|
Post by gailkate on Apr 17, 2007 10:03:31 GMT -5
No clever play on words here, I'm talking vacuum as in "what do I buy now that we've killed our little vacuum and you can't do walls and corners with an upright?"
I've moaned about the perpetual sanding for our kitchen redecorating project. Well, the sawdust has finally killed our little canister with tools thingy. We have a good upright (that could succumb, too if we're not careful) but we had to switch to the Shop Vac for walls and woodwork. It is deafening. Its hose is like a huge octopus leg with a mind of its own.
So what do I buy? There are so many to choose from and I don't want to spend the entire spring budget. Are those cute bagless Hoovers and Electras for under $100 likely to fall apart? Dirt Devil? Please be my Consumer Report experts.
|
|
|
Post by Jane on Apr 17, 2007 12:27:54 GMT -5
OK, now here's a topic I can really get excited about! My family says I am an obsessive vaccuumer. But I don't happen to think that twice a day is obsessive!
I generally wear out one a year. The last time, I gave in, and, based on PT's recommndation (I pretty much think he is the expert on everything) bought a Dyson for many dollars and think it is just fine and dandy! I have a little hand vac for the stairs which totally doesn't work and a broom like vaccuum that also is completely unsatisfactory.
Hey, you've worked hard all your life. You deserve a Dyson.
|
|
|
Post by hartlikeawheel on Apr 17, 2007 12:47:00 GMT -5
I dislike vacuum cleaners and all that they stand or wheel for. My kitties have similar views.
Just get a couple of crawlers, put 'em in Swee'Pea style jammies and turn 'em loose.
My thought was that cleaning would be less noisy that way but now I'm thinkin' maybe it could be both more noisy AND noisome.
|
|
|
Post by gailkate on Apr 17, 2007 17:45:54 GMT -5
Oh dear, I wasn't eager to hear about a Dyson. When we bought the Oreck we (Jerry!) managed to spend ~$600. We got the upright (fine, but maybe faltering), the canister that just died, a car-vac and one that was supposed to be mounted on the wall for quick clean-ups. The last two went to Goodwill. Ok, I'll go online and look at Dysons, but I'm not happy. A friend told me to get a Dirt Devil and just replace it every couple of years. And Hart, you have NOT been helpful.
|
|
|
Post by hartlikeawheel on Apr 17, 2007 20:13:40 GMT -5
Hee, gk. Thanks.
Someone recently told me that's it's therapeutic for me to break rules.
I have a Dirt Devil and just crawl around after the katz with it.
Lately, since the weather has improved here there's not too much to worry about except you- know-who who comes home to dinner after inspecting ravines for erosion.
The girls are so good about not using the basement potties especially made for them that they are digging up all the plants to kindly do their duties outdoors.
Would a Dyson suck those girls out of the way?
|
|
|
Post by Thomas Scheuzger on Apr 17, 2007 22:35:06 GMT -5
From Consumer Reports 2006 Buying guide:
Uprights:
#1 - Hoover WindTunnel Self Propelled Ultra U6439-900 $250 Excellent on Carpet/Bare Floors/Tool Airflow/Fair on Noise/Excellent on emissions/Good on Ease of Use.
#2 - Eureka Boss Smart Vac Ultra 4870 - A Best Buy - $140 Excellent on Carpet/Bare Floors/Good on Tool Airflow and Noise/Excellent on Emissions/Good on Ease of Use
#3 - Hoover WindTunnel Bagless U5753-900 $180 #4 - Eureka Ultra Whirlwind 4880D $200 #5 - Kirby Ultimate G Diamond Edition $1330 (of course) #6 - Riccar Supralite RSL3 $330 #7 - Dyson DC15 The Ball All Floors $600 (Very Good on Carpet/Excellent on Bare Floors/Good on Tool Airflow and Noise/Excellent Emissions/Good on Ease of Use) #8 - Oreck XL21-700 $700 #9 - Hoover Wind Tunnel Bagless Self Propelled U6630-900 $300 #10 - Riccar Radiance $800 #11 - Bissell Cleanview II 3576-1 $80 #12 - Kenmore Progressive 35912 $200 #13 - Dyson DC07 All Floors $400 #14 - Dyson DC14 Complete $570 #15 - Eureka The Boss SE 5855BZ $130 #16 - Sebo Automatic X4 $750 #17 - Dirt Devil Vision Self Propelled $170 #18 - Eureka Boss 4D 5892 $150 #19 - Electrolux Aptitude EL5010A $300 #20 - Miele Powerhouse S184 $380 #21 - Dirt Devil Jaguar (Target) MO85575 $50 ... Canisters
#28 - Kenmore Progressive 25914 $500 Excellent Carpet and Bare Floors/Good Tool Airflow and Noise/Very Good on Emissions and Ease of Use #29 - Bosch Premium Prestige Electro Duo H BSG 81360UC $800 VG/Ex/VG/VG/Ex/VG #30 Kenmore Progressive 25614 - A Best Buy $350 VG/Ex/G/G/Ex/VG #31 - Miele Solaris Electro Plus 1200W S514 $800
And oh, so much more.
