tseg
Well-known member
I'm new to this site but have immersed myself in vacuum offerings the past few months after I set out to replace my failing Dyson DC14. I've come to the conclusion there are only 2 things one needs in a vacuum:
1. Cleans what one wants it to clean
2. One loves their vacuum and enjoys cleaning with it
Of course each of these criteria have many arms and legs. One needs to assess and know what they really want to clean which influences what design and attachments are optimal. Also, one needs to enjoy their vacuum because one of the better ways to clean is by actually using one's vacuum.
It was not until I started my research that I realized there were a lot of spots in my home I had neglected cleaning for a long time... my world of what I needed to clean expanded dramatically. Also, for the first time, I thought to do a critical assessment of the surfaces in my house to be cleaned and what were the appropriate tools to do that cleaning. From there I was able to narrow the list of machines that I thought could effectively accomplish mission 1: clean my surfaces competently I want cleaned.
I then also learned about a balanced vacuum offer. There are long lists of features to consider, and as with anything a hobbyist/geek/aficionado may collect, the most refined solution does many things well. Any vacuum (or other collectible) can be the best at one thing, but frequently to the detriment of all else. An optimized solution typically can deliver a much more pleasurable all-around solution. The hard truth I arrived at is (mission 2) if I enjoy my equipment I'll use it more. If I use it more my house will likely stay cleaner over time and at any given moment.
My conclusion are there are a lot of vacuums that can accomplish the task of sucking up debris and particles well (and many not-so-well) and the list narrows from there machines that have the necessary design/attachments to suck on more unique and hard to reach surfaces. However, it is the non-cleaning aspect of a machine that drives that 'balanced' solution that separates the wheat from the chaff... that determines the "refinement" of the machine and makes it lovable. Just like I'm not a fan of professional movie critics, I tend to take all professional 'reviews' with a grain of salt... and forum comments with 2 grains of salt. With the internet one can now read feedback from many many actual users that use a machine beyond an initial test and really understand the machine's nuances. As an example, I always find it interesting when 50 people characterize a particular machine as 'light' and then 2 call the same machine 'heavy'. Collecting/assessing Big Data from actual users is very helpful in assessing what one may actually experience. Another example is a lot of 'experts' pooh-pooh turbo-brushes... even for low-pile carpets it is referred to as a compromise. At the same time I looked at hundreds of user reviews across several countries of a particular turbo-head and see 90%+ giving 5-stars and <2% giving it 1 star, critiquing it does not work well on thick, high-pile carpeting - no kidding. Anyway here is my summary of some key refinement considerations to make a machine loveable and usable:
- Relatively light weight
- Durable
- Quality materials
- Tight fit and finish
- Easy to maintain
- Good lighting
- Serviceable / good warranty
- Simple to use and ergonomic
- Price
... etc....
Ultimately, I ended up getting a Miele C3 Alize + Turbo brush + Mini-Turbo Brush to clean my house with wood floors, Berber carpet w/ carpeted stairs and Persian rugs after balancing all considerations. I'm feeling really good with my decision. After over a month of use the whole package has worked outstanding for me. I love this vacuum combo.
1. Cleans what one wants it to clean
2. One loves their vacuum and enjoys cleaning with it
Of course each of these criteria have many arms and legs. One needs to assess and know what they really want to clean which influences what design and attachments are optimal. Also, one needs to enjoy their vacuum because one of the better ways to clean is by actually using one's vacuum.
It was not until I started my research that I realized there were a lot of spots in my home I had neglected cleaning for a long time... my world of what I needed to clean expanded dramatically. Also, for the first time, I thought to do a critical assessment of the surfaces in my house to be cleaned and what were the appropriate tools to do that cleaning. From there I was able to narrow the list of machines that I thought could effectively accomplish mission 1: clean my surfaces competently I want cleaned.
I then also learned about a balanced vacuum offer. There are long lists of features to consider, and as with anything a hobbyist/geek/aficionado may collect, the most refined solution does many things well. Any vacuum (or other collectible) can be the best at one thing, but frequently to the detriment of all else. An optimized solution typically can deliver a much more pleasurable all-around solution. The hard truth I arrived at is (mission 2) if I enjoy my equipment I'll use it more. If I use it more my house will likely stay cleaner over time and at any given moment.
My conclusion are there are a lot of vacuums that can accomplish the task of sucking up debris and particles well (and many not-so-well) and the list narrows from there machines that have the necessary design/attachments to suck on more unique and hard to reach surfaces. However, it is the non-cleaning aspect of a machine that drives that 'balanced' solution that separates the wheat from the chaff... that determines the "refinement" of the machine and makes it lovable. Just like I'm not a fan of professional movie critics, I tend to take all professional 'reviews' with a grain of salt... and forum comments with 2 grains of salt. With the internet one can now read feedback from many many actual users that use a machine beyond an initial test and really understand the machine's nuances. As an example, I always find it interesting when 50 people characterize a particular machine as 'light' and then 2 call the same machine 'heavy'. Collecting/assessing Big Data from actual users is very helpful in assessing what one may actually experience. Another example is a lot of 'experts' pooh-pooh turbo-brushes... even for low-pile carpets it is referred to as a compromise. At the same time I looked at hundreds of user reviews across several countries of a particular turbo-head and see 90%+ giving 5-stars and <2% giving it 1 star, critiquing it does not work well on thick, high-pile carpeting - no kidding. Anyway here is my summary of some key refinement considerations to make a machine loveable and usable:
- Relatively light weight
- Durable
- Quality materials
- Tight fit and finish
- Easy to maintain
- Good lighting
- Serviceable / good warranty
- Simple to use and ergonomic
- Price
... etc....
Ultimately, I ended up getting a Miele C3 Alize + Turbo brush + Mini-Turbo Brush to clean my house with wood floors, Berber carpet w/ carpeted stairs and Persian rugs after balancing all considerations. I'm feeling really good with my decision. After over a month of use the whole package has worked outstanding for me. I love this vacuum combo.
