Vacuuming questions

[bagintheback]

Great Questions!

1. I generally start the vacuum after it's reclined. I try to minimize the amount of noise; it's usually quieter when the brush is in contact with the carpet.

2.It depends on the vacuum. With canisters, it may have to switch plugs two or three times downstairs alone. With uprights without a cord reel, I can sometimes get away with just one central plug and even get up some of the stairs.

3. Twice a day on weekends, and probably every other day during the week. With three animals and six people in the house, cleaning is a frequent activity.

4. I can be happy with either one. Canisters are nice when you need to clean an entire room, but uprights are simpler with wide areas when crevices and furniture are of less concern. However, there are many more canisters on the current market I'd consider buying compared to uprights.

5. Hoover. They have almost consistently provided the best product within a reasonable price-range.

6. Vintage if you consider the 80s apart of that category. There are some nice products on the market right now, but they don't hold my interest for long. Many of the them are difficult to repair too.

7. I will always turn the brush-roll off on hard floors if the vacuum allows for it.

8. Bagged. The only situations in which I prefer bagless is when I use dry carpet cleaning powder, or the competitor's bags are hideously expensive. If I'm forced to use bagless, it has to be at least dual-cyclonic.

9.The more maneuverable the vacuum the better. Kirbys are okay, but that's about the limit. Hoover Elites came very close to being my ideal vacuum. They were lightweight, cleaned carpet well, and had just enough hose suction. But they were absurdly loud. Now if Hoover had built an A-bag Convertible with a slide-in converter, then we'd be talkin'.

10. I have to vacuum so often I'd rather the task be as easy as possible. I don't mind heavier lawn mowers though. I'm outside anyway, so I might as well exercise.

11. I usually vacuum the house in sections. However, if I wanted to clean everything without stopping, it would take probably close to an hour. If I added in cleaning under the cushions, dusting the furniture and crevices, which I already do once or twice a month, that would about double the time necessary.

 

[niclonnic]

1) It depends on how easy it is to reach the power switch. If the switch is difficult to manipulate with my other hand while the vacuum is reclined, I turn it on before reclining it. I turn on my Dyson DC07 before reclining it, in order to get the self-adjusting head to adjust properly.

2) Depends on the vacuum. Some have short cords (25 feet or less) while others have long cords (35 feet or more). With my Dyson, I can do the entire downstairs from one outlet. With my Hoover Windtunnel 2 Rewind Pet, I have to unplug 3 times.

3) I vacuum at least once a week. With two dogs and a cat, I need to keep the carpet clean.

4) Uprights. Canisters are a little clumsy to use in a home with wall-to-wall carpeting. However, they are nice for getting under low furniture, such as beds and so on.

5) For vintage vacuums, Fantom. For modern vacuums, Dyson, although Bissell is a close second.

6) Modern. I like the style of today's vacuum cleaners.

7) I always turn the brushroll off on bare floors if the vacuum has a setting for that.

8) Bagless! My family has always used bagless vacuums starting with a Fantom Fury around the late 90s.

9) I don't really mind loud, big and heavy vacuums. But the more maneuverable it is, the better. The Eureka Boss SmartVac I use at work glues itself down to the low-pile commercial carpeting. That makes maneuvering extremely difficult. My Dyson, on the other hand, is very easy to push, even on thick carpeting.

10) I have to vacuum a lot. Generally, heavier vacuums give me a good workout.

11) I usually vacuum one floor at a time. I think it takes me 20-30 minutes to do the entire downstairs carpet. If I decide to be more thorough, such as cleaning edges or furniture, that time would be greatly extended.

 

[sebo_fan]

<ol>
<li><span style="font-size: 12pt;">How do you start vacuuming? I switch it on and then I recline.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12pt;">How often do you unplug the vacuum? Not often because most of my vacs have long cords.</span></li>
<li>How often do you vacuum? Two to three times a week; once or two days in between with the Vax Cordless Air/cordless dust buster.</li>
<li>Do you prefer upright or cylinder? For my home, both</li>
<li>What is your favourite brand? SEBO of course, followed by Miele.</li>
<li>Do you prefer old or modern vacs? Both, given the opportunity.</li>
<li>Do you turn the brush off for hard floors? Depends on the hard floor texture/surface.</li>
<li>Bagged or Bagless? Bagged. Bagless for cordless vacs.</li>
<li>Do you mind loud, big heavy vacuums? If they do the job, they are worth it.</li>
<li>Is there anyone who likes vacuums that give you a good workout? As with Chris, all kinds of household cleaning tasks require a good workout.</li>
<li>How long does it take you to vacuum your home? About 15 minutes to half an hour if I am going around everywhere. </li>
</ol>

