Vacuum Cleaners Discussions

I just found this site. I really need to get a new vacuum cleaner. Right now I just have a Eureka Mighty Mite with a HEPA filter. I have recently taken in a long-haired chihuahua and a cat (for a friend who is not able to care for them any longer). I am allergic to (and have also grown very fond of) both the cat and dog and I also have quite bad dust, mold, and pollen allergies. I live in an older split level house: the two upper floors are bare wood with no rugs and the lower two floors are covered with wall-to-wall very-low-pile commercial carpet. The cat (bless her) is generally content to voluntarily stay in the basement all of the time with the exception of just one or two very brief morning strolls each day to the next two higher floors. She sheds what seems to a cat neophyte like myself to be an enormous amount of fur but I'm told by friends who are cat owners that it is a normal amount. The chihuahua just wants to be in the same room with me although I have kept her out of the bedrooms and bathroom on the top floor. I have looked at quite a few vacuum cleaners from the very inexpensive to Miele and Lindhaus and I still am unsure of what to get. I've never had to deal with pet hair and dander before. What would work best for pet hair and dander on low-pile commercial carpet and still be good for bare wood floors and have a good filtering system for allergens? I do know that I would like the self sealing type of bag that is in the Miele (and perhaps other brands?) because of my allergy problems. I can spend up to $850 if I have to but it would be much better for my budget to spend less. I'm sorry for the long-winded description. Advice would be very much appreciated. Thank you.

Mole and the rest of the gang, I agree that the pro-team upright is an excellent choice for the price.  It's like a lux semi-clone, without the high price!  In regards to who owns a perfect lux canister, none other than yours truly!

Vernon

Vernon wrote:
Hi Vernon,

Did you find yours in a shop or online?

Venson

Mm strange. Having owned the Felix for some time the S Class system (also HEPA identifable) is hospital grade so it could well be that whatever you tested had an old wrap around filter that needed replacement; particularly if it is an demo model you tried.

Also.. you could consider the older Sebo X model but bear in mind that it doesn't have a beater bar stop function. I've used a delicate floor brush bar on mine for marble flooring.. now how precious are your hard floors, Nette? The X is reasonably good at most things but doesn't swivel like the Felix. Optional filters consist of a charcoal embedded S Class filter but I have a sneaky suspicion that the U.S get totally different Sebo filters. Having spoken to the MD of Sebo UK he confirmed that the U.S prefer the paper pleated filter cartridges but they proved to be less than successful in Europe. I know some dealers in the U.S that sell the S Class charcoal filter though in lieu of the yellow cartridge placed in the Sebo X.

As for the Prochem featured here, I have another hunch that it has Sebo components which should mean extra longevity.

Venson wrote:
Venson,
I purchased my perfect canister through a distributor

Vernon

There is a definite lesson to be learned from Nette's case.  If you have health sensitivities, a 30 second test run in the store is not the best trial for a decision to buy.  Nothing like in-home for a few days.  And, it can be costly to return the purchase with a 20 percent penalty fee.  I don't know all the facts and circumstances but from what I do know it would appear that Nette buying a display model should not be charged a return fee of 20 percent.  The store owner is allowed to make his/her own rules and regulations on vacuum sales.  I would not support this one unless Nette/the user returned the vacuum long after buying with considerable use/wear and tear.

Carmine D. 

Hi Carmine,

It is true a shop owner can and may write the rules as regradrs their establishment but he customer has hte right to say no and look elsewhere. Per my recall, Nette could not have had the vacuum all that long before posting about the purchase and the problem.

Twenty percent is excessive. I make it a habit to get an understanding about return policy before I buy.

Though the vacuums recommended were certainly good, I think persons with hypersensitivity to dust might better consider central vacuums if at all feasible. I am not fully schooled as to installation costs but a decent CVS in a split-level home of average size with installation might run the same as the cost of high-end portable vacs like Miele and Sebo.

Though not an allergy suffer, on the other hand I'd think a supply of toss-away dust masks might be a good thing to keep around the house if a portable vac is what you have to use and maintain and you are very sensitive.

Venson

PS -- for any number of reasons I am highly reluctant to suggesting Rainbow.

Hi Venson:

If I recall MOLE suggested a refurbed CVS but I don't think Nette responded.

Many years ago I caught pneumonia from airborne dirt/germs.  Making me more prone to the disease after.  In the vacuum business, dirt is a part of every day life.  So I resigned myself to using the face masks for repair work, which as the doc said if I had done in the first place, I would not have caught it. 

Carmine D.

My suggestion would be the Miele Callisto by a mile. It meets every requirement posted and if bought at a store vs Online it squeaks under the pricepoint. Note: The Callisto is much better than the Cat/Dog Miele which is based on a 10+ year old machine.

Nette wrote:
SEBO have just announced (certainly here in the UK, anyway) that the Felix will be available with a new charcoal filter suitable for pet owners. It fits under the bag just like the normal lift out microfilter. This should combat smells - mine arrives next week, so I'll report back!