My Hoover HL4 Upright Vacuum Cleaner review puts the appliance through its paces, to see how it compares to the best vacuum cleaners on the market.
After using it for two weeks, I think the HL4 could be a wise investment for some. Here's all the need-to-know info.
In a nutshell
It's fair to say that Hoover has made their mark in the vacuum cleaner field, with some of us even using the brand name as a substitute for the word vacuum. The HL4 is one of their newer upright models, complete with different modes for hard floor and carpet, plus three adjustable suction power settings.
I've been using it every day for the past two weeks, and overall, I'm impressed. While I've always preferred using the best cordless vacuums over traditional plug-in models, the HL4 has helped me realise that corded vacuums can pack a more powerful punch.
It left both the carpets and the hard floors in my home spotless. I was satisfied with how the HL4 performed on the minimum suction setting, so I doubt that anyone would be disappointed with the vacuum's pick-up capabilities - especially when taking into account the medium and max suction settings as well.
With an RRP of £199, it's more affordable than most of our favourite vacuum cleaners. That being said, the HL4 doesn't offer handheld cleaning capabilities, so there's a high chance that you'd still need to purchase one of the best handheld vacuum cleaners for chores like cleaning the car and refreshing furniture. There is a crevice tool included, but I didn't find this suitable for use over an extended period of time.
Specifications
- Bag or bagless: Bagless
- Bin volume: 2L
- Weight: 5kg
- Dimensions: 33(D) x 28.2(W) x 115(H) cm
- Cord length: 7.6 m
- Hose length: 2 m
- Modes: 2
- In the box: Hoover Upright Vacuum Cleaner HL4, crevice tool, user manual
- RRP: £199
Unboxing, assembly, and first impressions
The Hoover HL4 Upright Vacuum Cleaner arrives in one box that's nice and lightweight. I had no problem carrying it around my flat before setting it up, thanks to the fact that the vacuum only weighs 5kg in total. The box also has two carry handles on either side, making transporting it even easier.
Upon opening the box, I was pleased to see that all the packaging materials used were fully recyclable. Everything was wrapped in paper and protected with cardboard, meaning I didn't have to faff about trying to recycle the plastic that comes with a lot of household appliances.
In the box was the main vacuum unit, floorhead, wand, hose connector, crevice tool, and instruction manual. I could get a sense of how to put the vacuum together pretty easily, but there's also step-by-step instructions (with pictures) in the manual. I simply needed to fit the main vacuum unit into the floorhead, the wand into the vacuum unit, and the hose connector into the handle assembly on one end, and the vacuum on the other end.
Everything fit together smoothly, and a satisfying click told me when each component was secure (bar the hose connector, which was a tiny bit more fiddly). There's also an accessory holder for the crevice tool, which I slotted in place.
Once everything was assembled, I could appreciate the vacuum's design. Sure, I prefer the look of stick vacuums, which are undoubtedly more sleek, but as far as upright vacuum cleaners go, I think the Hoover HL4 has a nice aesthetic. I like the combination of dark and light grey across the appliance and the contrasting red of the buttons.
I can also appreciate how sturdy the HL4 looks. The large bin unit at the front makes it look like the vacuum should be heavier than it is, but I was impressed with how lightweight the device felt. The roomy bin capacity is also a welcome sight, indicating that I won't need to empty the vacuum too often.
What's it like to use?
So you can understand how I used the Hoover HL4 for this review, I should first share a little bit more about me and my home. I live in a two-bedroom flat with my partner, and we have a mixture of carpeted and hard floors. Usually, I rely on the Hoover HFX Cordless Vacuum to clean all the floors in my home, so I'm less familiar with traditional plug-in models. This does mean, however, that I'll have a keen eye for how easy the HL4 is to use and whether or not I'd be willing to switch from my trusty cordless model in the future.
I first tested the Hoover HL4 in upright mode, using the floorhead to vacuum my living room. After unravelling the power cable and plugging the vacuum in, I switched the unit to carpet mode via the handy power button. I like how the button clearly indicates the different modes for hard floors and carpets, so there's no guesswork around which mode to use and when.
Once the vacuum kicked into gear, I could immediately get a sense of its suction power. It's louder than the cordless model that I'm used to, but I guess that's reflective of its powerful capabilities. According to the app I used to test the vacuum's noise levels, it stays within the realm of 95 and 97 dB in each mode.
Handily, there's a suction control button on the vacuum's handle, where you can swap between minimum, medium, and max settings. The manual recommends using the minimum setting for long pile carpets or rugs, medium for medium pile carpets, and max for hard floors and short pile carpets.
