Bosch GL 20 vacuum cleaner review: adjustable power for cleaning any surface
Bosch products have been on the market for over 100 years. German quality and manufacturing precision have secured the company's products as a reliable manufacturer.Products bearing the Bosch name require virtually no advertising. One of these products is the Bosch GL 20 vacuum cleaner. This is a series of the brand, characterized by excellent performance and a motor power of 1.8 kW. The most popular representative of this series is Bosch BSG 61800.
- Powerful enough even to remove hair from carpets
- Consumables are inexpensive and always on sale
- Easy to care for
- Maneuverable rubberized wheels
- Affordable price
- Good build
- Inconvenient mechanism for lengthening/shortening the telescopic pipe
- The floor/carpet brush is too mobile - it tends to change position at the most inopportune moment
This device can easily cope with dirt and dust. Adjustable power and replaceable attachments allow you to use the device to work with any floor coverings, curtains, delicate fabric, stretch ceilings and silk wallpaper. An important advantage of the unit is its reasonable price.
Are you looking at the models in this series? Then you should definitely learn more about the vacuum cleaners in the Bosch GL 20 line. We have prepared a detailed overview of the equipment, characteristics and capabilities of the equipment, and noted the pros and cons. In addition, a comparison was made with the main competitors, which have similar performance parameters and price.
The content of the article:
General description of the Bosch GL 20 series
The line of vacuum cleaners is represented by several modifications, which differ in slight differences in engine power, operating range, and long power cord.
In addition to technical characteristics, it is important to pay attention to the manufacturer when purchasing. The trademark belongs to Germany, but production may be transferred to Asian countries: China or Thailand, or developing countries in Africa.
But it is better to find a record of the country of origin on the packaging and purchase the product directly from Germany.
Complete set and characteristics of the series
Vacuum cleaners from the Bosch GL 20 line are designed for cleaning various floor coverings, cleaning clothes and removing dirt from any surface. Cleaning can only be done dry, which is sufficient to complete the tasks of most users.
The body of the models in this series is available in various colors, the main colors are red, blue, gray and even black, and is made of impact-resistant polystyrene. In this case, the device is very well protected from impacts, while being lightweight - only 3.6 kg.
Users find it very convenient to have removable container bags for collecting dust and filtering air, which are easy to remove from the compartment and put back. If you don’t want to do this procedure often, you can install special paper bags that are thrown away after 2-3 cleanings.
Let's take a closer look at the characteristics:
- dry cleaning - yes;
- power regulator/notification of dust bin filling - yes, in the upper part of the case/there is a light indicator;
- suction pipe - internal telescopic;
- motor power - 1.8 kW;
- suction power - 300 W;
- dust collector - fabric bag with a capacity of 3 liters;
- weight - 3.6 kg.
Specially designed universal brush equipped with a switch for cleaning hard surfaces and soft carpets. In addition to the main brush, the kit includes an angled brush and one for cleaning clothes (with a long fluffy surface).
Located on top of the housing cover power regulator, or in other words, rotor speed regulator. The more engine speeds are added, the greater the force in the suction pipe and, accordingly, on the brush.
Thanks to the regulator, you can easily clean any surface, clothes or curtains. A special corner brush attachment will help remove dust from hard-to-reach places.
In addition to the brushes, the kit includes a height-adjustable telescopic pipe for attaching brushes, which can vary in length from 1.5 m to 0.5 m.
Extension pipe telescopic, type Filtero FTT 35 Æ 35 mm, suitable for all types of standard attachments. Made of high-quality thin-walled steel using electrochemical chrome plating technology. It has 8 length adjustment positions - from 55 to 95 cm.
It is securely fixed by the slots of the mechanical lock. Thanks to the thin-walled steel, the tube is very light and durable.
But this telescopic tube causes some trouble, since it does not fold down to less than half a meter, so you need to allocate a separate place for storing it.
In addition, the engine of the device heats up after 30 minutes. continuous operation and needs a break to cool down, approximately 10-15 minutes.This circumstance must be taken into account when planning cleaning, especially in large areas.
