I LOVE my Dyson! I can't even recall how many vacuums I have owned that pooped out on me after a short time. I've had my Dyson for two years, and it works as good as it did the first day. It is also really easy to empty without a mess. You just bring the canister out to the trash bin, push the release lever, and all the dirt comes out of the bottom. Also, every time I vacuum, my house gets a "new" smell, sort of like new car smell. It's worth the extra money.
I own a Dyson "animal". I LOVE IT. Not only is it beautiful, but it works great. I vacuumed my floor once I got it, and it was full before I finished. I vacuumed it again, another full canister. It has made me a vacuum "snob". I help cleaning at friends/familys' and I get so frustrated that theirs don't work as well.
I love my Dyson too! Every six months or so, we take it apart and throw parts in the dishwasher and it looks like new. We bought ours about 2 years ago on Ebay for a discount. It was used but we have never had any trouble at all. I love the extendable wand, so easy!
Jess
I have had my Miele canister vacuum for 18 years and have needed to take it to the shop only once, last year! Wheels needed replacing and had a general 'going-over' with nothing wrong. First bought it as I had 12+ dogs, & a husband who tracked in everything. Bags run about $13 a year. Wouldn't think of getting anything else.
I would advise that if you have asthma or know someone that does, DON'T get a Dyson because you have to dump the little canister thingy and that puts ALOT of dust back into the air.
Hi I have had aDyson for about 3 years and I wouldn't trade it for any other one.
Well, I have had quite a few vacuums over the years but the one I like most is the one I have had about five years, a Dirt Devil Swivel Glide. I've never had really expensive vacs except perhaps the self-propelled one. I had carpet when I bought the Dirt Devil but no longer have carpet though I do have 4 dogs. What I really like about the Dirt Devil are the wheels that swivel, making it very easy to maneuver..I have a back problem and it is easy for me to handle. I rarely have a problem with clogging or loss of suction.
I love my Sears Kenmore canister vac. Has out lasted a lot I have had in past.
I'd vote for an Oreck any day. Have one and love it. The little vacum you get with it is so handy , great for cleaning the car.
I have a childcare in my home therefore I vacum every day. I have tried them all over the last 30 plus years that I have been in bussiness. None of them lasted very long and Ive had everything from Kenmore to Kirby to oreck. In fact I had my oreck and had just had it cleaned and tuned when I got my Dyson animal. I got half a canister of "yuck" and that was after I had just used the "new" oreck.
Your vac probably has dust balls stuck inside a tube in its innards.
Try to take the whole thing apart, piece by piece and see what you can find.
Also, wash the cloth bag. It is supposed to breathe and the mini holes become clogged with dust that you can't see, making the motor work harder.
I had an Electrolux years ago that needed this kind of tender care annually. The co. charged a goodly sum to do this, so I decided to see if I could do it myself. I did, and it was no big deal. Annoying, but do-able.
We use a dyson at work (nursing home-fully carpeted) It picks up stuff even the big heavy duty commercial vacs don't!!!!
I bought an Oreck about 9 yrs ago and just love it!! I'd buy one again in a minute. It's very lightweight ( 8 pounds) and great at picking up animal hair...we have always had cats and also have a LONG-haired German Shepherd ...they're fur factories! The small hand vac that comes with the upright one is great for stairs and furniture. I believe you can still try them risk free for 30 days.... Check them out on the web! Grandma Jan
My daughter bought a Dyson a couple of months ago and she loves it. The suction is great and it is easy to dump the dirt cup. She has cats and it picks up so well it is fantastic. The day I tried it out at her house, she had vacuumed the day before, and used the perfume powder on the carpet. When I ran the vac, it picked up the powder like no vac I have ever seen. She got hers on QVC or a shopping show that had 3 payments.
oreck and dyson are both good machiens, but I've had my Kirby for over 30 years, and aside from needing a new belt every few years (under $5.00) and one new fan when I accidentally sukkkkkked up a marble, it's been fantastic. I've since found a few in thrift stores and bought them for my (married) kids, and they love them too. The older ones that don't need a bag are the best. They can be found through your local Kirby dealer. He will no doubt try to switch your interest to a new machine, but unless you can spend a huge amount of money, and don't mind changing/buying bags, I'd stick with an older model. When you buy from a dealer, they are usually totally reconditioned, and most will give you many years of service.
