Vacuum: Upright or canister?

[BarenakedLady]

So after my central vac clogged up somewhere in the walls for the umpteenth time, I've decided to buy a new normal vacuum. It will have to be lugged up as well as clean two sets of stairs and be able to handle large amounts of animal hair. Does anyone have any recommendations?

I'd rather just hire a maid, but whatever. :P

[malta blue]

1. best vacuum I have ever had....

http://www.dyson.com/store/product.asp?product=DC07-ANIMAL_US

cleans up after two dogs and until recently a cat as well.

[BarenakedLady]

2. I've been rooting for a Dyson

I'm not sure the price will fly though.

Thanks for the recommendation. I like that it is designed with animals in mind. My furbunnies are big enough to take down a small child. Heh.

How is it on stairs?

[grammysandie]

3. We have a Hoover Fusion

Got it about three years ago for less than $150 and it still works great. Our cat had died the year before but, still, the amount of cat hair it pulled out of the carpet the first time we used it was just incredible.

I've bought way too many crappy vacuum cleaners over the years and this one easily beats them all.

[malta blue]

15. I usually leave it at the top or bottom and use the handheld attachment

for the stairs. Works great!

[LeftyMom]

22. They have them at Big Lots pretty frequently.

Iirc, that brings the price down to $300ish. If you get on their email list, they send out coupons for 10% off a whole purchase pretty frequently, so you could get one out the door for about $270, which is only a few bucks more than what a decent Hoover would run you.

I have wicked allergies, so I need something with crazy high filtration, but I also have stairs and arthritis (at my age!) so I need something really light. I have a Meile, which works really, really well but makes the Dysons look downright frugal.

[limit18]

35. Same dc07

Also have a Craftsman 6.5 hp shop vac.

[DS1]

4. Vacuum prices are fucking ridiculous

Excuse my foul language, but they just are. 700 dollars for an air pump with a hose? You can buy entire car engines for less.


That being said, I had a Panasonic vacuum from Best Buy which was outstanding. Then it melted when my house caught on fire :(


:rofl:

[BarenakedLady]

7. No kidding

I'm having sticker shock.

Maybe I should just learn to make something useful out of all the animal fur.

[alison]

5. We have a Dyson upright vacuum, and we love it!

Got it for a pretty good price ~2 years ago, and it's been going strong ever since. We got the DC15 Animal model (w/ the ball), and highly recommend it.

[BarenakedLady]

8. Cool

Thanks for rec.

[alison]

11. With two cats (both of which shed big time!), it's definitely been a life saver.

The amount of fur, dirt, crud, etc. that it pulls up every time seriously amazes me - and I vacuum on a weekly basis (or bi-weekly, if I'm being lazy).

[BlueIris]

6. Oh, no. I feel an absurd flamewar rising up out of this thread. nt

[BarenakedLady]

10. Nah

I've yet to incite violence in the Lounge.

Maybe I'll start throwing stuff just to spice things up. Heh.

[AlCzervik]

9. i have a dyson and it works well but it's heavy, that's my only complaint with it.

they just came out with a new one that supposed to be much lighter, also an upright, you may want to look at that.

[BarenakedLady]

12. Yeah that's a concern.

I wouldn't want to have to lug something too heavy up and down.

[Parche]

13. Hire Midlo's Maid Brenda!!!!

:woohoo: :hi: :hug:

[BarenakedLady]

14. I'd prefer a male model

Shirtless.

:hi: :hug:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

16. My dear BarenakedLady...

Well, I was going to say central vac, until I read your OP!

I'm sorry to hear about your clogging problems...

We've had our central vac for almost seven years now and have never had a problem.

Maybe it's because we don't have pets? I dunno...

Good luck finding a good vacuum, sweetie!

:hi:

[BarenakedLady]

17. I'm tired of calling the guy to come unclog it.

It would probably work fine if not for the animals and small toys that get sucked up accidentally. Heh.

[dixiegrrrrl]

18. Best vacuum I ever bought

Shop Vac.

Light weight
very powerful
big hose so it doesn't clog
Easy to empty
good price

one shedding dog, 2 cats, wood floors.

And the carport, cars, porches, etc.

[BarenakedLady]

29. Hmmmm that's an idea too.

Decisions, decision.

[yy4me]

19. My daughter bought a Dyson and bragged how well it cleaned

for her. I have an old Electrolux and a stick vac. One day I borrowed the Dyson just to try.
I keep a clean house but I was amazed at what this ugly, heavy as heck thing picked up. Her Vac is 2 years old and is like a jet engine, I swear it pulled the dust, pet fur etc. through the rugs.
I did the whole house in 1 day and must say that I had a sore back after. Maybe it was the weight of the vac or perhaps that I moved all the furniture in order to do the job.

If the new ones come with ball feet(I am told) or some other easy-move feet, it would be much easier to move it around. I doubt there could be a stronger vac on the market. It is way out of my budget but it is fantastic.

[BarenakedLady]

30. That seems to be the consensus.

[One_Life_To_Give]

20. Canister

If you are able to clog up the plumbing for a Central Vac system. I would be concerned about any vacume that had the motor before the bag. I suspect you would clog up the impeller even easier than what you have now.

[BarenakedLady]

28. You are probably right.

:shrug:

[crispini]

21. Dyson.

Especially if you have animals. I love my Dyson with an almost unnatural love. Any other vacuum pales in comparison. Wish I had bought one years ago.

[BarenakedLady]

27. They sound awesome.

I wish they were a bit cheaper though.

[crispini]

31. They are spendy

But sometimes I think it's better to get quality that will last longer. I have to admit, though, I was pretty horrified with myself when I first bought it. But I have not regretted it!

[billyskank]

23. If there were ever a subject I did not have an opinion on

this is it. ;)

[BarenakedLady]

24. LoL.

But I value your opinion anyway.

Thanks for stopping by. :hi:

[MissMillie]

25. depends on what you're vacuuming

if you're doing carpets, an upright is what you want.

if you're going primarily floors of all kinds (carpets and laminate) as well as furniture, you want a canister.

and trust me on this, you're better off to spend some serious money and get a quality machine than buying crap and having to replace it every year.

[BarenakedLady]

26. Good points

The upstairs and basement are carpeted. The first floor is mostly laminate, wood, and tile.

[BarenakedLady]

32. **Update**

Evidentally, I've gotten a Bissel pet specific vac from Best Buy.

:shrug:

[billyskank]

33. OMG this is Hugh!

Oh wait no, that was the other thread. :P

[BarenakedLady]

34. LOL!

:rofl:

[Jamastiene]

36. I don't care which one of the numerous vacuum cleaners they use,

as long as I can con someone else into vacuuming. :evilgrin:

I kill vacuum cleaners. So, it is best to keep me away from them anyhow. Right now, we have three. Two of them do not work and I need to remember to carry them off to the dump next time I go.

No worries though. I will get another vacuum cleaner from my mother, when she gets another super duper new model...always with a Helper Filter, whatever the heck that is. She goes on and on about the Helper Filter saying she needs it for her asthma. I haven't a clue. :shrug:

My mother has her own way of dropping hints even though she never visits. Martha Stewart, I am NOT. She knows it too.

Hint hint: I told her about doing battle with the infamous Carolina Wolf Spiders and almost not winning. She knows it's practically a jungle here at my place, outside AND inside.

Now, when she visits, She keeps the window most of the way up and refuses to get out of the van. :evilgrin:

[SPKrazy]

37. Cheap Assed Vacuum From Wal Mart

Like a Bissel works just as well as some expensive assed vaccum... yeah, I know I said WAL MART might find one at Target too.

:hi: