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countrydirt

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Dec 31, 2015
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We are in need of a new vacuum, I am trying to figure out what ones would be most fitting for our household. Major problems in the past related to buildup of dog hair on the roller, We were able to have this fixed on the hoover that we had until the part was no longer available. Also, have kids vacuuming so want one that will not suffer severe damage if they vacuum up pennies, stones, ect. If I am understanding what I have read so far that means a I need a bi-pass type cleaner not a direct air... HOw do I know what kind they are? We have berber type carpeting, lots of sand, hay, grass clippings, these come in on the dog and kids, they are small pieces but really stick to the carpeting.

I want a bagged type have been looking for info on maytag m700, hoovers, I want something that will be able to clean up our carpeting. looking for ideas under $500.
 
Consumer Reports tests gave high marks to the red Hoover WindTunnel Max Upright. Excellent carpet cleaner and has an onboard mini turbo tool to clean pet hair off furniture and stairs. It is a bag-first bypass machine, as the dirty air passes through the bag before it gets to the motor.

Very reasonable price at under $200....

Here's a link:



http://hoover.com/products/details/uh30600/windtunnel-max-bagged-upright/
 
Sand,hay,grass cuttings,pebbles,coins,--sounds like they need a Shop type vacuum.Careful about coins,pebbles with clean air machines-the brush housing can be damaged or even cracked from the brushroll banging these things around before the airstream picks them up.It is rare-but happens.If you can use the hose to pick up these hard things rather than the brushroll.If you have the kids do the vacuuming-instruct them on how to use and replace bags in the machine.If you don't you would be better off doing the vacuuming yourself.
 
tolivac makes a very good point about teaching kids on how to use a vacuum cleaner and to use the hose instead of running an upright vacuum through tough debris.

However, the bagged Windsor Sensor XP or any of the Sensor ranges can deal and are known to deal with stuff like that. No question - especially if its going to be pet hair, coins and stuff put through a brush roll - plus the brush roll is easy to remove with the touch button on the floor head. Amazon.com sell them new for $525

Try ebay.com also for a refurb model; that way if you don't like the auto sensor height adjustment you can sell it on. Or keep it and invest in a canister vacuum to deal with the rough stuff.

http://www.amazon.com/Windsor-Sensor-XP12-Commercial-Vacuum/dp/B00U5LTDWA
sebo_fan-2016010107291509471_1.jpg
 
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This bypass Hoover WindTunnel is a vacuum workhorse.
Hoover may be discontinuing this model as I don't see it on their website.
I have an earlier version of this vacuum and they can handle it all.
$140 new on EBay is a very good price, and that's delivered with tax.

Btw the Maytag idea is a good one too.

One question, do you need/want above floor cleaning (hose and attachments) like this WindTunnel has?


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hoover-Wind...384839?hash=item3f599cc0c7:g:NpkAAOSw~otWfGGH
stricklybojack-2016010111323300239_1.jpg
 
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I really appreciate the ideas,of vacuums to look into. The kids are learning how to use the vacuum correctly but I think we can all admit to making mistakes along the way. They need to learn at some point. Most of the problems with our previous vacwere related to dog hair on the beater bar which then would heat up and melt soften the plastic side holder. The local vac shop said metal parts in this area would fix this. He carries all higher end riccar which are out of our price range he could special order one for me but I need to know what I want.

We use the hose attachment alot. The hay grass doesnt come off with being shoke out or pick up with the hose or shop vac these are small pieces under 1/2 inch most under 1/4 inch but they stick to the carpet really well. This is on the entry rug,this is also where the majority of sand and pebbles are located. The dog hair is everywhere,our dog has long hair and sheds non stop.

The windsor sounds interesting with an easy to remove bar, easier toclean the more it will get done :) thank youfor your ideas so far really do appreciate them.
 
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The Tacony company makes both Riccar and the Fuller Brush Mighty Maid I posted earlier. Both have metal "where you want it", bottom, brush roll, wand, handle etc...both are great vacs, the Fuller labeled machine being far more reasonably priced with a 13" brush roll width rather than 14". There is a pet variation of this platform, (the most common basic bypass bagged design out there) made by Tacony and sold under the Cirrus label.
I will find a link and post that next.
 
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And here is a video putting the Cirrus Pet through it's paces.
I really don't think the Sebo is a good choice for the typical American pet owner to begin with and is crazy expensive here. Self leveling/pile height adjustment is can be tedious and trouble pron.. this.being the model usually touted here on Vacuumland, mostly by people living in Europe, where motors are of higher voltage and square footage of homes is generally far less.
I own a commercial Windsor/Sebo and that is a beast. It's a very heavy 2 motor vacuum made for janitors and office spaces. Not all all practice for a family vacuum.

 
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That should read, "not at all practical for a family".
Also the Sebo Felix is again pricey, no tools, and less a machine than you really need. Great for old folks or apartment dwellers with short pile carpeting though.
 
