New Vac: Canister or Upright

[rosiembanks]

Like so many before me, I'm looking for the perfect vacuum, and need recommendations. There seem to be so many different configurations, and I'm in a quandary even at the most basic level--upright or canister, though I have definite ideas about features I'd like to have and find useful.

My home is about 3200 sq feet--about 40% carpet, with the rest hardwood and area rugs (mostly oriental), also terriers. I've been using a dearly beloved Panasonic MC-6220, as well as a Kenmore Intuition canister. The canister resides in a secondary closet, does a nice job reaching under the beds, has a nice light on its powerhead and wand, but otherwise feels cheap. It's supposed to have a HEPA filter, but I don't know how effective it is. I like it more than I expected--I'd bought it because it was a great price one day I happened to be walking through Sears and needed to sweep under beds. The Panasonic has been a real workhorse for nearly 30 years, but now has a broken flat-belt (not a big deal) and on close inspection also has a badly worn brush roll, which seems to be out of stock everywhere. I have recently been diagnosed with asthma, so probably should replace the Panasonic's spot in the main cleaning lineup with a newer vacuum with better filtration. Does that mean I should only consider HEPA? Weight is an issue, as I have rotator cuff issues, but less so with more than one vacuum. (I should tell you that I have a Dyson upright in our vacation home and it does just fine--there I wanted a bagless so no one would ever be caught without a supply of bags. I don't want it for this house.)

I've been looking at vacuums for a long time, but haven't needed to buy before now. The housekeeper prefers uprights, so I thought I should look at them. But, I like the canister enough to buy a second one (not another Kenmore, however) if I can find a better one in my budget or that I can rationalize spending more money for. I'd like to spend $500-600, though if I have to, it could go higher. Here's what I'd like in an upright:
HEPA, light to see with, manual adjust suction, tools onboard (dusting, crevice, floor at min.), cord length+BAGS
My canister requirements are similar:
HEPA, light on power nozzle, light on wand, reasonably long cord, tool storage, BAGS

So far, the leading contender seems to be the Miele Jazz (is there a better S7, like the CatandDog)? The negative is the cost of Miele bags. Or, for much less, there's the Panasonic MCCG973, much like my Kenmore. Is it too much like it, or, did Panasonic do a nicer job with this one?--the reviews from "just folks using it" make it sound pretty good. Our local shops have very limited stock on hand, so there's not much to try out (certainly no Panasonics)--I've seen a couple of Simplicity uprights, and Sebos, only one of which had a light, for example. One shop had no canisters at all.

Thanks for your thoughts.

 

[jade_angel]

The MC-CG973 is very much like the Kenmore, though usually the Panasonic-branded models are built a little better. They're pretty solid, and the filtration is decent (not amazing, but not bad either). My problem with them is that the power nozzle is rather lackluster. It's not bad, but you can do better.

Very high on my list would be any of the Simplicity or Riccar (made by the same folks, Tacony corporation) mid-size canisters with the full-size power nozzle, especially the new Simplicity Wonder and Riccar Prima, if your local vacuum shops have them. If not, the previous incarnation - Riccar Pristine or Simplicity Verve, are excellent. Both are considerably more expensive than the Panasonic, but of better quality. The Tacony vacuums have one of the best power nozzles in the industry, in my opinion.

In the same vein, consider the Sebo Airbelt K3 and Miele S2/S5 with the SEB228 power nozzle.

Between the three, I like the Tacony vacuums better, though they are somewhat louder. Also, for whatever reason, Miele doesn't include a light on the SEB228, although its third-party equivalent, the Wessel Werk EBK360, does have one.

For an upright, I'd give serious consideration to either the Riccar Vibrance or Simplicity Symmetry - they offer very good performance for the price. But, I'd personally skip the upright and go with a PN canister, given the floor/rug combination you listed.

 

[GM1982]

Go with a canister based on the flooring you have. Any of the above mentioned are solid machines. I agree with Jade Angel.

 

[vintagerepairer]

Is it not possible to buy a new upright and canister? For years and years my mother made do with a large upright cleaners even though it had no tools and we didn't have carpets all over. She managed with damp brooms & so on, occasionally borrowing a canister from someone else when she turned the house inside-out to clean it thoroughly.

