Tell me about your vacuum!

[Tinkerbelle32]

My vacuum has died so I need help fast! Tell me about your vacuum, please! The good, the bad, and definately the ugly. I guess I should mention that we have one dog and one cat. O.K. Go! Thanks!

 

[blessedby3]

I'll be watching this thread closely. Every vacuum I buy is a piece of junk. I could use some suggestions too!

 

[pilesoflaundry]

I have a eureka upright bagless that I love. I've had it for 4 or 5 years. We don't have pets but have 3 kids and often have that nasty cheap carpet that shreds (does anyone know what I mean)? We move often and have no say over that stuff. Rentals have cheap carpet and it tears up the vacuums.

So far so good. It works well and takes the abuse we give it. I have a few kids and one is a mess maker and we've moved it around a lot. I'm pretty sure it's been dropped a few times.

Keep up with basic maintenance and it will last you a long time. I clean the rollers sometimes myself. I took it to a vacuum shop once and he showed me how to do it and now I do it. He also told me you don't need to replace the expensive filters as much as the vacuum company says you do unless you have allergies and want to or have a lot of pets.

 

[MaumeeMom]

I love my Dyson DC14. I've had it about 2 years now and it has been great. My favorite part is the telescoping wand. I'm short so I needed the help reaching the ceilings and corners when getting cobwebs. It also has a really long cord so I don't have to keep moving the plug as I go from room to room.

Good luck making your decision.

 

[WDW4TheGirls]

We have the Kenmore Progressive, and so far I really like it. It is bagless--I have to empty it pretty often as we have one dog and 2 cats--but it's better than buying bags. We wanted the Dyson but couldn't afford it, and the Progressive has been really good so far.

 

[deva]

LOVE my Oreck. Had it for 11 yrs. Super light weight and works great. If you know someone who owns an Oreck already they can probably get a pretty good price (I purchased one at 1/2 price for my sister).

 

[cjnix29]

Second the love of Oreck. I have had mine for three years now. Works great, lightweight. Love it!

 

[oldbay]

Second vote for Oreck! Have had ours for over 10 years now and still works great. Whenever I have had to use another kind (vacation rental, etc.) I am so happy to go back to my oreck.

 

[AshleyW]

We have an Infinity vacuum.. we couldn't quite afford a Dyson, and this is basically the same concept, just cheaper. I've got 2 cats who shed a LOT, and this is great for picking up all their hair. It's bagless, and has a lifetime HEPA filter so you never have to replace the filter. Just wash it, dry it, and stick it back in. Plus it comes with a 5 year warranty, which is nice since I tend to go through vacuums pretty quick.

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=8829240

 

[PinkRhombus]

I tried the Infinity and hated it. It was too heavy and I couldn't get it to work on my hard floors.

I had a Euro Pro (they make this, too) canister vac a few years ago and didn't like it much, either. The chrome on the handle of it started flaking and cut me a few times. They sent a replacement, and that one did the same thing.

 

[Planogirl]

Are these deluxe vacuums? I've discovered that the higher cost vacuums seem to last about as long as the cheapos, at least that's been our experience.

Who has a vacuum that seems to do well on hardwood floors? Ours barely works on those.

 

[digitaldevice]

We got a Dyson. I will never go back to any other brand. Were going on 3 years and it work as good as the first day I got it. I'm getting a second soon to use in the garage to sweep the dirt up. It works great on the concrete floor.

 

[PrincessMonkey]

We have a Miele. It's European, light and easy to maneuver. I love its vacuuming power, automatic cord retractor, and its pivoting head. Apparently, it is MUCH quieter than other vacuums with its level of power. It also comes with lots of different heads in its case, which is super useful in tight corners. We have hardwood floors in our home on the first floor and in all of the hallways, the rest is carpeting.

Very, very sturdy vacuum, and everyone who comes over and catches us using it always asks where we got it. (ABT, specialty electronics store)

 

[stemikger]

IT SUCKS!!!!

lol.

Actually we have two. We have a 17 year old Electrolux. My wife will not use anything else. I had it repaired over the years, but she won't give it up. My inlaws use the Oreck and I want her to use that because it's light weight, but she says it dosen't clean as good.

I also bought a cheap-o light weight Eureaka which I like better then the Electrolux, but my wife hates it. So I just use that one on the top floors when I clean the house which isn't very often.

If I had my way, I would go with the Oreck. They seem to be well built and will last many years.

 

[ShariVT]

I have the dyson ball animal and love it with 2 long haired dogs and 3 cats it is the only vacuum that does get the brushes all clogged up. DH just loves that is purple...

 

[akcire]

I have a Dyson, but I think to fully understand you need some back story. First I am cheap. I have never met a nickel I did not like, I shop for needs not wants. This is not due to lack of funds, husband and I have high paying jobs, and no bills.

About 4 years ago, I went over to the neighbors house. Now this is a neighbor whom I would often visit, and to me their house always had a "stinky pet smell" not pet deposits, just general funky not clean smell. The neighbors have 3 dogs, two of which are very large. So this particular afternoon I walk in and it is clean and refreshing, the wife's mother purchased her a Dyson.

Since I could not truly trust that the Dyson solved the household stink problem I embarked on my own Dyson experiment. At the time of the Dyson discovery, I had a good vacuum that I thought worked well. We have two cats, but our house has never had a stinky pet smell. I vacuum 2-3 times a week, I enjoy a very clean home. So I decided I would vacuum my home with my "own" vacuum, and then wait 15 minutes; at that point I would use the Dyson. My plan was that if I did not see an appreciable difference, I would return the Dyson (discussed in advance with the BBB manager). So once I plugged in the Dyson, I did not even finish my living room before the canister was full--I had just vacuumed but the Dyson was that much better. Needless to say my Dyson is 4 years old, and I am in love. I can not imagine ever using another vacuum, for the same reasons others have posted.

 

[Malaguti Ball Clan]

We also have a Dyson "Animal" deep purple ball vac, and it is wonderful, easy squeazey lemon pizey to use, empty and keep clean. I will never ever own a bag system again, sorry oreck but you are no longer top dog in my pet home.

 

[Shmily1]

Vacuums!!! I know something about this!!! I bought a new one about 4 weeks ago!

I had a Kenmore... had to order the filters from Sears.... they didn't work/ fit so I carried them back and spent my $25 from the filter on a new vacuum! BTW, the Kenmore wasn't so good!

I went to Walmart and checked out what they had. I really wanted a Dyson, but Woot didn't have one recently and I needed a vacuum bad!! DD18 wanted us to get a "pet hair" vacuum so we looked at those. We ended up with a lime green Eureka that has four filters!! (That's 4!!!!) That thing picks up everything but the carpet-and I'm scared for that! It's the best vacuum we've had and costs about $130. DH came home and wanted to know if we had someone come clean the carpet because it picked up the pile so well.

Good luck to you on your vacuum seach and I hope you are as happy with yours as we are with ours!!

 

[NYCDiane]

Check out the Good Housekeeping site... they rate vacuums and tell you the best buy for your money.

Personally, I have a Eureka True Clean w/Pet Power Paw and I love it (I have 3 cats)

 

[aja319se]

I have the Bissell Pet Hair Eraser and I am in love, it scares me how much dirt and fur it picks up We have a cat, german shepherd, and 2 kids!