Sebo X4 PET aka my baby!

[bagintheback]

After seeing so many dull matte Sebos and Windsors in circulation, this Pet model looks fantastic. It's too bad you can't get one in the USA. I see one on the Canadian website however. The extension hose looks to be quite long, and that handle must be wonderful when cleaning hard floors. Does Sebo sell HEPA bags for this model? The pre-motor filter in reply #9 looks a bit dirty for only a year worth of minimal use. I would expect something better from a model advertised for pet homes. Still, it looks quite elegant. 

 

[sebo_fan]

"I would expect something better from a model advertised for pet homes..."

Yes, you probably would but SEBO filters are not the same as others in other vacuums - the charcoal layer for a start is stitched underneath the white felt on the filter shown in reply No.7. SEBO also make a standard non-charcoal microfilter that is available although the U.S have a HEPA cartridge made with paper pleats (yellow framed) - SEBO in Germany have done extensive tests on the U.S HEPA filter and what I've been told, it isn't as good as the ones SEBO make for worldwide use.

To be fair, Matt's photo of the Anti-odour charcoal filter is a lot whiter than mine. When it starts to turn black or a deep grey, that's when it is time to replace it - and that filter on board alone can last up to 32 dust bags. For an upright that is a year old, I'd say Matt's filter is looking jolly good.

I was visiting another forum the other day when someone asked me online about a washing machine brand that I had never heard of before. I discovered the website many years ago and they have very good, accurate (mostly) information: http://www.ukwhitegoods.co.uk/

They also have a very well informed SEBO brand page that states the following (and I couldn't put it beautifully myself)

"Bagged cleaners, like Sebo on the other hand, perform brilliantly out the box, continue to do so and get a whole new lease of life when you replace the bag and filter, it's like having a new cleaner all over again as the whole filtration system is purged..."

The most important aspect on this bagged vacuum is that the filter on board does a great job. SEBO have as yet to produce synthetic HEPA dust bags for the X range but the paper bags they have been selling for the best part of 20 years has already been classed as S-Class, which was the old name for HEPA and used in hospitals etc are paper and do a great job, regardless.

I have tried copy synthetic dust bags but they pull away from the seams due to the fact that the bags weigh an absolute ton when they require to be changed over.

 

[sebo_fan]

Matt - i was a bit shocked to read that the X has damaged your hard floor - but in all honesty if a fragment of stone gets under an upright vac with a plastic sole plate, it is also going to do damage; I've used some uprights in the past where rubberised bits haven't been fitted and the recesses where the rubber could go traps hard dust that can scratch hard floors.

 

[matt8808]

I'm not blaming the machine as such.any upright machine would of probably done the same. The X machine is probably one of the best uprights I've ever used in respect of hard floor cleaning, however I do feel that no upright is truly suited to hard floor cleaning. For best results and protection for the floor you need a parquet style floor head like the one I bought from Sebo.

 

[turbo500]

a washing machine brand that I had never heard of before

out of interest, Ry, what was the brand?

 

[turbo500]

Re: Sebo's on hard floors...

Matt, how did you find the Felix coped with hard floors when you had that? I think they're much better suited to homes with lots of mixed floor types.

"When it starts to turn black or a deep grey, that's when it is time to replace it"

My X1.1 is 2 and a half years old now and the filters have only needed replacing once. I did this back in July when the machine turned 2. Even then, the filter wasn't particularly grubby, but going a bit grey. I'm actually still on the same box of bags I bought when I got the machine.

 

[sebo_fan]

Chris - brand name Arda. Mate of mine has moved back from Australia and has brought (at big expense) an Arda washing machine that requires repairing. Anyway as far as I know he has managed to get some parts for a repair.

As for SEBO filters, the charcoal one is very different to the microfilter basic that turns grey or so I have found. I find the charcoal ones can last a shorter time compared to the basic microfilter. It really depends on the kind of dirt and stuff in the air at the time of what the machine is picking up. I have friends who have X uprights where the model is still using the original microfilter for about 4 years before it needs to be replaced.

That was one of the first considerations when SEBO designed the X - it had to follow a similar blue print to the 300 series commercial uprights where consumable costs were designed to be low and thus not continually required for a vacuum cleaner to keep ticking over. SEBO also designed the X series to be repaired by the owner rather than have it being sent to and from owner to company.
In short, pretty well designed in terms of aftercare considerations which not many brands do, but then not many brands are commercially based at heart.

 

[sebox4]

Hi Matt

Nice to see a local member!

I'm also a massive fan of Sebo and have an X4 myself which is coming up for 4 years old now (got it for my 21st birthday lol)

I've kitted mine out to the X4 pet spec with the extension hose and tube, bare floor brush, turbo brush and charcoal filter, hehe!

Your stair carpet is very similar to what I have in the lounge

Nice tats btw!

Matt

 

[tolivac]

Sebo filters-as recommended by the dealer my way you replace the "sock" filter inside the bag area after each "service Pak" of bags.so far mine are still clean-but my Sebos don't get the use that other members here use theirs.

 

[matt8808]

Matt, quite local indeed!

I'm in Durham most days with work... I'll have to keep my beady little eyes open for you

 

[sebo_fan]

Replacing the sock filter - not quite...

The sock filter can actually be brushed clean with the upholstery T brush on board. It doesn't really require replacing unless you start to smell that dusty smell coming out of the SEBO and of course the amount of felt that comes off really depends on how slowly and gentle you are in wiping off the dirt!

I think this is one reason alone to why SEBO developed a different filter for the Felix - I think they knew that owners were just wiping down the sock filters once in a while.

Same with the charcoal filter, though to be honest you can't change the charcoal obviously since it is stitched within the double felt of that filter alone and has already absorbed odours etc.

A friend of mine who has owned an X4 from new regularly wipes down her sock filter with a damp cloth and leaves it to dry. The only filter she buys on occasion is the motor grid exhaust filter. She reports that it has done nothing wrong to the SEBO and the air the machine it leaves is still as clean as a brand new one.

Personally I've only ever scraped-clean my filter in the X1 when I couldn't afford to buy a new filter and that was a few years ago. At that point my home didn't have pets, so it was a low cost effective exercise before eventually it required to be completely replaced.

 

[matt8808]

My plan is to just buy the service box whenever I need bags.

There are 10 bags in the box?

So every 10 bags full my machine will get new filters.

 

[sebo_fan]

Yes you get 10 bags per box, code 5093ER, usually £5-99 to £7

The Service box also includes 10 bags, sock filter and motor exhaust filter, 5094 usually costs £19-99