Vacuum recommendation

[Hercules10]

I have three shepherds, a lab and one scared cat.

I went with the Dyson hype too. It does have powerful suction but it just does not clean the carpets good. The agitator isn't adjustable and doesn't really do much.

So I kept the Dyson to do a first sweep and pick up all the hair and then got a Riccar to follow up. I was AMAZED at all the dirt and dander the Dyson left behind that the Riccar got.

There are some other cyclonic vaccums on the market now that are cheaper and just as efficient.

 

[luvmy3jewels]

I bought a yellow Dyson after reading all of the rave reviews on the DISboards. Honestly, I can't stand it. Mine does not pick up dirt or animal hair at all. I think maybe I have a lemon, because there are so many Dyson owners that swear by them. I have been considering ditching the Dyson and getting an Oreck or Maile because I get mad every time I go to vacuum and can see all the dirt that is left behind (I have a red Oreintal rug that it is very obvious on).

 

[Carnie]

I LOVE my Kirby.

They seem expensive, but 1) I had a desperate salesman that was trying to win a Jeep so he sold it to me at 75% off and 2) I have had it for 14 years and it still works as good as the day I bought it. I can also wash my carpets with it, it's AMAZING.

 

[tlbwriter]

Consumer Reports didn't rate it too highly, so I'm surprised at how many people adamantly LOVE their Dyson.

I've taken CR's reviews with a big grain of salt ever since they reviewed carseats many years ago and selected one that was almost universally hated by carseat technicians as their favorite, calling it easy to install when the techs on the boards I frequented generally derided it as almost impossible to install correctly. I do trust their reliability reports since those come from customer surveys.

 

[ragdoll]

I bought a yellow Dyson after reading all of the rave reviews on the DISboards. Honestly, I can't stand it. Mine does not pick up dirt or animal hair at all. I think maybe I have a lemon, because there are so many Dyson owners that swear by them. I have been considering ditching the Dyson and getting an Oreck or Maile because I get mad every time I go to vacuum and can see all the dirt that is left behind (I have a red Oreintal rug that it is very obvious on).

Oh my, you should have returned it. My first Dyson was a lemon. Took it back and exchanged it. The second one worked like a charm. Maybe you can call the company and see if there is something they can do for you if you haven't had it too long. Or maybe something needs to be adjusted and they can talk you through it. Just a thought.

 

[MizTink]

i'm very happy with my oreck

 

[sayhello]

I too will soon be looking for a new vacuum but I HATE upright vacuums. My last few vacuums have been kenmore or Sears whatever canisters not been to happy with them either but then it's hard to buy a good canister at a reasonable price with the power bar for carpets.

I'd hoped my new home would be carpet free but it just was not meant to be..DH is not willing to take up perfectly good carpet to put down any kind of hard flooring.

Dyson makes a canister vacuum. I just bought one. Not reasonably priced, but it does have the power bar for carpets.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_02094251000P?prdNo=10&blockNo=10&blockType=G10

I'm going to pick it up this afternoon. I'll let you know what I think!

Sayhello

 

[elizke]

I think that was a second one I was happy with, but the bags were costly, is that the one with only cloth bags? do they make the paper type now? That was the reason I went with OREK instead of that one.

OH, and I found can never use the powder carpet fresheners, they killed my machines., I use crystals from OREK that are sprinkeled on the carpet.
I love the scent,.

Well they feel kind of "clothy", and are a bit more expensive than some, but via Amazon the price is not bad at all. They are self-sealing when removed from the vacuum, do not leak dust at all, and last a long time.

I really do not work for Hoover marketing! I just spent so many years unhappy with vacuuming.

 

[SaraJayne]

Another vote for Dyson Animal.

 

[Pakey]

I have found that any cheap vacuum picks up my dogs' hair.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

We had an Electrolux cannister vac for years growing up (same one, it never died) and I've had an Oreck XL upright for many years as an adult which I love and plan to keep. It's good on carpets and floors but not crevices, smaller spaces and obviously not furniture, ceiling fans, stairs, etc.

So the time has come to get a cannister vac again, mainly because of the "tumbleweed" dog hairs but also just for general cleaning. I researched a ton and I'm probably going to get a Kenmore cannister vac fairly soon with sale pricing. I don't want to spend a ton on it and I want something that's fairly light to lift around through the whole house.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

I really appreciate everyone taking the time to give their opinion. I have a Bissell now, which I love, but the cord is frayed in many places and I'd rather not burn the house down vacuuming. Unfortunately, you can't replace the cord. The thing I don't like about it is the very small collection container. The other day I had to empty it 9 times while vacuuming.

This is the one I have now:
http://www.bissell.com/pet-hair-eraser-vacuum/

I've had my eye on the Dyson forever, but I do have to admit I have no desire to spend $500-$600 on a vacuum. The things that I need most are obviously that it pick up dog hair, but I need a long cord and the hose attachment for doing my stairs.

Such a minor thing in life, but feels like such a huge decision.

 

[ragdoll]

I've had my eye on the Dyson forever, but I do have to admit I have no desire to spend $500-$600 on a vacuum. The things that I need most are obviously that it pick up dog hair, but I need a long cord and the hose attachment for doing my stairs.

Such a minor thing in life, but feels like such a huge decision. [/QUOTE]

Just a thought...I have two cats and grandkids who leave crumbs everywhere. At the suggestion of the salesman I bought the cheapest Dyson. He said that it would work just as well as the Dyson Animal. It works great for me. I have seen them on sale for a bit under $300.

 

[Sgt Mickey]

Dyson makes a canister vacuum. I just bought one. Not reasonably priced, but it does have the power bar for carpets.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_02094251000P?prdNo=10&blockNo=10&blockType=G10

I'm going to pick it up this afternoon. I'll let you know what I think!

