Small Apt Vac, $200 budget

[Geckoblue545]

My GF and I are getting our own place and it is time to get a vacuum. We are very short on storage space in our apartment and so are looking for something very small and to have this be our one and only vacuum. My GF is allergic to dust so we want something with a HEPA filter. She originally wanted something with the weight, ease of use, and size of a stick vac, but I want something that will clean better. We will be adding a cat to the household soon, and have about 700 sq feet of hardwood/tile and might add one or 2 area rugs later. I want something that will work on our couch and reach in to nooks, etc otherwise I might go for a Hoover Cyclonic Stick Vac.

I've been looking at:
Refurbished Dyson DC26 (ebay)
Refurbished Dyson DC44 Animal (amazon, slightly over budget)
Shark Rocket Pro (biggest we really want to go, 20% off coupon at BB&B)
Shark Rocket (Looks nice but lack of sealed dust bin/ hepa filtration seem like deal breakers)

What would you recommend? Some Vac that I am overlooking at this sort of form factor/ price?

 

[kirbylux77]

I just bought a Hoover Windtunnel Air Pro back in April, & really like it! I would suggest you look into that, see what you think.

Rob

 

[blackheart]

200 eh?

Because your GF is allergic to dust i wouldn't reccomend a bagless unit unless you plan on emptying it outside. While they may not have a hepa filter i think a the entry level Riccar Vibrance/Simplicity Symmetry would be a good option if you were to pair it with their hepa cloth bags there should be very little dust. they usually go for about 199.

 

[vinvac]

From your description of your apartment a good canister is in order. If you can find a good Oreck Buster B, it will be more than ample for your apartment. If you ad area rugs, just add a good carpet nozzle and life should be good.

Bagged...no bagless!

 

[suckolux]

Mom loves my little Kenmore Blue Magic. Different from the new ones I know.blue/gray, prob 12 years old.

 

[eurekaprince]

Since you have minimal carpeting, you really don't need an upright. Since your girlfriend has allergies, stay away from bagless vacs!

You can't go wrong with the budget level Miele S2 Olympus canister vac. It's compact and easy to use and quiet and designed for small apartments with minimal carpeting. When you get your area rugs, you can always add a Miele turbo nozzle to pick up cat hair with ease from the area rugs.

It's a bit over your budget at $300, but you can't go wrong with this basic canister vac. See link below:



http://https//m.bedbathandbeyond.com/m/product/miele-olympus-s2121-canister-vacuum/122283

 

[jade_angel]

A bit less expensive than the S2 is the Simplicity Jill, or it's Riccar equivalent. No power nozzle, but then, you probably don't really need one.

Another option might be to look for a second-hand machine if warranty service isn't overly important - there's quite a few. In your case I might try to find a Riccar Supralite / Simplicity Freedom, or maybe a Eureka/Sanitaire Mighty Mite.

 

[floor-a-matic]

<span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Or U can buy a refurbished Aerus/Electrolux canister & get the HEPA bags</span>

 

[eurekaprince]

Another option is the basic Panasonic power nozzle canister Model CG-902 for $200. In Consumer Reports tests, this classic canister rated "very good" in cleaning carpets and all other surfaces. Bags are readily available at any Sears store since it can take compatible Kenmore bags. It's got a nice set of full-size attachments on board "under the hood", and you can add a Kenmore mini-powermate from Sears that has an electrically driven roller brush to clean cat hair off upholstery. The hose and wands have a standard diameter so you can always add upgraded or replacement attachments down the road.

See the link below:



http://shop.panasonic.com/shop/model/MC-CG902

 

[suckolux]

They did say very small....

 

[jkbff]

The Royal Lexon S18 can be found in various price ranges... It is a very good vacuum with hepa filters and bags... The power nozzle is easy to clean and the machine is easy to maintain. Royal has a very good quality bag as far as filtration is concerned.

I don't recommend something straight suction unless you have a turbo nozzle to go with it... You still need a form of agitation with the cat at some point... What I like about the Royal is the fact that the power nozzle can be used directly on the hose without the wands so you can clean furniture. There is a squeegee plate as well for bare floors...

I have no attached carpeting and find I use my power brush more than I use the bare floor tools. Nothing beats agitation.

Aside from that, a Riccar Moonlight combined with the softsweep would be good for the floors but you'd need a turbo tool at some point for furniture... I have two long haired cats... >.> Get a Dyson turbo tool with the universal adapter at some point.. It's worth not dealing with the hair.

 

[dysonman1]

Small, versatile, and under $200. You're most likely going to find only a bagless machine in that range. The Hoover Air Pro or the Hoover Air Swivel, are both good vacuums with a brush roller shut off switch for your bare floors. They clean well and are fairly sturdy. I just bought a Hoover Air canister, which is very small, but I love being able to attach the power nozzle directly to the hose handle for cleaning dog hair off the furniture. It's also very powerful, and just $179.

 

[sebo_fan]

With all due respect bagless is not for allergy suffers, regardless of whether it comes with a BAF/British Allergy Foundation seal of approvals. They don't save you when the cat or dog fur gets stuck at the top of the filter shroud, requiring for the dirt to be pulled out manually or worse, dismantling the entire bin just to get the fur out.

What about Miele's Quickstep? The S194 seems to get good customer ratings on Amazon.com and appears to be $294. There's also a few feedback notes from owners with regards to pet pick up and other aspects. You might be able to get it cheaper. It does have high filter bags as standard and its a good one for compact, space efficiency with a long cord.


http://www.amazon.com/Miele-S194-Quickstep-Universal-Cleaner/dp/B006OCXZW8

 

[turbo500]

Hi Daniel,

You've certainly come to the right place for advice .

I'm the same with dust (not great for a vacuum collector, is it?). When I'm working on old machines, doing repairs and maintenance etc, I have to wear a little mask, otherwise within a matter of minutes my eyes will be itching and watering and I will start sneezing so much that it hurts.

Bagless vacuums are really not suitable for allergy sufferers. Dyson can put as many Allergy approvals as they like on their cleaners. These approvals are probably fine when the cleaner is being used, but when it comes to emptying and maintenance, such as washing the filters which needs to be done every few months (something that bagless companies don't make common knowledge), this will trigger your girlfriend's allergies.

I also second what others have said about canister cleaners. With little to no carpet, you really don't need an upright and if storage is an issue, a canister would be easier. You can even keep it under the bed or tucked away in the wardrobe.

Aerus-Electrolux would be a good choice, but check eBay as these can be expensive.

Ryan (Sebo_fan) and others have made an excellent suggestion with Miele. Miele pride themselves on their filtration and the cleaners are very quiet in operation, reliable and powerful. The bags are also self-sealing, so once you open the lid on the cleaner, no dust will escape. Again, you could look for one on eBay.

If you're willing to stretch your budget and go for Miele, you won't have to buy another cleaner in a VERY long time. In my experience, the cheaper cleaners don't last very long and you end up spending more in the long term.

Good luck with the move. Make sure you let us know what you opt for.

Best wishes,
Chris

 

[jade_angel]

I'll second mast everything Chris says above, and also point out that pretty much everything he says about Miele applies to Simplicity, Riccar and Sebo as well.

Also, if you're looking second-hand on eBay, you might consider looking at Tristar, Electrolux and Patriot.