Finally found the *best* vacuum for my cleaning business! Sharp Twin Energy

[evolutionclean1]

Hey all! Let me preface this by saying I'm not sure if this machine is from the '90s or not, I know that the twin energy line was very popular during the '90s and into the 2000s, but I'm not sure on the exact date of this one.
Most of us are familiar with Sharp's vacuums, and I feel that they got the attention that they deserved! They were just as good as anything Panasonic had to offer, and from what I've seen they were a bit less expensive. I picked up a 12 amp domestic model a month or so ago, and after a good cleaning, it's become a daily driver. Still as quiet and powerful as it was 20 some years ago!

And as Fortune would have it, about a week later, I almost fell over the stair railing at the local thrift store to snatch up this lovely beast I wish that Sharp would come back to the American market and continue making these commercial machines. The switch on the handle has such a satisfying snap when you turn the machine on, and the variable speed lets you give it a soft start. Still super quiet all these years later, and it EATS dog hair like nothing I've ever used. My standing client with my cleaning business has three long-haired dogs, and her carpets have choked out some of the best machines. Granted there still is some hair tangled on the brush roll by the time I'm done, but all in all, with a HEPA bag, this thing is absolutely unstoppable. The head is a little bit loose from age, and the belts that I have on there isn't correct, but it'll still run circles around some new machines!

How do we feel about this amazing line of clean air uprights?

 

[panasonicvac]

I highly doubt Sharp would ever want to return and bring back their old designs, no matter how much I think it'd be awesome to see that happening. Unfortunately, the vacuum world has changed so much since Sharp existed out of the market. Consumers want something with so many upgraded features that'd make it harder for Sharp to continue selling the same designs. Like lifetime belts, HEPA filtration, electronic indicator lights, etc. Basically things that Riccar and Simplicity addressed for example on the R20UP/S20UP. The hall sensor feature I thought was a game changer. I also really liked the easy to change bags. And the hose is so much easier to get. If I could have any metal bypass upright to use as a daily driver, it'd be one of these two.

 

[evolutionclean1]

Valid!

There are still a ton of amazing clean air uprights out there to choose from, Sebo definitely comes to mind. I've always enjoyed the Panasonic style uprights just a bit more, I guess it's all preferential.
There's something about the older style motors that I like better than the new higher speed single stage motors, they just have a more robust tone to me. That being said, I've been eyeballing some of Prolux's commercial uprights... The 8000 is sexy and they still use Ameteks motors so that has to count for something. We'll see how long the Twin Energy holds up and when it's time to retire the old lady, why not try something new and sleek?

 

[panasonicvac]

You might want to look into the Cirrus CR99 when the time comes to replace your Sharp. That's a TOL model with features your sharp has such as a double fan motor, variable speed controller, check bag indicator, switch on the handle, but with a ton of upgraded stuff. It's made by the same company who makes that Prolux. I have one of those and it's one of the best designs next to the Tacony models. I'd buy one again if I were to pass on the better vacuums like Sebo you've mentioned.

 

[evolutionclean1]

Very pretty!

I'll save that to the wishlist
2 stage motors will forever be superior to single stage, and that color is perfect! Lol
I did have a Carpet Pro CPU-1T for awhile but I just felt that it was lacking the horsepower I was looking for. Great suction but not quite enough airflow to really get into the plush carpeting. Plus when the bag would get full, the power would drop off quickly from there. I'm assuming that model had a single stage motor like some of the lower end Tacony machines did.

The picture should give a decent idea of what I deal with biweekly... Ugly plush green carpet that holds a dog's worth of hair

 

[evolutionclean1]

Sebo's X line

Is absolutely incredible, don't get me wrong, but there was something that didn't quite hit the mark for me when I had my later X4. Maybe it was the tool usage or the automatic height adjustment second guessing me, but it wasn't my favorite. Still waiting to find a Felix however

 

[eurekaprince]

I remember when the Sharp Twin Energy “Library Quiet” uprights came on the market, Consumer Reports tested one of the models and the results put it at the top of the rankings for uprights that year! Could be early 1990’s, if I remember correctly….

