy and durable. In contrast, the telescopic wand is made from metal, and the plastic wand has a rubber grip. On the downside, the clear plastic dirt compartment seems a little fragile and could break if dropped. The canister wheels also seem a bit flimsy. Still, it's better-built than comparably-priced alternatives like the BISSELL Zing Bagged Canister. In addition, assembling the vacuum is pretty intuitive, and it's easy to clip pieces together. Connecting the wand to the head can be a little tricky to click into place, though.

7.5
Design
User Maintenance

The Eureka Whirlwind Bagless Canister NEN110A is easy to maintain.

  • Dirt compartment:The dirt compartment can be opened from the top and emptied when the max line is reached.
  • Pre-motor filter: The pre-motor filters are located on the top cover of the dirt compartment and can be washed with water only on a monthly basis, depending on your usage.
  • Post-motor filter: This is located on the back body of the vacuum and you can access it by removing its cover. It also needs to be cleaned monthly with water only, depending on your usage.

You must air dry any part that's washed with water for 24 hours before using it again.

8.5
Design
Recurring Cost
Bag Part Number No bag
Filter Part Number NEN0101/NEN0106
HEPA Filter Part Number No HEPA Filter

The Eureka Whirlwind Bagless Canister has no recurring costs. Unlike the Eureka Mighty Mite, this vacuum has a bagless design, and as long as you properly maintain the filters, they don't need replacing. If you damage or misplace them, you can purchase replacement parts via Eureka's website.

5.9
Design
Storing
Height
41.34" (105.0 cm)
Width
10.63" (27.0 cm)
Depth
27.56" (70.0 cm)
Cord Storing
Automatic
On-Board Tool Storage
No
Vacuum Rack/Station
No

This canister vacuum is sub-par to store. It takes up a bit of space and there isn't on-board storage either. There's a button to retract the cord back into the canister.

7.5
Design
Dirt Compartment
Bagless
Yes
Volume
0.16 gal (0.60 L)
Full Indicator
Yes
Bag Included
No Bag Needed

The Eureka Whirlwind Bagless Canister's dirt compartment is satisfactory. It's not as large as other canister vacuums like the Dyson Cinetic Big Ball or the Miele Classic C1, so you may have to empty it more often. Still, there's a line to tell you when it needs to be emptied, which is nice.

Design
In The Box

  • Vacuum body
  • Telescopic metal wand
  • Hose
  • Pre-motor filter sponger
  • Pre-motor filter housing
  • Post-motor filter (foam)
  • Post-motor filter cover
  • Cyclone
  • Cyclone separation system
  • Dirt compartment
  • User guide

5.3
Design
Range
Cordless
No
Cord Length
13.85 ft (4.2 m)
Hose Length
5.41 ft (1.65 m)
Minimum Wand Length
2.69 ft (0.82 m)
Maximum Wand Length
3.71 ft (1.13 m)
Total Range
22.70 ft (6.92 m)

The Eureka Whirlwind Bagless Canister has a disappointing range. It has a short cord length and may require you to change outlets more frequently, which can be a little frustrating.

8.1
Design
Portability
Total Weight
10.80 lbs (4.90 kg)
Weight In Hand
0.95 lbs (0.43 kg)
Carrying handle
Yes

The Eureka NEN110A Whirlwind Bagless Canister Vacuum Cleaner has great portability. It's lighter than other canister vacuums like the NaceCare HVR 200 Henry or the Shark Navigator Lift-Away Deluxe. It also has a carrying handle to make it easier to carry with you to other rooms or floors.

0
Design
Battery
Minimum Battery Life
N/A
Maximum Battery Life
N/A
Recharge Time
N/A
Recharge Dock
No
Battery Life Indicator
No
Removable Batteries
No

The Eureka Whirlwind Bagless Canister is a corded vacuum that doesn't use a battery.

Design
Quality Of Life Features
Rotating Head
Yes
Power Adjustment
Yes
Self-Propelled
No
Headlights
No
Easy On/Off
Yes
Head Surface Type Adjustment
Manual

This vacuum has a couple of additional features. You can control the suction mode from the wand/handle, and the main head has two adjustment options that you can control by foot. In its first position, the bristles extend for hard floors while position two retracts the bristles so you can clean carpeted surfaces.

Design
Tools And Brushes
Brushroll
No
Brushroll On/Off
No
Removable Brushroll
No
Turbo Brush
No
Crevice Tool
No
Upholstery Tool
No
Soft Bristle Brush
Yes
Hard Bristle Brush
No
Extension Wand
Yes
Ceiling Fan Tool
No
Pet Grooming Tool
No

The Eureka Whirlwind Bagless Canister only comes with two tools. You can extend the wand itself, and there's also a soft bristle brush stuck on the handle/plastic wand that can be slid back to connect the handle to the wand.

Design
Alternative Configuration
Blower Mode
No

You can use this vacuum in another configuration by removing the vacuum head from the wand, and sliding this brush to the end of the wand.

