Vacuum Cleaners Discussions

Having another topic mentioned some new vax machines on a Littlewoods website, I had a look around to see what else might be new and came across the 'new' Dyson DC27 Upright, see link below:

http://www.littlewoods.com/rf/s.do?Np=1&Ns=&Ntk=littlewoods_search&Ntt=dyson&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Nty=1&Nu=this_product&pageSize=12&Nao=0&cmEvent=page_navigation

They have 2 Models on their website 'Animal' and 'All Floors', first look suggests an update version of the US DC17 but for the UK\Europe markets.  This will be the replacement for the popular DC14.  I thought a separate motor for the brush bar like the DC17 would have been standard, but looks like it uses the DC04\DC07\DC14 clutch setup!   Not sure as the website doesn't say if it just has a slim root cyclone technology or the core is included!   It does look like it has more small cyclones than the current DC14 and DC15 and DC25 models.  See picture of DC27 All Floors model below!  DC18

 

Venson wrote:

Hello Venson:

I have to disagree vehemently.  If we vacuum the carpets on our floors with an upright [and revolving brush], especially the heavy traffic areas, why not the steps then?  Due to the difficulty to do so with most uprights?  The risers and crevices are fine for straight suction of wand and hose.  But never the steps.  Must be vacuumed and groomed in a way that only a revolving brush does.  Else they mat down.  The best option is a hand held with a revolving brush, especially if it's my grand daughter doing the vacuuming.  Much easier than a DC 07 pink.  Of course with age, steps are no longer an option.  Wastes too much energy.  Not vacuuming, but climbing!

Carmine D.

CarmineD wrote:

I have to agree with Carmine. In fact, Hoover used to recommend using their uprights in such a fashion on stair carpets, as this was a far more efficient method of removing the damaging grit than using the tool set. This probably is still true today; the floor agitator is generally more aggressive than the mini-turbo upholstery nozzles.

I have seen me use my Dyson DC15 in such a fashion, as fighting the hose and wand is such a pain in the arse, and the hose never stretches the full length of the stairs. Instead of cleaning the top half of the stairs with the hose and then carrying the cleaner down, in order to work up from the bottom, I find it much easier to grab the cleaner in carpet-cleaning mode and work down the steps in one pass. Saves all this faffing about.

N27 - that's very interesting; I last checked the Argos page a few days ago, and it was still the DC27. I wonder if they've decided to change the model designation?

N for nudnick! 

At 293 pounds and an exchange rate now of $1.49 to the pound, that's $450 US smackers.  Have to be a rich nudnick to buy it!  Any of those around these days.  COSTCO stores can't sell DC14 Animals [MSRP $549] for $350 with the current economic conditions, how can a N27 sell for $450 plus?  Never happen now.  A few years ago, yes.  Now, this product at that price is dead in the water. 

Carmine D.

CarmineD wrote:
Hi Carmine,

Though both the vacuums used in the demo are now out of manufdacture (they're no longer being shown as product on either company's websites), the Panasonic upright he used comes with a hose and an upholstery tool that, even though it may have no agitator, can do quite well on carpeted stairs because airflow is concentrated. The upholstery tool or a swish of the just the plain old hose end makes quick work of stuff stuck in corners on stairways.

Stair treads are small and upright cleaning heads or cans' power nozzles are big and unweldly and for all the effort not nececessarily as useful in this manner.  This also applies to the Kenmore can which I believe may even also have come with an electric mini-mate.  Also another way to very easy and effective way to clean stair carpet quickly and without a lot of huffing and puffing.

Further, this has always been a practice of mine and I've found, if done on a regular basis of course, even high pile on stairs not only gets clean it looks "alive" longer.

If shape allows, you stand a can on end and bring it with you as you go up or down stairs as you work.  If an upright has a stretch hose you clean as far up as you can and bring the cleaner up the rest of the way to get at the reamaining steps.  No stretch hose?  Well, you use one hand to fimly grip the cleaner handle and the other to work with as you bring it along with you.

Last but surely not least, the matter of safety is also to be considered.  The manner of use demonstrated is not necessarily good for most folks and is certainly not advisable to be taught to kids (age appropriate) if you involve them in helping taking care of the house -- which everybody should.  When on stairs with a vacuum of any type and even of the best design, great care should always be taken to keep the machine and user safe from falling,.

UN-vehemently,

Venson

Please note that some of the TTI Vax 'Mach' models have a "Stair Cleaning Handle" situated above the headlight:

http://www.comet.co.uk/shopcomet/multipleImage.do?sku=443140&zoom=yes

Hello Venson:

Points well made and taken, un-vehemently.

Carmine D.

Venson wrote:
Venson,

Thank you.  Safety is paramount.  My mom just fell the other day (she is ok) but if she got hurt, it’s real bad all the way around.  A separate hand vac or a turbo brush (no wand) connected to a second hose and then to whatever.  A user having one hand on or near the stair treads is the safest (for steep incline).  Even the canister power nozzle on treads looked somewhat dangerous.  Falling needlessly is not worth it.

DIB

P.S.  By the way, CR’s head guy's (pictured) title is...  “Head of Appliance Testing”.
<  Consumer Reports "Head of Appliance Testing" vacuuming stairs.
< All others vacuuming stairs.

DysonInventsBig wrote:

He probably invented the handle grip attachment for the Kirby to convert it from an upright to a hand held for step/stairway cleaning.  Actually making it quicker and easier to use the Kirby in an upright mode for stair and step vacuuming than tank canister [by converting to hose/wands and zippbrush].  Ah necessity.........the mother of all inventions! 

Carmine D.

Model2 wrote:
Model2,

I was unaware of how many Dyson’s ranked high at Which, surely this pleases Sir James.  But, Dyson is being knocked off at a rapid rate and being under priced too.  His biggest invention of late are the steering vacuums, and it hurts sales when Which or whomever dismisses these advances.  How did Which they come to this (3 out of 5 stars) conclusion?  Surely they did not use math (when comparing to competitors vac’s that weigh at or near the same).  Math would prove the vacuums much easier to maneuver and math would show Dyson Ball vacuums require less effort to maneuver.

DIB