 

[panasonicvac]

I love my Sebos, the X Series in my humble opinion I think is overall the best single motor upright I've ever used if you don't count the servo motor. I'd totally buy one over any metal bypass upright including both the Riccar R20UP and the Simplicity S20UP, they're basically the second most perfect upright vacuum for me. The Lindhaus HealthCare Pro being the first. Speaking of which, my Sebo X1 I have which is technically branded as a Kenmore uses a cord that's made by the same Taiwan company who also made cords for Sharp. My Kenmore may not vacuum as well as my Sharps but it still has many advantages over any Sharp and that's why I'd buy it over a Sharp.

 

[evolutionclean1]

Oh absolutely

The X4 and X7 are the best of the best without a doubt. Incredible quality, performance, and Sebo is about the only company left who actually stands by their products. Personally I didn't love my X4 as much as I'd hoped, but I'd be willing to give one another try. My only hangup is the price they're worth it but I'm working on a low budget as is

 

[repairman]

The Cirrus, Airway and Prolux uprights come from the same factory.

You might also consider the Perfect Dual Motor uprights since they have a geared belt instead of a stretch belt. They appear to be made by whoever makes them for Aerus and Lavex nowadays.

 

[evolutionclean1]

So many great options

Thanks y'all I don't mind those Electrolux upright styled machines, I had a ProTeam Proforce 1500 years ago that I was gifted by my dad's wife. Supremely quiet aside from the geared belt, and it was built right here in Boise Idaho!
I didn't care much for the paper bags as they quickly lost power, but I'm sure a machine of that style would thrive with HEPA bags. This is true for everything else anyway

I was stunned to see that AirWay made a comeback, albeit not the same as we all remember. I'll have to look through their models and save the one that stands out to me. Ultimately it'll come down to a blend of price, features, and whichever one I think will become a new favorite.

I also saw that Pacific Steamex has returned under the Pacific Floorcare name, and it looks like they are re branding some variety of Lindhaus upright for themselves. I have a Lindhaus Activa 30 Pro, but it is gutless in comparison to the Sharp from what I've read and experienced they are built specifically for low pile, glued commercial carpeting and anything beyond that is asking too much. I do love the Activa for one of my regular cleans, it thrives on the carpets at a converted nursing home.

 

[evolutionclean1]

I have also considered

Looking into Karcher's latest iteration of the Versamatic. I had an old school Windsor for awhile and again, it didn't quite have the horsepower I was craving for heavy cleans. Plus there were times I felt as though I was pushing a bookshelf
The newest model seems to have a much larger suction motor and the hose has been updated too. I have yet to decide if I prefer a single or dual motor system for large cleans.... You gain a lot more efficiency when the suction motor only has to pick up the dirt

 

[panasonicvac]

ProTeam never made their uprights in Boise, just only headquartered there for a time but now they're in St. Louis with the rest of the Emerson company. They used to be made by Aerus Electrolux in the USA until they sold the patents to ProTeam and started making them overseas. That being said, they're definitely good vacuums. I think they're even better once ProTeam took over. But they're not my first pick for a dual motor commercial upright. Like the Perfect and the other Electrolux copies, the bags are small, the on-board hoses can be prone to clogging real easily, there's no height adjuster, and you need a screw driver to get into the belt. The Windsor Versamatic is almost in every way better, their newest model is awesome. I also really like the Lindhaus RX, similar to the Versamatic.

 

[evolutionclean1]

My bad

I thought they did production here

Hopefully the Twin Energy lasts awhile longer as I'm not ready to commit to something brand new at this moment. It should, I take pretty good care of it

 

[evolutionclean1]

Definitely will pass on the Prolux

The 8000 commercial model only has a 30 foot cord, and it looks like the belts have been out of stock for quite some time now

 

[jo]

Nice

The sharp upright was a wonderful upright! Very quiet very durable. Enjoy.

And to Panasonic vacs…you say the Proteam/Aerus Electrolux upright doesn’t have a height adjustment…that is incorrect. It does, it is automatic and resets on every backstroke. On low pile carpet it stays down but on deep thick pile carpet especially with a pad, the front of the nozzle will rise up on the forward stroke then go back down on the backstroke. The back wheels are specially spring loaded and it is specially designed to operate on the forward stroke.

Jon

 

[panasonicvac]

Clarification

What I meant was is there isn't a way to adjust the height on whatever setting I'd like for it at. I don't personally care about vacuums with free floating heads except for Sebo. Electrolux or anything similar to it is no different. The problems I have with them is on thicker pile carpeting they're rather harder to push, and they snowplow bigger debris. That's one of the reasons why I don't prefer to use them. This video is one example that proves my point.