 

[parwaz786]

Very nice guys! Keep em coming I forgot to add number 12 as of how to turn the vacuum off, upright first or switch it off first lol but nvm

 

[tolivac]

For me--vacuum the main rooms I use most daily with the Kirby Avalir or my Royal Pro Elite.Don't mind the sounds of these in fact--like it!
BAGGED for me all the way.
Every week use my NSS M1 as the canister vac for the bare floors and above floor cleaning.Its noisey and heavy--but moves easily-the bag support post makes a convenient handle to guide the machine.Its large wheels roll over stuff that trips a regular canister.For the car and garage-also kitchen floor and cabinets-my newly acquired NuTone 450 central vac I use as a portable.It has a 40 ft hose so it reaches many places I need it to go.It just fun to use!I like to watch both motors spin down after you turn the machine off.This machine has a total of 6 fans in it!2 for motor cooling-one cooling fan on each motor-each motor has two suction fans and they their airpaths are connected in series-strong suction-120" plus and 96CFM.The NuTone has a 6gal multilayer paper bag.I use other canisters too-when the mood strikes-same with uprights.All bagged.And I will start a collection of central vacuums as the vac place gets ones that are traded in to new machines.

 

[vacuumlover]

Addition ~

12 - For me i turn it off first then as its winding down i put it back upright. Idk why i always do this lol

 

[parwaz786]

Lol, I put it upright first cos I like the Dyson changeover valve whistling as it diverts the suction, then sucks through the vents, IDK why but typical for an average Dyson upright XD

 

[vacuumlover]

lol

 

[suctionselector]

Right, here we go...

<p style="text-align: justify;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 14pt;">1 - How do you start vacuuming?</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; color: #808080; font-size: 12pt;">Normally switch on and then recline, if using an upright.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">[COLOR=#000000; font-size: 12pt]<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">2 - How often do you unplug the vacuum?[/COLOR]
</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">[COLOR=#808080; font-size: 12pt]<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Well, it depends what vacuum I'm using. Generally I do the living room carpet first with an upright, then go do the dining room, kitchen and conservatory with my Miele, so I don't really need to unplug.[/COLOR]</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">[COLOR=#000000; font-size: 14pt]<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">3 - How often do you vacuum?[/COLOR]</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">[COLOR=#808080; font-size: 12pt]<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Generally two-three times a week, upstairs and downstairs on different occasions. I certainly don't do the carpets every day as repeated vacuuming can ruin the carpet pile.[/COLOR]</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">[COLOR=#000000; font-size: 14pt]<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">4 - Do you prefer Upright or Cylinder?[/COLOR]</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">[COLOR=#808080; font-size: 12pt]<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Well, personally upright on carpets and cylinders for the hard floors, although I do use my Miele S658 with the power nozzle upstairs on the carpets round the bed where an upright won't fit.[/COLOR]</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">[COLOR=#000000; font-size: 14pt]<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">5 - What is your favorite brand?[/COLOR]</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">[COLOR=#808080; font-size: 12pt]<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">My current favorite MODERN brand for cylinders is Miele. I had a used Sebo X1 that I parted with fairly recently which needed a bit of work, even though when it did work mostly. I would have kept it if there weren't as many problems, so I will be after another Sebo soon. In the meantime I'm alternating between a Dyson DC33 and an Electrolux Twin Turbo.[/COLOR]</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">[COLOR=#000000; font-size: 14pt]<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">6 - Do I prefer old or modern vacuums?[/COLOR]</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">[COLOR=#808080; font-size: 12pt]<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Well as much as I like old vacuums, and I do own them, I don't use them on a regular basis. I occasionally use them, but most of the older vacuums I own are 'collection' pieces so I don't use them for that reason. The only exception is one of the Hoover Vortex's I own, which I used until recently when there was a really bad electrical smell. So, as a daily driver, I prefer using modern vacuums, including a Miele S658, a Dyson DC33 and a Miele S2111.[/COLOR]</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">[COLOR=#000000; font-size: 14pt]<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">7 - Do you turn the brush off for hard floors?[/COLOR]</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">[COLOR=#808080; font-size: 12pt]<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Well, I normally use a cylinder with a hard floor tool, but if I was to use an upright on hard floors I would turn off the brush bar.[/COLOR]</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">[COLOR=#000000; font-size: 14pt]<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">8 - Bagged or Bagless?[/COLOR]</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">[COLOR=#808080; font-size: 12pt]<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Bagged. Oh yes, bagged.[/COLOR]</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">[COLOR=#000000; font-size: 14pt]<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">9 - Do you mind loud, big and heavy vacuums?[/COLOR]</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">[COLOR=#808080; font-size: 12pt]<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Not really a fan of heavy vacuums, but it doesn't really matter to me to be honest. Don't like loud vacuums at all, which is why stopped using a Dyson DC07, which was quite noisy to be honest.[/COLOR]</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #000000;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">10 - Do you like a vacuum that gives you a good workout?</span></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; color: #808080;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Don't mind really. It's not really something I consider when I vacuum.</span></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #000000;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">11 - How long does it take you to vacuum?</span></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; color: #808080;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Well, generally on a Sunday I get the house clean for the week ahead. That includes all the floors, stairs, skirting boards, down the side of furniture and behind things with crevice tools, and do it properly. For our house this can be up to an hour round everywhere on a Sunday. The living room normally takes me about ten minutes on an average clean, whereas on the hard floor in the dining room, conservatory and kitchen/utility, takes about twenty/twenty five minutes.</span></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #000000;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Hope this gives a bit of an insight of my vacuuming habits, one thing I thought I'd add is that when using a bagged vacuums, I usually throw the bag away when it gets about two thirds full.</span></span></p>