Oct 2005 issue had last full reports.
|
|
|
Post by gailkate on Apr 17, 2007 22:37:48 GMT -5
"...suck those girls out of the way?"
Yikes, what a terrible thought. That does it - no Dyson for me. So check your Dirt Devil and see what model it is, ok? I spent what seemed like hours googling and comparison shopping and am now totally befuddled. Since the house fills up with sawdust every day, I can't dawdle over this purchase.
|
|
|
Post by liriodendron on Apr 17, 2007 22:59:27 GMT -5
I used to love my Panasonic vacuums - both the upright and the cannister. I still have the cannister, but I've had it for quite some time and it has definitely seen better days. I'm not even sure they make vacuums anymore. I had an Electrolux upright for a while - loved it, too, especially since it could get nearly flat and I could easily vacuum under the beds. Last time I bought a vacuum (again, an upright), I bought a Kenmore, which Consumer Reports had placed at the top of their ratings. I've been very happy with it and would certainly look seriously at a Kenmore cannister to replace my very sad Panasonic one. I don't need a cannister that can also do carpets. I just want one that I can use for stairs and such. It's too much of a pain to try to balance the upright for jobs like that.
|
|
|
Post by ptcaffey on Apr 17, 2007 23:14:34 GMT -5
The above list is out of date. The top rated model is now the Kenmore (Sears) Progressive with Direct Drive ($300), whatever that is. As for the Eureka Boss Smart Vac Ultra 4870, I've seen pictures of it. It is butt ugly. You might as well be living in the 50's, wearing capri pants and a beehive hairdo, pushing that red monster around. It looks like it was designed by people whose design sense topped off at popcorn makers and weed whackers. True, it may suck better than the Dyson; still, it sucks. And you still have that bag of dirt to wrestle with. With the Dyson, you can carry the topsoil from your carpet back into the garden where it belongs. You are a caretaker of the earth and not some thoughtless consumer packing dirt into "bags," for gosh sakes, destined to fill up the landfills of the world. If you don't want the dust to blow back into your face, then shut your eyes and mouth! People survived the Oklahoma Dustbowl; you can survive emptying a Dyson bagless vacuum. In due course, you will learn to savor the sense of liberation you feel as you click its clear canister open.
The Dirt Devil brand, by the way, has some of the lowest ratings yet recorded.
I also like the Vax X5. Because of its name. "The Vax X5." That's cool, even if it just sits there in your living room humming.
The current Consumer Reports list:
UPRIGHT MODELS Kenmore (Sears) Progressive with Direct Drive 35922 CR Best Buy Progressive with Direct Drive 35923 $300 $300 Hoover WindTunnel 2 U8311-900 $250 Kenmore (Sears) Progressive with Direct Drive 36932 Progressive with Direct Drive 36933 $300 $300
Eureka Boss Smart Vac Ultra 4870 CR Best Buy $150
Hoover WindTunnel 2 U8361-900 Surface Command WindTunnel 2 U8351-900 Extra Reach $300, WindTunnel 2 U8371-900 Complete $300 $320
Electrolux Oxygen3 EL5035A $400
Kirby Sentria $1350
Riccar SupraLite RSL3 Simplicity Freedom F3500 $350 $350
Hoover Tempo Widepath U5140-900 $60
Bissell Healthy Home 5770 $300
Hoover WindTunnel Bagless Self Propelled U6630-900 $250
Hoover WindTunnel Self Propelled Ultra U6439-900 $215
Kenmore (Sears) Progressive 36622 $180
Oreck XL21-700 $750 Panasonic MC-V7720 MC-V7721 $200 $200 Dyson DC14 Animal DC14 All Floors $430, DC14 Complete $470, DC14 Full Access (Best Buy) $500, DC14 Full Gear $550, DC14 Full Kit $470, DC14 Low Reach $460 $550
Dyson DC15 The Ball All Floors DC15 The Ball Animal $600 $500
Hoover EmPower U5262-910 EmPower Turbo U5268-970 $120, EmPower U5265-900 $100, EmPower U5269-900 $100 $100
Hoover Savvy U8181-900 Savvy U8183-900 $200 $230
