Ryobi Pet Stick Vac uses dual rollers for better cleaning
Ryobi has been in the stick vacuum business for many years. The Ryobi 18V One+ HP Brushless Pet Vacuum started out modestly, but has made several improvements aimed at improving performance.
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Part of HP's line of brushless products, Ryobi's Pet Stick Vac uses a brushless motor and high-performance batteries to generate better suction than previous designs. How much better?
With 75 inches of water lift, it has twice the suction power of earlier Ryobi models.
In order to improve the pickup efficiency of the vacuum cleaner, the double roller lever system is an improvement on the single roller system we used in the past. It starts with a plush roller in the front and a traditional brush roller in the back.
The combination is actually quite interesting. We vacuumed up several debris including sawdust/chips, wet sand, cereal and dog hair. Going one way, it's a definite improvement over Ryobi's earlier models, but pieces still remain. However, when we started running the head back and forth, the combination of fuzz first (forward) and then brush first (backward) cleaned up quickly.
One of the interesting things we learned while testing against the earlier model was seeing how the original model collected most of the dog hair, but actually pressed some of it into the fibers, leaving it behind. The Ryobi HP Brushless Pet Vacuum does not. It pulls the hairs away from the carpet and sucks them into the can with relative ease.
pet level
Ryobi's pet rating isn't just about the extra suction we've experienced. Vacuums as a whole are designed for pet owners. It includes everything from performance to accessories and even a filter so you can effectively collect pet hair and dander.
Whether it's pet hair or long human hair, you'll need to clean your rollers from time to time. Use a coin, flathead screwdriver, or other flat object to turn each roller and unlock it for easy access. From there, just slide it off the side and cut any hair that wraps around it before replacing it.
While the process is simple, I'd like to see the rollers available without tools.
run
If you buy the kit, you will get a 4.0Ah high-performance battery. Using the lowest setting on hardwood, you can get up to an hour of work done. Flipping to the highest power setting with both drums running, we were able to run for 17 minutes straight.
noise
While Ryobi doesn't specifically rate this vacuum as part of its Whisper line, it's surprisingly quiet. With an actual decibel rating of 73 dB(a), run it side by side with one of the original models and you can really hear the difference.
Ryobi 18V One+ HP Brushless Pet Stick Vacuum Design
Can
The jar has a capacity of 0.21 gallons (about 0.8 liters), which is slightly higher than the 0.5 liter jars we often see. Still, given this vacuum's ability to pick up debris, we'd like to see a higher-capacity version that would allow us to potentially clean an entire house without stopping to empty it.
On the topic of emptying, it's super easy. One button releases the jar from the front, and another button opens the base to pour the contents out.
The vacuum cleaner uses a cyclonic filtration system that captures up to 99.9% of allergens. However, hairs tend to stand up around the filter. If you can't get your fingers in and pull it out easily, just open the top and pull the filter out.
If you don't support something…
With the dual roller bar attachment at the end, the Ryobi HP Brushless Pet Vacuum can stand on its own – hallelujah! Feel free to place it in a corner when you're done vacuuming. If you still want it off the ground, you can install a wall mount that doesn't take up too much space.
Conversions and Accessories
Like many stick vacuums, you can remove the main head and use this model with attachments and keep it for a long distance or remove the shaft and use it as a handheld vacuum. Ryobi includes several standard accessories, as well as an electric mini stir stick. This accessory can more effectively clean vehicles, furniture, and other areas, especially when hair is involved.
Here's the full list that came with the vacuum:
- Double roller (main head)
- mini electric beater
- crevice tool
- microsewing tool
- dust brush
- wall mount
other highlights
- Front LED lights show debris on hard floors and illuminate dark areas
Ryobi 18V One+ HP Brushless Pet Vacuum Vacuum Cleaner Price
The model we're looking at is the PBLSV717, priced at $249 without battery or charger, or $299 with a 4.0Ah high-performance battery and charger. Either way, you get all the accessories.
Like all Ryobi products, it's available at Home Depot. However, it's not in stores as we write this, so plan to order it from Home Depot's website.
the bottom line
what is the difference! Between the higher suction power, larger capacity, and dual roller bar system, the Ryobi HP Brushless Pet Vacuum is more powerful than what we've seen from Ryobi in the past. It's more effective on both carpet and hard floors, and while any household will benefit from it, those of us who need to pick up long hair and pet hair will see the biggest improvement.
Check out Ryobi's full line of cleaning products here!
Specification
- Model: PBLSV717
- Power: Ryobi 18V One+ battery (recommended for high performance)
- Motor: Brushless
- Runtime: up to 60 minutes on 4.0Ah high-performance battery)
- Tank capacity: 0.21 gallons (0.8 liters)
- Weight: 8 lbs
- Warranty: 3 years