HOOVERS

[ronreeland]

Hi:
My July/August edition of Consumer Reports magazine has ratings on uprights, bagged and bagless. Also canisters, again bagged and bagless. Additional ratings for corded and cordless stick vacuums. Even hand vacs. But not even one Hoover listed in any of those categories. Hoover is listed four times in the carpet cleaners category and once under steam mops. Are current Hoovers of such poor quality that they are not mentioned? Or an oversight by Consumer Reports?

My everyday vacuuum is a cloth bag Hoover model 425 with a flat belt, circa 1935. My Dad and I sold and serviced Hoovers back in the 1950's and 60's, so I have an affection for the vintage Hoovers and I am disappointed that maybe the Hoover name is not respected any longer.

Shark vacuums dominate the bagless upright versions. The bagged upright category lists 4 Kenmores and 3 Orecks and none others. Kenmores prevail in the bagged and bagless canister sections.

What are your thought on the modern Hoovers currently for sale?

Thanks,
Ron Reeland

 

[cheesewonton]

Household Hoovers are pretty bad. Their commercial line is better. I have a CH54113 Hushtone that I use with a Hoover brand synthetic HEPA Type Y dust bag. I have to trim the mounting cards a touch to make it fit the mount but it is otherwise a much better bag than the paper bags Hoover makes for the Hushtone series. Very good vacuum otherwise. I like it more than most uprights I have and seems to clean our big area rugs better than our Sebo 370. More aggressive brush roll. Not as good for above floor cleaning as the Sebo though. Nice surprise is the Hushtones use a decent sized Domel motor and sport a lifetime "Intellibelt". Seems pretty rugged but we'll see how it lasts. The Insight that preceded the Hushtone has been a bit of a disappointment. Fragile and fatally flawed. I'd say a Hushtone 13 or 15 is a great second best if your budget says you can't afford a Sebo G4 or G5.

Hoover also have something they call the "Complete Performance Advanced Bagged Upright Vacuum" that uses the synthetic HEPA Y bag and it's ok. Not as rugged as the Hushtone but for $169.99 MSRP it seems like a great value and better than what Bissell sells. Haven't had a chance to try one yet.