The best vacuum ON THE PLANET is a Rainbow Vac - They suck the dirt through water & blow clean air out the other side (Air that is certified to be clean enough to use in an intensive care ward) I always stressed out about knowing the dusty air was being blown out the other end of my old vacuum- especially when I had a toddler following behind me breathing it all in. The vac's aren't cheap - around $1,800. - but I felt it was an investment for my home & I have real peace of mind every time I turn it on. It does everything - all the usual attachments. I live in NY & I know there is a dealer on Long Island - You might be able to find them on the web.
I inherited a Rainbow 10 years ago. I'm not sure how old it really is. We live in the country so i'm able to dump the bowl outside. ( good for nesting birds) We have alot of indoor cats and the Rainbow works best for me. I tried Oreck but was not happy w/it.
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
My daughter is looking to buy a new vacuum cleaner and wants a powerful vacuum that will do a good job on cat hair. She has two cats. Any suggestions for her on what to buy from someone who is really happy with their vacuum on animal hair. Thanks.
By Betty Andrejczak from Philadelphia, PA
Has anyone tried the vacuum that cleans with water that are seen on TV? You buy one and get the second for shipping and handling? I know my mother used to have one called Rex Air and they are now called Rainbow.
I have a rainbow and it works great. You should see all the gunk in the water. I find I don't use it much anymore because I have a central vac. It works great for the car and the van. I did get tired of emptying the water thing. I guess I'm just too lazy. I remember that I spent way too much money on it. It was a door to door sales thing at the time. That was about twenty years ago now. It does work well though.
I have a Rainbow and love it. I now have hardwood floors but use the floor tool. I have carpeted bedrooms. I also have a cat and it gets all the hair. It also has a attachment that blows up air mattresses and balloons. I have an old strainer that I use for emptying it. I take it to the yard and drain it through the strainer and dump the residue into a plastic bag, tie it up and throw it in the trash. No problem for me.
I worked in Environmental Services at a hospital years ago.. we used
the Rainbow vacume. We had to stop working 45 minutes early every day to allow time to clean up the machine of coarse that included the time it took to go between floors but it still took an
excessive amount of time to clean etc.
Hi all,
My hubby was selling them about 10 years ago. I love my rainbow. I didn't buy a new one, who could afford that. No we bought one used from a lady locally. I love it. No nasty smells when vacuuming. It gets all the nasty stuff caught in the water. I then dump it out out side on the grass over some news papers. Water rolls away and the rest I roll up and trhow in the garbage a quick swish and it is all clean.
My sister can come over now. She could never come to my house because of the cat dander. But you can do an air wash and it cleans the air. It is an awesome machine especially for those with allergies.
They are always selling on ebay. And even check with your local vacuum repair guy.
good luck!! If you want more info on them write me and I will find out from hubby.
Laura
I really like my rainbow, but as others have said it has to be emptied and cleaned, but well worth the extra effort, because you can see if your carpets need shampooing, just by looking at the water.
I am a homemaker for the elderly and 1 of my clients has 1 of these, dont know what brand tho. I found it to be a nuisense to attach the hose, change the "nozzles" to do different areas such as hard wood and carpet, and to dump and clean the canister. It works great, but would not get one for myself for all the hassles.
I've owned a Rainbow Vac for 22 years. Sure you have to empty the water container and occasionally clean the metal "thingy" with a toothbrush. But how hard is that? The cleaning tools, I thought, were like any other for a vacuum...you change from a beater bar for carpet, a different one for other floors then the attachments for crevice tool, small brush and upholstery. Yes, we spent a lot of money on ours at the time, too. But worth every penny. The only thing I've had done to mine in all these years...new belts on the powerbar (for carpets), new latches that hold canister to water bowl, and replaced my hose that attaches to the powerbar. Just being able to see the junk you've vacuumed up makes you feel like you've done the job right. It is an investment and if the quality and workmanship is as good as it was 22 years ago, I don't think you can go wrong if you can afford it.
I enjoy my rainbow.
edie
Hum-m-m-mmmm, yes, the Rainbow seems to be a good product. However, when I sold vacuums and air filters, many clients were unaware that the water cannot catch anything oily, such as human skin, greasy hair, weird pollution and pollen from the air.
