I need help to choose a new vacuum

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thomasortega

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Guys, yesterday Darryl surprised me with a cat.

I like the cat and I want to keep it, even discovering that cat is a mix of puma, jaguar and lion and even being extremely allergic to cats.

The thing is, i need a decent vacuum.

I have a brand new Hoover Constellation (AKA Torture machine) that i kindly stole from my husband's collection. (it was new in box, kept as a collection item and the night i moved to this apartment i was so pissed off with all the fine dust on the floor, and I almost had a nervous breakdown when Darryl suggested buying one of those cheap Eureka mighty mite (knowing he has a brand new supposely "premium" vac in the garage collecting dust) that i had a nervous breakdown and in 10 minutes he appeared with the hoover in his car.

Well, the joy of a brand new "decent" vaccum ended when I turnet that thing on... First it blews all the dirt on the floor, second, the canister hitting everywhere including my ankles and toes and when we really need the "amazing" floating feature, it get's stuck on his own cord and I have to lift it.

Well, there are two ways to vacuum using the constellation:
1) vacuum with one hand and hold the canister upside down, feeling that hot air on my armpit, sweating like a pig and ending with half apartment vacuumed and sore arms.

2) Team work. one holds the canister on it's side and the other vacuums.
Making the story shorter, the constellation is cute, it's historical, but it's a PITA and a huge No no no no no no no no no f-word way no.

Second vac: About a year ago I bought a Black and Decker Dustbuster Flex 20v. It was a pain because i paid for the model with a floor nozzle and they delivered the model without the floor nozzle. Ok, it was returned, days later i received exactly the same vacuum AND a refund. Ok, it ended up free, great. About a month ago i bought the floor nozzle kit.

It's interesting and that tiny vacuum is actually very powerful for a dustbuster. Incredibly it cleans very well and I'm amazed with it. But the "floor" nozzle looks like a toy and it's not THAT efficient. I love that vacuum but it's a no no if used for the whole house.

I won't even mention the Dirt Devil Reach 360° i have. I'll probably list it on craigslist as free stuff only to get rid of it.

For months I've been "dating" the Bissell home care big creen complete. It's a vacuum cleaner with water filter AND it can also be used as a carpet/upholstery/hard floor washer.

Ok, the idea is great, but it's not very friendly for everyday use. I mean, the device itself is bulky and heavy (according to Ibaisiac videos), it is also a pain to wash the dust collector and let ir air dry every time the vacuum is used. But anyway, I like it, the price is good (209 at walmart) but i think it may be a hassle instead of something to help me.

Then i had the idea to get a Ridgid shopvac, because of the extreme power and giant tools (i saw one that is 6.5 hp, has a super thick hose, and the possibility to buy a giant floor brush that would be great to vac the living room in no time). It is also possible to buy a HEPA filter for it and as you may know, there are dozens of attachments that i can easily buy at Homo Depot.
Also, it doubles as a leaf blower that would be great to clean the patio. and it would be great to clean the car, also, it's built to stand even the worst environments (like all shopvacs). Another pro is that i can buy a huge hose and use it almost like a central vac, keeping the vacuum in the closet and just grab the hose. As the sirflow is absurd, it would also help cleaning the air.

And the best thing its that the hose is so thick that I could accidentally vac the cat. and solve the problem at once. (of course I'm kidding, i like the cat)

Cons: Well, it's huge. I mean, REALLY HUGE.

I also think about the Shark Dualclean Apex. It's cute, it has very interesting tools, but at the same time, I always have the feeling that sharks are fancy toys like Dysons. Too much money for too many bells and whistles but not much real value.

The thing is: Now, with that little hairy and cute monster I can't postpone anymore and I can't spend much money now. What should I get?
I definitely need something with an excellent filtration because of my cat allergy and also that terrible black dust that sits everywhere here in Los Angeles.

Options are:

1) The bissell big green complete thing that has a water filter.
2) A shopvac (at least it's cheap at homeless depot)
3) That hoover React (because it comes with a baseboard cleaning attachment)
but just to add another option, I don't really love it and I don't know why, every time I see a hoover vacuum it reminds me one of those cheap Dirt Devils, even some accessories look exactly like Dirt Devil.
4) Bissell Hardwood expert deluxe
5) A cheap dirt devil (one of those that cost $50 at Hell-Mart
6) Bissell Crosswave (and I can use the black and decker i have for above ground cleaning)
7) The shark Apex (i love the tools that come with it, but again, it looks so fragile.

Please note that I don't have carpets at all. All floors are laminate and ceramic in the kitchen, laudnry room and bathroom. Sooner or later we will end up buying an area rug. And I'll provbably need to vacuum the whole house daly or every 2 days.

And no, Kirbys and Rainbows are completely out of question. It may be the best vac in the world, but i think they are horrible and absurdly expensive. I don't need a vacuum that lasts 50 years.

