Eureka NEC180 RapidClean Pro, REVIEW

By William Marcus | February 12, 2020

A Hands-On Review of the Eureka NEC180 RapidClean Pro Cordless Vacuum!

In this product review I will be discussing the features, build quality, user-friendliness, test results and my professional opinion of the Eureka NEC180 RapidClean Pro Cordless Vacuum.

Product Description

The Eureka NEC180 RapidClean Pro was designed to offer a high quality machine with efficient operation and cord-free convenience at a modest price. It is equipped with features for cleaning hardwood, tile, Vinyl, laminate and low pile carpet and area rugs.

Eureka – the Company

Based in Detroit, Michigan, USA Eureka® has been manufacturing a wide variety of floor care products for over 100 years.

The brand is generally associated with good quality and affordable products.

What’s in the Box?

The Eureka NEC180 RapidClean Pro includes the main vacuum body, (1) multi-floor nozzle, wand (tube), crevice tool, 2-in-1 dusting brush, wall mount bracket, and charging unit.

 

 

Features

• Low Profile Design: Lays down flat cleaning under low clearance furniture
• Easy Rest: Unique design enables safe leaning against furniture or counter top
• 2 Cleaning Modes: Low suction power for normal cleaning. Max for those tough cleaning tasks
• Long Run Time: Up to 40 minutes operating time in Normal suction mode
• Multi-Floor Cleaning: Efficiently clean hard floors or low pile carpet without changing floor nozzles
• Handheld Mode: Easily switch to a powerful hand vacuum for above-floor cleaning
• Removable Easy Empty Dust Cup: Flexible dirt disposal
• LED Headlights: Bright headlamps light up the cleaning path to reveal the dirt
• Light Weight: Only 5.26 lbs. for easy overhead cleaning
• Swivel Steering: Effortless maneuvering around obstacles
• Includes: (1) multi-floor nozzle, wand (tube), crevice tool, 2-in-1 dusting brush, wall mount bracket, and charging unit.
• Warranty: 1 ½ Years, 12 month battery

Check Out this Brief Eureka Introduction VIDEO!

Review

The Eureka NEC180 RapidClean Pro Cordless Vacuum made its debut November 2019. I have to admit when I saw this new vacuum I was intrigued by its unique profile. The Motor and Dust Cup located on the top made a lot of sense to me. And the Easy Rest notch on the underside told me that the designers at Eureka put some thought into their latest cordless stick model. But what impressed me more is the price.

There are some excellent cordless stick vacuums currently available but not everyone is able or willing to spend $400 to $600 to get all the bells and whistles.

Priced below $150 the Eureka NEC180 RapidClean Pro is an entry level cordless stick vacuum. Even though its features are basic, its cleaning performance is impressive.

Build Quality

I am impressed with the overall quality of the Eureka NEC180 RapidClean Pro. The main body is solid and all the parts fit together as they should. Eureka uses micro switch buttons on the handle for On/Off and Suction Settings which tend to last a long time.

The wand snaps into the body without having to force it and forms a solid unit. Although the attachments are basic they are of good quality and should last.

The Latches located on the wand and attachments are of average quality. When installing a tool it clicks into place and releases with a touch of the latch tab.

Build Quality Score 4.5/5

User Friendliness

The Eureka NEC180 RapidClean Pro feels good in your hand. Eureka designed the handle so you grip it at a natural angle which reduces fatigue. It loops up over the top which makes it easy to grip while bent over.

This vacuum is very light weight at 5.26 lbs. which makes it easy to push around the floor or to clean overhead. The swivel steering works well and isn’t overly sensitive. I found the on/off and power setting switches convenient to reach with my thumb.

When you switch the machine ON it defaults to the High suction setting which I found only necessary for tough cleaning tasks. You will need to press the second button to change to the Normal suction mode for the most of your day to day cleaning.

The Eureka NEC180 RapidClean Pro remains running once you press the On/Off button and does NOT require that you hold the button or switch down.

User Friendliness Score 4.5/5

Low Profile Design

The most obvious feature of the Eureka NEC180 RapidClean Pro is the location of the dust cup. Most cord-free stick vacs place the dust cup beneath the motor, just ahead of the handle. This arrangement has the advantage of emptying the dust cup without removing the wand. The problem is that it leaves the dust cup and trap door vulnerable to breakage should it be dropped.

With the Dust Cup located on the top of the vacuum it enables you to lay the whole unit down flat for cleaning under low clearance furniture. The Multi Floor Nozzle will allow you to clean under anything that is 2 ½” or higher.

2-in-1 Handheld Mode

Like most cordless stick vacuums the Eureka NEC180 RapidClean Pro transforms to a handheld vacuum by simply removing the wand.  The 2-in-1 Dusting Brush and the Crevice Tool work well for cleaning counter tops, furniture, shelves, and narrow or tight areas.

By attaching the Floor Nozzle you can use the NEC180 to clean carpeted stairs.

Easy Empty Dust Cup

Because the 0.3 liter Max capacity dust cup is located on the top of the machine, the wand must first be removed before emptying. Other cordless stick vacuums with the dust cup on the bottom can be emptied with the wand attached, although it’s usually easier with the wand removed.

