Review: Plus Minus Zero Cordless Vacuum Cleaner Ver.3 C030
Last year, in a series of whirlwind events, I decided to move to Singapore and make it my new home base. That meant I had to start getting things for my new home. And one of the first things that I decided to buy was a vacuum cleaner. I own a Dyson in the Philippines, and I have a love-hate relationship with it, mostly because of the customer service, and I really think the price didn’t justify it. After two units and two battery changes, it was time for something new. I needed something that would solve my frustrations with my previous vacuum cleaners. I wanted it be something lightweight, have a decent battery life, and is aesthetically pleasing. After going around different stores, I finally got the Plus Minus Zero Cordless Cleaner Ver.3 C030 in Clear Yellow Green. I purchased it from HANDS in Orchard Central for SGD 452.10. (A side note, it took me longer to decide on the vacuum than deciding to move countries.) I have been using it for more than 8 months as of this writing. So as usual with my reviews, I'll be talking about the form, function, and maintenance of the product along with all the issues I have faced with this - yes, there is and it might be a dealbreaker for some, for me, I can live with it.
Let’s get straight into the review.
Form
This vacuum cleaner shouts "minimalist." The steel stand that comes with it is robust and lets the vacuum stand and blend pretty much anywhere you place it. As for the color, I was tempted to get the white one, but based on experience, most of my white appliances that were made of plastic turned yellow over time. And I am pretty happy with what I got. The handle is ergonomic with one button for everything from turning it on and off as well as cycling through the suction strengths. And the best thing about its form for me would be its weight. It’s pretty lightweight at around 1.25kg with all the attachments. To give you an idea, a compact laptop such as the 13” MacBook Air weighs about the same. But given that the weight is distributed evenly and the floor also takes in some weight when you vacuum, it’s way easier to maneuver it than any other cordless vacuum that I owned - by far. It also just comes with just three accessories which are the tube extender, the floor cleaner that comes with a switch for smooth and carpeted areas, and a crevice suction tool. In my opinion these are the only things you need. Since I never used any other attachments that came with my previous purchases.
Function
It tackles dust, hair, and occasional debris effectively with its three vacuum strengths. With normal day-to-day use in a condominium, I had no issues regarding the strength of the suction. Being cordless, it offers excellent maneuverability, though it can't be used while charging. Not really bummed about it since all the cordless vacuums I owned couldn’t be used while charging too. The nice thing about the battery is that since it’s detachable and user-replaceable, you can actually buy an extra battery in case you need more battery power. For me, I didn’t need another one, since the battery capacity is pretty good, lasting about an hour when I was casually cycling through the three strength modes. The manufacturer states that in the normal strength, it should last 75 minutes. So I think that’s pretty accurate. I tried vacuuming around 50 square meters three times thoroughly and that took me less than 15 minutes. So, the battery I should say is more than enough for condominiums where people are living alone or with small families. The vacuum also has one light indicator that tells you the strength of the suction and blinks when the battery has reached its empty state.
Maintenance
The vacuum is straightforward to clean, with a washable receptacle and filter that can be dismantled into two. You just need to make sure everything is dry before putting it back in the vacuum and running it again. Since in no way this vacuum can handle water. The only issue i have was that the wheels on the cleaning head got dirty easily and after a few cleaning of the wheels, it started peeling.
Plus Minus Zero Cordless Vacuum Cleaner Ver. 3 Dismantled.
The battery can be charged separately which I like a lot since this means that when the vacuum is on display, the wire does not need to be around the vacuum. You can just charge the battery wherever you usually charge your other devices. It charges with a standard 15V charger and takes around 3 hours to be fully charged from an empty battery. The light indicator makes it easy to monitor it if the battery is full and ready to go. And like I mentioned earlier, you can get another battery to keep in rotation if you wish to do so. Upon writing this review, batteries are sold online for around SGD 190.00.
In the 8 months of using the vacuum everyday I actually never had the battery die on me. Except for the day that I purposely drained it for this post. I usually just charge it around once every one or two weeks.
Although it’s also the battery where I faced an issue. After a few days of use, the battery didn’t seem to work even with a full charge. I looked at the battery and realized that the metal contact point’s gaps on the battery were wider than it’s supposed to be. I guess the quality control was not that good. And I am sure this was an isolated case since I went back to the store to check the ones on display - the gap wasn’t there. And since it’s only been a few days, I reached out to the store for warranty. Long story short, the warranty was only valid through the manufacturer. And when I got hold of them, they passed me to other contacts a few more times (which took around a month) and told me to schedule an appointment. I got annoyed and just fixed the battery myself (it took around 10 minutes) since I knew what the issue was.
By the way, unless you know exactly what you are doing, I don’t encourage you to do this. Tampering and repairing batteries yourself may have dangerous consequences (For those who are wondering, I had professional training in electronics specially when it comes to wiring). This will for sure void your warranty too.
For me, there were a lot of things going on at that time and I had to have a working vacuum. It also gave me flashbacks to my Dyson where I had to wait almost 6 months to get my battery replaced, I would have none of it - but I digress. If you want to contact the customer service in Singapore, to save you the hassle, just email them directly at contactus@plusminuszero.com.sg.
Make sure that you:
Tell them the exact problem
Send then a copy of your receipt and warranty as well as stating when and where you bought it and
Ask when you can schedule an appointment.
Pros
Lightweight, easy to clean, effective in doing its job, and aesthetically pleasing. The battery life lasts longer than all the cordless vacuum brands I have used. And making the battery user replaceable, it actually saves the consumer from the hassle of bringing it to a service center (and paying hefty service fees when something consumable like the battery can’t hold it’s charge like it used to.
Cons
The rubber wheels started peeling after minimal use and gets dirty easily. The quality control and service in Singapore could be better.
Conclusion
Overall, I'm quite satisfied with the Plus Minus Zero vacuum. It meets my needs for a light, effective cleaner. I wish I knew about this brand sooner. I really like their design language and how they push for functionality. For anyone that would like to buy a cordless vacuum, this would be one of my recommendations. I would without a doubt say, for daily use, I prefer it over all the cordless vacuums that I have used.
Always remember, before wanting to get anything, even if my reviews say throw your money at it, ask yourself these three questions.
Is the price fit for you? (You might want to check out this post to calculate if something is worth it for you.)
Does it complement the look of your other items?
Do you have space for it?
As always, thanks for reading! Message below if you have any questions and I’ll do my best to answer them.
