Which vacuum stands the test of time?

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lori_ann

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Mar 23, 2014
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First off, thank you all in advance! My sister says I'm nuts! When I go to purchase anything I tend to research a lot before buying something..I've told her that I'd rather spend time and get something that lasts rather than replacing it in a short span of time! and now I'm more than convinced that the reviews out there are mostly from folks who just purchase something, when it's shiny, new and in good working order. Especially Consumer Reports, they do not report on test of "TIME">.. Hence, why my Eureka Boss needs replacing, ALREADY!

My Eureka Boss (Only a couple years old) just is not picking up the pet hair and small debri from my berber carpet. I've been searching for a vacuum. I'm tired of spending money only to have the new machines only last under a year! I've read a few threads on this site and am hoping you can steer me in the right path. I can't afford to spend a grand on a vacuum. But I'm hoping you all can help. Again, tired of spending a couple hundred every year or two!

I'm open to suggestions about a decent vacuum that will stand the test of time! Also, bags vs bag less... My opinion, I've tried both, and find that the bag less just creates messes, and tend not to do the job quite as well. ("m also hoping to change my carpet from berber to low pile in the future (though not sure when!)..

In my searching, here's what I'm looking at so far. *again, this is by no means where I'll likely end up, just what I'm eyeing at the moment.

The reviews out there right now are for the Hoover Platinum (I'll steer clear of the shark)>.. this hoover looks to be nifty... offering both the upright and canister for a very low price. I understand Hoover used to be a decent brand, but after my experience with the wind tunnel I'm skeptic. http://www.amazon.com/Hoover-Platin...id=1395573360&sr=8-1&keywords=hoover+platinum

This morning I looked on craigslist in my area, not sure of all of the following are still available, but thought to ask you all your thoughts on which vacuum to buy. My needs are the basics... desiring to do the job, also need to get under beds, couch and upholstery, lampshades... etc... I've never owned a canister so I'm unsure how they stack up against the upright, but I'm guessing they do a decent job.

Here's what I'm looking at on craigslist so far:

A Royal for $45, but doesn't look to have attachments http://rochester.craigslist.org/app/4357234642.html

A Riccar RC1400 for $45
http://rochester.craigslist.org/app/4359740211.html


A Kirby Heritage II for $75 (I'm thinking these still do the job but as I recall my mother's Kirby, changing attachments was a pain, and it always had things get tangled around the beater brush)
http://rochester.craigslist.org/fuo/4345838862.html
 
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Hello. Good to hear from you. There will be tons of responses on here from loads of members, but I thought I'd say that any vacuum cleaner can last a long time but it depends on how well you've maintained it.

Is the Eureka Boss model an upright or canister vac? The Hoover Tempo seems to be a good starter all round budget upright. I wish we had them in the UK.
 
The Boss is an Upright... truth is the one I bought my son has, that one is great. The one I'm using, I found on the side of the road ... had it reconditioned and it just does not do the job!
 
Well you're on the right track where Kirby and that Royal are concerned - that should last a life time and they tend to do - but the more modern plastic based uprights have tools on board permanently that would allow you to clean above the floor line like lampshades. There's the compromise - you swap the traditional build of an upright-only machine compared to the ones with tools on board and the plastic build ones tend to be lighter to push in the hand.

Or canister vacuums with Power nozzles -they're handy but Im not sure on the prices as even some second hand vacs can be heavily overpriced. Carpet ownership always requires the brush roll to be cleaned, periodically though.

Just check back on here later on as there will be far better responses from U.S owners who can give you a heads up on what you could consider.
 
Thank you Sebo Fan... was just reading another answer you posted, I see you push the Sebo Felix.. is that available here in the US? And will it take care of the dog hair?
 
Yes but its an expensive upright. Im not a dealer or seller just a home owner with a few SEBO vacs and few other brands as a collector - I'm very impressed but I started off a Hoover "Hoover" proper collector if that makes sense. Still like the vintage metal soft bagged uprights - the metal ones really are the best for the carpets.

SEBO's uprights aren't for everyone though - they're not perfect but they are durable, easy to fix, perform well and the Windsor commercial based models like the G1 or Sensor X with manual height adjustment are rare, but great. But I'd wait around for others to respond to you, Lori - they may well have far cheaper brands and models that can fit your budget and needs.
 
Hi Lori Ann, Welcome to the forum.


 


First, let's start off with the question of bagged vs. bagless vacuum cleaners.


 


Let's talk about bagless machines first. In addition to emptying the dirt cup there are at least 2 filters that must be cleaned as well in order to maintain proper suction. Not only do you have to put up with dust flying up and back into the room when you empty the dirt cup, but washing out both filters in your sink can turn into a muddy mess. After a couple of years the rubber seals around the filters and the dirt cup will start to deteriorate and can cause not only loss of suction, but also will leak fine dust back into the room.


