Hard decision

[kirbysthebest]

I agree

Your choice will depend on your usage.  I actually prefer an upright because I like to back out of a room without stepping where I just vacuumed.  With a canister I am always kicking it out of my way.  


 


Having grown up with an upright, I usually go through with the hose doing above the floor and furniture, then with the upright doing carpets. 


 


P.S. I dust first, then vacuum.  


 


 

 

[dlb764]

If you or anyone in your family has allergies then I would highly recommend that you go forward with installing a central vacuum. It is the only vacuum that can offer you zero emissions if vented outside. Just make sure that you stay away from air-driven tools (incredibly loud and do an overall poor job) and choose an electric power nozzle. I'm not exactly a vacuum enthusiast but since the job has always fallen on me (I give up trying to find a girlfriend that enjoys it lol) I prefer vacuums that work well. For me I have only used canisters and central vacuums. A power nozzle can fit and go under many places that an upright just can't touch. With an upright you just don't have the ability to easily go under and around beds, tables, chairs, etc.

 

[marks_here]

Reply# 20 air driven tools

I find that hard to believe because my Vacuflo has a Turbo Cat Ex and it picks up everything, leaves nice lines on the carpet, and it will take your finger off it doesn't stop spinning even if I push down on it trying to stop the brushes from turning on the carpet they don't. You must have a unit with poor suction on it because this one is incredible.

My neighbour brought over her powerhead to test that out used the Turbo Cat first then emptied out the bin then tried the power nozzle guess what....nothing in the bin. We were both amazed & she said she was getting rid of her Beam & getting a Vacuflo.

Fast forward to now she's happy with her purchase & we did the same test on hers...the same thing.

 

[rugsucker]

vacs present and future

A few more thoughts--
It is usually best if your main vac is a CANISTER with hose,attachments(for hard floors,furniture and more)and a power nozzle(to reach under beds and furniture).
An UPRIGHT is great for quick cleaning of rugs and carpet but not really best for large areas of nice hard floors or under furniture.
Anyone building should at least install the piping(easy & relatively cheap before sheetrock goes up)for a CENTRAL VAC.You would then have the option of continuing with whatever you choose now or add the vacuum unit and atts at any time.Many good features including the outside exhaust mentioned above.And as above there are different quality att kits to choose from.Also added resale value as many home buyers look for CVs.

 

[momof5]

I'll confess. And in my defence let me say that it is because of our small space. When I get into a corner or other small space and because my canister is metal and heavy, I give it a swift kick to back myself out of a corner or a small room. What else can I do? Looking forward to having a bigger space and hopefully having a canister wont be such an annoyance.

 

[ronni]

Even more ideas to consider ...

1) Will you want your children to help with vacuuming at some point?
2) Do you want to go easier on your back (and others')?
3) Do you want more efficiency in changing from floor to above-the-floor cleaning?

or

4) Do you want more deep-cleaning capability with height adjustment?
5) Would you prefer to use a felt pad attached to the nozzle on your hard floors?
6) Would you like to have one machine for both vacuuming and dry-foam shampooing?


If items 1-3 are more important to you, then go with a cylinder such as the Model C177A/Lux Guardian Platinum.

If items 4-6 are more relevant to you then go with an upright such as the new Model G10/Kirby Avalir.


I do encourage you to be more gentle with any vacuum cleaner or other appliance you use. Even if they appear to withstand it in the long-run you will end up with more related expenses as you've already discovered. In addition, periodic home maintenance such as cleaning threads and hair from the brush roll and checking the hose and power nozzle intake for obstructions, replacing or cleaning filters (if applicable) as needed will ensure top performance and prevent undue mechanical problems. Otherwise, instead of brand new you may want to invest in a like-new cleaner.

No matter what, keep the Model 1401/Super J--either as your main cleaner or as a back-up or auxiliary unit for vehicles, campers, et cetera. You didn't mention it, but I will take for granted that your power nozzle is a Model PN-4 (that was originally factory paired with the cleaner). In that case, you could always upgrade to an L-shaped one with a headlight and a double-helix brush roll for even more powerful cleaning, too.

One final thought ... each vacuum cleaner has pluses and minuses. You won't find a 'perfect' machine for all your needs.

Best wishes on your decision. Let us know what you decide.

Also, I applaud your efforts to home-school your 6 children. They are fortunate and so are you!

 

[rosiembanks]

don't just watch videos, try them out

If you don't mind me inserting my $.02 here, I think you need to go to a vac shop and try out a few of these, either upright or canisters. When I was searching for a new vac last year, I thought I was going to get a Miele upright until I tried it and discovered it was way too heavy for me to maneuver--not just heavy, but tall. Especially compared to the Riccar Brilliance I ended up with, which I found very comfortable to use. (btw, my Riccar shop seems to discount off the retail price about 1/3; everything is marked that way.) I needed a vac with a really good dust bag for my asthma, so this new design is a good match for me (as a Miele would have been). I agree, also, that a canister is more versatile for getting underneath beds and sofas (I have a not-great Kenmore canister for that), but I more often use my Riccar with the WOW floor attachment on my hardwood--its a great tool. When I was exploring my options, I tried a variety of machines--the Riccar canisters seemed quieter than their uprights, and I'll eventually buy one--just waiting for a model the size I want (the full-size are too heavy for me, but have the pn I prefer). The cleaning lady likes an upright, my old Panasonic leaks dust (not good for asthma), so the Brilliance was my choice. Anyway, you may find as you try some of these models that they handle differently from what you were expecting or that they are missing features you take for granted (e.g. headlights, perhaps). Or maybe you need a canister with really good casters that roll every which way, so it moves of your way when you kick it! Just a couple thoughts.

