Suppose You Discovered That Your Favorite Vacuum

[vaclab]

Or your daily driver, etc., wasn't very good. Say for example, you obtained measurable proof that your longtime "go-to" machine actually performed no better than average (or possibly worse) in your home.

1) Would you care?
2) Would you change to a better machine?

Twice a week, I grab a vacuum to clean and before I do, I consult my extensive testing database. On many an occasion, I have found it increasingly difficult to use any machine that is below average even though I might really prefer/enjoy using it.

And the worst part is that if I do indeed choose a poor performer, I always keep in the back of my mind that I'm knowingly leaving extra dirt for the next machine to pick up at a later date.

Bill

 

[gregvacs28]

I used to think using my Electrolux Olympia or Ultralux classic was great because of the 4 ply bags, which is certainly a good thing.  But I never thought about carbon dust from the motor or even recirculated particulates, gases, and odors that any portable vacuum will have.  


 


Those two models have no after filter. I still like them because they have memories but..... I will only use a vented central vacuum now.


 


 

 

[blackheart]

Definitely an effect.

I hate to say it but all the research and knowledge has taken some of the "fun" out of collecting.

It is a bit harder to use certain machines when you know they're not great cleaners. I've always had an idea of how my machines "ranked" against one another, but your testing is far more precise than anything I've done. It's really allowed me to get a better feel for the performance of machines i've owned that are similar or the same.

 

[huskyvacs]

The joy of vacuums for me is bringing the most worthless heaps I can find for under $50 (eBay prices - real world is cheaper) back to museum condition again and then using them to clean my house and also make showoff videos for collectors. I could care less how they clean - the joy is in using them around my house and having fun with them. A few of them I use just because I love the way the motor whirrs or the brushroll beats the carpet. I have a lot of memories with Electrolux PN...3? nozzles and the sound of an Olympia One canister. The Electrolux Epic also has a nostalgic sound to it too even though I never seen or owned one before - it just has "that noise" to it.

I have a brand new Hoover something or other - it's the dark blue pet vac - that I bought for my new daily driver upright ($200 at menards right now and I got it for $40 from a store salvage liquidator on a risky gamble - has absolutely no issues). I love how it cleans and it does not eat up throw rugs thanks to its suction relief feature. If I was not a collector it would be the only vacuum I use.

However, when you are using a 80 year old vacuum from the 1920's that you restored yourself to clean your house that had its entire life up to that point being sitting in a barn loft out in Wisconsin since who knows when - there's something special about that. Every time I enter a beam of sunlight shining through the window and see the dust poofing out of the bag it gives me a laugh at picturing those 1920s housewives trying to vacuum road dust from their rugs just to put it back into the air again - like those old silent movies.

I'm not a germophobe either - there's about 5 spiders living in my basement right now, and its full of cobwebs and my upstairs is just all layers of dust and tumbleweeds of dog and cat fur balled up in corners and heaped on anything sitting on the floor that hasn't been touched in 2 weeks or longer. I keep the house clean as best I can but having dirt and stuff all over doesn't make me lose sleep at night at all. Life is too short for that.

I'm always happy to find a new vacuum in Goodwill for $10-$15 that I've seen on eBay that someone is trying to get $60-$100+ for and figuring out what's wrong with it and how to make it sparkle again (and also seeing what kind of dumb crap people vacuumed up in the bag - one time I found 4 alkaline batteries from the 1980s all beat up and corroded and mangled - how did they do that?)

But yeah the whole facts and figures scenario - this is what dooms a lot of college people and technical people with their hobbies or whatever activity they do (you see it a lot with car people too). They all want everything to be a numerical formula and have all these statistics laid out - and that's just not what life is about. If you're doing it for a fun little informational spec sheet to print out and keep with the vacuum or to do testing comparisons a-la consumer reports - go for it - but do not live and worship by it.

You are the best vacuum tester that I have seen that isn't locked behind company secrecy and unable to disclose their testing methods, and you definitely know what you're doing - but I just have to say, enjoy your vacuums, have fun with them, the statistics do not matter. Happy collecting!

 

[suckolux]

Typically daily driver is one that is easy to use, or nostalgic for me. Might get out a deep cleaner weekly however.

 

[jfalberti]

In my opinion

The best vacuum to me is the one that you enjoy and like using. You may have the best vacuum in the world, but what good does it do if it sits in the closet because it is difficult or inconvenient to use? How much dirt is it picking up?

 

[ralph123]

I would keep in mind that none of them is going to remove all of the dirt, and not worry too much. Given that many of us have tile and wood floors, there's really not that much concern.

 

[vacuumdevil]

Thanks for asking Bill what a delightful question!

I discovered the perfect vacuum cleaner years ago.
yes I absolutely got rid of my Miele vacuum as a daily driver, when I decide to upgrade to a MD central vacuum.

