Vacuum Cleaners Discussions

Over the past 40 years I have owned numerous vacuums.  The first were canisters.  In my non professional opinion they were superior to uprights when I first started buying vacuums.  My electrolux purchased in 1973 was an excllent vacuum.  Next I purchased a Rainbow and gave the Electrolux to my daughter.  I got tired of cleaning the Rainbow after each use and after a few years I bought a Hoover WT self propelled (upright).  I never felt that it did a thorough job of cleaning so I gifted it and bought a Dyson DC07.  I then got sort of interested in vacuums and bought a Hoover Fusion.  I also inherited a Hoover bagless that was pure junk.  The screen filter clogged after a few minutes use and rendered the vacuum almost useless.  The screen and the pleated filter were very very difficult to clean.  I gave it away.  I sold the DC07 and the Fusion and bought a Royal Eminance.  Less than a year after buying the Royal I bought a Kirby Sentria.  I now own the Kirby, Royal and Rainbow.  I have bought and returned numerous vacuums that failed my expectations for various reasons.  The most dissapointing for performance was the Oreck XL21.  It was not much better than a broom.

There is no perfect vacum in my experience.  However, the DC07 remains the best that I have used.  The brush never gathered more hair or strings than my Kirby or Royal.  It removed sock lint, string or other solid debris with one pass (hard surface or carpet).  I never had another upright that would do this.  I only washed the filter twice in three years.  The hose is somewhat inconvenient to use if you do not remove the tube that is inside it.  It never clogged.  Of course I only used in the home and never vacuumed leaves or mud with it so no need to clog.

I plan to sell the Kirby and the Royal after the first of the year.  My next planned purchase is the Hoover Whisper, currently less than $100 at local Wal Marts.  No way will I sell the Rainbow as I have used it numerous times for vacuuming water and occasionally as a shop vac.

If you do not have a lot of hard floor surfaces the Eureka Boss does an excellent job of vacuuming.  The exhaust blows dirt away from the vacuum on hard surfaces. 

An inexpensive ($65) bagless is the Bissell Power Force Turbo.  It has as much suction as any vacuum I have used.  The draw back for me is it has no off switch for the brush.

Dyson looks to be a high grade plastic.  Remember that metal will dent or break also.  If any of the plastic breaks on the Dyson I will bet that it is user neglect.

I have probably rambled and given a lot of info that you did not need, however I hope that my experiences will help with your decision.

DysonInventsBig wrote:

Making a point DIB that dyson itself is so worried about damage to the plastic caused during repairs that dyson cautions its own authorized dealers IN WRITING to use extra care.

A significant case in point recently where 39 UK dyson buyers/users and several vacuum makers prevailed against dyson with the ASA in the UK to force dyson to cease from making false and exaggerated product claims.  And others here in the USA who bought $500 plus dysons under the auspices that their dysons would never clog and lose suction.  Only to learn that dysons did both, and they  returned them to the retailers for refunds/credits. 

IMHO the primary reason dyson makes its 5 year limited warranty on its later DC24 and 25 models contingent on the requirement for users to perform frequent filter cleaning is due to clogging and suction loss with the earlier models.  Many buyers were lulled [read: duped] by the advertised dyson claims into believing it was not necessary to clean filters save once a year.  And based on this, they paid high prices for the convenience of not having to do so. 

Carmine D.

HARDSELL wrote:

Hello HARDSELL:

I didn't know where to start.  You provide so much for rebuttal.  I excerpted just a few of the comments that you've made many times here before for a response. 

You have said on numerous occasions that the ORECK spread the dirt/dust on barefloors as did the EUREKA BOSS, which you said above again.  I disagree with you with every ounce of being in me.  You are full of the proverbial scatalogical stink.  Both models are excellent as barefloor cleaners.  Both are consistently rated as excellent barefloor cleaners by Consumer Reports.  The fault kind sir with the performance is with the user. 

"Dyson looks to be a high grade plastic."  Tell me, please, exactly what does high grade plastic look like as opposed to low grade?  I'm interested to know and I'm sure others are too. 

