Vacuum cleaner

John Bailout · Post by **John Bailout** » Sat Apr 30, 2011 7:54 pm

What brand vacuum cleaner do Bogleheads buy and hold?

My no-name vacuum cleaner from Target is disintegrating after ~5 years, of which 4 years it didn't work all that well.

We prefer canister to upright vacuum cleaners.

I am loath to buy a Dyson - seems too gimmicky and over-priced (some one has to pay for all those ads)?

Oreck seems like technology from 70s and overpriced, but maybe good quality, service?

Thoughts?

What brands deliver on quality, durability for a reasonable price?

phositadc · Post by **phositadc** » Sat Apr 30, 2011 8:07 pm

I have a Dyson. Absolutely love it. Overpriced? Maybe. But definitely the best vacuum I've ever had. Cleans exceptionally well.

tim1999 · Post by **tim1999** » Sat Apr 30, 2011 8:35 pm

I have a hand-me-down Kenmore canister vaccum from the late 1980s that is starting to get a bit tired. I am considering replacing it with a new Kenmore of similar size/specs.

FrugalInvestor · Post by **FrugalInvestor** » Sat Apr 30, 2011 8:36 pm

We've had two Kenmore canisters in the last 20 years and would likely buy another.

retiredjg · Post by **retiredjg** » Sat Apr 30, 2011 8:43 pm

Rainbow. But they are not cheap.

You might want to do a search on this - there have been a couple of long threads in the last year or so.

harrychan · Post by **harrychan** » Sat Apr 30, 2011 8:58 pm

We use the Hoover Tempo Widepath Upright Vacuum, Bagged, U5140-900 after researching through consumer reports. It is not quiet by no means but this baby is powerful and at a great price. Amazon has it for under $80.

leo383 · Post by **leo383** » Sat Apr 30, 2011 8:58 pm

I used to sell vacuums at Sears, and have lots of experience with Electrolux, Dyson, Kenmore, Hoover, and Eureka.

The Kenmores are, in my experience, the best value. You really can't go wrong with the canister one or two notches down from the top of the line. They are made by Panasonic, so if you have access to Panasonics, they are pretty much the same.

Dysons are very nice, but are about $100 more than a comparable model from another less-fashionable brand. Their performance is no better than the upper level Kenmores or Hoovers, and I believe Consumer Reports backs me up on that.

Some people really, really don't want a bagged vacuum, and Dyson is probably your best bagless option.

gkaplan · Post by **gkaplan** » Sat Apr 30, 2011 9:13 pm

Consumer Reports review vacuums almost yearly.

Christine_NM · Post by **Christine_NM** » Sat Apr 30, 2011 9:51 pm

We had a vacuum cleaner thread last year, and Miele was a favorite. Based on that I bought a Miele Polaris from Amazon and it's fine. HEPA filter is a nice feature.

It's on sale for $10 less than I paid:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002OJ ... os_product

It's just a canister with good bags, HEPA, good suction. No attempt to be fancy like Oreck, Dyson, et al.

pochax · Post by **pochax** » Sat Apr 30, 2011 10:30 pm

Dyson....can get them refurbished for 30-40% off sticker price. still working after over 2-3 yrs just as new.

Triple digit golfer · Sun May 01, 2011 10:08 am

I have one of those Bissell helix ones. Works fine for me. $68 at Walmart about six months ago.

magneto · Post by **magneto** » Sun May 01, 2011 10:50 am

Siebe available with HEPA/Hospital Grade Filter. As an allergy sufferer the Miele sounds a possible alternative.

Have always avoided Dyson as I assume the cyclone technology would recycle the smaller (microscopoic dust mite droppings) particles back into the atmsophere. Is this a correct view?

abuss368 · Post by **abuss368** » Sun May 01, 2011 1:16 pm

Our last was a Dyson. Multiple issues with the clutch. A service center noted Dyson's had problems with this part. The price was high and the quality was the pits.