 

[electromatik]

I agree with the poster above that the cleaner you ENJOY using is the better one. People define "better" vacuums in different ways. I have a Kirby and while it leaves me no doubt it is cleaning the carpet very well, it isn't keeping it inside. I know that it isn't sealed and the bag leaks. It is also loud, heavy, and cumbersome. I've learned to tolerate it but I don't love it. Other people do love their Kirby's and more power to them.

Likewise many love the central vacuum units. However, for me they are the ones who take all the fun out of vacuums. You get a big drum with a motor on it. Very little design or style involved. Huge hoses to struggle with and store. I've just never been into those types of machines at all. But once again, some love them.

It's just what you like. I doubt any group of people will agree 100% on "best" machine.

 

[gregvacs28]

"Likewise many love the central vacuum units. ....You get a big drum with a motor on it. .... Huge hoses to struggle with and store. "


 


I hear your concerns, Christopher.  I don't know what your experience is with a CV.   20 plus years ago CV hoses were heavy with a wire wound hose that you could easy step on and damage and they didn't have low voltage controls.  And the older bottom fill CVs were difficult and messy to clean and L-O-U-D.  It wasn't fun, but the concept was good.  Also, the power nozzles weren't as good and if you didn't have an electric hose you either didn't get that tool or had to have a hose cord which was sloppy.


 


Now, the new light weight platiflex hoses have a gas pump type handle with a dual switch on the end to control both suction and the power nozzles.  Plus,  a vented, top fill, bagged CV model installed with adequate sound insulation can give you a very quiet system with power you can't get from a portable vacuum. 


 


A Wessel-werks EBK-340 or 360, or SEBO power nozzle is awesome.


 


I grew up with CVs or at least knew about them, but I still liked portable vacuums all these years.  It wasn't until 2018 that I took a look and was pleasantly surprised how things had changed.


 


And you're correct we don't have to agree what is the best.  Each person to their own and what works for them.   We're just here to share our experiences and hope to learn from others or teach others what we've found works.


 


 

 

[kirbysthebest]

If it were my only vacuum:

I would probably be devastated. Since it is one of 55, at this time, I would still use it and not give it a thought.

The most effective machine is one that is used. This is why I have always liked Oreck for older adults, or people with limited mobility and physical abilities. If you can use a machine that is say half as effective as a "Best" machine, but the larger heavier machine is not used as often . Then the lighter weight, less effective machine is actually doing a better job than none at all.

I feel, only my opinion, that if the carpet is vacuumed more frequently, if only by a surface cleaner, it at least is not giving the damaging dirt as much of a chance to work down deeper into the carpet strands.

 

[electromatik]

@gregvacs28

I actually don't have any experience with central vacuums. I'm just noting the realities of them. Even if the weight of the hose is less, there is still a lot of it to deal with. The noise might not be a factor unless you are right next to it in the garage or wherever it is placed. That is an unquestioned advantage to them-little noise.

Like I said, everyone has to pick what they like and want. I don't personally want one, but people who do should get one.

 

[n0oxy]

enjoying your vacuums

I agree that you should use a vacuum you enjoy, otherwise, even if it works really well, it won't matter if you don't use it. I don't have anything in my collection that I would not be willing to use, although I don't use some of my cleaners as much because bags are very hard to find for them. I much prefer hose cleaners, whether it's a pull around canister, backpack, or central vacuum. I only have one upright, the Sebo Felix and the reason I got it was because it has the flexibility of a canister in the shape of an upright, I have no interest in getting any other uprights, so if someone were to offer me something like a Kirby, I would politely decline because I would never use it.
I'm a huge fan of central vacuums, I have the units all around my apartment, I use them all without pipes, just attach a utility valve to the in-take and connect the hose, the power is awesome, especially with the 240 volt models, but all of them are more powerful than a portable cleaner. I find that I use my central vacuums more than my canisters or backpacks. I can't help but wonder if my neighbors, especially the one below me ever hear them, especially those 240 volt central vacuums, they actually vibrate the floor, I don't have any of my central vacuums mounted on walls, they just stand on the floor.
Mike

 

[madman]

Well, if a machine performs poorly, that's one thing. But good enough is good enough. Yeah there's always a machine that can do better, but there are diminishing returns with these kinds of things, and price starts becoming an issue.

As for my other vacs, I often vac my room with my Eureka model 10. It has no brush so it can't pick up my sock lint, but I don't care because it's fun to use.

 

[tolivac]

You can always put your central vacuums on carpet pads instead of the hard floor.I did this when I lived in an apartment.Also helped with my hi-fi speakers.Do the neighbors complain?Apartments can be hard for vacoholics.I had a neighbor below me complain when I ran a Kirby-She Says"At how much you vacuum-you must not have a speck of dust on your floor"in an angry tone of voice.I complained about her bird that kept saying "TWEET-TWEEDDLE-TWEET!!!"

