Vacuum Cleaners Discussions

Thought the Dyson discussion board would be interested in reading a small article about the Tacony Museum. Also Carmine's old friend.....

http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/hit-the-road-jack/hit-the-road-jack/2009/08/new-museum-opens-at-st-james-on-historic-route-66/

CR is what it is.  For the most part their tests are really good.  However, they pick some type of dirt or other substance (e.g. saw dust, talcum powder, cat hair, etc) to use in their tests.  For most vacuums, it really doesn't make much difference.  However, there are some vacuums like the Rainbow that fail on non-wettable dirt.  While the Rainbow may perform ok on normal household dirt, certain kinds of dirt substitutes could clog the Hepa filter and kill performance.  Dyson's dirt collection system is a little more robust to different kinds of dirt.  I suspect most bagged vacuums work well on almost any kind of dirt.   Certainly some test dirts could clog bags/filters artificially fast.


HARDSELL wrote:

CarmineD wrote:
Good morning Carmine,

As it was explained to me (and it's quite possibly incorrect) CR clean and weigh a sample carpet, add 100 grams of whatever CR uses as dirt, use a machine to force the dirt deep into the carpet and then vacuum the carpet a set number of times.  When the procedure is done the carpet is reweighed to see how much of the 100 grams is gone.

Dusty

dusty wrote:

Hello Dusty:

I've never heard it being done that way.  But maybe its changed.

Carmine D.

Hi,

I just called Consumers Union -- (914) 378-2000 -- and, as per Severus, the organization considers this proprietary informormation. What's the big deal? I dunno.

The rep I spoke with did mention that the test material is made up of something like talc and sand but would elaborate no further.

Best,

Venson

The following link may be interesting to some.

http://www.housekeepingchannel.com/a_99-Vacuum_Cleaner_Testing_at_Consumer_Reports

Venson

Found this on You Tube.  Doesn't answer everything but at least shows some testing...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWsGxhi9DsE

Dusty

Severus,

I agree that CR is what it is.  What I disagree with is the way that Carmine is quick to point out that Hoover and Oreck score higher than Dyson with CR.  Always says a top rated by CE.  Then when his favorite scores low tells us it really doesn't matter.

I have to admit that it has no impact on my purchases.  I have said for years that their tests do not give the same results as my actual experiences.  CR is the joke of all electronics forums.  If memory serves correctly they once awarded a best buy to a van simply because it had more cup holders that tne others. 

I have a Rainbow that is probably 20 years old.  Only in for service once.  A local indy told me the motor was shot and that I should buy his Panasonic.  I thanked him and took it across town to the Rainbow center.  New brushes in the motor and less than $20 expense.  Never faltered since. During the time that I used it regularly guests frequently commented on how my old carpet always looked new.  I still us it from time to time primarily as my do all/shop vac.  A great cleaned but a pain in the seat to clean after use.  Still better than those Hoovers with the screen filters.

BTW, how did the bagged Hoover Platinum score?   I played with one at Sears a day or two ago.  I really liked it and from all that I have read it gets top consumer ratings.  Bags are expensive tho. 

dusty wrote:
Thanks Dusty,

So we now know its 100 grams of test medium (approximately 3.5 ounces) on medium pile and they do sixteen passes. (The sixteen passes does give any given machine more than enough chance.)
I think they must weigh the amount of stuff they pick up. It's not practical to weigh a rug the size of the sample they used to determine what's left of 3.5 ounces of material.

Venson

HARDSELL wrote:

My favorite brand/model vacuums HS, unlike you, are the one[s] that users prefer over all others to vacuum with as often as possible in their homes and are easy and quick for them to do so.  Plus, meets their cleaning needs and budgets.  If the brands/models score well with CR and the Carpet and Rug Institute [CRI] , I'll point that out.  CR praiseworthiness and CRI approval are icing on the cake.  Why?  CR has had savvy readers, consumers, and followers for many years.

What gets in your craw is that after 7 YEARS and in as many models your favorite brand can't score in the top tier of CR.  Consistently getting bested and beaten by vacuum brands you loath and impugn here.  In part, because they are alot less expensive than your brand.  That's the reason you impugn CR in other products too.  You don't like CR period because they rate your brand as form over function, sizzle over substance, and pricey with mediocre performance.  All categorizations I agree with also.

Carmine D.

Venson wrote:
Hi Venson,

The problem I could see with weighing what is picked up is how they would account for dirt that would cling to the walls of the hose, stay in the brushes, blow past the bag etc.  While the dirt may be out of the carpet it may still be lying in other parts of the vacuum and not recorded in the final results.  Darn those CR guys and their secrets! :-)

Dusty