Verdict

Pros

• Lightweight and maneuverable
• Excellent clean on carpet and hard floors
• Low power consumption
• Handy quick draw crevice tool

Cons

• Not great for stairs
• Rather unstable when wand removed
• Small dust container

What is the Panasonic MC-UL712?

The MC-UL712 is a lightweight and easily manoeuvrable bagless upright vacuum cleaner from Panasonic, aimed at the smaller home or when a heavy vacuum is out of the question.

It boasts the highly efficient Eco-Max motor, HEPA class dust filtration for clean exhaust air and the same hour-glass shaped dust container we saw in the Panasonic MC-CL934 cylinder model.

The unique shape compresses dust at the bottom of the container making it easier to empty and keeping the filter cleaner for longer.

The built-in hose offers a crevice tool on a quick draw release mechanism for instant cleaning in nooks and crannies.

SEE ALSO: Best Toasters

Panasonic MC-UL712: Accessories

In addition to the main head with its switchable rotating brush, this vacuum cleaner comes with a soft brush for blinds and delicate fabrics, which usefully clips onto the body of the cleaner for storage.

It also comes with an upholstery nozzle, designed to clean deep into upholstery fabric, and a dedicated mattress tool. While these cannot be stored on-board the cleaner itself, Panasonic thoughtfully provides a black cloth bag to keep them in.

Panasonic MC-UL712: How does it clean carpets and hard floors?

The MC-UL712 is certainly extremely manoeuvrable and lightweight, so it’s very easy to push around on the thickest carpets. Turning corners are no problem as it glides well with the flick of the wrist and the main body will tilt right back to floor level while keeping the cleaning head on flat to the floor. This makes it ideal for getting under bigger obstacles such as tables and chairs.

Before

The manoeuvrability and quick draw crevice tool make the MC-UL712 ideal for a secondary or ‘upstairs’ vacuum for quick clean-ups. The carpet brush can be turned on or off for different cleaning surfaces, so hard flooring will not be scratched by the brush and the brush is automatically turned off when the cleaner is upright for use with the hose and tools.

After

On our 3 pass test with carpet freshening powder sprinkled liberally on a medium pile carpet, the MC-712 delivered excellent cleaning results with its main brush head. The carpet was left very clean with no powder residue anywhere, right up to the skirting edge. This Panasonic drew nearly 1200watts compared to the 1000Watt headline figure, explaining some of its exceptional cleaning ability.

Panasonic MC-UL712: How easy is it to use on stairs?

As this is an upright cleaner it is not that easy to use on stairs by design and you will need to use the hose and one of the attachment nozzles. Unfortunately, the quick draw hose is not very long or very supple, so using this cleaner on stairs is rather awkward all-round. Saying that, due to the MC-UL712’s light weight, it is possible to hold the whole unit and move it over the stairs this way if you are fit and strong.

Panasonic MC-UL712: How does it cope with pet hair?

Being an upright with a motorised rotating brush it was very good at vacuuming up pet hair in our test on carpet. With a healthy mix of Labrador (short) and Border Collie (long) hair the MC-UL712 took a speedy 14 seconds to clear up all the hair in a 30cm diameter circle. More powerful upright cleaners can achieve this a little quicker – but not by much.

Should I buy the Panasonic MC-UL712?

The MC-UL712 is a great lightweight cleaner and ideal for smaller homes or perhaps as a secondary cleaner for quick clean-ups or to be left upstairs. It works well for pet-hairs and the tools are all handy additions. The bin emptying is very easy although, as it only has a capacity of 0.9 litres, you will be emptying it frequently if you use it as a main cleaner. Doubly so if you have two dogs!

Prefer a cylinder to an upright? Check out the Panasonic MC-CL934

Trusted Score