(8) Kenmore Sears Progressive Foam Filter CF1, Progressive & Whispertone, Panasonic Vacuum Cleaners,... Contact me if you are interested in larger wholesale quantities of this or other products. Includes 2 electrostatic motor safety filters made by EnviroCare Part#909 Fits original manufacture part numbers below: Sears #86883, 86880, ... more Find other Vacuum Accessories... With Free Shipping With Sales & DealsAvg. consumer rating = 84/100 This is the next generation of the OptiFlow vacuum from Panasonic and most consumers like it.   Consumer ratings for this machine are getting difficult to find but we searched hard and managed to find some.  They are provided in the table below.  In general they show that most owners are fairly satisfied with their purchase. Ratings Updated February 2016 4.2 stars out of 5 4.3 stars out of 5 4 stars out of 5 2 stars out of 5 4.7 stars out of 5 5 stars out of 5 There are almost 900 consumer ratings in the table above and these provide an overall average score of 84.4 out of 100. 

You can compare this to the scores of other canister vacuums in our Canister Vacuum Ratings table. Comments from owners also help to highlight areas of the vacuum that are liked and disliked.  Common likes and dislikes are provided below. PROS- Bag is easy to change- Easy to switch from hard floors to carpet cleaning- Retractable power cord- Quiet- Attachments are easy to access and work well.- A number of owners report that the OptiFlow technology works well and the machine does not lose suction as the bag fills.- Good suction- Rubber-like wheels are good on hard floors CONS- Canister is a bit heavy for some- Attachment lid has plastic hinges and can be stiff to open- Edge cleaning isn’t great This bagged canister is powered by a 12 amp motor and it uses Panasonic’s OptiFlow technology.  OptiFlow technology, according to Panasonic, involves using a double walled vacuum bag coupled with a special venting system to help maintain airflow through the machine’s vacuum bags. 

This ensures limited drop-off in vacuum suction as the bag fills.  You can learn more about the OptiFlow technology in this short marketing video here.  FYI – replacement bags for this machine are MC-V295H, Type C-19.samsung robot vacuum cleaner manual The vacuum nozzle on the MC-CG917 has been designed to clean both carpet and bare floors and it has a motorized brushbar that can be turned on and off.  vacuum cleaners available at walmartThe brushbar is wooden, tufted, and has two rows of brushes.  how to reuse vacuum cleaner bagA three-way switch on the vacuum handle turns the brushbar (as well as the vacuum) on and off. The switch has Off/Floor/Carpet settings – see drawing to the right.

The nozzle also has overload protection and a headlight on the front that helps when cleaning in dimly lit areas.  Overload protection will stop the nozzle motor should the brushbar be obstructed or jammed (the main vacuum motor will continue to run however).  This helps save the nozzle motor and the vacuum belt.  If overload protection kicks in, the vacuum needs to be turned off and unplugged and the jam or obstruction removed.  There is a reset button on top of the nozzle that can then be pushed to start the nozzle motor again. The nozzle also has a 14 inch wide cleaning path. A number of tools and attachments are included with the new Panasonic Optiflow:- Crevice tool- Floor brush- Combo tool that includes dusting brush and upholstery brush- Air turbine brush- Telescopic wand The crevice tool, floor brush and combo tool all store on-board the vacuum in a recessed and covered area on top of the canister.  The air turbine brush attaches to a caddy that can be snapped into place on the wand. 

The air turbine brush has an air powered brushbar (not as powerful as one driven by a motor) and it is good for cleaning furniture and stairs.  The vacuum also has a 6 foot non-electric hose.  The hose has the ability to swivel a full 360 degrees which helps to stop it from getting twisted. There are 2 filters on the vacuum.  A motor filter and an exhaust filter. The motor filter helps protect the motor from dust and debris and it cannot be cleaned.  It should be replaced at least once every year.  The exhaust filter on this unit provides HEPA level filtration.  HEPA filters are capable of removing the likes of pet dander, dust mite feces, pollen, ragweed, etc. and are a great feature for households with individuals who suffer from allergies or asthma. The HEPA filter (MC-V199H) cannot be washed and must be replaced when dirty. A number of vacuums on the market today have washable filter which tend to reduce costs over time.  Unfortunately both filters on the MC-CG917 need to be replaced when dirty.

The OptiFlow has the ability to adjust the distance between the nozzle and floor surface.  This can be useful when dealing with different pile carpet.  There are 4 settings which are controlled be a foot pedal on the nozzle: XLO – this is generally the best setting for bare floors and low pile carpetLO – for low to medium pile carpetMED – for medium to deep file carpetHI – best for shag or deep pile carpet Additional vacuum features include a 24 foot power cord, suction control (simply a hole that can be opened or closed to adjust suction), automatic power cord rewind, and a carrying handle on top of the canister.  The vacuum cleaner specifications indicate the unit weighs a hefty 25 lbs and the canister itself is said by a few owners to be rather heavy.  A rubber strip surrounding the canister cushions walls and furniture from bumps or scrapes, and owners report that the wheels are more rubber-like than those of the previous OptiFlow making it easier on hardwood floors.