vacuum cleaner that isn't badly designed

[CarlSeibert]

I could have sworn there was a thread on this, but I can't find one.

We're about to replace our not-too-old Bissell vacuum. We'd like something that cleans well, vacuums up cat hair from our Olympic-class shedding specialists and doesn't require frequent repair. Anybody have a recommendation? Are the Dysons worth the price of admission? I see a Hoover on Amazon that looks pretty similar to the Bissell.

http://www.amazon.co...33834391&sr=1-6 I wonder if it's riddled with semi-fatal design flaws. It's certainly cheap eoungh.

The Bissell is nice, apart from not being able to get cat hair off upholstery, but the brush bar has under-specified bearings (or a badly done belt and capstan, depending on your point of view) and crappy labyrinth seals. When it fails, which is frequently, it usually manages to spin a bearing or overheat one of the seals badly enough that the plastic body of the brush bar is trashed, so it's not just a trip to Boca Bearings to fix it. Grrrrr.

[recstar24]

Love my dyson. I am sure there are Bose like elements to dyson but it works and is super easy and holy smokes you can see all the dirt it is scooping up!!!!

[Tyll Hertsens]

+1 on the Dyson. Best vacuum cleaner I've ever used. (Just need to use it more often.)

[roadtonowhere08]

Go old school. Get a Royal MRY8300 for less on ebay. It is primarily for floors, but it'll kick the living crap out of any Dyson. Get HEPA bags and you are good to go.

If you need something for upholstery, get a canister vac.

[mikeymad]

Don't know if the Amazon reference is a hint at price as well. I would not mind a Dyson, but just can't seem to bring myself to pay that much for one.

[roadtonowhere08]

Seriously, Dysons ARE the Bose of vacuums. I researched the hell out of them when I was looking.

Get an MRY8300 for $399 or less on ebay, and it'll last you decades.

Edited April 7, 2012 by roadtonowhere08

[Aimless1]

I really like the Simplicity Synergy

Of course, the Royal commercial metal vacuum is bullet proof.

[HeadphoneAddict]

We've been very happy with a Sears Kenmore direct-drive (belt free) vacuum. It does a good job and seems built to run forever.

[grawk]

We have a sebo that works really well if you have allergies.

[Duggeh]

We've been through the gumut of hoovers. Nothing comes close to how good a SEBO is IMO.

Fuck Dysons. Unless you need a hand drier.

[pigmode]

Miele

[Aimless1]

Simplicity/Riccar, Sebo & Miele are all top of the line vacs. Find the one that best suits your needs and you'll be fine. We never seriously considered the Miele, Sebo was our second choice but settled on the Simplicity Synergy.

[roadtonowhere08]

My mom has a Riccar. Nice vac, but it does not do a very good job of cleaning at the edges or the front (i.e. Places where the carpet meets the wall). The Royal literally sucks the stuff out of that area.

Sebo and Miele are also great vacuums as well.

[Knuckledragger]

I've had the same Miele for a dozen years now, and it's survived everything I've thrown at it (or thrown it at). I have a rebuilt Electrolux that's older than I am for really dirty jobs, which has spared the Miele some abuse.

[naamanf]

We have a sebo that works really well if you have allergies.

Also have a Sebo here which I really like, X4 in Ferrari red I think. Only thing I wish you could do was turn off the brush and keep the suction going. Other than that it works really well.

[guzziguy]

Naaman, I just noticed your signature. I think that your spending too much on scotch and bourbon and not enough on rye.

On topic, I love my Miele. It's by far the best vacuum I've used.

Bissell makes interesting products. Unfortunately they are always under-designed, under-built and so are "under-realiable". I have a Spot Bot that is fantastic when it works. It's a neat idea and product. Unfortunately I've already had one replaced under warranty. My cousin has had one replaced. When I talked to the guy at the repair facility, he said that they are very unreliable and have gotten a lot in. Bissell doesn't even try to fix them, they just send out a new one. I guess that they make enough money on the sale to still make money giving 2 or 3 during the 1-year warrant period.

[eugenius]

I have a Kirby, it's solid, simple to use and cleans well.

[grawk]

Kirbys are great, if you ignore the price, weight, aggressive salesmen, and bizarro-land attachments.

[Tyll Hertsens]

Vacuum cleaners SUCK!!!

[acidbasement]

Our Miele has kept up to three Australian shepherds and three cats for seven years now. It was expensive, but it's still running great. If you can get one that does not have the electronic power control, I'd recommend that, as we did have to replace the controller last year for a couple hundred bucks.

[deepak]

Kirbys are great, if you ignore the price, weight, aggressive salesmen, and bizarro-land attachments.

All those things are annoying, but their 20 or 25 year warranty which includes parts and labor is pretty nice.

[MoonShine]

We like our Dyson. Got it in a trade for some carpet. I would not have paid that much for one before but now that we've had it for a few years, yeah, they are worth it IMO. Serious suckage.

[shellylh]

Since we are the topic of vacuums... I am looking for a decent vacuum that one can use for hardwood floors and rugs. We have a Dyson which is great for the carpeted bedrooms upstairs but is too powerful for large throwrugs on the hardwood floors (it sucks them up). Any suggestions for small cheap cleaners that don't have as much suction (we don't have an animals)?

[Genetic]

I realy hate vacuums sound. So Miele is our choice.

Amicalement

[cAsE sEnSiTiVe]

Oreck...

Quiet, light, mine has been going great for 7 yrs+ now. Take it once a year to your dealer and they clean it inside and out, replace seals, clean the motor amarture, all for free. Plus I've never been a fan of bagless vacuums. They often introduce the same shit back into the air you're trying to pick up.

Didn't see it mentioned, so just thought I'd throw it out there.