In recent weeks we have tried a new vertical vacuum cleaner: it is Xiaomi MIJIA 1C, a solution that does not differ much, in terms of design and functions, to several others that we have tried in the past.
The strengths are mainly two: little confusion, given by a quantity of accessories that can be counted on the fingertips, and ease of charging, guaranteed by a wall bracket designed to restore battery energy without having to connect plugs and power supplies. .
How it is made
Xiaomi MIJIA 1C is first of all quite light, thanks to the various parts that compose it, for the most part built in polycarbonate (one of the exceptions is the extension tube, with external cover in brushed aluminum, beautiful to look at and certainly more resistant to wear. but not essential, especially since its absence would certainly reduce its overall weight).
The 400 W motor is enclosed in a pistol grip system, with a trigger that we honestly didn't like because it doesn't have a locking system.
In other words, it is a “push” button that must be held down for as long as you want to suck: when it is released, the engine switches off. Probably this choice is linked to autonomy, the real Achilles heel of this vacuum cleaner: but we'll get to that in a moment.
On the other hand, the quick opening system of the dirt collection tank is very good, in some ways similar to that of other competing solutions, consisting of a door that facilitates emptying and a system of interlocking parts that are easy to remove and equally to clean (some, such as the metal grid and the rubber cone, can even be rinsed under running water and left to dry in the sun before reassembling them).
Sparse, but as we said it is good, the accessories sector. In fact, in the box there are:
And obviously the instruction manual, strictly in Chinese and therefore unusable for all those who do not know the language, even if they do not actually feel the need.
How does it work
You do not feel the need, we said, because in the end to make it work you just need to recharge the battery, mount the brush you want to use on the handle – if necessary by interposing the extension between the two parts – and squeeze the trigger while keeping it pressed all the way the duration of the suction.
The parts fit together through a solid proprietary coupling system and disassemble with equal ease by pressing the release button and simultaneously separating the two parts with minimal effort.
How are you doing
We have been using it for weeks alongside the automatic vacuum cleaner which, on a daily basis, sweeps all the area of the house floor that it can reach with its bristles.
Unfortunately, our vacuum cleaner is too high to be able to reach all parts of the house: the mapping system often gets stuck under the sofa and in some furniture, so much so that we were forced to mark through the dedicated application some areas from which it must keep away. .
If on the one hand this allows us to leave the house – except for this period of forced blockade by the coronavirus emergency – without worrying about finding it stuck somewhere, on the other it forces us to have to manually sweep the areas that the automatic vacuum cleaner is forced to avoid.
A vacuum cleaner like the Xiaomi MIJIA 1C is an ideal companion because in a few seconds it is able to clean any surface extremely effectively, even the most difficult one such as that of a carpet on which even the hair of pets gets stuck.
It has three power levels, selectable through a switch on the back, and the maximum value (level 3 of 3) is just what guarantees the best cleaning of the most difficult surfaces with a couple of passes. At minimum power (level 1 of 3) it can safely clean hard floors, such as tiles and parquet, without having to insist too much in the areas that are dirtier.
Even under the sofa, an area of our house that we clean only once a week, and where therefore even small bundles of hair of our dog nestle, it is enough to pass through it only once to sweep everything away.
Autonomy
Its limitation is only one: the battery life. While on the one hand the absence of wires makes everything much easier, on the other hand at maximum power it guarantees approximately 10 minutes of operation before switching off.
It is also true that if you use it as an accompanying solution to an automatic vacuum cleaner, unless you are dealing with a multi-story villa or a large office, they are more than enough to complete the cleaning of the dead areas. If the flooring is rigid, you can safely drop the power by setting the level to minimum (1) and easily have three times the autonomy available.
The recharging system
Moreover, if you rely on the supplied support using it in all its functions, you can safely recharge the battery. Compared to several others, Xiaomi MIJIA 1C indeed includes a wall mount with integrated charging system.
Specifically, it presents, on the right side, a socket compatible with the power supply plug, the same that we also find on the handle itself. Therefore, it is sufficient to fix the support to the wall by means of the two plugs included in the package near a power socket and connect it to the mains.
At this point, at the end of the cleaning, just hang the vacuum cleaner on the support to recharge the battery: when we return to pick it up, we will be sure that the battery will be fully charged and immediately ready for use.
Conclusions
The latter is the added value of Xiaomi MIJIA 1C, which could make it preferable to several other vacuum cleaners of equal power and suction capacity.
As mentioned, the other advantage lies in the number of accessories supplied: there are not many but they are the essential ones that allow us to use it on several occasions and not just for cleaning the floor.
There is in fact the brush dedicated to the removal of mites from the upholstery, very convenient on mattresses and sofas, and the two brushes to remove the spider webs at the corners of the ceiling and collect the crumbs from the tablecloth before folding it at the end of the meals.
Pro
Cons
Retail price
Xiaomi MIJIA 1C is on sale on Gearbest at the price of 195 euros.