Miele could be an option (there is a model that is great and costs around $300), but then I'd be a hostage having to buy bags from the Miele dealer and here in Los Angeles they're like drug dealers charging a fortune for a paper bag, so the cost goes up to the sky.

Honestly, I miss so much the ELectrolux Easybox i left in Brazil. 2000W, strong as a shopvac, decent tools, simple, works super well, it has a HEPA filter.

Later, I also plan to get a robot, because nobody deserves vacuuming all the floors every single day and depending on the case, twice a day.
 
Miele, Miele, Miele.

My Capricorn is the best vacuum I have ever owned/used, and its quietness makes Miele the best brand for apartment living. THE furnace in this apartment is louder.

Yes, the Capricorn was discontinued. However, there are many places in greater Los Angeles to experience the current Miele live.

The Miele "Parquet Twister" bare floor tool is perfect for bare floors. And for This Bear's floors! The kitchen/dining/living room are wood-look laminate. Only the bedrooms are carpeted.

Lawrence/Maytagbear. [this post was last edited: 3/7/2018-04:40]
 
Check your local CL and eBay

Get a vintage Electrolux like a 1205 or an Olympia 1. Best vacuum of the canister and tank category in my personal opinion. A motor that lasts forever, tools that aren't toys, like a real horsehair dust brush and floor tool. Auto cord rewind that isn't cheap and breakable.
 
I was never a fan of Dyson....between the price tag and the maintenance...worth it...

and I have been through a number of vacuums...some good, some bad, pros and cons to each....

if brand new, try a few out, keep the one your like best, and take the rest back...

but oddly enough, I do like the Shark Rotator Lift-Away, very durable considering the way my kids will bang things around...

I must have ever accessory available....its both a canister and an upright in a quick change out....

I got two of them at a flea market for 25.00 a piece......

I am on the lookout for the Powered Lift Away

but you do have to choose one that fits your needs best....
 
I have a Miele Ariel that I use daily. I have to keep up with 3 cats and it does quite well. It’s going on 10 years now and no issues at all.
I also have a Dyson Animal upright that does not have the suction that the Miele has and it is a lot more work to use than the Miele. Plus the Dyson is hatless so one has to go outside to empty the bin into the trash can. If you empty it into a trash can in the house, all that dust and dirt goes everywhere...no matter how far down I go into the trash can...it’s like a cloud.
You don’t have to get a fancy Miele vacuum because they are not cheap by any means. I paid $500 for the S5 Miele Ariel and that was bottom of the line. I have seen a couple of Miele vacs that are canisters that start at $299 at Bed, Bath and Beyoncé....
 
Hmmmmm, I'd get a decent Bissell multi-cyclonic with a pet accessory tool.
Bissells are decent, durable, have Dyson tech in them now, and affordable.
The money saved on the Bissell can go to the robot later.... or now :)

However......the Dysons do have the best bare floor performance I've seen. They have a nice, durable squeegee behind the brush roll.
Other makes might have that feature too. It's one to look for.
 
Electrolux

I sure like the Electrolux Tank cleaners. I had the 1950's model, pic one, but now have the 1980's model. Both use the same bag which I can get at my local Ace Hardware, Emigh Hardware. The bag has a seal on the end so when you remove it the dust stays inside. These cleaners have strong suction. Aerus still sells this type of vacuum and I believe the bags fit those also. I got the 1980's model on Ebay.

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I have a Riccar

they are assembled in USA, Had mine now for 14 years with no issues at all except one EASY belt replacement.
 
 

 

I bought a canister vac from Sears (made by WP?) 25-30 years ago and paid around $350 at the time.   It's the next model after this one in the photo (and it's white).  It has good suction and has been very reliable.  Only repairs I've had to do is replace a wheel, the hose, and the plug at the end of the power cord.  It's been a very solid machine.

 

Personally I don't like the bag-less vacs, never have.   If I have to replace a bag when it's full, so what!  There was a Bissel (something) here at work that I used a few years ago to vacuum our little office.  EVERY time I turned it on, it blew a noticeable "puff" of dirt out the vent.   It continued to do this, even AFTER I cleaned all 3 of the "filters" (2 washable foam, 1 paper).   I turned it on and off repeatedly (25 times) and the dirt never stopped blowing out when turned on!  Granted it's very dirty here and they probably never bothered to clean it properly, but still, yuck!

 

I will never buy a Dyson.  Too much $$$, the motor generates a LOT of heat and the high-pitched whine from the motor is almost like fingernails on a chalk board for me.

 

 

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Can anybody tell me how is the Bissell Crosswave filtration for super fine dust (that black dust from air pollution and the wall furnace that sits everywhere and cat allergens? Of course, using the dry vacuum mode only.