I would describe the carpets in my flat as short to medium pile, meaning bits of debris and fluff cling to the floor more than I'd like. There are certain areas that my cordless vacuum struggles to leave completely clean, so I was looking forward to seeing how the HL4 fared - particularly in the max setting.
After my initial turn with the Hoover HL4, I was left feeling very impressed. I hadn't even switched from the minimum mode year, and the carpet in my living room looked spotless. The vacuum leaves satisfying carpet streaks in place, which I always think is a good indicator of how the vacuum has performed.
To get a further visual of the HL4's pick-up capabilities, I threw some flour on the carpet and ran the vacuum over the area. Sticking with the minimum mode, I was amazed that all of the flour disappeared with one gliding motion. I repeated the test again on medium and max modes, and unsurprisingly, there wasn't a trace of flour left on the carpet at the end.
Next up, I headed into the kitchen to test the HL4 on a hard floor. I did a quick sweep of the space and could see that the vacuum worked just as well in hard floor mode as it did in carpet mode. I threw some flour down again and observed the HL4 pick up all the flour in a single swipe. Again, this is just on minimum suction power, so I didn't even feel the need to switch to a higher setting - though it's nice to know that these are there if I need them.
Overall, I was pretty impressed with how the HL4 performs in upright mode. I had no complaints with its suction capabilities and also found the vacuum generally easy to use. Switching between the different modes and suction settings is simple, and the vacuum itself is easy to manoeuvre. The handle fits comfortably in my hand, and the trailing wire didn't irritate me as much as I thought it would. It's recommended to wrap this around the cord clip when using the vacuum so you can avoid running over it with the floorhead. Once I got in the habit of doing this, the power cable didn't really bother me at all.
There's also a bright LED display on the floorhead, which illuminates the darker corners of each room and allowed me to see where to direct the vacuum.
I then started testing the vacuum in accessory mode. It's pretty easy to switch to this, especially with the help of the instruction manual. There's a wand release button that needs to be pressed down, at which point the wand and handle can be lifted from the main vacuum unit. The crevice tool then attaches to the end of the wand or handle. Attaching it to the wand means you don't need to bend down as far, but I imagine it would be easier to use the crevice tool attached to the handle for areas that need close cleaning, like in the car.
I didn't overly enjoy using the crevice tool attachment. It's small, which makes it ideal for getting in gaps between furniture, but it's a bit awkward to use for extended periods of time. Perhaps this is because I'm used to a cordless vacuum that can easily be used in handheld mode, but I didn't feel like the crevice tool glided across the floor as easily as I'd like.
I also noticed that the suction of the crevice tool wasn't very powerful because the floorhead was still activated and using a lot of power. After checking the instructions, I realised that there are two ways to use the HL4 in accessory mode. One is upright-accessory mode, where the floorhead is still attached, and the other is in push and lift mode, where the vacuum is separated from the floorhead.
After detaching the floorhead via the red push and lift button, the crevice tool's suction power improved massively. It also became easier to use the HL4 in accessory mode when the vacuum wasn't attached to the floorhead, simply because it was easier to carry the unit around while I manoeuvred the wand. This additional portability would definitely come in handy when vacuuming the stairs, although I still think this would take a while because of the size of the crevice tool. You'd need to run it over one stair several times to cover the entire surface (multiply by that 12, and I'm thinking it's going to take at least 10 minutes, probably 15).
I would have also liked to see some other attachments included with the HL4. Other vacuums I've tested have come with dusting and upholstery attachments, meaning they can be used to clean all areas of the home (including furniture and curtains) without the need to buy a separate handheld model. For an extra £20, the HL4 can be purchased with a pet hair tool, which I'd recommend for anyone interested in the best vacuums for pet hair.
What's it like to clean?
As mentioned, the Hoover HL4 has a large bin capacity (2 litres), so it can be used for a while before it needs emptying. When the time does come to empty the bin, it's thankfully very easy. There's a dust bin release button at the top of the vacuum unit, which allows the bin to be lifted away from the rest of the device.
I was a little confused at first because I was trying to lift the bin upwards, but soon realised it needs to be moved forwards in order to come away. All that's needed after that is to press the dust bin empty button, at which point the lid will spring open and the contents released.
The only issue I had was afterwards, when I thought I'd slotted the bin unit back into place and lifted the vacuum via the carry handle to move it back to my living room. I made it a couple of steps before the floorhead fell off the bottom of the vacuum with a clatter. This may have been my fault, but I had assumed I'd put the bin back in place. I've not had this issue since, but it is worth checking that the bin is secure before lifting it back up with the handle.
