Personally, I recommend a US made Electrolux (which would be a used machine) or now named Aerus if you want new. Very versatile machines, easy to use. They have both canister or upright form and all of the canister models have after filters and the top of the line Aerus models are fully sealed and have great filtration. Even for the ones that don’t have the top level after filtration...between the bags being very thorough at trapping dirt and dust and the bag system quite good at not spewing dirt into the bag compartment, they stay very clean over the life of the machine. The service Aerus provides is pretty much next to none these days...parts will be available for years to come as they stand by the product and will come to your home for service, deliver bags, or a free in home demonstration. Yes, the “Electrolux man” (should really say “person” not man) still exists. Or you can go to a local Aerus store if there is one close enough to you to be convenient.
I’ve had primarily Electrolux (now Aerus per the 2003 name change) all my life and I’m almost 51, somhas my Mother at 84 and so did her Mother...and so have many family members and most of the machines are still going strong after 35 or 40 years or even longer...maybe a servicing once or twice to fix a switch, or part. Yes, they cost more, but on average cost about the same as the amount of time you’d own and throw away a $60 machine every few years. The warranties are excellent and likely will last long after the warranty runs out. Changing bags is easy, you never see, touch, or breath dirt and some models shut off when full. The tools are simple and some are 2 tools in one such as the combination dusting brush and upholstery tool. The power nozzle self adjusts automatically with each and every stroke to all sorts of carpet taking any guesswork out, on both the canister and upright model. Hard floor cleaning is accounted for as well and the canisters especially are good for hard floor cleaning with a floor brush where only the bristles glide on the floor sweeping the floor and sucking up the dust and debris simultaneously. I’ve used them on all sorts of carpet and flooring surfaces and never had an issue with their tools gliding properly over any surface except maybe a small bathroom rug which is a challenge for most any vacuum for it not to get sucked up by it.
The flexibility of tools and attachments is quite good and you mention delicate rugs, they even have the flip over rug and floor tool option available on all machines which has been a staple since it came out in 1953 and which is currently standard on the top of the line canister to provide straight suction but thorough cleaning over those most delicate rugs where a rotating brush may be too rough. But even the bristles on their power nozzle rotating brush are designed for thorough but delicate care of fine expensive carpeting instead of the stiff plastic bristles most provide to really lift up the most matted carpet but will wear fine more fine and expensive or delicate carpet. A small mini fully electric power nozzle is also standard on most models for ease of cleaning of stairs thoroughly and easily and furniture for those tougher pet hair challenges. The belts on both power nozzles virtually never need changing as they and the shafts are geared and the belts are poly cord reinforced with a material similar to dental floss. Lights are provided on most models as well.
I would seriously consider looking at the web site Aerushome.com to learn more about the machines and or request an in home demonstration to try the product out on your personal “real world” cleaning needs. I’ve tried several other brands repeatedly being into vacuums and just keep coming back to the Aerus/Electrolux as my all time easiest to use, most reliable, hassle free, throughly cleaning, least likely to clog, and longest lasting vacuum. I even use a 59 year old model as a shop vac because I hated my shop vac it was so nasty to empty among other things and my health was more important so trapping the dirt in clean sealed throw away bags was more important to me than saving a bit on bags and having to deal with allergens and the nastiness of cleaning out dust clogged non washable filters. I so yearned for a shop vac that was as easy to deal with dirt as my Electrolux ....so when the shop vac’s motor didn’t last and burned up after 10 years I didn’t replace it with another, I was so disgusted I just got an older Electrolux (48 years old at that time) for about the same price as a new shop vac off eBay and it has already outlasted the one shop vac I had in years of use (been using the old Electrolux for 11 years now as a shop vac) and it is showing no signs of stopping anytime soon and all the attachments are still working great. The generic 4 ply bags are cheap enough that I can buy 100 for $40 on eBay for my “shop vac” needs and they filter great.
You can get nicer vintage Electrolux models off eBay or even newer Aerus models used off eBay as some vacuum refurbishes sell them there if you are not looking to spend the price for a new one and an a Aerus store will service your product no matter where you bought it but just won’t honor any warranty since you were not the original purchaser, but they will always be happy to service any of their products.
Whether you decide on an upright or canister is really personal preference. Some people prefer one or the other. I have back issues so the lighter the vacuum the better so for me a canister works the best plus I like to use the vacuum for a variety of tasks beyond floor or rug cleaning, such as furniture vacuuming, windowsill dusting, getting behind furniture or in tight places every time I vacuum and I don’t like to have to switch machines or visit a room multiple times for different cleaning tasks, so for me having the canister I can do everything in one visit including vacuuming the dust off my lampshades as we have several that seems to attract quite a bit of dust, just by changing attachments.
I know my recommendation may not be one of the models you asked about but it’s just my two cents of what I like about this product and why you might give it some consideration.
Jon
