Popularity of uprights
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vintagerepairer
Well-known member
Hello Mr M. She has Numatic cleaners, I have mended some for her in the past, a couple of Henrys and a James I think. She mostly has a Hetty with her, but I have seen one of the others before now. Her sister helps her so I think they share things around. I am not too bothered what she uses as my flat is hard floor with a couple of tiny rugs. I can manage the sweeping and vacuuming, so she spends most of her time doing the jobs I can't do.
gsheen
Well-known member
Hey Benny
I have nothing against having a cleaning lady, I personally like to do it myself as I am a little ocd and like things in a certain way, I hate the picking things up and with my two sons oh boy there is alot of that to do. I have been using a dc40 for the past few months and let me tell you that thing can handle lego like no other vac, Thats why I prefer bag-less as well it easier to retrieve lego from it and toy soldiers and more lego , Unfortunately this has shown my two geniuses something, after been told to clean up the lego spread all over the play area floor i heard the vacuum go on and thought wow they are even vacuuming . NO NOT MY TWO MONSTERS, they took my dyson dc29db and vacuum'd up all the lego, " but Daddy its faster this way and we just pour it into the container "
I have nothing against having a cleaning lady, I personally like to do it myself as I am a little ocd and like things in a certain way, I hate the picking things up and with my two sons oh boy there is alot of that to do. I have been using a dc40 for the past few months and let me tell you that thing can handle lego like no other vac, Thats why I prefer bag-less as well it easier to retrieve lego from it and toy soldiers and more lego , Unfortunately this has shown my two geniuses something, after been told to clean up the lego spread all over the play area floor i heard the vacuum go on and thought wow they are even vacuuming . NO NOT MY TWO MONSTERS, they took my dyson dc29db and vacuum'd up all the lego, " but Daddy its faster this way and we just pour it into the container "
vintagerepairer
Well-known member
I have a Dyson DC07, yellow and grey, I thought I said before, but it doesn't matter. I use it for the rugs mostly. I don't know why I kept it, I suppose because it was a brand new stock item which I took when I sold the shop. But I actually don't vacuum much now, I have a fluffy floor pad which I use damp on the floors and Linda vacuums thoroughly, but that doesn't take her long to do. It is mainly getting behind the furniture I need her to do, but whenever I come home after her visit, I see she has vacuumed much more thoroughly than I told her I would expect her to do.
The main thing is, she does still do the other tasks, the ones which I desperately need her to do. The other people who used to come in spent more time doing jobs which I can manage myself, and were not interested in the things which I find difficult. So it seemed pointless them coming. I did originally have Linda every 2 weeks which was as often as the others used to come, but she was doing such a good job for me that I did not get the place dirty enough between her coming in. So after a few months I asked her to come less often. I did worry that she wouldn't want to come at all but she says she has so much work that it didn't bother her. But I pay her a bit more for the 4 week visit than I did when she came every other week. She is a god send to an old man like me.
The main thing is, she does still do the other tasks, the ones which I desperately need her to do. The other people who used to come in spent more time doing jobs which I can manage myself, and were not interested in the things which I find difficult. So it seemed pointless them coming. I did originally have Linda every 2 weeks which was as often as the others used to come, but she was doing such a good job for me that I did not get the place dirty enough between her coming in. So after a few months I asked her to come less often. I did worry that she wouldn't want to come at all but she says she has so much work that it didn't bother her. But I pay her a bit more for the 4 week visit than I did when she came every other week. She is a god send to an old man like me.
Maybe you did say before and I've forgotten, my memory isn't so good.
That's good you're getting help with the things you can't do and are doing what you can. I get the sense you worked hard and are now enjoying your retirement, if that is so, then you deserve it. But don't enjoy it too much, you still need to contribute on here! Ha ha.
That's good you're getting help with the things you can't do and are doing what you can. I get the sense you worked hard and are now enjoying your retirement, if that is so, then you deserve it. But don't enjoy it too much, you still need to contribute on here! Ha ha.
vintagerepairer
Well-known member
That is a nice thing to say, thank you. I am not sure I worked hard, but I have always been lucky enough to have had work. My father was hard working but also very, very tight with money. That is why my mother went out to work. Mother had to make up for what money she needed that my father was not giving her. Although he was what one might call rather Victorian in attitude, he had no problem in letting his wife go to work, which many men would not have allowed unless absolutely necessary as it may have been assumed that the man was not a good provider. It is not something I expect younger people to understand as times have moved on now, and I think for the better. I did not like my father very much. We never once argued, but that was mainly because I hardly spoke to him. He was rather resentful of how close I was to my mother.
