We are shopping for a new vacuum cleaner. Do you have any suggestions for vacuum cleaner brands? What brand do you love? Which would you never buy again? - Kirsten
With all of you experienced wives out there, can anyone give Kirsten some tips? Thanks!
If you're local, I'd advise staying away from Fraker's Vac. Store.
ReplyDeleteWe have a TurboTronics (bought from Fraker's). The good: they're made in America; good customer service (when dealing directly with the company); it has really good vacuum-power; the bags are inexpensive.
The bad: no automatic cord thing - you have to wind it up yourself; we're on our second powerhead (I have four daughters, don't really abuse the vacuum, don't really use it more than twice or three times a month (don't tell anyone!); The on/off switch is just a toggle and must be done with your hand - a foot just can't get it flipped;
Hope that helps.
Without a doubt - the best vacuum is our currant (a year old & as good as the day we unpacked it). Is our Dyson. Yes, they are pricey (I had a hard time paying that much but my husband insisted). We bought the yellow one for pet hair. It's easy to use, easy to clean, works so amazing (I was disgusted how much it picked up the first time we used it!). Shop around with coupons/discounts you might be able to get a good price this Holiday Season.
ReplyDeleteI currently have a small house and when we were searching for a vacuum cleaner we had a few specifics, like a very efficient machine since we live off grid. The best thing we found was at Sears. A Kenmore Magic Blue. I love it because it is smaller than the bigger Kenmore (although I may go with that when we have a bigger place). You can do carpet and hard floors. Comes with different attachments. And it has bags. I got so tired of bagless machines. But everyone has their own preference. Oh, and it was the most efficient machine we found.
ReplyDeleteOh goodness I haven't found one that last for us..My vacuum has a mind of it's own..sometimes I have to keep my thumb on the on position in order to vacumm...then yesterday it worked and didn't have to push it, but it wouldn't turn off..So my husband told me to start looking..I bought this Bissel that I have now in Feburary 09...not even 2 years old.. They don't last in our home because we have 2 dogs that shed...I wish I could help..Lisa
ReplyDeleteCheck this out. Lots of thoughts on vacuums. http://s3.excoboard.com/themomboard/14635/686251
ReplyDeleteLove my Dyson Animal(purple) It was a bit pricey, but after going through 4 vacuums in our 23 years of marriage, this is by far the most powerful, easy to use and easy to clean.
ReplyDeleteHoover with canister. The filters are easy to clean and it sucks up well. Also about $150. I have Bristol canister. Hate the thing, spits out as much dust as it cleans.My folks have a Hoover. great machine.
ReplyDeleteMarlyn
Dyson, no bags, cheap to buy, easy to clean, last for year. Mine lasted 10 years and was second hand when I bought it and I've just bought another second hand one
ReplyDeleteI had a Eureka (?) Boss that I loved. IT was lightweight & worked great - it was priced right - around $100.
ReplyDeleteThen my husband turned it in for credit towards a Kirby. I hate that vacuum cleaner so much :( It is overpriced, heavy, and way too difficult to use attachments. :(
If you're going to spend money for a higher end vacuum, I'd think about a Dyson with the roller ball turning - much better priced & much lighter & easier to use! :)
Well that depends on her budget. I find in my vast experience that you get what you pay for. I am really, really hard on my vacuums. I beat them up- literally at times. I started off my homemaking career buying cheap $200 vacuums that lasted me a year each.
ReplyDeleteThen I decided to go high-end to see if that helped. I've owned both Electrolux and Miele since then and the Miele is hands down the absolute best vacuum cleaner out there. I love it with all of my heart and it so quiet!!! You can vacuum while the baby is sleeping and not wake them up. I've talked on the phone while vacuuming! But it is wonderful in every other way too. Not too heavy, performs well, lots of features. I consider it to be well worth the investment.
Just curious, do you want a canister style sweeper or an upright. That alone will probably determine a lot about the brand that you get. Personally I prefer the canister style ones.
ReplyDeleteI've always been impressed with Electrolux, but when we went to buy a vacuum 4 years ago, we were told that they've seriously cheapened them and that the store we went to doesn't even sell them anymore because they were just seeing too many new ones coming in for repairs. We ended up buying a Simplicity brand vacuum (since they recommended it as being very similar to the old Electrolux) and I have been VERY happy with it. They are kind of pricey, but I really detest a vacuum that has no suction, so I was willing to pay a bit more.
Hope that helps!