The Maytag will be a very good vacuum on short pile carpet, if you have bare floors I personally find the brush on/off switch a little inconvenient to use, if you do need to use this vacuum on any hard floors I recommend either the Panasonic mc-ug729 which I personally prefer between the two vacuums I will recommend because it will work great on low pile carpet and long pile carpet if you ever change carpet in the future or the panisonic mc-ug327 if you want a lighter vacuum if you have to take the vacuum up and down any stairs, both of these vacuums have wooden roller brushes, if you don't find the Maytag's brush shutoff too inconvenient though it will definitely be your best bet.
 
Nice try but...

I didnt suggest SEBO because I know in the U.S they're expensive to buy - the Windsor Sensor is the same as the older SEBO X1 Automatic and they are CHEAPER because of SEBO's contract with Windsor since 1979. There are plenty of fans of those models on here - and they're not that powerful. They are NOT double motor driven though unlike your other commercial Windsor model.

Also the Felix hasnt been mentioned, which is a DIFFERENT MODEL.

Click the link to find the previous Windsor S12 model listed on Amazon.com - you will find plenty of feedback on how good this upright is on pet hair.

The manual height adjustment version is also available in the U.S under the name of Essential G or G2. The commercial version from Windsor goes under name of "Sensor S" and features manual height adjustment. It's still a light upright compared to others on here - in my experience.

http://www.amazon.com/Windsor-Senso..._UL160_SR160,160_&refRID=04F7M8QRZ3SM7GZFE54X
 
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For $700 I hope it gets good reviews. Still not a good value proposition.
Some Americans have a fetish for "German engineered" stuff and often times over pay for inferior, or at least not stellar, product. I won't argue where on that scale Sebo falls, but dollar for dollar they are generally not a wise choice...over here.
 
I recommend Riccar Vibrance. It has all the features you need, it's American made, you can usually find them at a local vacuum shop. Going local will give you the chance to "try before you buy". If you find a reputable dealer then it'll be easy to get bags, repairs or any other assistance you need.

Side note: if you see the brand Simplicity- it's made by the same company with the same quality just a different name so two competing stores can have two different names. So again you have the choice between stores for the same product.

I prefer to keep my business local to boost local economy and have a live person to go to for help.

motojoejo-2016010203100309268_1.jpg
 
"For $700 I hope it gets good reviews. Still not a good value proposition.
Some Americans have a fetish for "German engineered" stuff and often times over pay for inferior, or at least not stellar, product. I won't argue where on that scale Sebo falls, but dollar for dollar they are generally not a wise choice...over here. "

Well they're better than the over priced Orecks we have to put up with in the UK, which by the way you may be interested cost an equivalent $515

I beg to differ regarding SEBO in the U.S. SEBO in the U.S have existed from 1978 and in the U.S there are both manual height adjustment models and sensor automatic models to choose from. If the Windsor model was that bad, Windsor simply wouldn't sell as many of them!

There is plenty of online feedback both positive and negative in the U.S; but when there's so much positivity versus the small minority of those unhappy, I think that's a blessing - don't you?

Dollar for dollar they're better than other German brands - nearly twice as many dust bags as Miele charge for and when you consider the amount of posts on this forum regarding how long an X series dust bag lasts for singularly used, the X does represent great value for money.

At the start of this thread I maintained to advise that the Windsor Sensor would be a good choice. It picks up what the poster has asked for. It might not be the right one for them, but it is ideal for the pick up requirement at the very least; it is also when considering independents, a possible purchase given the pricing requirement.
 
Selecting the Ideal Vacuum

Countrydirt,

While there are several units on the market at various price points, one of the prime concerns in your situation is not only cleaning performance but also uptime and ease of use. In the dozen or so years I sold vacuums for Lux in addition to my donut-eating Teamsters job driving heavy trucks for Alliant/Kraft Foodservice in Boston, I have either sold, owned or extensively tested every quality upright vacuum made. My client list included four of the top ten hospitals in the USA and the best burn hospital for kids in the world. While I like the lux upright for the ten year warranty and comfortable use, your situation is best handled with the Windsor Sensor XP12. I prefer it for your application due to kids vacuuming and the heavier cord over its Sebo-branded sister will give better longevity. All of those hospitals use exclusively Windsor or a combination of Windsor and Lux.

Excellent call by Sebo Fan for accurately assessing the client needs and picking the best option given all the important factors. The defining issue is kids vacuuming and the brush assisted movement, 1.5 lb. handle weight, best on-board tool for baseboards, and excellent performance with the electric servo motor height adjustment. Not sure if Windsor offers the cloth-style bags yet but Sebo does and they are preferable to paper.