When he died, he left my mother the money he had saved. Even though I knew he had savings, the amount he left her was a huge shock. It was hard to get mother to spend any of it as she was a stranger to luxury. She only survived my father by 18 months, which made me sad as she did not get to enjoy the things she had never been able to have. This is why I am spending my money while I can.
When he died, he left my mother the money he had saved. Even though I knew he had savings, the amount he left her was a huge shock. It was hard to get mother to spend any of it as she was a stranger to luxury. She only survived my father by 18 months, which made me sad as she did not get to enjoy the things she had never been able to have. This is why I am spending my money while I can.
Well I think that's the best thing to do - Enjoy what you have while you can. Sorry to be ever so morbid, but as I always say, live each day like it's your last, because you could wake up dead tomorrow.
I think I'll give that job at Samaritans a miss for now...
I think I'll give that job at Samaritans a miss for now...
vintagerepairer
Well-known member
I would if I were you. I don't think you were being serious.
vintagerepairer
Well-known member
About your new job.
When I was young I always thought that uprights were "Old Lady" vacuum's and canisters were for younger people. But this was back in the 80's and that was what I saw in older peoples houses. Now a days it's mostly uprights. I think that most people are going for uprights because they tend to be less expensive as opposed to canisters. Money being as tight as it is these days people are more likely to go with the less expensive.
gmerkt
New member
I sell reconditioned vacs and people tell me all nature of reasons for upright vs. canister. One comment I've heard a number of times against canisters is, "I don't like dragging a vacuum cleaner around behind me." Buyers either love or hate a canister; there doesn't seem to be a middle ground. I've sold canisters to a number of professional house cleaners. They like the easy of access for getting under furniture that a canister offers, and they like the easy portability of one. Although most modern uprights have on-board hoses, the typical canister hose is longer and more useful to pros.
When I was growing up in the 1950's and early '60's, canister machines were commonly seen in the households that I would visit. When manufacturers started putting hoses on uprights, that might have started the downward trend here in the States for canisters. Today, there aren't many uprights made without some kind of on-board hose and not many canisters are on the market. Of those still sold, they tend to be at both extremes of price point. Consequently, I have no problem selling recon. canister rigs.
People don't seem to care that the on-board hose arrangements on uprights are often clumsy and awkward. I opine that most of them use the hose seldom, mostly using the floor nozzle. Quite a few uprights have a brush roll off feature now, to go along with the disappearing carpet in many homes.
When I was growing up in the 1950's and early '60's, canister machines were commonly seen in the households that I would visit. When manufacturers started putting hoses on uprights, that might have started the downward trend here in the States for canisters. Today, there aren't many uprights made without some kind of on-board hose and not many canisters are on the market. Of those still sold, they tend to be at both extremes of price point. Consequently, I have no problem selling recon. canister rigs.
People don't seem to care that the on-board hose arrangements on uprights are often clumsy and awkward. I opine that most of them use the hose seldom, mostly using the floor nozzle. Quite a few uprights have a brush roll off feature now, to go along with the disappearing carpet in many homes.
Uprights with hoses and tools on board are just a nuisance if your vacuuming a carpet why would you want to drag all that crap about with you lets face it the tools on a modern upright are little more than useless anyway . Although i love hoover uprights i really think Electrolux had the best idea with the 502 series no adaptors or pans simply plug in the hose and away you go . When my mum got her first hoover junior she decided to fit the hose and hoover the stairs after one stair the tools were removed thrown into the cupboard under the stairs never to see daylight again till many years later when i found them the stairs and the car continued to be cleaned with the old Electrolux z62 the juniors predecesor
vintagerepairer
Well-known member
Well the reason people want to drag all that crap about with them is because many find it easier to use the hose as they are going along instead of doing the jobs with the hose first and the carpets second, or the other way around. Do I subscribe to this way of thinking? I am not sure. Certainly it makes for a much quicker way of cleaning, but it comes at a cost of having less than perfect tools and a more bulky upright cleaner. The fact that practically every upright on sale today has tools makes me think it is what people want.