I had a Kirby when I first got married. It worked very well only was VERY HEAVY and rather unhandy to use... switching from hose to head. I never really complained about it, but I think it bugged my husband more then me. This past June he surprised me with a new sweeper. It is an Evolution. The sweeper man in our area (Bedford) tweeks them a bit and puts a super long hose with them and shortens up the hose on the main sweeper. Even with this long hose it has very, very good suction. I'm very impressed with it, so far, but have only used it about 4 1/2 months.
ReplyDeleteI love my Filter Queen.
ReplyDeleteI had the same Kenmore for ten years and I loved every minute of it! We put wood flooring in and needed a different type of vacuum. We purchased a Eureka and I will NEVER again buy one. It broke within the first month, over heats with every use, and the warranty wont cover it.
ReplyDeleteOne vote for Kenmores!
I knew you would all would come through with your opinions! Thanks so much! I'm sending my friend over to read this!
ReplyDeleteKeep sharing!
Thanks!
Gina
We bought a Dyson 3 years ago. Still works great and the suction is amazing! We love it!
ReplyDeleteHoover Empower.
ReplyDeleteI bought my first one six or seven years ago because I was on a very tight budget - it runs around $100 and has a reuable canister with an air filter. It broke last year (so it last five years) and I bought another one just like it. I seriously cannot believe how much this thing picks up.
We have four children and two long haired retriever dogs. I have long hair that sheds daily. I vacuum every day and every time I vacuum I have to dump out the canister and shake out the filter. I know that it isn't a very "deluxe" vacuum like Dyson, but for that price it picks up like no other, is very light weight, and low priced. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!
I'm so glad you are doing this. I actually just broke my vacuum last week. (Well, someone did) Who knew running a bagged vacuum without the bag for a week and half could burn out an engine. Whoops! From now on I will check to make sure the bag is in the vacuum before running it.
ReplyDeleteLove my purple dyson, had it for years and still good as new.
ReplyDeleteWe bought a Dyson after going through 3 vacuums in 4 years. Have had the Dyson for at least 5 years now and I still LOVE it! My daughter and myself have really long hair and we have indoor dogs and it works beautifully!
ReplyDeleteI like Riccar. When I was young, my mom went thru lots of vacuum cleaners and there was always something we didn't like until we tried Riccar. When I got married, my parents bought me a Riccar (one of the cheaper models) and it lasted me over 10 years. We upgraded on the model when we bought our second Riccar.
ReplyDeleteI second what Quinn said ... I Miele too. They are the best! Living @ home we went thru different sweepers & then got an electrolux. They are good but I like Miele the best. Charlene
ReplyDeleteMy hubby just recently bought a Hover Wind Tunnel from Wal Mart. He was thinking of a Dyson but he just couldn't bring himself to paying that much for a vaccum.
ReplyDeleteSo far I really like it. It is small and light wt. but it really has worked great for us. We use it often because we have a lot of messes with several small children.
I clean for my MIL and she has a Miele. I don't think it has enough
ReplyDeletesuction-even though there is a dial 250W-1100W. It is a Flaymenco II. I have taken my Dyson (red) (when she was between vacuums) there and I feel the Dyson picks up more dirt than the Miele cannister with a bag.
I use my neighbor's air compressor to blow out the Dyson's filters and dirt collection area. I like that the wand and handle are one in the same. Yes, Dyson has a $$$ tag, but I wouldn't trade my Dyson!
I also clean for my neighbor who also has a Dyson(yellow) it is heavier than my Dyson (red).
I would also looking at consumer reports. Hope this helps! Lorinda
I read all the posts and was amazed I didn't see one Oreck. I bought an Oreck about 18 years ago. I got a free hand held with it. It was pricey way back then. $500. But it lasted til about a year ago. Then my parents gave me theirs that they found at a pawn shop for $20. I used it about a year. Then last week we bit the bullet and went to the Oreck store in Chattanooga and bought a brand new one. It swivels. It has 2 speeds. One for wood floors (which I have all downstairs) and for carpet. I LOVE my Oreck.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I just want to say I love your blog and want to say thank you for all the yummy recipes you post.
If your husband is self employed... you will understand this! They buy the tools it takes to make the job get done right and on time. DO NOT go cheep on a vacume!My husband installs flooring we also have a flooring store, and the worst thing a person can do to thier carpet is to have a piece of crap vacume! Your carpet life will last years longer if properly sucked up. Riccar has a little but of weight and last a good bit of time with addequet sucking power, Dyson is good although not heavy to get down into the matted nap of the carpet. Just a few thoughts there! I hope she can find something that works best for her!
ReplyDeleteAnother vote for Dyson, especially if you have pets that shed! Only complaint is how often it has to be emptied because of how much the dog sheds ;-)
ReplyDelete