 

[jo]

I use what I like

I use what I like, which is primarily Aerus/Electrolux. Secondly, it’s a Shark rocket for quick convenience while being thorough and flexible enough.

At one time I had a Eureka Commercial upright with a strong motor in it I know. I think it did a better job on carpet than the Electrolux canisters for sure but it was heavier and I just got tired of it and we moved from a house that had 60 percent carpet to one that has none so I sold it at a garage sale I had to get rid of some stuff instead of moving unwanted things.

The Shark rocket corded stick vac seems to get very good ratings overall when reviewed by an agency reviewing vacuums. I got one when my older Eureka stick vac’s handle broke and they are no longer available. It seems just about as strong in suction as my Electrolux Silverado so I feel that I can do a heavy housecleaning with it and have thorough results so while I didn’t feel the need for something something this good for quick cleanups, I do like that it is flexible and I can use it for more than just quick cleanups.

Everyone’s definition of what a good vacuum is...is different...performance, ergonomics, emissions, durability, weight, attachments, and so on are all factors of what is “best”. I’ve seen old ladies who love their old very heavy Hoover uprights and others who want something lightweight...

I had shop vacs for my remodeling business...while the suction was great on them until they quickly clogged, the filters were nasty to deal with cleaning to keep them unclogged, they were noisy, and the tools and attachments were clumsy and would crack or break if stepped on and filtration wasn’t all that good. Fed up with them I use an older Electrolux canister now after the last shop vac died. Yes, I can’t get one with a wide diameter hose, (but didn’t have that version of shop vac anyway, just the 1 1/4 inch version which is the same as the Electrolux anyway) and I just sweep up or pick up the larger debris that won’t fit in the hose and the vacuum is mostly for deep cleaning areas that need it of sawdust, plaster dust, bug and rodent dander and excrement left behind in walls and also to avoid sweeping of bad dust to prevent it from penetrating the air. The reason for the switch was mostly for the convenience of the self sealing 4 ply filter bags the Electrolux provides. I don’t want to see or touch or breathe anything of the nastiness I have to suck up with a vacuum from inside walls. In older homes it can be downright gross if rodents and bugs were living in insulation in walls, behind cabinets, etc. and so I don’t want to see or deal with this nastiness again when having to empty a vacuum. The vacuum gets it out before disturbing it and sucking it and the surrounding air into the vacuum and trapping all of the nastiness without exposing it into the customers home. My biggest pet peeve of any utility vacuum is now resolved, which was emptying it and cleaning filters and also am able to keep customers homes in a low to no dust condition especially during demolition phase. With the Electrolux, I just open it, slide the sealed bag out and throw it in the trash and put a new one in...done. I don’t see, touch or breathe any dirt or toxins sucked in and it’s fully cleaned and restored to full suction literally in seconds. No filters to brush or tsp off or clean or clouds of toxins and dust covering my arms and face...yuck. And the bag cost? With the availability of the 4 ply multi filter bags at 35 to 50 cents a piece...I’ll gladly pay that price for that convenience. Even if it cost more per bag. How many people do you know that have shop vacs they use dry and love emptying them and cleaning the filters? I bet none. And so they continue using them with poor performance due to partially clogged filters and burn out the motors, etc.

The same rings true for bagless household vacs. Performance on bagless might supercede some bagged machines but is it worth the mess of emptying and cleaning filters?

Some people will sacrifice performance to have something they can handle or use more easily.

Jon

 

[luxlife]

OMG when is the publishing date for your book???

You don’t submit a single post in a conservative length (THE WAY THAT THE REST OF US DO). Every one of your posts appears to be a self-inflated memoir, or a lost chapter of your manifesto. Common courtesy would dictate that you curtail the length of your posts in comparison to what the rest of us submit.

 

[n0oxy]

shop vacs and neighbors

I have never had a complaint about me running my vacuums, I also try to be respectful and I don't run them early in the morning or late at night. I did a little experiment the other day. I fired up my Galaxie GA-240 which is the loudest central vacuum I have, then I headed outside to see if it could be heard from out there. You can hear it, through my living room window.
John, you have described the major advantage of bagged cleaners compared to bagless. This debate will continue as long as vacuum cleaners exist but I think bagged cleaners do offer some major advantages.
Most shop vacs have a 2-1/4 inlet for the hose, so even if it comes with a smaller hose, you can purchase hoses with the wider diameter and they should fit. Many shop vacs can also be fitted with bags which should make emptying them easier and preserve the filter.
Mike

 

[gottahaveahoove]

We once had a vacaholic! LOVE that!

I'm just a "HOOVER Snob". kinda like that, too.
Our tenant vacuums everyday with her Hoover Convertible, model 1070. EVERYDAY! Actually, it never bothered me, except Christmas night, when our house was full of people. My mother swore one day she'd see brushes coming through the ceiling.
That apartment, now, in once again part of the house. The tenant is 100. I'll bet that 1070 still works.