Electrolux has been a market leader in the manufacture of small household appliances, and Electrolux vacuum cleaners have received high marks from consumers in the past. The company has a reputation for making high-performance cartridge vacuum cleaners. The most expensive of these is the Oxygen 3 range. So how does the Oxygen 3 canister vacuum work and is it worth the high price?

There are three vacuum cleaners in the Electrolux Oxygen 3 range; the Oxygen 3 canister vacuum (EL7000), the Oxygen 3 Ultra (EL7020) and the Oxygen 3 Ultra combination (EL7025).

All three models in the Oxygen 3 vacuum cleaner range share some basic features. All models look pretty much the same, and the dust bag on each model has a 2-quart capacity. All 3 models come with Electrolux MicroSeal technology, a combination of a sealed motor and HEPA filtration system, which ensures that 99.97% of the dust and particles that are collected remain inside the vacuum bag and are not expel into the air. On the canister itself there are several indicators that let you know that the vacuum cleaner is operating at peak performance. Probably the best feature (certainly the easiest to use) are the buttons on the handle; you can turn the machine on and off, turn the rotating brush on and off (when using the power head), and increase or decrease the suction.

The cheapest model that Electrolux makes in the Oxygen 3 range is called the Electrolux Oxygen 3 Canister Vacuum (or EL7000). Its claim to fame is that it’s supposed to clean bare floor types and comes with a pretty long hose – a good 21 feet! Don’t worry if you have rugs; this vacuum still does a very adequate job. It comes with the lowest wattage: 10 amps, which still offers good suction. If you’re looking for a no-fuss vacuum, buy a well-made vacuum and stick with this model.

Next in line is the Oxygen 3 Ultra vacuum. Its hose is 7 feet long and it comes with a more powerful 12-amp motor; Despite having a more powerful motor, the vacuum still weighs the same as the Oxygen 3 at 27 pounds. Electrolux says the Oxygen 3 Ultra vacuum is great for cleaning all types of floors, however this model only comes with one head attachment: the Ultra combo comes with two; the standard 13″ width and a smaller, lighter nozzle, which is much better for cleaning bare floors.

The Electrolux Ultra Combination vacuum cleaner is supposed to be a combination of the two previous models. I feel like this is a bit of a marketing ploy – why not have developed a model to do all types of flooring and forget about models that only do rugs or just do bare floors?
Price could be the answer. The Electrolux Oxygen 3 vacuum cleaner is not cheap and the EL7025 is considerably more expensive than the EL7000.

Speaking of expense, replacing dust bags isn’t cheap either; something to think about when buying a vacuum cleaner.

Another negative point of the Oxygen 3 vacuum cleaner is that the handle of the vacuum cleaner rotates to the side so that it remains in an upright position when not in use. This is fine, but it makes the vacuum unwieldy around the room.

Having said all that, the Electrolux Oxygen 3 vacuum cleaner has excellent suction and will clean almost all types of floors. It is excellent for allergy sufferers as its HEPA system retains 99.97% of particles, as good as any other manufacturer. The Electrolux Oxygen 3 is an expensive vacuum cleaner, but no more expensive than the competition.