We purchased a new Shark sweeper. They are on television every morning with the wide variety of products. The price was $160 (less than half of Dyson's average price) and the quality is amazing. No difference between that and Dyson. I can not believe what the Shark lifts from the carpets!

I would think this has to impact Dyson's sales & market share!

Piyushk34 · Post by **Piyushk34** » Sun May 01, 2011 1:56 pm

I was constantly replacing vacuum cleaners due to the rubber belts being burned off. Then I decided to buy Eureka Model C2094, because the rubber belt is placed right in the middle instead of the side. This vacuum cleaners doesn't have all the bells and whistles available in other vacuums, but it very durable, requires low maintenance, not costly, and it just sucks! :lol:

OAG · Post by **OAG** » Sun May 01, 2011 2:05 pm

We have about a 17 year old Hover Wind Tunnel and we use is about 2-3 times a week. Heavy but it does the job very well. Filters a bit pricey but if you purchase them on line they are economical (just a paper filter). The smaller filters can be washed dried and reinstalled (have never had to replace the smaller ones). We do the larger one about once a year (they can be cleaned and reinserted. I purchased some replacement belts but never have had to replace one yet. Our Daughter has a newer Dyson and I did not like using it but she does.

realitytruthprozac · Post by **realitytruthprozac** » Sun May 01, 2011 2:54 pm

Miele is exactly what you need.

Triple digit golfer · Post by **Triple digit golfer** » Sun May 01, 2011 4:47 pm

Are you supposed to change the filters on vacuum cleaners? I never have. Still seems to suck, however.

JasonR · Post by **JasonR** » Sun May 01, 2011 5:17 pm

Another vote for Shark. We bought the Navigator model for $150 at Target. Quiet and great lifting power, especially pet hair, but not the greatest capacity. Expect to empty the dust reservoir often.

LynnC · Post by **LynnC** » Sun May 01, 2011 6:14 pm

A very old Miele and a Hoover Wind Tunnel. Both use those hyper allergenic bags.

For the tile floors in the bathrooms, I have a steam cleaner. I think it is a Shark.

LynnC

sammi24 · Post by **sammi24** » Mon May 02, 2011 1:15 pm

Even though expensive, I have a Dyson. I love it and have never had any problems with it. Try and find something that is not likely to lose suction. Might want to check online for reviews from other customers.

dratkinson · Post by **dratkinson** » Mon May 02, 2011 2:16 pm

Just stumbled into this cheap, double-duty capability.

My current favorite house vacuum is a small 5-gallon ACE hardware shop vacuum (wet/dry). Its mostly plastic so lighter than and about the same size as my old metal canister vacuums. Filters are cheap pad/paper over the motor air discharge and not thrown away when the canister is dumped. Have used it a few times for small "floods" and really like this double-duty aspect. Think it was ~$30, so a big bang for small bucks.

(added) I made a hose connector so I could use the attachments from my old existing canister vacuums (wand, brushes,...) and if needed, I could adapt a beater-brush head, too.

Have seen some janitorial staff using a back-mounted vacuum that might be easy to use. Don't know anything about their weight or expense of use.

interplanetjanet · Post by **interplanetjanet** » Mon May 02, 2011 3:47 pm

leo383 wrote:The Kenmores are, in my experience, the best value. You really can't go wrong with the canister one or two notches down from the top of the line. They are made by Panasonic, so if you have access to Panasonics, they are pretty much the same.

We've had several Kenmore canister vacuums and they seem to be a good value. The canister base itself is rock solid, never had any problems with it at all. The hose and electrics have been solid as well and we use our vacuum multiple times daily over a large area. Three kids and a dog (need I say more?).

The head leaves something to be desired, though. Oh, it cleans marvelously well, but there's an angled bend where the hose comes into the "wand" that is just curved enough to be annoying to clean out...and the baseplate of the head is made of thin plastic, and the head overall seems flimsy. I've had three of them break over the years (two vacuums) and now it's the one item in my life I find it worthwhile to keep paying for an extended warranty on, Sears seems to have no problem replacing it every other year or so.