 

[sptyks]

 


<a style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px;" name="start_29105.325157"></a>1) How do you start vacuuming?  `I mainly use my Kirby G3 or Sentria, so first I 1. Turn vacuum on. 2. Engage Tech Drive. 3. press Toe Touch control 4 times to set nozzle to proper height for my carpet.


<div style="margin-top: 44px;">
2) How often do you unplug the vacuum? Just one time. The Kirby has a 35 ft. long cord.</div>
<div style="margin-top: 44px;">3) How often do you vacuum? We have a cat, so two or 3 times a week.</div>
<div style="margin-top: 44px;">4)Do you prefer Upright or Cylinder? Upright all the way. I use my Hover WindTunnel Air or one of my Kirbys in canister mode when I need to use a hose.</div>
<div style="margin-top: 44px;">5) What is your favorite brand? Kirby of course.</div>
<div style="margin-top: 44px;">
6)Do you prefer old or modern vacs? Both. Sometimes I will use my D50 or Heritage II Legend in the bedrooms instead of my G3 or Sentria.

7)Do you turn the brush off for hard floors? Yes. I have only a small kitchen and one bathroom where i use my WindTunnel Air.</div>
<div style="margin-top: 44px;">8) Bagged or bagless? Bagged all the way. I only use the bagless WindTunnel Air for quick pickups, so it does'nt need to be emptied very often.</div>
<div style="margin-top: 44px;">9)Do you mind loud, big heavy vacuums? No, not at all. With Tech Drive, the Kirby's feel very light.</div>
<div style="margin-top: 44px;">
10) Is there anyone who likes vacuums that give you a good workout? Not me. I have a bad back, so I am very grateful to have Kirbys with Tech Drive.

11) How long does it take you to vacuum your house? About 30 minutes to vacuum carpet only and about an hour when I also do above the floor cleaning once a week with the Kirby in canister mode.</div>
<div style="margin-top: 44px;"> </div>

 

[jmurray01]

I agree with regards to throwing the bag away at 2/3 full, in fact I usually do it at 1/2!

 

[sptyks]

Actually the printed "Full Line" on the Kirby bags is 2/3 the way up from the bottom of the bag. So Kirby recommend changing the bag when 2/3 full.


 

 

[sebo_fan]

2/3 full? Oh no. I remove the bags only when they are fully filled up. If the machine keeps sucking up dirt, then it means the bag still has more layers to fill.

12) I switch off first and then do whatever afterwards.

 

[parwaz786]

Very nice! I am impressed with Jacob's fancy font XD thought it was an image with writing, lol. Stan I am impressed with the Kirby My Dyson DC14 has a 10 or 12 metre cable and it aint big enough for my house -.- I hate to use an extension wire, lol

 

[oliveoiltinfoil]

I usually wait until the bag is full which can take a while. You could also add a question;

"How often do you change the bag or empty the canister"?

Answer to my question is when they are full. Even a full bag on the felix it still sucks. A G3 used at this hotel I was staying in once they changed the bag and there was dirt in the hose as the bag was that full and I thought to myself "how on earth is that still sucking" but it was.