The trap door has a gasket that creates a good seal to the dust cup cylinder to prevent leakage. The latch or release mechanism is quite basic but works well. It’s convenient to reach and the trap door clicks shut easily.

Suction Power

The engineers at Eureka got it right when they designed the NEC180 RapidClean Pro. With the high efficiency DC motor rated at 150 watts, it produces enough suction to effectively clean hard floors and low pile carpet in the Normal Suction setting.

In my testing I even found it capable of removing 100% of rice, coffee grounds, oatmeal, dry pet food, and clipped hair from *Medium pile carpet in Normal Suction setting. (SEE: Cleaning performance below)

I measured the suction of the Eureka NEC180 RapidClean Pro at 18.0” WL (water lift) on Low setting and 25.0” WL on High.

Suction Power Score 3.5/5

Run Time

The Eureka NEC180 RapidClean Pro has a built-in 25.2 volt battery that will provide up to 40 minutes of run time in Normal mode. Actual operating time will vary depending on the floor surface you are cleaning. Carpet will cause the motor to labor, drawing more amperage than on hard floors.

During my testing I was able to vacuum 3 bedrooms and two bathrooms plus the hall way and there was still plenty of charge left in the battery.

Battery and Charging

Eureka designed the NEC180 RapidClean Pro with an internal 25.2 v battery. Before lithium-ion battery had reached its present level I was an advocate of user Removable batteries to be able to upgrade the run time. However, with up to 40 minutes of run time one battery is enough to complete most cleaning tasks.

The Eureka NEC180 RapidClean Pro comes with a simple wall charger. You simply plug in the pin jack to the base of the machine and let it charge. This gives you the option to charge the battery with the machine with it lying on the floor, table, or on the very basic included wall mount.

Like most cordless tools, you can expect 3 to 4 hours to fully recharge. The Operator’s Manual recommends charging for 6 hours initially.

Battery and Charging Score 3/5

Filtration

The Eureka NEC180 RapidClean Pro cordless is equipped with a washable foam filter cartridge.  It is Not HEPA rated but with the sealed compartment it will trap the majority of allergy-triggering dust particles.

Filtration Score 3.0/5

Cleaning Performance

How I Tested the Eureka NEC180

For my review of the Eureka NEC180 RapidClean Pro’s cleaning performance I tested it on both *medium carpet and hardwood flooring.

As I mentioned above I used test media that consisted of rice, coffee grounds, oatmeal, dry pet food, and clipped hair with the machine set on LOW Suction. I weighed each sample before applying to the floor. After testing I weighed the content of the dust cup to determine the actual percentage.

Carpet

The Eureka NEC180 RapidClean Pro Cordless removed 100% of all the test media with several passes.

* NOTE:  Although the NEC180 RapidClean performs well on medium pile area rugs, I do NOT recommend it for large areas with med. pile carpet.

Hard Floors

100% of the test media was removed from hardwood floors. The dry pet food presented no problem for the Eureka NEC180. Some of the dry pet food was plowed along the floor near the outer edges of the floor nozzle. Successive passes removed it without kicking it across the floor.

Also SEE:  Best Cordless Vacuums for Hardwood Floors

Hard Floor Cleaning Performance Score 4.5/5

Edges

Because of the way the floor nozzle is designed, the NEC180 RapidClean to within 3/4″ of walls or baseboards.  Although this isn’t considered that great for corded vacuum, it is about average for cordless stick vacs.  I didn’t consider this an issue because I make it a point to clean along the top of the basebards as well as at the floor by using the crevice tool or combo dusting brush which easily cleans both.

Edge Cleaning Score 3.0/5

Watch this Brief Test VIDEO of the Eureka NEC180 RapidClean Pro Cordless

Specifications

• Model #: NEC180
• Dimensions: 9.8” x 6.3” x 43.3”
• Weight: 5.26 lbs
• Power: 25.2 volt Lithium-ion battery
• Dirt Collection: Bagless
• Run Time: Up to 40 minutes in Normal suction setting
• Motor Wattage: 150W
• Suction: 18” WL (water lift) Low setting / 25” WL High
• Dust Cup Capacity: 0.3 Liter
• Cleaning Path: 8.0 inches

My Thoughts and Recommendations

Reviewing the Eureka NEC180 RapidClean Pro cordless stick vacuum was a real pleasure. It performed like a champ on low pile carpet and medium pile area rugs. Hard floor cleaning was very good and even handled the large debris dry pet food media with no problem.  The handheld mode was very efficient while using the 2-in-1 dusting brush and the crevice tool.  Or, using the Floor Nozzle for cleaning carpeted stairs.

For a machine priced below $150 (at this writing) it has a solid quality feel to it. The run time of up to 40 minutes is plenty sufficient to handle most day to day cleaning tasks. The overall quality of this vacuum is much better than you would expect for a cordless stick vacuum at this price.

I am delighted there is finally a cordless stick vacuum priced this low that I can confidently recommend to my friends and readers.  This is a darn nice cordless vacuum!  I highly recommend the Eureka NEC180 RapidClean Pro!