Best vacuum for small apartment without pets?

[niclonnic]

While I was at my mom's apartment earlier today, she asked me to vacuum. I did so, but her Dyson DC07 Animal still smells like dog, even after going through an entire box of Arm & Hammer Carpet Odor Eliminator (a carpet freshening powder). Now she wants a new vacuum. I've been looking at the entire universe of budget vacuums, but there are so many! My mom doesn't have a lot of money as she's been paying the rent, my dad's bills etc.

So I put our findings into a bulleted list:
- Small 700 sq. ft. one bedroom apartment
- No pets, and she doesn't plan to get any
- Lives by herself; works on weekdays
- My sister and I visit on some weekends
- Wall to wall carpeting, except in the kitchen and bathroom
- Carpet doesn't get much traffic; some surface dirt appears
- She is allergic to dust

What would you recommend?

 

[super-sweeper]

Hoover has the best quality in the budget zone, I'd recommend the Hoover Tempo to be exact! 

 

[jkbff]

I agree, Hoover Tempo, it is the best budget vac available. Use the royal-aire hepa Y bags though, for her allergies and for corn-sakes stop using carpet powder... It has formaldehyde in it. Good Home Scents makes an organic bag freshener ... carpet powder cakes up and builds up under the carpet...

 

[eurekaprince]

If you can afford about $50 more, the Hoover UH30300 T-Series is a budget vacuum that has more features than the Tempo. You get a headlight, dust bag indicator, longer tool hose, safer brush roll shut off option and a much easier system of dust bag installation.

Consumer Reports recommends this highly-rated budget upright:

"CR's Take
Impressive cleaning in a low-priced, lightweight package (only 16 pounds) makes this Hoover an appealing choice. It's also superb at sucking up pesky pet hair--a plus for dog and cat owners--with strong airflow for tools. Key features include an on/off switch for the brush and manual pile-height adjustment, which we prefer over automatic systems for deep-cleaning carpets. Some low-priced sacrifices: no suction control for drapes. And turning the dial to adjust pile height takes a long bend down in front of this unit. But this Hoover is still a relatively good value overall.
Highs

• Excels at removing embedded dirt from carpets
• Performs well when cleaning bare floors; ideal for kitchens, bathrooms, and hardwood floors
• Does well at picking up pet hair, which is nice if you have a cat or dog
• Excels in capturing all the dust it picks up, which is good if you have allergies or respiratory illnesses
• Strong tool airflow, which is a factor if you will be using the vacuums accessories for cleaning
• Has a manual carpet-height adjustment, which is better than automatic systems at matching the brush to the surface
• Has a brush on/off switch, which safeguards bare floors and prevents scattered dust and debris
Lows

• You must bend to adjust the pile height
• Lacks suction control, which helps protect drapes when using tools

Here's a webpage with more details:



http://m.bestbuy.com/m/e/product/detail.jsp?skuId=9960507&pid=1218202033595

 

[suckolux]

I think you would have better luck with odor on the Dyson by taking some parts apart and washing them. I don't think they like the carpet powders much either. Just a guess, not the expert here.Tempo gets my vote too

 

[sptyks]

Yup, I agree with eurekaprince...

The Hoover UH30300 T-Series is the way to go!


 


You get excellent performanmce at a budget price and very easy to use as well.

 

[dys0nb0y]

a hoover air steerable

 

[parwaz786]

Dyson DC50

 

[dys0nb0y]

or a dc40

 

[parwaz786]

DC24 if possible, if not then a DC40 instead of DC50. DC50 as a 3rd choice is okay

 

[jscarlato]

Hoover UH30300 . . .

is a good choice. I agree with eurekaprince, not only by what he says in his post, but also because I own one. Look on Sears' website. The UH30300 is currently selling for $107.10. That is an excellent price for this vacuum.

Although my Kirby Sentria is my top-line vacuum, there are times when I want something lighter but powerful to do a quick vacuuming around my two-story carpeted house. Having the attached hose also helps for quick dusting and pickups. The thing is, as time has gone on since I bought it a year ago at Sears for $129.00, I find myself using it more than I thought I would. It has powerful suction, a headlight, a long cord, and an easily removable base plate for changing a belt.

One thing that I've written about on various hoover models is the poor, toy-like quality of cleaning tools. The standard 8-ft hose on the UH30300 did not meet my expectations. So, I ordered the 12-ft version of the same style hose and installed it (easy to do), and I'm much happier with the longer hose. Also, the supplied dusting brush is not good for certain applications. Instead, the wand will accept the round horse-hair dusting brush and horse-hair floor and wall brush supplied with one of my Oreck canister vacs. Additionally, I can use the long oval dusting brush from my Dyson, which does a good job.

All in all, for the $107.10 price at Sears, the Hoover UH30300 just as it comes will meet your Mom's cleaning needs. I find this to be one of the better bagged upright vacs that Hoover has put out. For the price, it's hard to beat.

Joe

 

[sebo_fan]

Has any of our UK members read the post?? The poster is looking for a vacuum cleaner that isn't expensive. That rules out Dyson, brand new anyway and especially in the U.S....

 

[fantomfan]

Stay away from bagless if she has allergies!

Flying dust will only make her allergies worse, from dumping it out. I really like the Hoover Tempo. Agitation is great, it is OK on floors as long as you don't have much of it. GoVacuum has Hepa Y bags that are very reasonably priced. Hepa bags are worth the extra cost totally, and they will last last longer. The Hoover Tempo is about $70-80, it is basic but it's a very nice machine.

 

[fantomfan]

Forgot to add

I NEVER use carpet powder to vacuum. It only creates a mess. There is a way for you to take the cyclone assembly apart. Take the screws off the top. If you can take it completely apart, you might be able to get rid of the smell. I did do it before and It did work.