Although the water is truly muddy and yucky, who in the world really enjoys/wants to deal with it the way it's designed? I suggest a stronger suction, double bagged vacuum without water, then rent a good steamer like Rug Doctor. Otherwise, a floor will come out with wall to wall mudpies that can't be seen nor removed, if the vacuuming wasn't truly strong, which the Rainbow doesn't even claim to be. Although it did work on lots of areas and got dirty fast, I could always vacuum right after it and get TONS of left-behind debris it missed, as well as shine a photo bulb lamp on the nearby tables and room air to prove my claims. It's not worth the money in my opinion and cannot compete with the Hoover 7500
WindTunnel and accessories, for suction, for example. Hope this helps? God bless you. : )
rainbows are still made as rex air. they are made in Troy michigan. ive seen them pick up stuff after a kirby. wet dust dont fly! they have double motors using the big and lil ones, sure u have to do some work, but its better for u, your invironment, u can also get oils at a rainbow supplier. your house will smell great and longer then any spray you buy. you can get the bag with it too, to stuff your pillows in, cusions, etc. just blow air in and out and they are fresh as a daisy. and yes rainbows do pick up dust mites! if your up for the expense and the after use work, its your best option. ive seen demos, my ex sold them. if they will pick up after the use of a kirby, you cant do any better then that. he used to put it inside my car, and run it and it made my car smell so good! it can lower the temp in a room and sanitise rooms. get a free demo, call a vacuum store. you will love it.
I do not have much space to store a big vacuum nor do I have the time to deal with one that needs a bag. Can someone tell me of a very good vacuum (not water) that picks up everything for an affordable price of under $70.00.
I bought a used Electrolux vac. It has a bag, but it's not like you have to change it all the time (disposable bag).
It's a small cigar shaped canister type, but a good vac repair shop should have several types to choose from for a very reasonable price. They are normally fully reconditioned and have a warranty.
Or... try ebay!
I bought a nice Dirt Devil, bagless at WalMart for 68.88. Works like a charm! Good Luck!
I highly highly recommend the dirt devil featherweight, i use my vacuum everyday and am extremely tough on it. i can't believe its lasted 5 years and still works great. i believe these are around $50 bucks. don't believe the hype about expensive models.
I would try a Bissell. We had the expensive Kirby and also an inexpensive Dirt Devil and our bagless Bissell is the best yet. Not sure if it's less than $70 but now would be a good time to find one on sale. I know ours was less than $100.
We used to have a bag-type electrolux vacuum cleaner. When it "kicked the bucket" I bought a bagless canister-type Dirt Devil. We figured that we could buy a new store bought vacuum cleaner once every 2 years for the next twenty or more years compared to buying a new electrolux. And by that time the electrolux would be needing major repairs. The dirt devil had so much suction that the rug changed color in one area that we always walked over. (No more dirt in the carpet). The electrolux bags were so expensive. With being in the country and having 3 kids tracking stuff in and a cat and a dog in the house I used a lot of bags. Now I just empty the canister.
If you do get a canister buy an extra filter so you can clean one while using the other one. Your suction will remain at its best then.
Our very old and faithful Hoover vacuum sadly gave in and stopped working after about 25 years. Our local vacuum cleaner shop would not even look at it. It's time to move on and find a replacement.
We are not very well informed about new vacuum cleaners. What are the best vacuum cleaner brands and options these days? Do you recommend upright or canister ones? What about bagless vs bagged? We do have quite a lot of hardwood floors and carpet, so we'd need something good for that.
I've googled around a bit and The Wirecutter recommends Miele Dynamic U1 Twist, while GetCleaningDone recommends a vacuum that's supposed to be specifically good for hardwood floors and carpet, SharkNinja Canister upright vacuum. What do you think about these two options?
What vacuum cleaner would you recommend for hard surface floors?
Diane from Amity, AR
DYSON! It is the best vacume we have ever used. Plus, you can go right from vacuming the carpet to hardwood without having to adjust any setting. It does it automatically. Good luck!
You may laugh, but I use a shop vac on my tile floors and also on what carpet I have. I love it. It will pick up any and every thing. Best $39 I have ever spent.
www.amazon.com/
I love my Dirt Devil Vac'n'Mop. It can dry vacuum and wet mop (not at the same time, of course). It uses swiffer or clorox ready-mom pads. I guess you could also use whatever frugal substitutes for these pads people have come up with on this site.