For bagless, I will admit when my dc41 mk2 was my daily vacuum, I dreaded emptying it because dust would fly everywhere and dirt would get onto the outside of the container and it was just a really messy job.

 

[parwaz786]

I agree with Oliveoiltinfoil, We had a bagged tub vacuum, a Vax 6140 pets 3 in 1 to be precise. The bag was paper, so it's not the best for suction, but even after 6 months it sucks very well and can lift mats off the floor. When we changed the bag after 6 months, we just decided to cos it was ages despite the fact it was still powerful. Whenever we change the bag, we realise how much the bag has deteriorated after a period of time. You don't realise, it slowly and sneakily loses suction. When a new bag is put into the machine, wow. It is so powerful that you see a MASSIVE difference between the full bag and the new bag.

I don't really like bags for this particular reason, except for Numatic bags. They are outstanding in my opinion, use them and stuff them up rock hard, you don't see much of a difference when you change the bag. The bags are excellent, I could use a Henry in my house for a year with the same bag. A pack of 10 bags are like £5 from Amazon or eBay. That's like 10 years of vacuuming with a reliable machine (Numatic) for only £5 worth of 10 bags! That is a fantastic vacuum

 

[Numatic99]

Interesting thread Tayyab, thanks for starting it! Heres mine...

1) How do you start vacuuming? By reclining the vacuum, and switching on.

2) How often do you unplug the vacuum? Downstairs, frequently. Upstairs, every room.

3)How often do you vacuum? My bedroom? Everyday. Rest of the house? Every week, sometimes more.

4)Upright or Cylinder? Uprights!!!!

5)What is your favourite brand? Vintage or modern? Vintage, I'd take most things. Modern, very few brands I like, but a Sebo wouldnt go a miss, or a Henry

6)Do you prefer old or modern vacs? old!!!

7)Do you turn the brush off for hard floors? N/A the house is done with a stationary head cylinder

8) Bagged or bagless? Bag!

9)Do you mind loud, big heavy vacuums? So long as they work, why not?

10) Is there anyone who likes vacuums that give you a good workout? Eh?

11) How long does it take you to vacuum your house? Quite a while, 6 bedrooms and large downstaris....

 

[parwaz786]

Hehe nice! We have a large downstairs too, I would say it's about 40 or 50 metres from my front door to the garden door, well IDK but the size of a normal plane I think, length wise We have 5 bedrooms, 3 upstairs and 2 more in the top floor. We have a front room, 2 living rooms and a soon to be extended kitchen. The living room has been extended (conservatory and living room wall got knocked down to make a massive room) and same with the kitchen soon.

 

[charleskirby66]

Hahaha this is fun!

It is ridiculous how much fun I had filling out this questionnaire.

1) How do you start vacuuming? Do you turn the machine on first or do you recline the vacuum first? Uprights only.
Turn it on, engage Tech Drive (if modern Kirby is in use), lower the nozzle to the proper cleaning height, and go!

2) How often do you unplug the vacuum?
Once, when I'm done. The plug is perfectly central in my apartment.

3)How often do you vacuum?
Daily, or every other day during busy periods.

4)Do you prefer Upright or Cylinder?
An upright can be a cylinder vacuum! My Kirbys are used upright for carpets.

5) What is your fav brand?
For me, it has to be a Kirby.

6) Do you prefer old or modern vacs?
I prefer the look of vintage Kirby, but prefer the performance of modern Kirby (1990 and newer).

7) Do you turn the brush off for hard floors?
When using modern Kirby, I use it in canister mode (hose and floor attachments). When using vintage Kirby, I use it upright with the brush roll disengaged to avoid kicking debris away from the nozzle.

8) Bagged or bagless?
Bagged! Ain't nobody got time to wait for filters to dry out!

9) Do you mind loud, big heavy vacuums?
People complain that Kirby is loud and heavy, however I absolutely LOVE them. So, I guess not.

10) Is there anyone who likes vacuums that give you a good workout?
Yes! Vintage Kirby suction is so strong, it's hard to push and pull! I love it, because I KNOW deep down dirt is getting assaulted.

11) How long does it take you to vacuum your house?
About an hour for a thorough cleaning of bed, sofa, and all floors. My partner has psoriasis, so there is a lot to clean up!

 

[sptyks]

Tayyab, most cloth HEPA type bags perform much better than paper bags as far as loss of suction goes. The cloth bags can be filled almost to the top without losing hardly any suction. This can easily proved with the Baird suction/airflow meter. The cloth bags also do not deteriorate over time like paper bags do.