In 1975 she was given a brand-new Electrolux upright, complete with full set of tools. She was over the moon with it, so much so that around 1978 she purchased an Electrolux cylinder to use upstairs & to use for deep-cleaning all over. Although the Electrolux upright was replaced with a Panasonic upright in 1995, she carried on using the cylinder right up until her passing in 1999, often commenting how she'd never manage without the both styles of cleaner.

 

[sebo_fan]

Based on the size of your home I'd go with the SEBO D4 rather than the K3 - it is made for smaller homes and has a smaller dust bag compared to the D4 which is similar to the Miele S2/S5 on bag capacity.

I can't speak for other brands as the UK don't have the same ones - however you get double the amount NEARLY of dust bags with SEBO compared to Miele's standard 4.

 

[turbo500]

Buying both a canister and an upright can often be expensive and impractical, especially in the states where a decent vacuum could cost you up to $2000.

I'm in agreement with the guys above, a canister with a powerhead would be the best option. That way, you have straight suction for bare floors and the brushroll for carpets. Personally, I'd stick with bags. Bagged machines tend to be more reliable. Sebo, Miele, Simplicity/Riccar and Aerus all have some great options available. As Rysn said, the larger capacity would pay off with the D4.

 

[panofan]

So I was in a similar situation - I bought a miele titan with the 228 powerhead. It seems to clean well, but the short hose & cord drive me nuts. I regret spending that much money and have been thinking about what to do I wrote off a lot of reviews talking about it thinking 'not me, it won't bother me', but it's a pain. In some ways I miss my old kenmore canister for the longer hose and cord. There is something to be said about having a vacuum that is designed for an american home when you live in, well, an american home

I ended up buying a kenmore direct drive upright (got a great deal on a floor model on ebay for $75 including shipping) for my upstairs because it was much easier than the new fancy $$$ miele that didn't really roll well on the deep frieze carpet. That's saying a lot as I have always been a canister person, grew up with central vac, etc.

I secretly like the kenmore much more than the miele, but can't admit it to my wife without a giant 'i told you so' ... sigh.

Looking forward to what others have to weigh in on and say here.

 

[rosiembanks]

Thanks for all these suggestions--we're expecting a major storm tomorrow, so I'm researching online, and hoping to be able to shop locally Monday or Tuesday (more likely based on the forecasts). I'll check the Simplicity canister offerings, especially--one shop had none, hopefully the other has some. Looking online, the short cords are off-putting, as are the location of the controls (I'd prefer the handle, like on the Kenmore)--and their cords are so short! Like Panofan says, these seem like small things, but they drive you nuts--the Kenmore canister I have is really nicely designed in that regard (I wish it weren't, really--it'd be easier to disdain). I'm stuck on the light, also, having used my sister's Miele canister that didn't have one, and really noticed I needed it, whether upright or canister. Sebos don't seem to have that feature on their powerheads (when I look at the website)--am I wrong? No one locally handles Aerus.

Progress--I understand that I need to hold out for the features I want, I'll regret it, if I don't, whether upright or canister. I'd thought maybe the Miele upright had enough of the features to make both me and the housekeeper happy, and it may still be the case. I'll see if I can find a Simplicity or Riccar that meets my feature needs that is still affordable for me--I can stretch the budget only so far (to get the features I want may take about three times my $500 starting point); double maybe, triple is doubtful. Otoh, the Panasonic canister wouldn't be the end of the world, and could always end up at the vacation home, where I do need a canister--except ideally that location should have a bagless unit.

Thanks!

 

[sebo_fan]

The S7 upright might be more ideal for you since some models do have an LED light and you can clean hard floors with it as it does have a brush on/off. However if you have stairs in your home, then you'll be lugging the machine up and down.

The SEBO D4 has a mega long cord - twice the length nearly than Miele's canister vacs - and a slightly longer hose.

 

[jade_angel]

The Sebo D4 would be a good call - my only reservation is the lack of a light on the PN, which the Simplicity/Riccar PNs do have. That said, the Sebo has a bigger bag than the Riccars, and it's quieter.

 

[rosiembanks]

The Sebo D4 looks like a great canister--lots to love about it, though the lack of headlight might well drive me nuts. Other things being so well-thought out, I'm surprised it's missing. The Simplicity Wonder and Riccar Prima might be real contenders--I'd really like to see either one of them in person. I'll want to check cord length. It's too bad there's so little information available online yet.