If you read the customer reviews on amazon.com, and read the product manual on the dirt devil website, you will see that most people who had complaints did not read the manual and were not using the vacuum the way it was meant to be used. The amazon customer reviews give it only 3 out of 5 stars but I would give it 5.
I bought a Dirt Devil Swivel Glide MVP a few years ago when I had carpet because it looked like it would be easy to push (I have a back problem). I love this vacuum, with the swivel rollers it is easy to manuever, doesn't clog and still does a great job on my tile floors. I don't recall I have ever had to replace a belt either. It's not expensive.
Most of my floors are hardwood and the only thing I do besides mop, is use a 24" wide dustmop sprayed with End Dust. I also use it on the tile in the bathrooms. That is what the professionals suggested I use and it works great. They always look shiny.
Last year I ended up buying a Hoover Linx cordless stick vac and the Bissell Pet Hair Eraser hand vac, as I was so frustrated with our old Miele White Star. Both are decent for day-to-day touch-ups, but my Miele has now totally bitten the dust and I need to buy a new vac this week.
As much as I'd prefer an upright vac, I use my hose and attachments all the time to vacuum my very textured adobe walls, furniture, crevices, lampshades, etc.
I've spent a lot of time this morning searching The Wirecutter and Get Cleaning Done. But, every time I check out the customer reviews there are always complaints that the rollers still get bound up with hair and have to be continually cut off. Or that the vacuums are falling apart! I found one that seemed to work well as long as you got down on your hands and knees and used an attachment to get it up. I've been doing that for years with my Miele White Star and am so done with that! For a vacuum that expensive back then it was close to $500.
Is there a vacuum out there that actually really works with pet hair on rugs and hardwood? I need recommendations and ones NOT to buy quickly, please. Help!
Is there a vacuum out there that actually really works with pet hair on rugs and brick/non-carpeted floors? Last year I ended up buying a Hoover Linx cordless stick vac and the Bissell Pet Hair Eraser hand vac, as I was so frustrated with our old Miele White Star. Both are decent for day-to-day touch-ups, but my Miele has now totally bitten the dust and I need to buy a new vac this week.
As much as I'd prefer an upright vac, I use my hose and attachments all the time to vacuum my very textured adobe walls, furniture, crevices, lampshades, etc.
I've spent a lot of time this morning searching Consumer Reports and Getcleaningdone. But, every time I check out the customer reviews there's always complaints that the rollers still get bound up with hair and have to be continually cut off. Or that the vacuums are falling apart! I found one that seemed to work well, as long as you got down on your hands and knees and used an attachment to get it up. I've been doing that for years with my Miele White Star and am so done with that! For a vacuum that expensive (back then it was close to $500), shame on them!
Is there a vacuum out there that actually really works with pet hair on rugs and brick/non-carpeted floors? I need recommendations ~ and ones NOT to buy~ quickly please. Help!
Can anyone recommend the best vacuum cleaner to buy?
By Onesummer
My home has laminate wood floors in the den with a couple thick pile rugs. I have normal height carpet (guess you'd say) in my bedrooms. I use a dust mop on the laminate floors so I need a vacuum that will work on the thick rugs. I am having trouble finding one with a high enough adjustment. I just returned a vacuum that had 4 height adjustment and I could barely push it. It was a Kenmore.
By weinerdog41 from Ft. Worth, TX
I am just wondering if anyone has any suggestions for a quality vacuum that is good with pet hair? I have two inside cats (1xshort hair 1xlong hair) and a inside dog (short hair). I currently vacuum twice a week and it still doesn't cut the mustard. The vacuum doesn't pick up anywhere near what I am after. (It's that old, the customer service number on it only has 7 numbers, Vax 2000).
I have heard that certain ones that say they are good with pet hair are not and if I went and spent money on something that didn't work I'd be most upset. So I would like some first hand suggestions.
Price doesn't really matter, but at the same time I'd rather not be spending 1k+ on a vacuum, lol. Thankyou :)
By Jody Haynes from Roseville, MI
Bagless vacuums, like the Dyson, reduce the overall cost of using your vacuum considerably. This is a page about buying a bagless vacuum.
