Hoover Dirt Devil Scorpion Plus QuickFlip Handheld Vacuum

Yes, very. The Dirt Devil Scorpion Plus has strong suction for its size and picks up dust, gravel, litter and hair that other cleanups missed. Because it runs off the wall at 150 W, that suction stays steady from the start of a job to the end.

For steady power. The Scorpion Plus plugs into the wall, so suction doesn't fade and there's no battery to die halfway through the car or the stairs. Several people bought it after giving up on cordless hand vacs for exactly that reason.

Usually a whole room and part of a hallway. The Scorpion Plus cord covers most single-room jobs from one outlet, though it can feel a little short in places, and it's bulky to wind up and store when you're done.

It's handy, with limits. The Scorpion Plus's QuickFlip nozzle flips down and clicks into place to reach under appliances and into crevices, but it's a bit wide for some gaps, and it can snap off if pulled. Flip it into place instead of forcing it.

Often during big jobs. The Scorpion Plus's 0.68-liter cup detaches cleanly and holds a lot, but the filter clogs and needs dusting out regularly, so keeping a spare filter on hand saves stopping halfway through a clean. A quick tap-out over the trash between rooms keeps suction up.