Sayhello

I have had this one for over three years now and LOVE it and I have one yellow lab and one chocolate lab.
Had a kirby and HATED it.

 

[dawson5]

I really appreciate everyone taking the time to give their opinion. I have a Bissell now, which I love, but the cord is frayed in many places and I'd rather not burn the house down vacuuming. Unfortunately, you can't replace the cord. The thing I don't like about it is the very small collection container. The other day I had to empty it 9 times while vacuuming.

This is the one I have now:
http://www.bissell.com/pet-hair-eraser-vacuum/

I've had my eye on the Dyson forever, but I do have to admit I have no desire to spend $500-$600 on a vacuum. The things that I need most are obviously that it pick up dog hair, but I need a long cord and the hose attachment for doing my stairs.

Such a minor thing in life, but feels like such a huge decision.

who told you you couldn't replace the cord? My cord was frayed (on my Kenmore), told hubby, he fixed it inside 20 minutes.

I just have a cheapy Kenmore that works pretty good. I really hate Kenmore appliances, but this vacuum is pretty decent. Bought it on clearance, under $100, was originally priced around $220 I think. I thought I did well.

I will keep that belt thing in mind. I ask the kids to vacuum and they just do a once over and miss the dog hair. Now I wonder if it just needs a new belt. It's been a while since it was replaced.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

who told you you couldn't replace the cord? My cord was frayed (on my Kenmore), told hubby, he fixed it inside 20 minutes.

I just have a cheapy Kenmore that works pretty good. I really hate Kenmore appliances, but this vacuum is pretty decent. Bought it on clearance, under $100, was originally priced around $220 I think. I thought I did well.

I will keep that belt thing in mind. I ask the kids to vacuum and they just do a once over and miss the dog hair. Now I wonder if it just needs a new belt. It's been a while since it was replaced.

Went to the Bissell website and it's not listed as a replacement part. Is a vacuum electrical cord something easily purchased elsewhere?

 

[acejka]

I really appreciate everyone taking the time to give their opinion. I have a Bissell now, which I love, but the cord is frayed in many places and I'd rather not burn the house down vacuuming. Unfortunately, you can't replace the cord. The thing I don't like about it is the very small collection container. The other day I had to empty it 9 times while vacuuming.


This is the one I have now:
http://www.bissell.com/pet-hair-eraser-vacuum/

I've had my eye on the Dyson forever, but I do have to admit I have no desire to spend $500-$600 on a vacuum. The things that I need most are obviously that it pick up dog hair, but I need a long cord and the hose attachment for doing my stairs.

Such a minor thing in life, but feels like such a huge decision.

That is the one I have now that is kicking the dysons butt! I love it. If you want to try a dyson, I've seen them on woot.com sometimes.

 

[dawson5]

Went to the Bissell website and it's not listed as a replacement part. Is a vacuum electrical cord something easily purchased elsewhere?

Yep. He just went to Lowe's, Wal-mart or Sears, I forget which.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...fcd13f4&itemid=190338678162&ff4=263602_304652

I just googled "vacuum cleaner cord, replacement part, bissell" and that came up. If your hubby isn't handy, call a vacuum repair place and ask.

I thought those weren't something that needed to be OEM. If you replace a filter or belt, they usually need to be something specific to your specific cleaner, but those should be interchangeable. I don't think hubby bought a Kenmore specific when he fixed mine.

I don't know how many times my FiL did this for my MiL. She always runs over the cord and kills it. Since he's passed, no one fixes them for her (we're three hours away) and hers is a mass of black electrical tape. Actually, that is an idea for her for xmas... So she doesn't burn down her home.


ETA: I found this:

http://www.ehow.com/how_5822039_replace-vacuum-cleaner-power-cord.html

I also want to say, I'm sure there are some that might require specific cords, but I have never encountered them. He has replaced the cords on a few things around the house and so far we haven't ran into anything that required a call to the mfr for a specific part.

 

[usnuzuloose]

I think that was a second one I was happy with, but the bags were costly, is that the one with only cloth bags? do they make the paper type now? That was the reason I went with OREK instead of that one.

OH, and I found can never use the powder carpet fresheners, they killed my machines., I use crystals from OREK that are sprinkeled on the carpet.
I love the scent,.

I hate the vacuum I had it was always clogging in the hose and I had to take it all apart to unclog it. I was in the goodwill store last week and low and behold PTL there was a orek. I made sure it worked and it did. Boy I love it. The best 24 dollars I ever spent.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

Yep. He just went to Lowe's, Wal-mart or Sears, I forget which.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...fcd13f4&itemid=190338678162&ff4=263602_304652

I just googled "vacuum cleaner cord, replacement part, bissell" and that came up. If your hubby isn't handy, call a vacuum repair place and ask.

I thought those weren't something that needed to be OEM. If you replace a filter or belt, they usually need to be something specific to your specific cleaner, but those should be interchangeable. I don't think hubby bought a Kenmore specific when he fixed mine.

I don't know how many times my FiL did this for my MiL. She always runs over the cord and kills it. Since he's passed, no one fixes them for her (we're three hours away) and hers is a mass of black electrical tape. Actually, that is an idea for her for xmas... So she doesn't burn down her home.


ETA: I found this:

http://www.ehow.com/how_5822039_replace-vacuum-cleaner-power-cord.html

I also want to say, I'm sure there are some that might require specific cords, but I have never encountered them. He has replaced the cords on a few things around the house and so far we haven't ran into anything that required a call to the mfr for a specific part.

Thanks! I had no idea. Might try this first. Maybe I just need a tune up and not a whole new car!