Strictlybojack-I like several of the Riccar/Simplicity TOL tandem air vacuums but not this Cirrus-style vacuum when attachment use is paramount and also little ones are learning to vacuum. Many a carpet have been spared damage due to the automatic servo motor adjusting the height when someone went off and left the vacuum running on carpet with the brush spinning. The easier a vacuum is to use the more use it will get. The difference in cleaning performance when used regularly between top brands like Miele, Sebo/Windsor, Lux, Kirby and Riccar/Simplicity is insignificant. Also remember that a vacuum is a $1000.00 investment so that makes the Sebo and other vacuums in its class an excellent value in terms of price, performance and durability. Again the machine needs to be kid-proof and this is the most kid-proof vacuum money buys, and also meets Countrydirt's budget requirement.

Brian
 
Why not a canister?

Sounds like a canister would work for you. It is the easiest for attachment work, bare floors and under the beds. I had a cleaning service for years. A good Sears Kenmore canister with a powermate and all of the attachments would be excellent. For us cleaning nuts with vacuuming an upright is fine. We know how to get the upright or the attachments to work under the bed. We may also have another vacuum to clean the furniture, kitchen and bathroom floors. it seems that there is not a lot of time in your household to vacuum, especially if the kids are helping out. Sears has a large HEPA bag witch I would recommend for your household. You won't have to clean the after filters as much. I always had a Sears canister for the houses with kids and "stuff". They are not expensive. You can get a good one around $300. I am not knocking all of the vacuums that are suggested before. I have a working knowledge between the business. For the Funeral Home I have 2 Kirby's and an Electrolux. The guys at the Funeral Home can't kill a kirby even vacuuming up metal from flower stand and the spilled water. I just feel, and this is my own opinion, not knocking anyone, that a Sears canister with a powermate would be an affordable purchase for this person. If the kids do screw up the machine then they are only screwing up $300
 
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Not trying to be a smart Alec, but am I the only one who who reads the "customer", literally in this case, as needing a vacuum priced, "under $500"? See the OP...last line, couldn't be more clear, just sayin'.

So unless this poster wants a used vac, or some Seno/Windsor fan links to actual vacuums for sale under $500, it's seems to be a none-issue. That brand/model seems to be well above budget.
Not surprising as Windsor is a commercial brand and they consistently price well above regular home use vacs.

Now given pets and children have been mentioned it is also possible the carpet in question is not pristine high end New Zealand wool. Might be a little spotty or trafficked, I might be wrong but wouldn't be surprised.

Countrydirt, opinions vary on the Sebo/Windsor. If you use the search function in the archives you will find current and former vacuum shop owners and I me time fans, now unimpressed with the current Sebo/Windsor design and build quality. However clearly it has it's fans too. But personally I cannot fathom why someone, unless bitten by the "German engineering bug", would pay up for these machines.
 
Stricklybojack

Your last comment is why I suggested the Sears Canister with a powermate. I was listening to the customer, as I would do in the cleaning service to see what their needs are. I was trying to suggest a vacuum that would be easy to use and would not choke on paper clips and coins. The cost factor kicks in too.
 
Windsor

Most janitorial supply houses I deal with will be around $450.00ish for the Sensor XP12 machine so it definitely falls below the $500.00 ceiling he has indicated.

Strictlybojack definitely a little more aggressive performance on the Tandem Riccar/Simplicity units than the SEBO and have not seen the Maytag Mo2or except on Youtube but it looks good. The last new Windsor Versamatic I had used a Lamb eastern EU motor so they are cutting costs for sure. Even Miele has scaled back the quality compared to previous units like the Silver Moon which had the huge Lamb-style motor instead of the smaller Vortex which does not stand up nearly as well.

I bought an American made Riccar Impeccable purple TOL canister recently. This might be the best cleaning nozzle I have used in a long time and high build quality but would put Countrydirt back in the $1k price bracket.

Brian
 
If you are looking for something a little more robust in the way of a bypass "bag-first" upright, you really should explore the commercial line of Panasonic uprights. Panasonic took the old Hoover Dial-a-Matic configuration and made it better before any other manufacturer. The bare-bones Panasonic commercial uprights are well-built and have all-metal components in the brush-roll area. Their basic unit goes for under $200! See link below:



http://m.shop.panasonic.com/home-an...MC-V5210.html#start=1&cgid=commercial-vacuums
 
Sand or stones? Or concrete, weeds and stones?



Can you do this with your upright vacuums in the U.S?

You see, what this demonstates is a clear example of SEBO's build quality and general pick up. In homes uprights usually go from hard floor to carpet and so forth, but what about from concrete to carpet?

End of the day, the Sebo PN in this video uses the same kind of components as the X/Windsor series even if the SEBO X/Windsor doesn't feature a brush roll on/off mode. That PN head is 5 years old versus the 8 year old model that is above it.
 
Unimpressed with Sebo build quality? What a load of nonsense!
Sebo have just been awarded the most reliable uprights in the UK.
There's a reason why they are so popular in the commercial world. Performance and reliability second to none!
 

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