Very true Benny, a lot of people like to do a bit of this and a bit of that. If you tried that way of thinking with a Lux 500 Series for example you'd be forever connecting and disconnecting the hose.
With a permanently fitted hose it is easy to do a bit of dusting, carpet, a bit of the skirting boards, carpet, vacuum the settee, more carpet etc...
Whether I prefer that to having a separate hose and doing all the aforementioned in one go before, or after doing the carpets, I'm not sure either...
One thing I am sure about however, is that having a hose there when you may need it without having to go and fetch it then connect it for just a small bit of dust or dirt, is very convenient.
Just my Two Pence...
With a permanently fitted hose it is easy to do a bit of dusting, carpet, a bit of the skirting boards, carpet, vacuum the settee, more carpet etc...
Whether I prefer that to having a separate hose and doing all the aforementioned in one go before, or after doing the carpets, I'm not sure either...
One thing I am sure about however, is that having a hose there when you may need it without having to go and fetch it then connect it for just a small bit of dust or dirt, is very convenient.
Just my Two Pence...
Above the floor cleaning....
is of two varieties. There is the on-the-fly quick catching of the stray bit of popcorn, or cobweb, and there is the thorough vacuuming of lampshades, upholstery, bookshelves. On-board attachments are geared toward the first kind of use. The second is more easily and thoroughly achieved with a separate canister, or an extension hose (fixed length, non-stretch) and more complete tool kit.
No one has yet created a full, complete set of on-board tools with sufficient length to eliminate the need for additional hose/wands. A longer hose adds weight, and increases the length of the dirt path, as well as increasing the number of bends and turns. More tools equal more weight because of the tools themselves, plus the molded cavities to hold them. Power nozzle canisters offer some benefits, but have a longer dirt path. The hose is heavier due to the concealed wires. Even these units can offer greater utility and user friendliness with a longer, lighter hose that connects to the electric hose for extensive more thorough above-the-floor cleaning,
is of two varieties. There is the on-the-fly quick catching of the stray bit of popcorn, or cobweb, and there is the thorough vacuuming of lampshades, upholstery, bookshelves. On-board attachments are geared toward the first kind of use. The second is more easily and thoroughly achieved with a separate canister, or an extension hose (fixed length, non-stretch) and more complete tool kit.
No one has yet created a full, complete set of on-board tools with sufficient length to eliminate the need for additional hose/wands. A longer hose adds weight, and increases the length of the dirt path, as well as increasing the number of bends and turns. More tools equal more weight because of the tools themselves, plus the molded cavities to hold them. Power nozzle canisters offer some benefits, but have a longer dirt path. The hose is heavier due to the concealed wires. Even these units can offer greater utility and user friendliness with a longer, lighter hose that connects to the electric hose for extensive more thorough above-the-floor cleaning,
Yes, I whole heartedly agree that a stretch hose isn't best suited to thorough above floor cleaning, while a long plastic hose IS.
A stretch hose can be used for thorough cleaning, don't misunderstand me, but it is a little more inconvenient due to the fact it keeps wanting to escape your grasp when you pull it close to it's stretch limitations.
A stretch hose can be used for thorough cleaning, don't misunderstand me, but it is a little more inconvenient due to the fact it keeps wanting to escape your grasp when you pull it close to it's stretch limitations.
sebo_fan
Well-known member
Mmm... I don't know... I think some models that have two part hoses that can offer extra stretch are good for above the floor cleaning. Whatever the hose offers in terms of stretch, I find that I have to either keep a hand on the machine or just a watchful eye. This is more apparent with vacuums like the Sebo or Miele S7, where the stretch hose is long enough but the machine has to be placed against an obstacle to stop it from falling over. Even with Miele's S7 hose mount at the back that pivots the hose down to stop the machine falling over, it has happened to me.
This is where a cylinder vacuum with a longer hose is better, just keeping an eye/hand on the longer hose. For stair cleaning I much prefer using a cylinder vac and even the cheapey supermarket bagged vacuums are purposeful for this - especially ones that are smaller and easier to carry per step or stretch from a landing.
This is where a cylinder vacuum with a longer hose is better, just keeping an eye/hand on the longer hose. For stair cleaning I much prefer using a cylinder vac and even the cheapey supermarket bagged vacuums are purposeful for this - especially ones that are smaller and easier to carry per step or stretch from a landing.