Features of the filtration system
Classic dust filters are considered fabric bag, which is installed in all vacuum cleaners of the Bosch Bosch GL 20 line. But recently in more modern models it has begun to be used as a more advanced cyclone technology.
After several months of use, vacuum cleaners may experience a decrease in suction draft. One of the reasons is contamination of the fine filter.
In modern Bosch brand vacuum cleaners Additional filters are used that protect against small particles getting into the electric motor and clean the air coming out of the vacuum cleaner.
Considered the best HEPA filters, which are made from synthetic fabric with a certain cell diameter - the smaller the diameter, the more microscopic dust is retained.
Rotating parts, such as the engine, also need protection from dust. The engine compartment is protected by installing fine filter at the inlet of the motor chamber.
The output filter is usually located at the outlet and is closed with hinged covers on the rear of the housing. The filters are made of non-woven fabric, so after 6 months of operation they must be inspected, or even better, replaced.
For replacement, you can purchase ready-made ones, or you can cut them yourself with scissors from FST 0001 fabric or Swir universal fabric (Sweden). To change fabric filters, simply remove the frame that covers the hole in the engine compartment with a dirty cloth and insert a new one into it.
Putting the frame back in place is no longer difficult. Replacement of output filters is done in the same way, and it is located under a hinged panel on the back cover.
Review of the best model - Bosch BSG 61800
Thanks to a more powerful engine compared to the base one, this model is designed for longer work. The coverage radius has been increased to 10 m with the ability to rotate the suction hose 360°.
The suction power is not specified by the manufacturer, but users report a parameter of 300-370 W.
Basic specifications of the device:
- type of cleaning - dry;
- dust collector - replaceable MEGAfilt SuperTEX bag;
- engine power/regulator - 1.8 kW/suction adjustment on the top cover;
- number of power control positions - 5;
- Includes: telescopic retractable pipe with lock, carpet/floor brush, corner brush, for furniture and clothes;
- radius coverage - 10 m.
MEGA SuperTEX — fabric dust collector, designed for standard vacuum cleaners with a “P” type mount. Made of three-layer material, capacity 3 liters. Provides reliable filtration of fine dust fractions.
Developed in Bosch's own laboratories and has good user recommendations.
In addition to the advantages of the dust collector, owners positively characterize the following qualities of the vacuum cleaner: easy to move, great cleaning capabilities, powerful.
Disadvantages noted: it is difficult to clean the bags, dust gets clogged between layers, the fluffy surface is difficult to knock out.
A more detailed video review of this product, performed by an online store consultant, can be viewed in the following video:
Competing vacuum cleaners from other manufacturers
Among the main competitors of inexpensive Bosch brand cleaning equipment are the company's products Samsung, Phillips and Hoover. Let's take a closer look at the models of these manufacturers that successfully compete with the Bosch GL 20.
Model #1 – Samsung SC4180
Standard vacuum cleaner for dry cleaning. Filtration type: fine fabric bag with a capacity of 3 liters.
It is possible to adjust the suction power with a smooth regulator (5 steps) installed on the top cover. The network cable is 6 m long, there is an automatic winding mechanism.
Characteristics:
- type of cleaning - dry;
- dust bin full indication - yes;
- engine power/regulator - 1.8 kW/suction adjustment on the top cover;
- noise level - not specified;
- The set includes a telescopic pipe for nozzles, a mechanical lock, a combined 2-in-1 carpet/parquet brush, crevice and corner nozzles;
- coverage radius - 9.2 m, the hose can be rotated 360 degrees;
- Dimensions (WxDxH)/weight - 27.5x23x36.5 cm/4 kg.
Owners, in general, speak positively about this product: it’s easy to use, doesn’t heat up, and is reasonably priced.
Among the noted disadvantages: increased noise and the need to regularly clean the brush - dust remains on it, which stains the surface.
Model #2 - Philips FC8455 PowerLife
Standard vacuum cleaner for dry cleaning of premises. It is equipped with a fairly spacious 3-liter dust collector, which is enough for a month of cleaning in a one-room apartment.