 


Now with a bagged vacuum cleaner you won't have any of the problems mentioned above. First, when you replace the bag, no dust will escape back into the room. Also replacing the bag will be a much more infrequent task than emptying the dirt cup on bagless machines. There are no filters to wash (the bag is the filter) and there are no rubber seals to go bad. A pack of bags may last a year or more depending on the manufacturer and how large you home is and how often you vacuum. Most of the bagged manufacturers are now producing HEPA bags that are made out a synthetic type of cloth that filters the air down to .3 microns. These bags are more expensive than the standard paper bags but the exhausted air is cleaner by far than the air you are breathing in the room. They are recommended for those who have Asthma or suffer from allergies.


 


If you're looking for a vacuum cleaner that will be guaranteed to out clean any other cleaner and also stand the test of time, there is no more durable or powerful vacuum than a Kirby or a Royal all metal upright. I can speak with authority here because I own both of these vacuums. These machines are made of high quality Aircraft Grade Aluminum and will last for decades if cared for properly. The newer "G Series" Kirby's (newer than the Heritage II) are heavier than the Royals but the newer Kirby's have a self propelled - assist transmission that makes it seem as if the vacuum is as light as a feather when you push it. The Kirby is a heavy vacuum at 22 .lbs so you need to consider this if you have to carry it up a lot of stairs in your home. The Royal is lighter at around 16 .lbs. Both of these vacuums have very large capacity bags which do not have to be replaced very often. 


 


Both machines are quite expensive when purchased new ( Royal $600+ and Kirby $1,000+) but you can buy used Reconditioned Royals and Kirbys on eBay for less than $400. These reconditioned machines not only shine like brand new, but they have been thoroughly gone through and any broken or worn parts have been replaced so that they perform like a brand new machine right out of the box. A reconditioned Royal or Kirby will last for decades with very little maintenance. The bag, belt, and brushroll are the only things that need to be replaced as needed.


 


The attachments for the Royal are a real hassle to use. The Kirby's attachments are somewhat easier to use than the Royal, but still not real convenient. What many Royal and Kirby owners do is purchase an inexpensive canister vacuum for their above the floor cleaning needs.


 


I hope the information provided here helps you decide what type of vacuum cleaner will fit your needs.


 


-Stan
 
That is my royal!

It is for sale on craigslist right now. It is a GREAT vacuum, as many others on here will tell you. Although, it may not be the best for attachment use.
 
That is my royal!

It is for sale on craigslist right now. It is a GREAT vacuum, as many others on here will tell you. Although, it may not be the best for attachment use.
 
That Riccar canister is quite nice, though without a power nozzle, it won't be adequate for carpets.

The Kirby Heritage II is *very* nice, and it should also be able to take the new Kirby Generation HEPA bags. Those filter better and provide better airflow than the older paper ones. For carpet cleaning the Kirby and Royal will both perform exceedingly well (few vacuums of any age can beat them), but you're right, the Kirby attachment system is cumbersome, and the Royal one is, if anything, worse.

If you're looking to buy new and keep it inexpensive, my top choices would be either the Riccar Radiance or Simplicity Symmetry for an upright, with models available for about $250, or else, for a canister, the Panasonic MC-CG902. For an upright without any attachments, Sanitaire is outstanding - but more so than Kirby or Royal, they do carpets and large rugs only.

If the budget is higher, there are even better options available: the tandem-air uprights from Riccar/Simplicity, Sebo's Felix and Automatic X series, Miele's S5 canisters, Riccar/Simplicity canisters (best out there, I think), Sebo's D- and K-series canisters and several others.

If you're not averse to eBay, you might also look for a used TriStar CXL or DXL.
 
Stan... Thank you...As I posted I am eyeing both a Kirby (with attachments) and a Royal..

Fantom, if the Royal is so great, why are you selling it?

Jade(thats my dogs name! She's a gorgeous black lab!)... I'll look into those you mentioned... I don't have a lot of money for a vacuum, but I'm tired of replacing them every year or two! Hence, spending more than I would if I bought top of the line! So, I'm off to check the ones you mentioned, hopefully those around 250 will suffice! Thank you!

My sister has a rainbow she's not using, but she doesn't know if her hubby can get it working as they have not used it in years due to very poor carpet in the house they bought (still renovating, and carpet is next on list)...
but reviews I've read, I'm curious, what do you all say about Rainbow?
 
Kirby vacuums will last a lifetime if you treat them well. They clean carpets better than any other vacuum. However, like previously mentioned, their attachments are cumbersome unless you get good at it.

I have a Hoover Duros for my attachment needs when I'm in no mood to use the Kirby's. But typically, I do use the Kirby's attachment set.

For me personally, I can get the hose on my Kirby in 10 seconds. It takes me longer to get the hose of my Dyson DC07 which is quite funny.
 
I own approx. 100 vacuum cleaners, including a second royal.

I actually have a second royal, which is the anniversary edition. I do not have the space for 2 royals, therfore, I am selling one of them. But, the item is currently sold PPU.
 
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