One of the jobs I like doing whenever I'm home from University is returning to my one of several jobs I used to have; a cleaner for a cleaning agency. I'm usually given a vacuum which I have to use for the whole contract unless it breaks down. The nature of the job however means that I can sometimes bring my own machine with me if I don't go and charge the company for repairs.

Now for anyone in the market who has never tried a Panasonic Twin Bin upright there are a few considerations to point out; to begin with it isn't available in the U.S or Canada and remains to be a European model only which is a slight pity as the models in the U.S and Canada with the Panasonic label have much better quality and design thought! The MCE 4000 range has several different upright models on the basis of colour, motor watts and additional tools and filter changes. They range from the dark blue 1400 watt models up to 2000 watt models. Lower powered versions tend to lose suction quickly whilst 1800 watt models are slightly better but noisier.

Firstly why consider Panasonic's Twin Bin uprights? Well, much like their bagged uprights which use similar motors and design, most Panasonic uprights are incredibly easy to fix; the upright itself is very easy to take apart thanks in part to the user manual which comes supplied with the vacuum. In terms of general cleaning, the 4000 models excel quite well but there are a lot of disadvantages too.

If bought in flat pack, there is only one screw enclosed which must be fixed underneath the cord wrap to screw lock the handle to the cleaner. After that, all you will find is the extension pipe hidden behind the main handle's spine at the rear with an additional brush locked in underneath and the main hose at the bottom with an additional hand ribbed grip.

The MCE 4000 uses a lot of similar design architecture from other Panasonic uprights, so the hose and tools for example will be familiar to consumers who have had past bagged uprights from this company. This means that tools are slightly cheap feeling and have a smooth and slippery feel to them. The tools are average for the jobs of cleaning about the floor though, with an upholstery brush which can be used on the extension tube or the main hose with handle already incorporated. However it struggles by its own design because it cannot turn with a 360 access like most other upholstery brushes. It can however be slid onto the end of the long crevice tool which is also supplied but

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