The Problem

Our new place has almost all dark hardwood flooring, which means that dust shows itself quickly and persistently throughout the day. Thus, keeping things tidy is an issue.

We have a nice electrostatic dry mop which picks up the dust well, but even if we sweep every day, during the sweeping the mop quickly creates families of dust bunnies that need to be corralled. Also, with things much larger than dust, the mop just pushes them around.

The Solution

Thus, we thought to augment the dry mop with a small cordless vacuum, which we might use in tandem. Toward that end, we have been very happy with (and are happy to recommend) the Mitsubishi “Cordless Tascal” HC-Z11. (I believe that “Tascal” comes from the Japanese verb tasukaru, “to be helpful”.)

Kicking The Tires

Choosing a cordless vacuum is not an endeavor to be entered into lightly, so, being prudent, we engaged the services of a professional vacuum-testing service.

Here, you can see our professional vacuum tester showing how to use the Tascal, displaying the classic vacuum pose. The Tascal is simplicity incarnate. Other than the hollow tube handle being extendible and removable from the main body, there are no switches, buttons, attachments, levers, settings, or adjustments. Simply move the handle from upright and it turns on. Return the handle to the upright and locked position, and you land in the “off” mode. It comes with a small docking station which serves as a charger

Walking with the Tascal is effortless

Our tester is able to exercise tremendous reach, and the Tascal is up to the task, even in tight confines. (And this is without the handle extended, no less.)

Maintenance

Our tester, perspiring from his toils, takes a
moment to discuss the finer points of vacuum care.

Checking the beater-brush is simple

A simple visual inspection confirms that all is well

Cautions

Note that this vacuum fills the role of “associate to the dry mop” in our home, and would not be appropriate to fill full-service, full-power needs. It likely makes little impact on anything but hard, flat surfaces. We have an additional, corded vacuum for “the big stuff”, and rugs.

The Tascal is no match for certain types of grime, such as might be leaked from a diaper. Such areas need manual intervention.

Since the unit turns off when the handle is raised, it's a bit inconvenient to vacuum right at your feet. You need to lean over to put the top of the handle far enough away to allow the unit to stay turned on.

The Buying Experience

We're thankful that we engaged the services of a professional early on. Initially, we were thinking of a small hand-held “dust-buster” type mini-vac. However, while at the store, our vacuum professional made it immediately clear that the Tascal was his recommended model. Despite the store's floor model not having a charged battery, he demonstrated the vacuum motions extensively, at length, and with great enthusiasm. I would even go so far to say that his desire to stop and go home could only be described as “exceedingly reluctant.” (Had the floor model actually worked, the store would have certainly had the cleanest floor in all of Kyoto.)

Seeing his enthusiasm for this model, we immediately abandoned our earlier thoughts and ordered a Cordless Tascal.

We have been pleased ever since.