The length of the power cord is 6 m. The automatic cord rewinding mode is activated by pressing the button on the top panel of the cover.
The motor power is smoothly adjustable; the regulator has a scale from minimum for cleaning delicate surfaces to maximum, in order to clean the carpet with a suction power of 350 W.
Additional possibility of manually adjusting the suction power by opening the air suction valve on the telescopic tube holder.
Characteristics:
- type of cleaning - dry;
- dust bin full indication - yes;
- motor power/regulator - 2 kW/suction adjustment on the body;
- noise level - 83 dB;
- included - a garbage bag, a fine filter, a sliding telescopic pipe for nozzles, a universal parquet/lint brush Multi Clean, slotted, small, mini-turbo;
- coverage radius - 9 m;
- Dimensions (WxDxH)/weight - 28.2×40.6×22 cm/4.2 kg.
The advantages of this vacuum cleaner include good power, ease of operation, convenience when working with a dust bag and the excellent capacity of the latter, as well as the availability of space for storing attachments.
Disadvantages include noisy operation, flimsy fasteners and a hard hose.
Model #3 - Hoover TAT 2421
Designed for dry cleaning of premises. A special feature of the model is the use of a more powerful 2.4 kW motor. The suction power is 480 W.
To collect waste, a spacious 5-liter dust bag is provided, which provides high-quality cleaning for 2-3 months and eliminates the problem of regular maintenance, as is the case with a small plastic container as a garbage container.
Characteristics:
- type of cleaning - dry;
- dust bin full indication - yes;
- engine power/regulator - 2.4 kW/yes;
- noise level - not specified;
- included - turbo brush, fine filter, telescopic pipe, universal floor/carpet brush, parquet, crevice, dust and furniture nozzles;
- coverage radius - not specified, cord length 8 m;
- Dimensions (WxDxH)/weight - 25.2 x 51.2 x 29 cm/6.07 kg.
Buyers of this vacuum cleaner note that it has good suction power, a long cord and its automatic winding, which does not get in the way when cleaning, and the turbo brush removes dust from the carpet well.
As for the downsides, owners note the difficulty in finding and purchasing original bags, and some users also say that the universal brush is large and heavy and is inconvenient to clean under the bed.
Conclusions and best offers on the market
In order for a home vacuum cleaner to become a good helper or even a friend, you need to clearly understand the goals and objectives that will face it..
If there are a large number of carpets in an apartment or house, then you need to choose a powerful technique with a turbo brush, such as a competitor from LG.
If the room or apartment is small, then a device with a suction power of up to 300 W, such as the Bosch BSG 61800 in question, is sufficient. It copes well with basic cleaning tasks, and comments about the flimsiness of the fasteners are justified by the low price tag.
The best deals currently on these vacuum cleaners:
Share with readers your experience of choosing and using a home vacuum cleaner. Tell us which unit you bought, whether you are satisfied with the quality of cleaning and ease of maintenance of the unit. Please leave comments and participate in discussions - the feedback form is located below.
To be honest, this vacuum cleaner model from Bosch turned out to be quite good, but still has some drawbacks.We bought it because of the company, which is associated with high-quality devices. The advantages include the low weight and size of the vacuum cleaner, which makes it maneuverable and makes cleaning comfortable. The wire is of normal length, there is a power regulator. Overall, it cleans tolerably well. I was disappointed by the standard brush that comes with the vacuum cleaner; it doesn’t clean well. Luckily, a brush from an old vacuum cleaner fit, otherwise I would have had to buy more. It works loudly, so it is difficult to clean for a long time. In general, it’s a hard worker without any special frills, but be prepared to replace the brush.
I've been using this vacuum cleaner for two years now and overall I'm happy with it. The vacuum cleaner is made in Germany, the build quality is appropriate. The case is plastic, light in weight. Despite the fact that the vacuum cleaner itself is quite small, the hose does not fold, so the vacuum cleaner takes up quite a lot of space in the apartment. This is a minus. I like that a vacuum cleaner with a container rather than bags, it’s much more convenient. Dust, dirt - everything collects normally. It's worth the money.