Hoover WindTunnel Bagless U5753-900 WindTunnel Bagless U5753-960 $160, WindTunnel Bagless U5760-900 $160 $160
Hoover WindTunnel Supreme U5458-900 WindTunnel Supreme U5468-900 $130 $130
Hoover Z 700 U9145-900 Z 400 U9125-900 $400 $500
Riccar Radiance Simplicity Synergy $900 $900
Dyson DC07 All Floors DC07 Full Gear $500, DC07 Full Kit $400, DC07 Low Reach $400 $400
Aerus Lux Legacy $1000
Electrolux Aptitude EL5010A $250
Bissell Lift-Off Revolution Turbo 3760-1 Lift-Off Revolution 4220 $180, Lift-Off Revolution Deluxe 3760-3 $190, Lift-Off Revolution Pet 3760-2 $170, Lift-Off Revolution Turbo 3760-H $170 $180
Sebo Automatic X4 $700
Miele Powerhouse S184 $380
Bissell PowerForce 6579-2 $50
Vax X5 $250
Eureka Boss 4D 5892AVZ $150
Sanyo Performax SC-A116 $135
Oreck XL Deluxe U3700HH $400
Sanyo SC-H2000 $120
Hoover Elite Rewind U5507-900 $100
Panasonic Fold'N Go MC-V5485 $120
Dirt Devil Reaction M110000 $160
Dirt Devil Vibe M088915V $100
Eureka Altima 2981 Altima 2991AVZ $100 $100
NOT RECOMMENDED MODELS Eureka Optima 431A
Hoover Fusion U5180-900 $100
Maytag Legacy U5185-900 $150
|
|
|
Post by Thomas Scheuzger on Apr 18, 2007 2:26:48 GMT -5
So there!!!
|
|
|
Post by booklady on Apr 18, 2007 7:45:23 GMT -5
Just wonderin' why Thomas would be awake and thinking about vacuum cleaners at 2 in the morning....
|
|
|
Post by liriodendron on Apr 18, 2007 8:01:14 GMT -5
Isn't everyone?
|
|
|
Post by Jane on Apr 18, 2007 8:29:59 GMT -5
I can't believe PT actually used the phrase "butt ugly."
|
|
|
Post by gailkate on Apr 18, 2007 9:02:21 GMT -5
But....don't you love his sense of outrage? The man can get incensed by the design flaws of vacuums! I'm enormously grateful that he has such bulldog tenacity. He's researched binocs for J*, cameras for Tribble, apparently recommended Jane's Dyson (and aren't you just a bit peeved that he's left you with last year's winner, Jane?) and now does all my work for me.
Actually, I've looked at a boatload of vacuums and some of them really are downright spooky. They might indeed suck up kitty cats.
|
|
|
Post by gailkate on Apr 18, 2007 9:22:09 GMT -5
Forgot to thank Thomas, whose effort is appreciated and not dismissed as last year's throwaway. I like to have a sense of history in my shopping experience. Moreover, both lists must be merged with other ratings lists. Neither seems to give a lot of attention to Miele, which is a powerhouse on other Top Picks.
Who knew? Vacuums are smart, progressive, savvy, turbo-charged windtunnel animals!
|
|
|
Post by Thomas Scheuzger on Apr 18, 2007 9:55:19 GMT -5
My sister had one of those Mieles. They were one of the first to address HEPA filters and anti-allergy operation, and my hypochondriac brother in law made her spend too much of their (her) hard earned money on it, so I am a bit biased against it. Still, it carries that Euro-Chic aura, much like those fondue pots and espresso machines.
I've had a Eureka canister vac since I got a place of my own, and that's going on 28 years now. Last I checked you could still get parts for it (though it's been a while) - which to me says a lot. Yes, it still sucks, and it sucks well. My wife had a Hoover upright when we met, and I've already had to replace various parts on it, but it does a good job. The current trend is bagless, probably brought on by the Dyson and its imitators... Belts, bulbs and motor filters are the expendible commodities here, so if you find a model you like it would be smart to stock up on parts while you can.
Uprights seem to do better on carpets, but most are so darn heavy and clumsy - really tough to do stairs with one. My father, in the last phase of his career, designed commercial vacs and floor machines (we're talking Volkswagen Beetle size), so I was always keen on mfr. claims and power ratings, which used to send my Dad scoffing away in disgust. We had (have) an old Electrolux from the 60s in Maine, and my Dad's kept that running to this day.
