Recommended Carpet Vacuum? Current Model.

[ivacuum]

I am looking to buy a new vacuum. I do not have a preference concerning canister vs upright, but the top criteria for me are Carpet Cleaning Performance, Filtration Performance, and Overall Quality. I am only interested in vacuums you can purchase in the US and that are current (non-discontinued) models. Online I have seen many recommendations for Miele, Sebo, and Simplicity/Riccar/Maytag, but I realize there may be other high quality brands as well. However, I am looking for specific models, not just brands, that rise above the others in terms of the core factors above. Though feel free to mention other considerations in your recommendations.

Thank you for any help!

 

[ivacuum]

Also, I forgot to mention this is for various carpet heights, up-to high-pile "Plush." And here is an interesting video and comment over on Reddit, if you have any opinions:

 

[hooverkid]

Royal Pro Series All Metal

If your main concern is the best carpet cleaner a metal Royal is going to be your best bet. The only residential model being made now is the Pro Series but there are also some commercial models that have the turn knob height adjuster instead of the 5 position foot pedal and there is an 18" model if you need a wide track model. I'll add a link to a quick review of an older model that covers everything about Royal.

http://https//www.youtube.com/watch?v=5k6UkmMUSL0

 

[eurekaprince]

Two important questions: What is your budget? And - do you need to carry the vacuum up and down a flight of stairs?

If money and weight are not factors in your decision, the obvious choice for excellent deep carpet cleaning is the Kirby Avalir. If you want an excellent carpet vacuum at half the price of a Kirby, then the Miele Cat & Dog Dynamic upright or the Maytag 1200 will fulfill your requirements very well, though the Miele offers better airflow through the hose for tool use.

 

[tolivac]

The Royal metal and the Maytag 1200 and the Simplicity equivalent to the Maytag are excellent lower cost alternatives to a Kirby.If you get the Royal you will need a separate suction only canister for other jobs.You can use the hose on the Maytag like a canister-but its awkward.The Kirby has to be changed over to the "canister" mode-and you have to be carefull what you pick up-anything you pick up in the hose mode on a Kirby goes thru the fan.And the Kirby as a canister is NOISEY!!!

 

[tolivac]

The video showing the Royal upright-keep in mind this is a CARPET vacuum--Would NOT recommend this vacuum for hard floors.The roller brush can't be turned off and it will kick debris back towards you and if it catches a hard object may damage a fine hard floor!Royal really needs to bring back their hard floor version of this upright-no brush roll and bristles on the rear nozzle lips.Hard floors are becoming more common than WTW carpet.

 

[vacuumdevil]

Definitely would recommend SEBO,Miele,lindhaus,nss
If you're looking for a portable vacuum essential back would be another ordeal.

 

[crazykirbydude]

Kirby all the way!

 

[n0oxy]

power nozzle canister

I'm going to suggest a power nozzle canister. There are several advantages that a canister with an electric power nozzle will give you that no upright can provide. Miele, Sebo and Tacony all make good ones, I would suggest checking out the Sebo D4 and the Riccar Prima. First, a power nozzle can get under things that most uprights cannot, and in my opinion, they are much easier to navigate. Second, for your other cleaning jobs, a canister works far better. While many uprights have hoses on them that can use attachments, using them is awkward at best. With a power nozzle canister, you have the best of both worlds, excellent carpet cleaning and a machine that works for your other cleaning needs on hard floors and above the floors as well. Some of this comes down to personal preference but when it comes to flexibility, a power nozzle canister is the best by far I think.
Mike

 

[tseg]

In summary, a Miele C3 Marin canister with SEB 236 power head (low profile + headlight and on/off switch for power roll) and Parquet Twister hard floor head, + truly sealed HEPA system is your best best.

 

[panasonicvac]

All of these posts are great answers. What I would suggest is if you have some local vacuum stores in your area, I would highly suggest to try out the vacuums that they offer which mostly have the vacuums that other members put on here but try them out to see which one best suits for you and your home.

 

[carolinaguy1996]

This post makes me feel the pain Hoover, Eureka, Bissell, and Dirt Devil are going through. Sanitaire and Royal happen to be the lucky ones.

 

[tolivac]

Well,if Hoover,Eureka,Bissel,dirt Devil made some decent BAGGED vacuums-them maybe they won't feel any pain.On canisters with powernozzles-make sure the bag in the canister is LARGE if you are using it instead of an upright-powernozzles can fill small bags FAST!!The first mentioned brands need to go BACK to their higher quality roots!Now they are just names only!!

