Disclaimer: I was sent this Hoover H-FREE 500 Pets 3in1 Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner cleaner to review free of charge, but words and pictures are mine. This post contains affiliate links. See more information here. If you use the code WWW20 you can get 20% off at the Hoover Direct website. This is applicable to all products excluding bundles .
I have reviewed a few stick vacuums, but I always love a new one. You know you’re sliding into middle age when the thought of a new Hoover excites you more than the thought of a night out.
With two children and a dog, the floors in my house are rarely spotless, but I do try. I have robot vacuum cleaners upstairs and downstairs which keep the majority of the floor looking OK, and a bagged, corded vacuum cleaner which performs consistently well but is heavy and cumbersome, and so doesn’t get brought out as often as it should perhaps.
At the risk of sounding vacuum cleaner obsessed, a cordless stick vacuum is a must for spillages, crumbs and at the moment, pine needles. It is also useful to get to places the robot can’t reach like corners, and of course the stairs which are a complete pain to clean.
First impressions of the Hoover H-FREE 500 Pets 3in1 Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner
The Hoover H-FREE 500 (HF500) Pets 3in1 Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner (product number HF522UPT) is a slick looking, lightweight vacuum cleaner.
Weighing in at 2.2kg in total, or just 1.7kg in handheld mode (i.e. without the stick) it is easy to assemble and use right out of the box. It’s light enough for kids to use, and easy to manoeuvre.
On the top it has two lights to indicate battery level and mode (standard, hard flooring, auto and turbo mode) as well as an indicator to let you know when maintenance is needed.
It seems powerful compared to other stick vacuums, and the pet attachment is particularly brilliant for getting dog hair off the stairs!
What does the Hoover H-FREE 500 Pets 3in1 Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner come with?
The box contains: 1 x Multifunctional Lightweight Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner,1 x Charger Plug, 1 x Wall Mount, 1 x 2in1 Dusting/Upholstery Tool, 1 x 22 Volt Battery Pack and 1 x Pets Turbo Brush.
The main stick and brush head are both removable so you can use different accessories.
The Hoover comes with a separate crevice tool for hard to reach places, and a pets turbo brush with rotating bristles, specifically for lifting cat or dog hair from carpets and soft furnishings. These fit directly on to the handheld vacuum or on to the end of the stick.
There is also a 2in1 dusting/upholstery tool which is stored on the handheld unit so you can’t lose it; simply remove the stick and click it into place to use it.
Finally there is a hair removal tool with which to clean out the brush head.
Features of the Hoover HF500?
It can be packed away smaller for storage by removing the stick and then attaching the dust collector/battery to it, so it measures 69cm tall and can be stored in any cupboard. This makes it the perfect choice for people living in small spaces or with limited storage.
The LED lights on the brush head are a nice touch, allowing you to vacuum under furniture and in corners – or in the dark, should that be your thing.
It has different modes; turbo, which increases the suction, and carpet which makes the bristles rotate to bring up hair and dust from deep pile. With the additional pet turbo brush and crevice tool, it does everything you’d want from a vacuum cleaner without taking up much space or being overly cumbersome to carry around; even kids can do it!
How do you empty and clean the filter on the Hoover H-FREE 500?
The Hoover H-FREE 500 pets vacuum cleaner has a small dust compartment capacity of 0.45l, so it does need to be emptied each time it is used.
Twist the dust collector to remove it from the unit, and press the button to release the dust into a bin. You may also wish to remove the filter at the top and give the whole unit a good shake into the bin.
To clean the white filter, run it under the tap and leave to dry completely before re-using. You get a spare filter in the box so this isn’t a problem.
How does the Hoover H-FREE 500 perform?
My Hoover H-FREE 500 review vacuum cleaner is really powerful compared to other cordless vacuum cleaners I have reviewed, allowing you to pick up a lot of dirt and dust which other cleaners may have missed.
If you have pets with absolutely no respect for ‘no pets on the furniture’ rules, the pets turbo brush will make you feel sick with how much hair it can get out of a seemingly clean sofa. Blergh.
How long does the battery last on the Hoover H-FREE?
The battery can be removed or charged attached to the Hoover, it is a simple charger plug which goes into the side of the batter.
Fully charged over six hours, I have found that the battery lasts around 15 minutes when using turbo mode (which supplies additional suction) some of the time, although it is claimed that it will last up to 40 minutes maximum with the lowest settings and 8 when there are motorised accessories attached and the HF500 is in turbo mode.
This doesn’t seem like a huge amount of time, but I’ve found that it’s enough to go over the house from top to bottom each day in a three bedroom house; here, where there is already a robot vacuum doing the main flooring areas each day, there isn’t any need for more.
Longevity
I have been using this Hoover H-FREE 500 (HF500) Pets 3in1 Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner (product number HF522UPT) for over 11 months now so feel qualified to add to my original Hoover H-FREE 500 review, and I am really satisfied with how well it has lasted. I have cleaned but not replaced the filter and parts, and it still does an impressive job. The battery life – which I was worried wasn’t great to start with – hasn’t gone down which was my fear. I now use it as my main vacuum cleaner, and I am very pleased with its performance.
How much and where to buy
The H-FREE 500 Pets has an RRP of £229, and you can buy it directly from Hoover or from Amazon.
If you use the code WWW20 you can get 20% off at the Hoover Direct website.
This applies to everything except bundles. Happy Hoovering!