Point me in the right direction, please

[joni4122]

I need help deciding on a new vacuum that will last more than a couple of years. My Shark Navigator Lift-Away has lost suction just shy of its 3rd birthday. After having two Shark steam mops explode and spew steam everywhere in the last two years, I can safely say I'm now done with Shark.

So, I've only ever owned uprights. I did stop at the Oreck store and like their two-speed uprights. They also sell Miele there and I checked out the basic S Home Care series canister but I'm not sure I'll like the canister, nor do I have much closet space for storage in my tiny, 1950's era Cape Cod.

I have a good laminate, tile, wall-to-wall carpet (berber, plush and frieze) and area rugs (carved). The salesman told me I'd have to switch out the heads of the Miele everytime I go from carpet to hard surface and, in my house, that's all in one room! Seems quick enough but I just don't know that I'd stop to do it.

I'd like to have on-board tools for above the floor cleaning and getting in tight spaces without having to haul out another machine, especially because storage room is tight.

I want to stay under $400 and my husband would be very happy if I'd spend half that as he can't believe vacuums are that much of an investment! LOL!

I've owned a run of the mill Bissell and an Oreck XL previously. Have two young kids and a no-shed lap dog...allegedly.

What would you recommend that would meet our needs? My head is spinning from all the options.

 

[sebo_fan]

It depends on the quality...

I've lived in this kind of scenario before and as a private consumer who doesn't work in the floorcare industry, I was swayed to use the "rental" canister vacuum where I had to change the heads to clean different floors. It was downright annoying although I was pleased to find that my canister vac could simply slide under the bed when storing away. I eventually brought my Sebo Felix with me as I found it far easier to cope with, having a brush roll on/off function on the floor head for carpets and hard floors. It swivels around corners and stops the brush roll in an instant if anything gets clogged. It is also super for pet hair, but more often than not there are few downsides to this vacuum - it is highly priced because it is built well and a commercial version has also been popular.

However I do realise that SEBO in the U.S can be expensive - I see Amazon.com have a list price of $599 which is far more than you are prepared to pay. The Felix is a versatile upright vacuum as it is space efficient, has a long cord like Oreck but more importantly seems to be well built - after 8 years reliable performance, it continues to do well, but it isn't lightweight like Oreck and has a small complement of cleaning tools with a short hose. Mine picks up coins, glass, hard stones brought in from the garden and then some! Some complain that it runs too hot but then you don't need to adjust the power to the highest setting when it is switched on for usage. It is a different kind of vacuum cleaner that requires an independent eye rather than assume that they're all like the rest.

The other alternative would be Hoover's Windtunnel Air ($125-99 on Amazon.com) but I don't think it is well built. I'm sure there will be plenty of other options to consider when VL members see YOUR post though.

http://www.amazon.com/9804AM-Premium-Classic-Upright-Parquet/dp/B000FNJ9LS

 

[myles_v]

I personally prefer having an upright to use on carpeting and a canister to use on hard flooring (however I don't mind using canisters on carpet either, with the right attachments), but that's just me. All the uprights I've ever used that have the option to clean hard floors (or canisters with the option to turn off the power nozzle) don't do it very well, you really need a seperate brush attachment for hard floors.

Greatvacs.com has quite a few high quality refurbished machines. I think I saw a post a while ago about someone who bought a machine from there, don't think he had any problems. They have Miracle Mate, Filter Queen, Electrolux/Aerus and lots of other good brands. I'm guessing that since you aren't sure if you'd want to change attachments for hard floor you sure wouldn't want a Kirby, you'd have to change a bunch of things to even just use the hose. I hope this helped some.

 

[dysonman1]

Since you want an upright with a brush roll shut off switch in order to do bare floors very quickly and with the least hassle, I'd suggest a Simplicity vacuum. You can get one for well under $400, they are very durable, repair parts are easy to come by and inexpensive, the HEPA bags are excellent at filtering, and best of all, Simplicity vacuums are made in America - St. James, Missouri to be exact. If you send me a private message, I'll take some pics of the models that are well within your budget and send them over to you.

 

[jade_angel]

You'd be planning to use the upright on the tile floors, right? Most have the ability to turn off the brush for that, and if they don't, the brush will wear quickly. Most power nozzle canisters also have the ability to turn off the brush, and if you did that, it'd work just like an upright. The floor nozzles work better, but a power nozzle with the power turned off will work relatively well.

Personally, if you'll only have one machine, I've always preferred power nozzle canisters to uprights with attachments, but there are cases to be made for both. The upright stores a bit more compactly, but even uprights with onboard tools are a bit clunky for stairs and bare floors, and for some, you can't turn off the brush while using the hose, which is a concern on floors. Canisters can be more fiddly, more pieces to keep track of, and the bags tend to be smaller, but they have better airflow for tools and usually come with better tools (though this is *not* a hard-and-fast rule).

