Relatively cheap too - under $200.
Posted on 08/12/2013 10:43:30 AM PDT by golux
I saw a TV ad for a mini-van that has a built in vacuum cleaner....
Also, depending on the model selected, it is a good idea to explore the costs for replacing filters, recommened frequency, whether the filters are washable/reusable, etc.
My dream is to rip up every inch of carpet in my home so that I don’t need a GREAT vacuum cleaner, but alas that’s a pipe dream at the moment. So thank you for the great info. I’m sick of buying cheap crappy vacuums that tear up after a few months of use. Wish we had bought a great one earlier in life when we could have afforded it. Oh well, such is life.
I am guessing the latest line of bagless vacuums from Dirt Devil must really suck (and not in a good way).
The local Salvation Army thrift store never has fewer then five displayed out front-and-center.
Bottom line, none has the suction of ShopVac. Sometimes there just is no substitute. Nothing better for cars.
As for regular vacs, never will I buy the overrated nonsense that is “bagless”. It’s all smoke and mirrors - generally more on the smoke.
My sister(RIP) bought some really nice German machine and loved it. Still don’t know what it is, but it was very expensive. I will not buy expensive until we get rid of our cleaning woman, who is too stupid and constantly wrecks everything she touches. She breaks the vacuum then jerry-rigs it together a bit. You should see our Hoover now, which has survived some 3 years of her abuse. I’m shocked the thing still works.
The Kirby is awesome. It’s just because of some older age physical limitations that I can’t use it any longer. We have a sunken living room aand I simply cannot lift it to get it down there........and forget about the game room, my Dad’s apartment and storage rooms in the walk-out basement.
I have a housekeeper come in a couple times a month to use the Kirby, but for day to day clean up, I love the Dyson.
I bought a cheap upright Westinghouse for my apartment years ago away from hometown. That thing was unbelievable; I called it Jaws recalling the “Mr. Mom” movie. I think we did something to it that broke it (probably the cleaning lady previously mentioned) when I brought it back home with me. That was just at the time Westinghouse shut down forever, so there was no replacement. Boy I miss that thing.
Well, this is a bagless one. But since I just use it in my kitchen it’s not got a lot of demands on its abilities.
I worked in a commercial floor cleaning equipment repair shop a couple of years...still do repair on the side. My personal home vac is an electrolux canister I picked up at a thrift store for 10 bones. Here’s my take:
There are throwaway vacs that cost around 100 bones that last an average of two years before they fry and get tossed.
Then there are good quality vacs that last an average of 5 years or so before needing repaired. These are well proven designs from reputable companies that have been around, and will be around making parts for years. These vacs run from 200 to 500 dollars...but because they are fixable...one saves money in the long run.
First vac I would recommend is an electrolux sanitaire. Good old workhorse that’s been around for years. $200 to $300 buys one. Not fancy, no attachments, but it will suck the padding off the floor.
Second is a Windsor upright. German made. Can be taken apart with no tools. Very durable, and will suck the padding off the floor. 500 bucks and excellent factory service.
Neither of the above have a hose or attachments. They are floor machines. I recommend buying a floor machine and then a small shop vac for cleaning requiring hose and attachments.
Any vacuum will last much longer if taken outside and blown out with compressed air from time to time, along with cleaning anythng that can get wet with a damp rag.
“Bought a Shark six months ago...”
May I ask if you have pets? Trying to find another vacuum but it has to do well with pet hair.. Thanks.
I’ve had a Panasonic for about 30 years and it runs great for those twice a year house vacuumings......
I remember when Westinghouse used to make a vacuum cleaner.
Back when the Pittsburgh Pirates moved into Three Rivers Stadium and began playing on artificial turf, their legendary play-by-play man, Bob Prince, began referring to a runner on base as “a bug on the rug”. And to remove a bug on the rug you need “a Hoover” (which became his term for a double-play).
When Westinghouse, the owners of KDKA radio, fired him in 1975, one of their beefs with him was that he was constantly promoting a competing brand of vacuum cleaner every time he called the double-play “a Hoover”.
Of course today Westinghouse is CBS, and makes nothing but crappy TV shows. The name Westinghouse was sold to Toshiba, which makes nuclear reactors under that name.
I loved being single too, for much the same reasons. I had a great old dog that had outlasted several wemens and life was good. Then I met this lady, I just haaad to have her. Now my great old dog is dead and long gone and I am married to the best woman that I have ever known. Such is life.
Thanks Vigilant. Excellent info.
DAMN YER EYES!
Thanks!
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