 

[n0oxy]

hoover and Eureka

At one time they made excellent canisters but those days are long gone. It's mostly cheap bagless, low quality uprights. I know some of Eureka's first power teams were awesome, I think they came out around 1972 or 1973. Hoover's celebridy canisters were also very good. To take the canister idea a bit further, if you want the most powerful canister cleaner that is available, get a central vacuum unit, attach a utility valve to the in-take and then attach a central vacuum hose to it, the power is incredible, and you would have lots of different power nozzle choices for the carpets, including the Volt nozzle which would make it a tandom air cleaner since that nozzle has its own fan as well.
Mike

 

[yakky]

If you are going for a carpet only machine that doesn't need attachments, it is hard to avoid a Royal. Super suction and an awesome brush that really rejuvinates carpets. I picked up a brand new one for $200 shipped of ebay.

 

[ultralux88]

If you're really after the BEST carpet cleaning vacuum, I suggest a machine with motors too big to be practical in a vacuum you move around the house... I swear by my central vacs.

 

[sptyks]

If you've got the money definitely go with the Kirby Avalir, otherwise go with an all metal Royal upright. Both of these machines use "Direct Air" technology which just can't be beat for carpet cleaning ability.

 

[vacuumdevil]

@sptyks well if you believe that I've got a Sandbox in Florida I can sell you.
If you're going to go direct air at least go cheap and simple like a Riccar supralite. Most modern bypass systems far exceed airflow and performance of a Kirby.
As much as I love my Kirby's I would never recommend one to somebody who wasn't buying a used one on a budget.

 

[luxkid1980]

You'd be better off saving some of your $$ and buy a good previously owned machine. The newer machines today aren't built as well and if you are going to spend the kind of money that Sebo and Miele want to charge, it better last 25 years.

 

[vacuumdevil]

@luxkid1980 used vacuums are definitely a good deal depending on condition. But both new and used Miele and sebo's usually go for less than a Kirby sells for .

 

[sptyks]

"Most modern bypass systems far exceed airflow and performance of a Kirby."  


 


Alex, nothing can be further from the truth! It is a known fact that Direct Air vacuums produce much more Airflow at the floor nozzle than Bypass machines. I have a Direct Air 10 amp Royal Everlast 8300 That will out perform ANY Bypass vacuum there is on any type of carpet. It easily out performs all of my Kirby's.


 


I challenge you to show me any Bypass vacuum that meets or exceeds the 139 CFM that my Royal produces at the floor nozzle.


 


When it comes to Airflow and Agitation The 10 amp Royals can't be beat for deep cleaning carpet!


 


 

 

[ultralux88]

I know this will cause some disagreement, but I honestly tend to feel the Royal PowerCast cleans better than the direct air metal Royals.

 

[vacuumdevil]

@sptyks that's quite an outdated. If it was 1995 I would agree with you.

Wish you were in Colorado I would lend you a few vacuums to try and you'd understand. Water lift is almost as important as air flow just as horsepower and torque are important to a engine.
True most direct air machines will out clean Bagless vacuums but we're not talking about those. I don't think anybody will disagree that a rainbow TriStar or Electrolux will out cleaning Kirby. And so will most modern bypass commercial machines. Heck even a budget-minded Hoover hushtone whill clean it. Then if we get into Central Vac switch are all bypass machines for the most part.

 

[ralph123]

It would be foolish not to consider the amazing Rainbow vacuum if money is no option. Sure it might cost significantly more than a built in (i.e. central) vacuum, but it uses water to cleanse the dirt from the air. It also allows you to perfume the air with household scents. You would have pleasant smelling air with every usage. If you have a bagged vacuum on the other hand, like the Kirby, you will be recirculating the same dirt in the bag with every use. Given the Kirby's huge bag, you'll be smelling whatever is in that bag for a very long time. Stinky dog smell just doesn't happen with the amazing Rainbow. There are cheaper options available if you are willing to try the Sirena and some other brands whose names escape me at the moment.

 

[tolivac]

I have two Powercast machines-and the direct air Royals beat them badly!!!!The Royal direct airs use MUCH less power-7-10A vs over 12A for the Powercast.The Powercast was heavy-----like pushing a piano around and DELICATE-their fold out cord hooks broke to easy-and if the machine was dropped-the handle broke!These machines were HATED by maid and cleaning services-the direct air Royals were preferred!And another strike agaist the Powercast was its small,CHEAP paper bag!My Powercasts languish at the BACK of my collection-unusual machine-but it was a LEMON!And Kirbys of any sort were better than the Powercast.And even LIGHTER!!!And another bummer about the Powercast-wasn't self propelled.YOU were the "Bulldozer" pushing the thing!

 

[tolivac]

I have a few Rainbows in my collection-they languish at the back of my collection-a central vacuum of ANY brand would be better-just more convenient than a Rainbow.No having to deal with the water bin.And you had to store the Rainbows disassembled so it wouldn't mold or the powerdome-motor unit gasket sticking to the water bin.Rainbows do perform well-but just inconvenient and more expensive than Kirbys,Luxes, and other DTD vacuums.