Metal breaks?  A 20 pound sledge hammer and several direct hits with enough force doesn't count as breakage in the normal course of usage.  Nor does dropping from a 12 story building.

You'd bet that "any' of the plastic breaks on dysons are user neglect!!  Wow!  You have keen eyes for judging the grades of plastics AND expert personal knowledge on all dyson users too.  Has to be user neglect IN ALL CASES.  Never dyson!   Sounds like you're saying ALL dysons are perfect vacuums whose only faults are a result of neglectful users.  I'm smelling that unfragrant aroma again. 

The ORECK brand which you love so much to mock [based on a single free in home trial of 30 days] warranties the plastic vacuum housings on all its models for 10-20 years.  What is dyson's? 

ORECK earns and maintains the highest seal of approval/recommendation by the Carpet and Rug institute of America for all its models for ALL CARPET brands and styles.  How about dyson?

Carmine D.

ainstalshia wrote:

Hello ainstalshia:

This prerequisite reminds me of a true story that I'll share with you and the readers here.  In the 50's an Air Force military family bought a new Kirby upright with all the attachments for about $250.  In the course of a 30 plus year career, they moved back and forth from duty stations around the world to the USA, always shipping the Kirby.  After retirement, in the early 90's, the couple decided it was time to repair/buy another vacuum.  They remembered the Kirby factory rebuild service agreement and decided to use it.  They shipped the Kirby back to Cleveland Ohio and asked to exercise the agreement at the price guaranteed at time of purchase: $12.50.

After a few weeks, Kirby shipped the rebuilt 30 plus year old Kirby back to the owners in near brand new condition.  The last I talked with the Kirby owners was in 2005.  Their Kirby was still going strong.

Carmine D.

CarmineD wrote:

You are quick to recommend the ultra expensive vacs sold at independents and say that they last 20 or more years.  Yet you use disposable $50 vacs.  What gives?

Hello HARDSELL:

I am a vacuum man: All makes and models from the least to the most expensive.  Recall in my first post on this thread, I recommended a dyson if bagless is a prerequisite.

BTW, off topic of vacuums for a brief moment:  How's toyota doing lately?  A loss after 70 years?  From a $25 billion profit last year to a several billion loss this!  Let me finally get this out of my craw after being stuck there awhile:  I told you so!  Months ago and even as early as a year ago!

Merry Christmas my friend!

Carmine D.

CarmineD wrote:
Don't choke Carmine.  All auto makers are suffering.  At least Toyota is not depending on taxpayers to bail them out of financial woes because of top management greed.

Hello HARDSELL:

My, my  friend how you have changed your tune.  Going back to 2006 when you were singing the praises of toyota, I shot you/it down with BMW.  BTW, how's BWM doing? 

You, like others including toyota, bought into the myth that the Japanese giant had developed a water tight strategy that would yield profits through thick and thin, making it the subject of managerial guides like the 2004 book: "The Toyata Way."   You scoffed when I said more than one year ago that the USA and global economies are on the brink of the precipice and will take toyota and others down with it!  I believe at the time your posts mocked that I was Mr. doom and gloom. 

Carmine D.

CarmineD wrote:

If you recall you had to retract your positive statements about BMW.  Do you recall that I directed you to the sites showing the poor quality of BMW?

What are you gloating about.  BMW sales in the US were down 26.8% in November. Of course this is better than the 29.5 % drop in September.

Any fool can predict a drop in auto sales during the worst economy in years. 

BTW, nice diversion from vacuums.  I see you can still do the pay toilet shuffle.

I should have mentioned that Honda sales were down over 30%.  Do I need to tell you how the big 3 US manufacturers are doing?

Bad memory again, my good friend!  After our 2006 exchanges, as I recall BMW [my pick] tied toyota [your pick] by both the Wall Street Journal and Consumer Reports for the best in luxury sedan.!  Forgot??

BMW is still profitable!!

Merry Christmas, my good friend.  Go new car shopping.  You can get a good deal on a new discounted toyota!!

Carmine D.