 

[sebo_fan]

Well said FantomFan - not only that but if she needs to clean out the filters, ANY bagless will be a dirtier experience than bagged. Sad but true.

 

[floor-a-matic]

Electrolux canister or upright
Kirby
Eureka Smart Vac 4870

 

[super-sweeper]

If you don't go with the Tempo, Sears has some excellent budget vacuums! Just buy bagged! 

 

[niclonnic]

Thanks for the advice!

I'll definitely look into one of those Hoover machines for recommendations.

I'm also considering the Hoover Windtunnel Air Steerable. The swivel steering would be nice for getting around the furniture in Mom's apartment.

As for the other machines:
1. Dyson - too expensive
2. Kirby - too expensive, not easy to use attachments
3. Electrolux - a little too expensive
4. Eureka Boss SmartVac - bulky, heavy and difficult to steer

I did find a way to take the DC07's cyclone assembly apart for cleaning. I'll get around to doing that once I get the Dyson back from Mom.

 

[marks_here]

They have the windtunnel air steerable at biglots for $99.99 check their websight to see if they have them in your area.

 

[tolivac]

I don't use carpet power except the Featherlyte ones.These won't harm vacuums or collect under the carpets.Besides formeldehide-other fine carpet powders can contain baking soda and sodium carbonate.These can be CORROSIVE to vacuums--plastic or metal.And these can wreck havoc with brushroll bearings!!!DON'T USE.If you must use carpet powders use the FeatherLyte ones.Your vacuum dealer probably has it-and I am sure its available "online" for those who order things that way.In two of the homes I moved into the former householders used those horrible powders-yes they absorb odors-when I vacuumed the carpets with both a Royal metal upright and a Kirby G4-the disposable bags smelled like rotten feet.Got like 4 bags from each house-took those right to the dump!!Haven't seen anymore of that stuff.Glad I got ip up-Royal and Kirby to the rescue.Use those for move ins and move outs.

 

[fantomfan]

I do not have allergies

But, If I pick up a BIG mess when I vacuum, and use a bagless (except for rainbow) I DO sneeze. No matter what kind of bagless you get (except for water filtration machines), there will always be some dust that will fly back at you. It really cannot be avoided. So, In my eyes, most Bagless machines wouldn't be right for those with allergies, unless somebody else dumps out the dust. I know, because my mother is severely allergic to dust.

 

[DesertTortoise]

Everyone is talking about budget new vacuums. Most vacuum shops offer reconditioned used machines of higher quality at budget prices. Your sister could own a good quality well filtered machine instead of a budget plastivac for the same money if you go used. Alternatively since you are the vacuum enthusiast, buy one off ebay cheap and sanitise and recondition it yourself for her. When you go the used vacuum route lots of new possibilities arise. Example, I found an Electrolux canister at a thrift shop with wands, powered floor brush and Sidekick 2 for $25 and paid an additional $40 for a generic replacement hose. That is all I am in it for at this point. Now tell me your budget Hoover is a better choice. That is just one example. There are loads of very nice used vacs out there and all then need to be like new is a good spa treatment, new filters and some HEPA bags.

 

[DesertTortoise]

FantomFan, consider that the vacuums used by janitorial staff, office cleaning crews, the hospitality industry and hospital staff are pretty much always HEPA bagged machines. You never see bagless vacs in these settings for a reason. There are still very good reasons to prefer bagged vacuums over bagless.

 

[fantomfan]

Oh, I said "most" because Rainbows are bagless.

I should have said bagless machines, except for water filtration machines, are a bad idea for those with allergies. To clarify, I was recommending bagged, not bagless for this situation, unless a nice Rainbow is found for a good price.

 

[DesertTortoise]

Rainbows require an awful lot of dedication to own. Number one, when filled with water they weigh over 30 lbs. Number two, you have to drain them after every use and even still, if you leave anything wet for any length of time stuff grows. Didn't one member here get a very bad staph infection restoring a Rainbow? You have to bleach them periodically. Now you are talking real work to maintain them. They are not for the casual user. There are other ways to obtain equal filtration that don't require the extreme diligence a Rainbow does.

I'm still voting for Niclonnic to get busy finding and refurbishing a nice higher end vacuum for his sister for the price of a cheap plastivac. I know Craigslist in his are has a number of good candidates cuz I'm always looking.

 

[niclonnic]

Um...

Tolivac, I think my mom is going to give up on the carpet powder. It made the Dyson DC07 sound weird as I gradually vacuumed her place.

FantomFan, I do have allergies, and I've always used bagless vacuums. I sometimes sneeze when emptying them. And I don't have a problem with dust clouds, either.

DesertTortoise, I am looking for a new vacuum for my estranged mother, NOT my sister. My sister and I live with my dad (my parents divorced a while back).

I am not interested in buying a used vacuum and refurbishing it. Mom is not a fan of used things. She always buys brand new. Plus, a Rainbow is rather bulky and high-maintenance for use in a small apartment.

 

[dys0nb0y]

I Think the Hoover air steerable would be the best way to go it is light and It's go swivel steering and it's a really good seller in America The cyclone technology is quite good for a hoover it doesn't let to much dust through

 

[sebo_fan]

Is it as cheap though as the Hoover Tempo, though?

 

[eurekaprince]

I would not recommend the Hoover Air 70400 nor the 72400: They both are mediocre at carpet cleaning, and have rather anemic air flow through the hose for above-the-floor cleaning. They are also not any cheaper than the T-Series 30300. For the money, the latter bagged Hoover is far better value, IMHO.