I need help choosing a new vacuum

[compddd]

Hi All

Have an old Shark that isn't cutting it anymore, have read that bag-less is superior, open to all suggestions and eager to learn. Here is my info:

2200 sq. ft home, 2 stories, only 1 set of stairs
1/3 of the house is carpeted (the 5 bedrooms) and the rest of the house is CoreTec Vinyl flooring
2 cats that shed fairly well and 1 toddler
Young male that can handle a heavier vacuum
I tend to vacuum every day myself because the vinyl floors are dark walnut color and tend to show anything that gets on them.
I dust furniture and bookshelves with a cloth but prefer to use a vacuum on the couches and chairs.

Thank you,
compddd

 

[jade_angel]

First off, bagless is generally terrible. There's a few reasons - one, those cyclones restrict the flow of air a lot, and airflow is what cleans; two, bagless machines are rarely well-sealed, so they leak dust; and three, bagless machines still have filters that clog up, so they are not maintenance-free. No vacuum is, frankly.

That said, for your use case, it sounds like a canister vacuum with a power nozzle is a good fit. Uprights aren't great for bare floors, and suction-only machines don't cut it for carpets. If you're buying new, then your best bet depends on your budget, but the three best brands for canisters right now are Sebo, Miele and Riccar/Simplicity. Riccar and Simplicity are two different brands for the same products, essentially, differing only in color.

The Sebo K3, E3 or D4 with the ET-1 power nozzle would all be a good fit. Note, you want an electric power nozzle, not a turbo head: turbo heads will not suffice for cat hair while electric nozzles will.

For Miele, there are versions of the low-end C1, midline C2 and high-end C3 that come with electric nozzles. You want the full-size SEB228 or SEB236 nozzles, not the compact SEB217. All three vacuums have the same motor; the key differences are that the C2 and C3 are fully sealed, and the C3 has internal tool storage.

For Simplicity or Riccar, you want the Wonder or Prima. Your call between the normal full-size power nozzle or the top-end tandem air nozzle. The latter is better, on paper, but the former is also outstanding. I have the older Verve canister with the non-tandem power nozzle and it does an outstanding job on cat hair, grooms well and shakes loose sand.

If those three are outside your budget, look at the Fuller Brush Home Maid canister, which is very similar to the Simplicity Wonder (it's made by the same parent company, Tacony Corporation), but with a different power nozzle. For the price, it's hard to beat, though the Simplicity/Riccar versions do have a better power nozzle.

 

[vacuumdevil]

@jade_angel is giving you great options!
I would second that.
Personally I steer more towards the German options than the Riccar/Simplicity options.

You might go to a vacuum store and test drive a few of them.
You'll be blown away compared to the shark.

 

[luxkid1980]

This all really depends how much $$ you have/want to spend on a vacuum. You can get very decent used machines for much less money than a new Sebo or Simplicity. I am sure there are vacuum stores in San Diego where you try out machines. But I would seriously consider a used machine over a new one; no sense in throwing money away.

 

[dysonman1]

I would never go with a Miele - the initial cost is VERY high as is the upkeep. Bags for that german brand come four to a box for $20. I don't like throwing $5 bills in the trash can. The HEPA filter for a Miele is $50 per year. Ouch.

Why not check out the new Sharks? The new Shark Apex is a very nice vacuum. Your cost is about $275 and NO BAGS TO BUY!

 

[vacfan1982]

I think you can get Miele bags cheaper than that and you have to have the HEPA filter it still filters very well without it. I would personally choose a Miele over a Shark.

 

[vacfan1982]

You dont have to have the HEPA filter I meant to say

 

[compddd]

Thanks for all the advice so far!

Where would I try and acquire a used Sebo or Simplicity?

Shark Apex? Isn't that a bagless vacuum and hence no good?

 

[vacuumdevil]

@dysonman1 did @compddd do something personal to you? That is almost complete opposite of what the vacuum cleaner collector/service Community usually suggest.

It's also a fact you can buy the filters in bags and bulk and get them for much less than what you suggested.

I would not wish a Shark vacuum on anybody.
If you got to go $100 cheap at least get a Hoover.

 

[dysonman1]

I personally like bagless vacuum cleaners. Who wants to store dirt in the closet?
I can find much better uses for my money than buying bags and filters.

Genuine Miele bags come four to a box for $20 plus sales tax. Genuine Miele hepa filters are $49.95 and according to the Miele dealer, it should be changed once a year.

