Suggestions for a good upright vacuum?

[cwydro]

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by Yonnie3 (a host of the DU Community Help forum).

I’ve heard Oreck is good, but I seem to be really bad at picking vacuums.

I don’t mind spending the money if it’s a good one.

[jberryhill]

1. They all suck

[cwydro]

2. Bwaha!

That’s exactly what a friend of mine said when I asked her.

I’ve got a great barrel shaped canister monster left that my mom bought eons ago, but damn it’s hard to pull around.

Guess I’ll have to keep using it. Leery of those uprights. Maybe a Roomba?

[CharleyDog]

14. a Roomba is pretty funny as an effective cleaning machine: the canister only holds about a half cup

We live with 3 dogs on a lake at the beach in the forest so we have dog hair sand pine cone bits and pine needles. I plan on buying a vac about every 2+ years. so, I buy the cheapest. I find the more expensive ones are no better. They don't clean better, they don't last longer. So for the price of one $150 vac, I can buy 3 and last 6+ years of good results (hint: I clean out the vac often).

[Dennis Donovan]

3. Shark and Dyson are at the top, I think.

They're both known for a good suck.

[we can do it]

4. I agree.

[cwydro]

5. Thanks. I did buy a small Shark some years ago.

Bagless thingie for a travel trailer. Never had much luck with that one, but it might have been given too much work lol.

[questionseverything]

6. electrolux upright

I bought mine like 20 years ago and have only had to replace the cord

it was like 1500 bucks but before that i was spending 80 bucks twice a year on vacumns

the reason it keeps working is the dirt doesnt go thru the motor ,seems to make all the dif and mine came with all these handy attachments that really work

[cwydro]

8. That's what my mom's ancient canister is. An Electrolux.

She paid about that same amount year and years ago. She always felt sorry for door to door salesmen, and they were still around then. Dad never let her hear the end of it, but it’s still a damn good vacuum. Unfortunately, I have no idea where to get the carpet sweeper part fixed.

I’ll look into it.

[questionseverything]

10. i'm in illinois and the same peops that sell them will fix them

just look for them in phone book or google them



it is unusual for me to be excited about any appliance but I swear that vacuum does most the work...good luck

[cwydro]

18. I will! That would make my mom happy too.

It still sucks well (lol), just the attachment seems screwed up.

[WhiteTara]

7. I just bought a Shark and I love it

It's hypoallergenic, Carries all its tools around on the machine and you can lift the canister off the stand. I had an Oreck, but I wouldn't recommend even though it is very light weight. It's really dirty compared to the Shark.

[cwydro]

9. Thanks, something else I can look into!

This is why I love DU!

[WhiteTara]

13. Shark is realitively inexpensive

You can wash every part of it and when you finish there is not dust or dander left. I have to empty the canister every room, but it goes outside into the garbage can and that will never be in the house again. Oreck's bags come loose and sometimes the bag is a horrible mess that you have to vacuum out with another vacuum! Also, they are a limpball supporter.

[Freddie]

15. Shark is great

We love ours. Around $100. My daughter likes hers and she has 3 kids, 2 cats and a black Lab who’s a shedding machine.

[mercuryblues]

11. Roomba

[procon]

12. Depends on what you need.

Is your house mostly carpeted or is it hard flooring, or combinations? Do you have pets, messy little kids, lots of teens coming and going with even more messes? Vacuums specialize in tasks you want.

What about whether, will you need to clean up dust, dirt, muddy wet footprints, leaves and sports stuff that get tracked in? Kitchen spills and puppy accidents? There's wet/dry vacuums that might work for you.

Do you need a good set of attachments? Plan on cleaning upholstry, drapery, blinds, crown molding, hard to reach spots, then see what's offered.

If you have stairs and need to haul a vacuum up and down then weight might be a factor. Some vacuums can detach from the main frame, making it easier to move about.

It's not a one size fits all decision. For example, I have a Roomba that does a fair job with daily dusting of my hard flooring in the main room, kitchen and hall. I have a Dyson Animal that will do the large area rugs and hunt down escaped dust bunnies the Roomba missed, it will also pick up bigger messes like spilled cereal, kitty litter and sandy dirt that gets tracked in around the doors.

[cwydro]

19. New house. Some carpet, some wood flooring. Three dogs. One person, with visitors on occasion.

One largish dog, two wee ones, one of the visitors brings a a VERY large dog for visits lol.

[dixiegrrrrl]

16. I bought a shop vac over 20 years ago, it is great.

Has a lot more power, has several attachments, plus I can use just the hose-end with any attachment for dusting off blinds, louvered doors, small area, and use the plastic tube things as needed, so cleans flat rugs, mats, attachment for corners, one for dusting.
It came with a large diameter hose and attachments, and I had, for some reason, the usual smaller hose and attachment, both sizes work fine, depending on what I need.
Sucks up anything that does not run away from it.

Cleans nicely...top comes off, just take the round base and turn it over a 55 gallon garbage can.
And it can be used as a blower on the deck.
and to suck up water, god forbid you need that.

Easy still to lift/carry up stairs, has an inset handle for that, it is heavy plastic, very sturdy.
attachments/ hose I carry separately.

Only downside is it is a bit noisier than a normal upright. But was pretty cheap, if I remember.
Oh, a Sears product.

I call it R2D2......

[NBachers]

17. My great Sanyo finally died; I bought a Royal Pro-Series Light Bagged Upright # UR30075

last August. It's way adequate for what I need. I walked into the classic Vacuum Cleaner Store looking to buy a more expensive commercial Royal, but the sales person advised me to buy this one, and said it'd work out fine for me. She was right.

I've been through the whole bagless thing, and gone back to bag vacuums. The ads make it look like your spend ten seconds disengaging the cannister and dumping it out, but, I assure you, there's way more to it than that. I found them complicated and annoying, with little parts that break, get lost, and need replacement. I'll never fall for the "bagless convenience" shtick again.

http://www.royalvacuums.com/pro-series-upright-light-bagged-upright

I'm a life-long vacuum cleaner freak, from the time I remember sitting on our couch as a baby and watching my grandma vacuuming and seeing the dust particles suspended in the shafts of sunlight beaming through our living room. I pay attention to vacuum cleaners.

[cwydro]

20. Yes, I've found bagless are usually crap.

But I’ve bought the cheap ones usually, so that’s on me.

Thanks for the tip.

[Yonnie3]

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