Vacuum Cleaners Discussions

No area rugs, carpet what so ever. Just wood floors... What would you suggest?

Motorhead wrote:

MH:

I've never experienced that problem with my Oreck, although I have with many other vacuums.  Generally when a vacuum has negative suction [throws the dirt back], it needs maintenance.  I do my own [bag, belt, etc] so my Oreck works as it should.  

Do you maintain/service your Oreck and/or bring it into the dealer for service?

The October 2007 Consumer Reports, the last to include Oreck in the vacuum ratings, gives Oreck and Miele the same rating for bare floors: Excellent.  I would agree that both are excellent.  Being an upright person myself, I prefer the Oreck.

Are you partial to uprights and/or tanks and canns?

While it is unorthodox based on conventional wisdom to use an upright on bare floors, Oreck goes against the grain of conventional wisdom.  Why? Two reasons come to mind.  The wheels [4, 2 back and 2 front] are rubber coated.  No scuff marks.  Bare floor tools [like the Miele without wheels] have brush hair that constantly get full of dirt and debris.  Have to be cleaned.  Like old fashioned brooms, these tools push alot of the dirt around before picking it up.  In the process getting alot caught up in the hair of the floor brush.  Obviously the push and pull on the hair wears it down and out in shape and function.  What does that cost to replace on a Miele?  The Oreck brush roll on barefloors will last forever and never need to be cleaned.  Just a belt change every 6-9 months [couple of bucks if you do it yourself] to keep the debris going into the vacuum and not out.

Carmine D.

I've always found that it's less about the vacuum you're using and more about the attachment on the end of the wand.  As mentioned earlier, the Kenmore tool works much nicer than most all bristle brushes simply because the brushes are moved to the center of the tool allowing all the debris to be picked up before hitting the brush.  Similar can be said for the Oreck and the Riccar Superlites.  My choice of tools is this Euro Combo which I think is made by Wessel Werk but I could be wrong. No brushes to mess up, runs on four non marking wheels and sucks straight to the edge of the wall. 

CarmineD wrote:
Carmine, it is obvious to me that you are grasping for credibility here and wanting your recommendation to be noticed.  In that case then, go ahead.  I believe that Acerone's friend *should* try the Oreck to see what he or she thinks of it.  After all, it's going to come down to what is *naturally* suited to the task. 

I like uprights as much as the next person, but yes, that IS unorthodox by most standards.  No one can tell me a direct-air upright with no brushroll shut-off will work better than a canister (one with both a damn good floor tool AND combination nozzle no less) on bare floors.  I've already seen what it can do (or can't do, for that matter).  And yes, I did change the bag on my Oreck regularly.  That did not make any difference, and only added to my frustration when it kept throwing pieces of cereal back at my feet, which a brushroll revolving at 6500 RPM will ultimately do.  If it didn't it would go against the laws of physics. 

I have to politely disagree with you on the "never need to be cleaned" remark.  ANY revolving brush, regardless of whether it is used on carpets or bare floors, will need to be cleaned eventually as there will always be har wrapped around it at the very least.  That goes without saying.  When it does need to be cleaned, chances are it will take a bit of work depending on how often it is checked.  Cleaning a bare floor tool, on the other hand, is simple if the user takes the time to do it after each use.  A quick swipe with the hose handle will remove all hair, debris, etc. and prevent it from looking like some people's hairbrushes.

That having been said, a well-engineered bare floor tool (like on the Miele, Dyson DC21, or Hoover Constellation) does not push dirt around.  Did you look at the picture of the Miele's bare floor tool?  The bristles on all three I mentioned are staggered for a reason which you will have figured out by the time you read this

-MH

For all bare floors, you need a canister that has a good bare floor brush.  If you want a really good one get either a Miele, Sebo, or Riccar/Simplicity.  They all have vacuums for this situation in the $200-600 range that will perform well and last.  You could get a canister for under $200, but with the way they are made they tend to be very loud and only last a few years.  I still say a good machine should last you at least 15 years in high use if well maintained.

Motorhead wrote:

Quite to the contrary.  I want all recommendations to be heard and considered.  You didn't mention if you changed the belt in the Oreck?  And who did?  Another cause for the negative suction.

I would also say that it does not come down to what is naturally suited for the task alone.  It also depends on the user's likes and dislikes, the user's budget and future decisions.  What's naturally suited for you is not for me.  That's why cars come in all different styles and colors.

If I were to buy and use a cann just on floors, my own personal and professional sense would be why should I purchase all the other tools if I never will use them?  Waste of money.  Maybe the buyer can trade the unused attachments for some more floor brushes?  Then, what happens if in the future, area rugs and throws are added?  A very likely scanario.  Is the cann still the best option?

Carmine D.

Dusty:

I like the tool you illustrated and agree that it would work well on bares.  Better than the conventional bare floor tools with the brushes all around.

I always wondered why vacuum makers put bristles on floor brushes.  Especially in more recent years.  Tradition is the best reason and to prevent scuffing the floors.  On bares, its suction that picks up the dirt and debris, not bristles.

Carmine D.

Surprisingly, no one has recommended a stick vacuum.  Certainly a viable option for bare floors depending on the square feet. 

Carmine D.

As far as a fall down I would probably go toward a Wessel Works. Then just a Generic $10 after that. I usually up sell rather than the traditional down sell. I'm not a high power sales person. I start low and work up explaining the benefits and negatives as I go, offer my opinion and then let them choose. I know I won't get rich this way but I sleep better.


If you can get a Naturell for the prices mentioned BUY!!!!! IT!!!!. Especially with the new dealer agreements that Miele sent out. Prices are pretty fixed now and the Naturell should be $275.

Lucky1

Excellent fall back.  Whether you shoot high and come down with other options or low and go up.  It's good to have options for all customers and price ranges.  So if you lose the sale/customer, it's because the customer is a deadbeat and it's not bad business on your part.

Carmine D.

CarmineD wrote:

Hi Carmine,

I know but, personally, I can't think of many I'd recommend besides -- unless the user has to make really drastic compromises regarding storage space -- a good canister is not a bad thing to have around.  You never know what you may need it for.

Back in the day (here I go again) when a good price was $29.95 stick vac were not only less expensive but generally of good power.  They had Regina, a very popular lightweight that was the sole vacuum of many living in small spaces,  to compete with.  Remember when they even added on a powerhead in the '70s?  Hoover either preceded or followed Regina with the idea -- but I bought the Hoover.  It cleaned carpeting and bare floors quite well.  Had it not been for my purist leanings I'd probably never thought about buying another machine.

The Euro-Pros pack a lot of power plus attachements but their pleated filters clog up quickly and generally price at the cost of a low-end straight-suction canister anyway.  The $250 and up range that Miele and Emer sticks sell for isn't a practical buy for someone simply looking far a one-task vac.

I don't know much about the Hoover Flair, et al.  but just haven't found myself to be overly enthused.

Best,

Venson