Performance
9.9
Performance
Bare Floor Performance (Hardwood, Laminate, Tiles)
Setting Used Suction Control on "Bare Floor Logo", Head in Position 1 (bristle extended)
Large Debris at 0 gal (0L) 99%
Large Debris at 0.07 gal (0.25L) 100%
Large Debris at 0.2 gal (0.75L) N/A
Large Debris at 0.4 gal (1.5L) N/A
Large Debris at 0.8 gal (3L) N/A
Large Debris at 1.6 gal (6L) N/A
Small Debris at 0 gal (0L) 100%
Small Debris at 0.07 gal (0.25L) 100%
Small Debris at 0.2 gal (0.75L) N/A
Small Debris at 0.4 gal (1.5L) N/A
Small Debris at 0.8 gal (3L) N/A
Small Debris at 1.6 gal (6L) N/A

The Eureka Whirlwind Bagless Canister has fantastic performance on bare floors. It picks up pet hair, small debris, and large debris well. However, some hair can get stuck on the vacuum head's bristles.

8.4
Performance
Low-Pile Carpet Performance
Setting Used Suction Control on "Carpet Logo", Head in Position 2 (bristle retracted)
Large Debris at 0 gal (0L) 93%
Large Debris at 0.07 gal (0.25L) 92%
Large Debris at 0.2 gal (0.75L) N/A
Large Debris at 0.4 gal (1.5L) N/A
Large Debris at 0.8 gal (3L) N/A
Large Debris at 1.6 gal (6L) N/A
Small Debris at 0 gal (0L) 71%
Small Debris at 0.07 gal (0.25L) 68%
Small Debris at 0.2 gal (0.75L) N/A
Small Debris at 0.4 gal (1.5L) N/A
Small Debris at 0.8 gal (3L) N/A
Small Debris at 1.6 gal (6L) N/A

The Eureka Whirlwind Bagless Canister has excellent performance on low-pile carpet. It picks up almost all pet hair and large debris. It struggles just a bit more with small debris like baking soda, though.

7.3
Performance
High-Pile Carpet Performance
Setting Used Suction Control on "Carpet Logo", Head in Position 2 (bristle retracted)
Large Debris at 0 gal (0L) 61%
Large Debris at 0.07 gal (0.25L) 60%
Large Debris at 0.2 gal (0.75L) N/A
Large Debris at 0.4 gal (1.5L) N/A
Large Debris at 0.8 gal (3L) N/A
Large Debris at 1.6 gal (6L) N/A
Small Debris at 0 gal (0L) 50%
Small Debris at 0.07 gal (0.25L) 53%
Small Debris at 0.2 gal (0.75L) N/A
Small Debris at 0.4 gal (1.5L) N/A
Small Debris at 0.8 gal (3L) N/A
Small Debris at 1.6 gal (6L) N/A

The Eureka Whirlwind Bagless Canister has good performance on high-pile carpet. It's still able to pick up pet hair but it has a bit of a harder time with large debris. It also struggles to clean up small debris, but its performance stays consistent, even as the dirt compartment fills. If you're looking for a canister vacuum with an even better performance on high-pile carpet, check out the Miele Complete C3.

9.4
Performance
Pet Hair Floor Performance
Bare Floor
96%
Low-Pile Carpet
97%
High-Pile Carpet
96%
6.9
Performance
Suction
Maximum Hose Suction
81.7 inH₂O (20.34 kPa)
Maximum Head Suction
3.1 inH₂O (0.78 kPa)
Normal Head Suction
3.1 inH₂O (0.78 kPa)
Setting Used For Normal "On", (Position 1: Bristles extend for hard floor)
Hose Diameter
1.3" (3.2 cm)
8.6
Performance
Airflow
Maximum Hose Airflow
86.5 CFM (2.4 m³/min)
8.4
Performance
Noise
Bare Floor
72.3 dBA
Low-Pile Carpet
70.6 dBA
7.5
Performance
Maneuverability

The Eureka NEN110A Whirlwind Bagless Canister Vacuum Cleaner has good maneuverability. The vacuum feels light, and switching between floor settings located on the head is easy too. That being said, the power cord is pretty short so you may have to move to different outlets depending on how your home or room is configured. The wand can help you get under couches or tables, but you have to crouch a bit to reach. This vacuum doesn't come with a crevice or upholstery tool though, so you won't be able to clean tight spaces thoroughly. This vacuum also gets stuck on rug tassels if the bristles are retracted.

7.5
Performance
Pet Hair Furniture Performance
Sofa Pickup Post Test
Performance
Air Quality
Anti-Allergy Filter (HEPA)
No
8.0
Performance
Cracks
Wood Cracks Post Test
1.0
Performance
Stains
Stain Pickup Post Test
0
Performance
Water
Wet Compatible
No
Water Pickup Post Test
Automation
0
Automation
Physical Automation
Automatic Recharging
No
Automatic Bag Emptying
No
Pathing Algorithm
No Pathing Algorithm
Physical Boundary Markers
No
Scheduled Start Buttons
No
Cycle Control Buttons
No
Navigation Control Buttons
No

This vacuum doesn't have any automation features.

0
Automation
Companion App Automation
App Name
No App
iOS Availability
No
Android Availability
No
Software Boundary Markers (No Go Zones)
No
App Scheduled Start
No
App Cycle Control
No
Navigation Control within App
No