Searching For a New Vacuum for my Mother

[weltron]

Hi everyone, hoping to have a little help here.

My mother's Shark is starting to get worn out.It's an earlier Rotator model. It's creaking like crazy, and I just discovered that the hose has 4 or 5 good sized holes in it. So I am looking to buy her something decent (I have always hated that Shark). My mother needs something that is somewhat light to push, and is preferably bagless. She also has a cat. I was looking at Sears earlier, and although some of their bagless vacuums looked decent, their dustcups looked awfully small. Is there an upright box store vacuum that is worth a darn that I should look at?

Thanks in advance

 

[compactc9guy]

Get a used Electrolux Discovery 2 or epic style upright whit a bag that can hold lots of dirt made to last box store vac only last 6 month to a year anyway

 

[completenutt]

My Mom loved this one..

It doesn't have a hose or attachments.


 


They still carry it on Amazon.  I'd get a second battery for longer sessions.


 


Well balanced and stands upright on its own. 


 


 



http://https//www.hoover.com/linx-s...uum/BH50020.html?cgid=CORDLESS-STICKS#start=1

 

[completenutt]

Oops, had to redo my post. ☺

Bed bath and beyond always takes returns even if you buy online and return in store, and they have a big selection online.


 


So, maybe try one that you think would be good, cross reference reviews on other websites like Amazon, and if she doesn't like it then return it with your head held high and try another!


 


Originally I had posted to try:


 


https://www.hoover.com/linx-signatu...uum/BH50020.html?cgid=CORDLESS-STICKS#start=1

 


but then I re-read you were looking for something with a larger dust bin.   But my Mom loved the one she had. 



http://https//m.bedbathandbeyond.co..._bagless/c19mX2JpbkJhZ19UeXBlOiJCYWdsZXNzIg==

 

[myles_v]

If you're looking for something better than a Shark then it'll almost certainly have to be bagged. Bagless vacuums are mostly cheaply made machines that require a lot more maintenance than bagged vacuums because of the filters that need to be cleaned.

I second the earlier response about the Electrolux/Aerus Discovery style upright. www.aerushome.com can help you find a retailer if you'd like to purchase a new one.

The Tacony/Riccar/Simplicity Freedom machine is good as well, it's also lightweight. It looks a lot like an Oreck but it is supposed to clean much better. www.riccar.com can help you find a dealer for them if you're interested in that.

Both machines I mentioned are bagged, both clean well, both are well made/durable, and both are pretty lightweight. They're also both quite expensive compared to the Shark, you may be able to find a Freedom for a couple hundred dollars but the Aerus is closer to a thousand. Most big box store vacuums aren't worth a damn. If there's a Bed Bath and Beyond near you then they may sell Miele machines, but their upright is quite large and bulky. Honestly in my opinion the best value at Walmart is the $50 Bissell bagged upright. It's certainly not the most durable but it's worth the $50 they sell for and they require less maintenance than any portable bagless vac you can buy, it would last longer than any Shark as well.

 

[weltron]

Thanks

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. I was very hesitant to suggest a bagless, because like many of you, I prefer a bagged system. I know the vast majority of the bagless models are usually cheap and flimsy, much like the Shark she has is. The Shark brand new wasn't exactly cheap either (I think she paid something like $350 for it). For the time being, I may just go look at that Bissell that myles_v suggested. I forgot what a decent value those were. My mother is not exactly kind to vacuums, and I feel like if I got her a more expensive one, she wouldn't exactly take care of it in the same way I would. Though maybe later on, I'll give a look at that Simplicity that a couple of you suggested.

THANK YOU again!

 

[vacuumdevil]

You said lightweight have you considered an Oreck? They're not the most powerful but they're definitely adequate . You can get an Oreck upright and canister for under $300 at an Oreck store.



I personally my suggestion would be to switch over to a canister vacuum. So that it's lightweight and Powerful.

Budget Vacuum Reviews:

 

[weltron]

Oreck

She actually had an Oreck XL many years ago, and to be honest, I still don't quite understand why she got rid of it. A canister is probably not a terrible option either.

 

[fan-of-fans]

Weltron, Sears do have some Kenmore vacuums very much like the Shark, such as the Kenmore Elite Crossover, I feel they are better than Shark. However, they would probably be more than you'd want to pay for a vacuum that may be abused.

 

[weltron]

Funny You Should Mention The Kenmore...

When I was at Sears last, they had one of those Elite Crossovers sitting there as a former floor model that they were trying to sell. I think for something like ~$125. I'm going back there later today, I'll have to take a closer look at it.

 

[dysonman1]

I have the bagless Hoover React Pet Professional upright and like it very much. Large bin and great cleaning ability.

Unlike many people here, I do see the value in a bagless cleaner. We sell vacuum bags where I work, and 3/4 of all people who come to buy bags have no clue what bags they need. People are always returning opened packages, which means they had to make another trip and still can't clean their floors. Especially for people with pets that shed a LOT, bagless is the way to go.

The Fuller Brush Jiffy Maid bagless upright is good quality and at a very reasonable price (like $129). And it's fairly light weight with a very easy to clean lifetime filter.

 

[myles_v]

I also see the value in a bagless machine, but bagged seems to be the way to go for people who don't care much about maintaining their vacuum. For people in my life who abuse their vacs, I'll give them a bagged machine and always make sure they have a supply of bags. That's what I do for my parents, at least.

 

[ultralux88]

I guess to me, what it all comes down to is how much picking around do I feel like doing. I'm not one of those who dislikes bagless machines because they are modern or plastic. There was a point in my life when I actually thought the idea of a bagless machine was superior to a bag! I know, I hear those jaws dropping to the floor en masse... What happened? I used them! I started out liking bagless machines, and then slowly grew to dislike them over time. I found the dumping messy and the filters annoying. I understand why people buy them, what convenience they think they're getting, but I feel bags do offer a better experience. And that is based solely on my own personal experience in using a huge variety of bagged and bagless vacuums.