Jane - one a YEAR? My goodness, what ARE you doing to that thing? But I suppose any machine used twice a day with no (?) maintenance would give up the ghost fairly quickly. And shame on all of you that use a household vac for construction debris - that's the quickest way to a premature death warrant, and what shop vacs are made for. You can get a decent shop vac with a muffler that doesn't require hearing protection, and they even make them now just for drywall dust (vacuum poison), but that's another thread it seems...
Oh, and 2 AM is when I always think about vacuums.
|
|
|
Post by doctork on Apr 18, 2007 11:08:44 GMT -5
I don't mess with the vacuum cleaner, I don't know nothin' about vacuum cleaners, Miss Scarlet.
My son does the vaccuming, but it does seem that we need to replace them rather often (every couple years), especially now that I read that you all have vacuums that last decades.
Last week there was some vacuum cleaner problem (wrong bag, belt broke), which I resolved by screaming and running into the bedroom and slamming the door. When I came out a couple hours later, there was a terrible sight - Spencer had the vacuum disassembled on the floor and was messing with parts, so I immediately left to run errands and visit the Post Office. By the time I returned, the place was clean and the vacuum was nowhere in sight. Thank goodness.
However, Spencer is going away to college next year, so I probably need to read the lists and study your comments, to prepare for vacuuming on my own. Can you believe I was a "Betty Crocker Homemaker of Tomorrow" in high school?
|
|
|
Post by liriodendron on Apr 18, 2007 13:28:11 GMT -5
Can you believe I was a "Betty Crocker Homemaker of Tomorrow" in high school? LOL Now THAT is a hoot! Has anyone tried a Roomba?
|
|
|
Post by booklady on Apr 18, 2007 13:57:44 GMT -5
I can't get into this subject at all. I'm cutting up my 2004 sports sections, taking out all the Red Sox stuff for when I finally get my 2004 scrap book(s) done. This is headway, belive it or not. There is a bunch of newsprint going to the recycling center today.
|
|
|
Post by slb2 on Apr 18, 2007 14:09:17 GMT -5
I haven't much to contribute, either. Ace vacuums. I would if he didn't, but he does, so I don't. I don't like how he does it, either, but it's not something I'm willing to make an issue. He zips along like he's in a competition, first one to finish gets the brass ring. (Hey! I'm talking about vacuuming!!)
|
|
|
Post by gailkate on Apr 18, 2007 14:14:13 GMT -5
Bl, I'm disappointed in your rejection of this topic. I see drama (Dr.K screaming??), family history (pedigrees to the Dark Ages, regional references - does a Maine vac require different capacity?), and Obsessive Compulsive zeal in the person of our very own sensible Jane.
I might just go to Target and grab whatever box I can pick up.
|
|
|
Post by booklady on Apr 18, 2007 14:20:56 GMT -5
I'm just not as excited about the household arts as I used to be, Gail. I'm a slob. No, I'm a student. Too preoccupied studying things to clean. Yeah. That sounds better.
|
|
|
Post by booklady on Apr 18, 2007 14:22:39 GMT -5
We have an Electrolux cannister. My husband does a lot of the vacuuming, except the hard parts, like behind and under furniture and on the stairs. I get to do that part. Also, do any of you women sort of have to thank your husbands for doing any cleaning? And do you ever get thanked for cleaning? It's very odd.
|
|
|
Post by liriodendron on Apr 18, 2007 14:39:39 GMT -5
first one to finish gets the brass ring. ( Hey! I'm talking about vacuuming!!) Suuuuuuuuure you are.
|
|
|
Post by slb2 on Apr 18, 2007 15:37:11 GMT -5
Also, do any of you women sort of have to thank your husbands for doing any cleaning? And do you ever get thanked for cleaning? It's very odd. No, Ace is happy to clean. He's obsessed with cleaning. Which is why he always gets the brass ring, one might say. And I get thanked for cleaning because he's so happy that I ever do it. (It's all the invisible stuff that he doesn't seem to grasp. Like clean clothes in the drawer and pets that are still living rather than starved to death and do you know how many medical appointments four kids, one dog, and two birds need each year?!) I wish someone would come up with an effective way to reward cleaning when one has kids in the house. Reward the parent, that is. I can get my kids to clean by making it a routine and expectation. That, plus the dangling bait.
|
|
|
Post by hartlikeawheel on Apr 18, 2007 15:48:04 GMT -5
My first American peeps lived in dirt floor soddies. No need for vacuum cleaners. Why should I feel any more superior than those stellar folks.
It's my understanding that that's what we were all made from and where we will all be going so embrace the stuff of life. Yeah?
|
|