 

[sbakerde]

Hi momof15!

This sure sounds like quite the canundrum. The battle between and canister, upright, or central vac I think really comes down to personal preference. I myself prefer a canister or ideally a central system. I know a nice upright such as a Kirby or Riccar will do the same thing but that just not my cup of tea. I had a Kirby for a year or so and while it worked great I just didn't care for the design. I clean homes for a living and truthfully I mostly use and old electrolux canister. It's an early plastic model and trust me I am not gentle on it by any means. I find these to be easy to use and they sure do take a beating. I have used several newer Aerus canisters and honestly I haven't liked any of them, sorry guys. I found them to be absurdly overpriced, and not at easy to work with as my old one. I also don't think the new motors pull the airflow the old ones do. Again sorry guy, if that's what you like then that's fine by me. I also refuse to spend over $600 on a portable vacuum cleaner. I can put in central vac for around 1800 so I wouldn't spend that much on a canister or an upright.

I hope you find something that suits your needs. Take a look at the perfect canister vacuums. They are a close copy of the old electrolux canisters and sell for around $500. Another plus is the bags, hoses, and attachments are interchangeable with the older electroluxs.

 

[ralph123]

Since you are rough on the hoses, I would recommend that you consider one of the lightweight (9-pound) Simplicity/Riccar/Maytag upright vacuums. They are well made in the USA, and they clean well. The downside is no onboard tools. They can also be a little noisy - although the newer models are supposed to be more quiet. They are durable, but the dirt does go through the fan. So you can't pick up army guys with them. You could get a light weight canister for cleaning with tools. My mom has a Riccar supralite and a Riccar Sunburst canister - they're a great combination. The Sunburst has a very nice wood floor brush.

If you've got to have a canister, Simplicity has the new Wonder (Riccar version is the Prima). These midsize canisters are designed to be durable and easy to maneuver. Tom Gasko, the curator of the vacuum museum in St James, Missouri, has posted on these. He's a great resource for picking a vacuum.

 

[momof5]

A few more questions

Planning a trip to a vac shop a couple hours away. Until then...I am almost certain I will go with a canister. I am leaning heavily towards a Riccar. Just wondering if the Aerus Platinum is going to be less durable ( for me) than the Riccar canisters. As far as I have seen the Aerus is completely plastic and that may be the deciding factor. Thoughts?

 

[eurekaprince]

I prefer having two vacs: an upright for carpets (no onboard tools), and a suction only canister for everything else (no power nozzle nor bulky electrified hose).

I have assembled an excellent lightweight team for under $1,000: My Hoover Platinum Lightweight upright ($300) plus my Miele S8 FreshAir canister ($575). Each of these is lightweight and easy to use, yet powerful and effective.

I use the Miele canister to clean all surfaces, furnishings and nooks and crannies in a room, then finish off the room by deep cleaning the carpet with my upright.

Together, both take up as much room as one power nozzle canister in my closet. The Hoover upright has an extra large bag to accommodate the large amount of dirt and carpet fluff it takes in. The Miele bag is large enough for the dust it collects and won't need to be changed more than 2 or 3 times a year.

 

[funeraldirector]

Lux and Riccar

Hi Christy,

Both the Riccar and Lux are good choices. If you go Riccar, get the purple Impeccable and save yourself a couple bucks unless you love that Super J-1976 gold color. The Riccar uprights are really nice. I find them clunky and loud, but stylish, well made and high quality performers. The Lux Platinum is super. The finish scratches and the metal front cover on mine suffered a ding in a crash with my 3.5 year old German Shorthair when it contacted the leg of a bar stool. I really like the Riccar unit and had that series machine when I worked for Lux in Boston. It does everything well! The Lux does too just hate those wands and hose handle and the dated power nozzle. Mine is about 5 mos old.

Suggestion: Buy one of the new NSS Pacer 12 UE uprights new in the box (commercial CRI gold cert. hospital vacuum in black and Arctic Cat green) like I did on EBAY (mine was NIB for $173.00 last month) and wait till later this year when the Sauber SI-200 Intelligence becomes avail here with the braided-remote control hose, better attachments and add the ET-1 Sebo nozzle to it. Aerus is only offering the "Classic" version of this machine (Platinum), no Swissaroma scents designed for it, true variable speed etc. See the thread discussion below and the Youtube vids of the Sauber version which is the higher-end version of this vacuum and the machine/combo Lux should be peddling. I worked for Lux 12 years part-time and my Platinum is gone the day the Sauber shows up with 2 power nozzle options and the beautiful hose that wont turn yellow due to its clear urethane coating. You will like the NSS too especially for the price of a Hoover.

Brian