For uprights I'm personally a fan of Simplicity and Riccar, but they're expensive. As I understand it the various Fuller Brush uprights are also made by Tacony, so they should be of similar quality, but I've never used one. I do like Kirby and Royal - on carpet they're among the best - but using their attachments can be cumbersome, to the point where if you have a mix of floor types, they're not a good choice at all. Also, they're expensive too, unless you go second-hand.

Panasonic or Kenmore might be a good option - they have some fairly solid offerings in both the upright and canister lines. My experience has been that both have some problems with whizzy features that are somewhat prone to breakage, and their HEPA filters usually aren't sealed as well as they should be, but they do a good job for the price, and will last if well cared for.

If second-hand is an option, then any of the Tacony uprights, or for canisters any of Miele, Sebo, Tri-Star, Filter Queen or Riccar, but even second-hand, it may take some searching to find one in good shape for under $400. That said, they *will* last.

 

[suckolux]

I enjoy the Hoover Windtunnel air, but the plastic does feel thin, would need to be careful. The light weight and somewhat quiet is nice.

 

[floor-a-matic]

<span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">I recommend the following:</span>


<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Aerus/Electrolux</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Compact/TriStar</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Hoover WindTunnel bagged canister</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Eureka The Boss Smart Vac 4870</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Kirby</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Filter Queen</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Panasonic bagged canister</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Royal all metal upright </span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">I don't recommend bagless; they're too messy to empty!

</span>

[this post was last edited: 8/19/2013-18:04]

 

[suckolux]

Love the Classic Lux, but does take some space.Wonderful machines.

 

[dysonman1]

The Lux is a LOT more than $400, which is the original poster's top dollar to spend. I believe she said her husband doesn't to spend more than $200. That's why I recommended a Simplicity (or Riccar) upright - it's what she asked for in a vacuum, it's durable, and well below her maximum budget for a new vacuum.

 

[eurekaprince]

You really can't go wrong with the basic no-frills Panasonic CG902 red power nozzle canister. Four full-size attachments on-board under the hood, quick release power nozzle and large dust bags that are easy to find because you can use Kenmore bags available at Sears.

Best of all, it cleans every surface very well and costs under $400.

 

[GM1982]

A Simplicity or Riccar is just as expensive as the Lux... What model of this brand is under $400? Maybe the little Jill and Jack canisters for $299. A bagged vacuum that is durable under $400 and an upright? Panasonic or Fuller Brush Upright, Oreck if you don't mind not having on-board tools. Anything else like the Sebo, Miele, Aerus, Riccar...those uprights are all $400+ new.

 

[blackheart]

Curious

Where have you been looking at the prices of riccar/simplicity vacuums? I know both the entry vibrance and entry freedom start at 199 at the local shops.

 

[vacman117]

Check out the Riccar Vibrance or Simplicity Symmetry lineup. You really can't go wrong with one of those. We sell the TOL Vibrance for $499 so you can surely get a nice model well under $400. I'll provide a link to the Riccar website and you can find a local dealer.


 


Hope that helps!


Chase



http://riccar.com/index.asp

 

[GM1982]

I have never seen one priced that low, maybe out in the mid-west or a rural location. Actually most dealers I have visited, do not even carry the whole line up and the low models.

 

[jkbff]

As much as I want to recommend a Riccar vacuum, you aren't going to find a Riccar with a brush bar clutch under 400.... Royal makes a very good vacuum that will fit what you need. It is the Royal UR30090. It has a 12 foot stretch hose, a brush bar you can shut off and a manually adjustable head for all your floor types.. It really is a good vacuum for the price. You should be able to pick it up from a reputable dealer for around 300... If you need help finding a Royal dealer, please let me know.

 

[tase]

It's hard to say what you should go with as there are too many options.

You could go with a second hand Hoover Windtunnel Self Propelled (one of the older models which have basic onboard attachments [crevice tool, duster brush, two wands, and some even have power nozzles]).

Most of the machines people have suggested are great machines.

I naturally want to say "get a used Kirby" because those are my favourite machines, but it might be a bit impractical for you. I can get the hose on my Kirby in 20 to 30 seconds but for the first month or two, it might take you a minute or two to get the hose on and you have to lug around the caddy of tools.

However, my house is similar to yours and I find cleaning with my Kirby to be very pleasant. I can go from the wall to wall carpet to the tile and hard wood floor in less than 15 seconds. Then I can get onto one of our surface rugs easily.

 

[vegassucks]

Here is the Winner

The Panasonic UG-509 looks good and has everything you need. It even has a metal brush roll with replaceable inserts.

 

[suckolux]

A very good option I think!

 

[joni4122]

Thank you all for your opinions! It gave me lots of good options. I wanted you to know I've purchased the Simplicity Symmetry Deluxe. It looks very similar to the Panasonic pictured (which I could only find at Amazon for $350). I paid $400 so it was right at my price point. It's wider and heavier than what I'm used to but I tested it out last night and I think I'll get used to it. Plus, I really liked the dealer experience. I spent 20 minutes looking at vacuums at Sears the other day and not a soul came to help me