Bare Floor Vacuums

[Brneyedgrl80]

Hey guys, I was wondering if anyone could recommend a good bare floor vacuum?

We've pretty much have gotten rid of all the carpet in the house, and what ever we have left will eventually disappear too. The Dirt Devil that I have is a great vacuum for carpet, but horrible for bare floors. It just kicks everything around. To vacuum my bare floors I have to use the triangular head tool which is only about 4 inches wide. So it takes a real long time to do the house.

I'm really into Dirt Devils (I've had mine for 6 years now) and I came from a Dirt Devil family, but I wouldn't be opposed to a Hoover either.

I'm not looking to spend more than $250 and even though I've only owned upright vacuums, I would be interested in a canister vacuum.

Oh, I'm also into something that looks good. I guess I can be a form or function type of gal sometimes, lol

Thanks!

 

[petek]

Bare floors, no carpet, perfect for a vintage Hoover Constellation. You will squeal with delight as it floats quietly across your floors.

 

[maytagbear]

This is a challenge--

I think I remember you saying that you need/want a clean air vacuum, and straight suction canisters are not always clean air machines.

I think the less expensive Miele's might be the answer here. I know, I know. "Less expensive" and "Miele" in the same sentence.

I know there was a Consumer Reports vacuum test earlier this year. If push comes to shove, look that up,(library!) and there were several less expensive powerhead canisters with excellent emissions ratings. A powerhead canister can always be used without the powerhead.

Good luck!

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[foraloysius]

All bare floors here too. IMHO the most important things is a floor or parquet brush. These brushes are softer than the all floor ones. I used an the all floor brush of my Miele but didn't like the pushing around of the dirt. A parquet brush picks up the dust on bare floors better than other brushes. I think the brand of the vacuum is less important, you don't need mega power to get bare floors clean.

 

[petek]

here ya go

Pardon Our Interruption...

 

[foraloysius]

A Constellation for bare floors? I can picture it, dust being blown into the corners of the room, you only need to vacuum the corners! LOL

 

[Brneyedgrl80]

Oooo!! I saw that Connie on ebay and really wanted to bid on it, but I'm not ready to buy a vacuum yet, I'm just trying to get an idea right now. I'm hoping for a new vacuum for Christmas!

Maytagbear, I don't need anything special. My husband and I don't have allergies or anything. But we do have 5 kitties (two are long hair), so if it can handle that, it would be great.

You know, a Connie might be just what I need. I hear they are not too loud.

 

[launderess]

We have mostly bare floors and mainly use those "Swifter" type things as they do a much better job of picking up dust/dirt than most vaccums, IMHO.

Once a year or so, all the wood floors get a cleaning and polishing with paste wax and a buffer.

Launderess

 

[lavamat_jon]

Better still, you could attach the Swifter dusters onto each foot and voila! You have a clean floor everytime you walk across the living room or down the hallway... LOL.

(Don't tell me you already do this Launderess!)

Jon

 

[launderess]

As a matter of fact,I don't. However have been known to get down to business with hands when polishing the front sitting room and kitchen floors. In my mind nothing equals a nice hand polished floor. Buffers do not always get into the cracks and corners, and sometimes send polish flying about.

As for "skaking" polishing, IIRC did see this done in France once. One of those large estate homes with huge parquet floored rooms. Makes sense actually, but if the floor is so slippery one could sake on it, wonder how safe it would be to thread upon.

Launderess

 

[lavamat_jon]

Interesting to hear about the skating polishers! I wonder if skate-polishing is one of Hyacinth Buck... Bouquet's favourite pastimes? LOL.

Which leads me to another thing... you could also play that olympic sport in your hallway where you throw a weight down the floor (which looks a bit like a circular iron) and sweep frantically in front of it. Another interesting way to pass your chores :-D. I'm sure Hyacinth will be very proud of Sheridan if he joined the club for it at his university alongside his needlework course

Jon

 

[launderess]

Well don't know about that, but one of my favourite sayings when someone is underfoot is "go polish something", is in "you're very much in the way here, go polish something".

Perhaps it is so ingrained in one's memory from being on the receiving end of the remark as a child. *LOL*

Launderess

 

[westytoploader]

I agree with PeteK about the Hoover Constellation...it is absolutely perfect for bare floors. Very quiet machine too. Based on my experience it has quite strong suction...I still don't understand why some don't like its performance. Maybe it has something to do with the different models...I'd say go with a later model. And since the styling is so cool you just might want to keep it out right next to the rest of the furniture!

I have a Model 843, around 1973 or so, that was a gift from Fred S. and absolutely love it. Does an excellent job in my room; rug, floors, and some light dusting.

Good luck!

--Austin

 

[ironrite]

What I bought to clean the house here, which has all tile floors, was a Quicksilver vacuum. Very easy to use and cleans very well. It picks up dry dog food and parrot food. I bought mine at a vacuum store so got to look at the Miele and some of the other stick type vacuums and this one was the lightest and easiest to use.

Also I have a Hoover Floormate to wash and dry the floors. I am though looking at the new model that is supposed to clean the grout lines.

I'm curious, having grown up in Phoenix around 40th Street and Thomas, we had brown colored, polished cement floors in the house. It was built in 1951. Do you have similar floors? We did have wall to wall carpet in the living room, but in the bedrooms there were just area rugs.

http://www.simplicityvac.com/products/other/quicksilver/

 

[kenmore1978]

Bare floors

Sounds like an excellent situation for an "electric broom"

Laundress, what did you use before Swifters were invented?

 

[petek]

Stop it everyone, she's gonna find herself a Connie and that's that. And yes like Austin sez, leave it out on show because when your friends come over they're gonna want to try it out once you tell them it floats on a cushion of air.. they won't be able to resist, so you plug it in, switch it on, hand them the hose, sit down and they'll do the vacuuming for you.

 

[Brneyedgrl80]

Ironrite, we too have polished brown cement floors under all our carpet! I've often wondered why they were that color. I live on 31st Ave and Camelback respectively, and my house was built in 1955.

petek, I believe I have been talked into a Connie! Now, when the time is right I can start looking for one!

 

[launderess]

Kenmore,

IIRC, we had a stick broom type vac which while great for getting up cat hair and large "dust" the minute bits pretty much stayed put. So, after vaccuming would use a dust mop lightly misted with either Endust of just plain water.

Think Swifer cloths do a better job on bare floors than vacuums as they get all the dust and muck, even the fine dirt many vaccums tend to leave behind. For large "dust bunnies" pet hair and the like vaccums are great though.

Launderess

 

[petek]

I have two long hair shedding dogs and a flock of birds, Swiffers have been hopeless for me but I have to say I do like my Swiffer wet-jet for cleaning the kitchen floor after I've vacuumed up all the dog hair, it does a good job and is much easier than a mop and pail.