I would love to have both an upright and a canister--it's like having the proper tools for the job. But the cash outlay for both is cost-prohibitive at the moment.

I do have stairs. My Kenmore canister isn't going anywhere just yet, and does an okay job, so it may be that I buy an S7 upright now to keep the housekeeper happy, and limp along with those two until such time as the budget allows.

Thanks again!

 

[sebo_fan]

Being European, our vacs don't tend to have lights on them (some do like Miele's S7 but that was designed for the U.S market in mind) and SEBO don't go down that route because its one thing more to go wrong or require replacing.

 

[sleepdoc]

My suggestions

Try a Simplicity Moxie or Riccar Impeccable. They're full-size, incredible machines. They're the same vacuum, just different names, colors, and trim. Your asthma will improve if you use this vacuum throughout your home and thoroughly clean every surface and mattress. You won't regret this purchase.

 

[kenkart]

Im not a "New vac person" BUT

I agree with Sleepdocs comment, You just cant go wrong with a Tacony product...im even thinking about getting the new canister...and I NEVER use anything but vintage!

 

[rosiembanks]

Interesting about the lack of lights on European models. That's how I feel about many electronic controls (like automatic height adjustments), just something else to go wrong. If I hadn't really noticed how much I appreciated having the light when I vacuum underneath something, like beds, I might not insist on it, but I truly value it--and in the nearly 30 years I've had my Panasonic, the light is still working!

So, today, I'll visit our independent vac dealers. The one with the largest supply of Riccar models is the one I like the least, having given me poor service in the past. The one I like the best (great repair work on my steam machine, nice and knowledgeable) is the one that has Tacony uprights, but no canisters--instead they have Miele canisters. A third dealer has Sebo and Miele models, both canisters and uprights, and other brands like Hoover.

Thanks for the vote for the Moxie/Impeccable--I'll keep my eye out for it during my tour. No one has mentioned the new Maytag upright, the MO2OR, which I only just discovered poking around the forum. I'm assuming that's because I mentioned the Miele S7, and because a canister is the better option, and not because it's much more expensive than the S7? I don't know that I'd find anywhere selling Maytags locally anyway--just thought I'd ask.

I'll report back.

 

[stricklybojack]

Go to theTacony dealer...

that you like, and order a canister if that's your choice. Any dealer (worth doing business with) wants to serve the customer. I wouldn't want to give my money to anyone else. And placing an order for a vacuum should in no way be a problem. Your paying top dollar, mostly for one thing, service.
Don't be a doormate for lazy greedy A-holes, it only encourages them...ahem, imho.[this post was last edited: 3/3/2014-11:11]

 

[dysonman1]

The Maytag M1200 "MO2OR" is an incredible vacuum cleaner. We sell the heck out of them at the Vacuum Cleaner Outlet Store (at the Tacony Factory in St. James). I love the "Wow" bare floor tool with electrostatic pad, coupled with the extremely long 15 foot hose and full length wand. It's easy to vacuum the kitchen floor without having to move the upright. Or, I could simply shut off the brush roller and roll the upright over the floor. With a lifetime belt, tremendous cleaning ability (from TWO suction motors) and HEPA filtration bags that are NOT a fortune, you could not go wrong. At least see the Maytag before you make a decision. Being made in America helps keep 200 factory jobs in St. James. It's not the original cost of any vacuum that is most important, it's the cost to maintain it. A Miele cord costs $125 since you have to replace the handle assembly. A Maytag cord costs $18. The Miele's brush roller ($100) must be replaced in it's entirety (as does the Sebo), but the steel brush roller on the Maytag can have a new set of bristles, costing you $16.

 

[GM1982]

Very nice, it would help if Tacony would distribute them, market and advertise them to the public. What's with the blank website? Until then, its an underground unknown brand. The dealer network and promotion of products are lacking. Miele are much more established nationally for now

 

[sebo_fan]

Sebo's brush roll for the X series in the U.S only costs $28-99. It would be good to know the Maytag's bag capacity per bag and how much you get in a pack.

I like the blue light on the front but I'm puzzled as to why it has to shine every time when the brush roll is activated when there's an LED headlight at the front already? Surely if you can hear the brushes at the front revolving you wouldn't need such a HALO UV light inspired secondary light? Or is there a UV light added to this design?

The hose looks very impressive in this video but without the machine actually switched on, its hard to see if the hose would retract and thus not stretch so far.