I also wiped down the inside of the bin unit with a dust cloth, to get rid of any lingering residue. I've made the mistake of not keeping on top of this before and had to deal with dust and hair making their way into the vacuum filter further down the line. Handily, the bin unit opens at both ends, making it super easy to clean.
Dust fallout is pretty much a given when emptying most vacuums, but I'd say emptying the HL4 did expel more dust than I'm used to. The user manual recommends encasing the dust bin in a large bag before emptying it to minimise dust exposure, which might be worth doing if you're someone who's particularly sensitive to dust. Bagged vacuum cleaners solve this problem on their own, but the HL4 is a bagless model.
It's also recommended to wash the pre-motor and exhaust filter once a month to keep the vacuum in optimal condition. From the instruction manual, this seems to be a straightforward task; both filters are lifted from the vacuum, rinsed with lukewarm water, and left to dry for 24 hours before being reinserted.
Storing the vacuum was something I was a little bit more apprehensive about. The large bin unit means that the HL4 won't slot into small spaces like my cordless model does, so I did have to clear some space in my cleaning cupboard to fit it in during the testing process. So it's worth noting that you'll need a decently sized spot to store the HL4 if you do decide to buy it.
I always wrapped the power cable around the upper and lower storage hooks after each use. It's well worth taking a couple of minutes to do this, otherwise there would be a long trailing wire coming out of the vacuum, which is a sure way to create visual clutter.
Comparisons
One of our current favourite upright vacuum cleaners is the Gtech AirRAM Platinum Cordless Vacuum, which yes, is a cordless model, but is still able to stand up on its own. We dubbed Gtech's offering the best for carpets in our buying guide, and our reviewer was impressed with its suction and pick-up capabilities. But one of its caveats is that it doesn't come with any additional tools, so you wouldn't be able to clean the edges of the room unless you bought a separate handheld model.
The fact that the Gtech AirRAM Platinum is cordless and upright means that it does come with a higher price tag. It's £150 more expensive than the Hoover HL4, but I think the higher cost mainly comes down to its modern, sleek, and futuristic design rather than the vacuuming capabilities. If you're not bothered about owning a fancy appliance, and you're fine with traditional corded models, then I would seriously consider saving some money and choosing the HL4 over the AirRAM Platinum.
But how does the Hoover HL4 compare to our favourite upright vacuum cleaner, the Shark ICZ300UKT Anti Hair Wrap Cordless Upright Vacuum Cleaner? Aside from being one of the best Shark vacuums on the market, this model earned five stars in our review thanks to its impressive power levels and smart features. Like Gtech's model, the ICZ300UKT is cordless, and offers a great lift-away for cleaning stairs.
Again, Shark's offering is much pricier than the HL4 (over £200 more expensive), but it does come with dusting, pet, and upholstery tools. Shark's device may be the better choice if you want a vacuum that performs as well in handheld mode as it does in upright. This is where the Hoover HL4 falls short, and I do think that to clean all areas of the home, one of the best handheld vacuums would need to be purchased alongside it.
Should you buy the Hoover HL4 Upright Vacuum Cleaner?
All things considered, I think the Hoover HL4 Upright Vacuum is a great choice for people who want a powerful device that gets the job done. It doesn't come with any of the bells and whistles of some of our favourite cordless models, but I have no doubt that it would leave all of the floors in your home spotless.
The HL4 is particularly good for homes that have a mixture of hard floors and carpets, because it's really easy to switch between the two modes. The fact that there's three suction power settings is an added bonus, and given that I was impressed enough with how the vacuum performed on the minimum setting, I'm pretty confident that it would do an excellent job of cleaning any home.
The main caveat to this vacuum is that it's not the best for cleaning the edges of the room. While there's a crevice tool included, this isn't the smoothest to use and not suitable for cleaning large areas. Dusting and upholstery attachments are also lacking, so I think a separate handheld vacuum would need to be purchased alongside the HL4 in order to tick off all vacuuming chores.
All in all, I'd say it's a great choice for those who prefer plug-in models that pack a powerful punch.
About this review, and the reviewer
You can find more information on how we review vacuum cleaners at Ideal Home on our testing page. For this review, the Hoover HL4 Vacuum Cleaner was tested by Katie, a writer and reviewer who lives in a flat in Leeds with her partner.
During her two-week testing period, Katie has been using the HL4 in place of her regular vacuum, to see how the model fares up in everyday life. She's tested all the modes the vacuum offers, and has been able to give an in-depth review on the vacuum's performance and ease of use.
Hoover sent Katie the HL4 Vacuum for the purpose of this review, but this has not impacted the review's integrity. She has shared her own experience of using the vacuum, and given a verdict based off how the device might work in other homes as well.