Growing up, when we moved into a house in the 1980's we inherited an old Electrolux canister vacuum from the '40s, it was all metal and rode in a wooden case on caster wheels. Heavy but we figured we'd just keep using it until it broke. I think it was still working 25 years later, and sucked like you wouldn't believe (the head wasn't as effective as the modern beater bar ones, though).

-Janet

masteraleph · Post by **masteraleph** » Mon May 02, 2011 4:13 pm

We have a Miele canister model. Very quiet, enough power to suck up just about anything out there (I'd be worried if we had pet hamsters), ergonomic and stores quite nicely. Only problem is that they're expensive.

nisiprius · Post by **nisiprius** » Mon May 02, 2011 5:01 pm

A Miele canister. After years of buying cheap vacuum cleaners we finally bought a good one. We bought it because Consumer Reports said it was quiet, and believe me that's important, too. (I think the cheap ones are deliberately made noisy in order to make it sound as if they're powerful).

I can't believe the difference. There is no substitute for just plain having lots of suction (and moving lots of air).

HueyLD · Post by **HueyLD** » Tue May 03, 2011 3:29 pm

nisiprius wrote:A Miele canister. After years of buying cheap vacuum cleaners we finally bought a good one. We bought it because Consumer Reports said it was quiet, and believe me that's important, too. (I think the cheap ones are deliberately made noisy in order to make it sound as if they're powerful).

I can't believe the difference. There is no substitute for just plain having lots of suction (and moving lots of air).

Nisi,

I googled "Miele Canister" and many models showed up. Whcih model do you own? I, too will be in need of a new vacuum cleaner in the near future.

TxAg · Post by **TxAg** » Tue May 03, 2011 6:55 pm

I love my Dyson. My buddy works at Sears and got his discount plus it was on sale. Expensive, but worth it if you have a pet.

9Iron · Post by **9Iron** » Tue May 03, 2011 8:37 pm

We bought an electrolux in 1983... still use it.

bagle · Post by **bagle** » Wed May 04, 2011 5:13 am

Dyson. Bought it for my wife after checking various allergy foundation recommendations. I think it´s one reason she is better.

jives · Post by **jives** » Wed May 04, 2011 9:52 am

I have had a Dyson DC25 for a couple of years now. It's the best vacuum cleaner I've ever owned - no contest. I'm still amazed at all the stuff it pulls out of the carpet.

dratkinson · Post by **dratkinson** » Wed May 04, 2011 12:19 pm

For what it's worth, stumbled across this ABC report....

"Top Picks: Consumer Reports Puts Vacuum Cleaners To The Test"
http://abcnews.go.com/Business/top-pick ... d=12985601

Above links to this at Consumer Reports....

"Vacuum Cleaners, Vacuum Cleaner Rating"
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/appl ... /index.htm

Didn't see any dates so don't know how current is the information.

Easy Rhino · Post by **Easy Rhino** » Wed May 04, 2011 1:27 pm

I've got a Dyson that's about a year old. Build quality is a bit plasticy, but it works well.

runner26 · Post by **runner26** » Wed May 04, 2011 5:37 pm

My latest purchase was a Hoover upright hepa-bag. The thing makes so much noise, I have to leave the house to keep from wrapping it around my spouses neck, or throwing it out the front door

. Spouse wears earplugs.

jmbkb4 · Post by **jmbkb4** » Wed May 04, 2011 9:32 pm

chrikenn wrote:I have a Dyson. Absolutely love it. Overpriced? Maybe. But definitely the best vacuum I've ever had. Cleans exceptionally well.

I think Dyson is a huge, overpriced disappointment. Our Hoover wind tunnel cleans INFINITELY better.

And now that I have found washable air filters for the Hoover for $6.95 on AMZN, it's a no-brainer.

It's pathetic what our top-of-the-line Dyson will not pick up......