Sometimes i wash my laminate floors using the Hoover Floormate, but I try to avoid it because water and laminates are not a good match and also, come on, who really needs to wash the floors every day in an apartment with only 2 people and a cat? Nope, I'm not a germophobe, but I like things clean, specially my floors. If it's clean, ok, let's clean it or wash it, but i never wash the floor if it's not visibly dirty beyond what a vacuum can pick up. I'll have to vac every day (or maybe 2x per day) because I'm allergic to cats. And no, I don't want to get rid of that lion because I liked it and started to love him, even knowing he wants to dillacerate my body.

The idea I had is have a crosswave for the floors and keep using the Constellation or the B&D for above ground cleaning. The floormate is great, but it's an early 2000's model with a huge head that is a pain to use because it doesn't fit in many spaces.

Used vacuums, no, thanks!

Miele... I just changed my mind after I visited the website and saw the prices. Even if I were a millionaire I'd think a zillion of times before spending such fortune on a vacuum cleaner. I know it's probably the best vacuum ever but it's too expensive. Miele just became a no, no for me.
 
Too bad you don't have carpets, lol. Hands down, I would have recommended the Sanitaire SC886 with an F&G conversion bag to replace the shake out bag these come with for better filtration. Every time I hear someone speak about vacuums, I have to sing its praises because it cleans really well and will last a very long time.

However, a Sanitaire would be as good as useless for your intents and purposes. I have to admit, though, life without carpets must be a bit easier.
 
Just my 2 cents

I own Miele, Kirby and rainbow. I’m blown away by my Dyson V6 absolute. It hangs on the wall when not in use and does everything my other vacs can. I also have a Hoover Lynx with the rechargeable battery. It too is an amazing small vacuum that does everything a larger vac can
 
Yep, When i was in Brazil I also had an Electrolux Ergorapido.

I got it for free (I worked at Electrolux-Sulclean and it was our "souvenir" for some important clients or business partners) That little thing was great on hard floors and even some quick pickup on rugs. The battery lasted enough to vac the whole apartment (3 bedrooms) and I was done much before the battery think about loosing power. The head size was also perfect because it would fit around the toilet and if the area was really tight, i could just snap off the handheld and vac the area and then snap on again and continue vacuuming.

The only down on that is the filter. It's not HEPA, otherwise I'd run and get another ergorapido without thinking twice.

Anyway, folks. an update:

Today i had a severe allergy crisis and freaked out. Unfortunately I had to ask Darryl to get rid of that cat. (He took to his father's house, where he has other three). I'm sad because I started to love that cat and now I miss it, but my health is more important. I can't simply be allergic to my own house because of a cat.

Now I have to clean the whole apartment as if I were a germophobe, to make sure not even a single cat hair is left behind. Just in case I'll vac everything, from the floor to the ceiling, wash the floors using the floormate and, just in case, use my steam cleaner to steam everything.

To make things much worse, on Monday I'll have guests coming from Texas to spend 4 or 5 days here.

Crazy days to come before my guests arrive.

As we're spending a lot of money buying more dinnerware (Because of course I'll cook a lot for the guests) and I got rid of the cat, I'll postpone the new vac and deal with the Consellation.

I use Arm and Hammer bags on it as I can't find the original S-bag, but luckily there is one more original HEPA bag left in the box.

I love the tools that came with the Constellation The bare floor brush is great and the suction is excellent, but as I mentioned above, using that vac is a PITA.
 
Big fan of Miele, have a White Pearl canister that is about 25 years old, and only 1 repair. I understand the newer ones are much smaller and easier to navigate with.

Have had a Kirby, nice vacuum but so bulky and hard to use, it's best for just carpets only.

Also have had a Bissell, really just JUNK, and a couple Kenmores, which were ok

Which brings me to my Shark Rotator Professional. I thought it was going to be cheap junk and I would be throwing it away in a year or so. Quite Honestly, its the best vacuum I have ever had. Fairly quiet, powerful, versatile and a great cleaner. I can't sing the praises of it enough, was so surprised. It's 4 years old now and never a repair.
 
Oh yes, Miele

is der "spitzenklasse". The newer ones have 4 wheels which rotate 360 degrees. The Alize model even has sprung wheels, but not the top line Brilliant. Go figure.
Maybe it's because the Alize doesn't come with a power nozzle, and meant more for hard floors with raised thresholds.
Bags and filters are pricey. Another fine German machine is Sebo.
Many on the companion site would chime in there, with varied opinions.
I've been using my central vac since 1996 when I installed it.
Hubby told me to buy vac bags that day for my hand me down form my mom Eureka model 1289 brandywine canned ham power team. I bought it for her in 1979. Still have it. It's heavy. When hubby got home that evening, we had a new central vac. He was livid. Then he loved it. Less dust in the house, quiet, no dog hair, no wheezing for me. No bags to buy, just empty the bin every two months, and brush the polyester permanent filter clean.
"No, it does not clog up". I left the elbow in the garage below the power unit un-cemented so if a large or heavy item goes in, it can be removed there.
 

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