You could always buy bojack bags, but why risk voiding the warranty? After all, the Miele is extremely expensive and overpriced (very overpriced) so if you buy one you should use genuine parts.

My bagless central vac (Vacuflo) works very well, and holds a years worth of dirt before emptying.

My Rainbow is bagless, and leaves the house smelling clean and fresh.

My Kirby uses bags, and stinks after a week or two of old dirt.

 

[compddd]

Jade Angel

Does this Miele model from BB&B have the nozzle you are talking about?

http://https//www.bedbathandbeyond....ne-blue/1061161603?Keyword=miele#BVRRWidgetID

 

[vacfan1982]

I've gone off bagless too messy. I would like to try a Rainbow not sure I'll like all the faffing about though and they are quite heavy when the bowl is full of water.
Here in the UK you can get 4 Miele bags for around £8 -£10 and the Hepa filter around £20 if you really need it. I'd rather pay for the bags than empty a bagless cleaner. I've not noticed too much smell coming from the Miele bags.

 

[vacfan1982]

And Rainbows aren't exactly cheap are they. I would say they were overpriced too very overpriced

 

[compactc9guy]

my 2 cents here

Forget about bag less unless you want a dust bleacher dust storm in the house .Miele Sebo Aerus Tristar or Filter queen altho higher end machines filters s well and some have hepa good attachements well built and built to last also
whats your budget ?awesome suction and very well built nota dust bleacher can do upholstery carpet rugs floor whit ease im byass i own few lux ap200 and Discovery 2 and Compact c9 but if i had the money id go whit a Perfect Power team or Tristar cs suction air flow ease of use . Just my opinion and thoughts is all .

 

[vacuumdevil]

@dysonman1

We all know the stuff cost less money in a dealer that's the way Miele is pricing structure is. And Miele sells performance packs on their website for $99 that include 4 pre filters ,HEPA and 16 bags . Which I think are pretty reasonably priced . You can also buy a box genuine bags for $18.99 from Amazon.
Dry Bagless vacuums are messy dirty and require lots of time washing filters almost every time you use them see the post about it titled Shark Week.

Shark is a company also has really no parts available though they will offer to replace your machine. If you're willing to pay the shipping.

At least if you get a low end Hoover parts and local service are readily available.

If your Kirby is stinking they make active carbon vacuum bags you can buy for it.




http://miele Performance Pack GN + HA30 Household Vacuum Bags Canister https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M8QYCXN/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_PzNAAbNCRMQBH

 

[matt8808]

I agree with everything jade_angel has said. Very sound advice.

I'd personally buy either the Miele or Sebo.


I have a Miele C3 myself and it is a very nice machine.

 

[n0oxy]

how about a central vac

I also agree with Jade_angel's suggestions, I would say a power nozzle canister is the best choice. When it comes to the German brands, I would go with Sebo over Miele, both are good machines but Sebos are made better and most of the C1 and C2 Miele models are made in China now. This in itself does not mean they are bad, but it appears as though Miele is trying to cut costs a bit. The Riccar Prima and Simplicity Wonder are great machines, same machine just a different color.
I would avoid the filter queen, that's basically a bagless machine and will have the problems that have already been mentioned with those. If you want something bagless, a water filtration machine with a separator is the way to go.
Now to what I really wanted to mention in this message, based on the size of your house, you might consider installing a central vacuum. These are very powerful and should be able to handle all of your cleaning needs. You can get attachment kits that will include an electric power nozzle along with attachments to handle the other cleaning jobs such as a hard floor brush, dusting brush, etc.
Mike

 

[royalfan]

@compddd a Miele with a power nozzle on sale I'm buying it tomorrow!
Thanks for the link .

 

[luxkid1980]

@compddd - If I were you, I would check out the offerings at a vacuum repair facility. Most have previously used units for sale I'm sure they would be glad to let you try out. Don't bother with a bagless machine. They typically don't last very long and can be a pain to clean out on a regular basis. A canister is a good choice, but I very much prefer having both an upright and a canister. The Oreck XL upright I have is great for quick pick ups when I don't feel like getting the canister out, but the canister is great for the ease of reaching under furniture and under chair legs where my upright does not reach as well. I have a used Electrolux Epic canister that is a great, powerful machine that works very well for me and the bags are very inexpensive. The bags for the Oreck are very large and I can go for quite a while between changes.