Vacuum Cleaners Discussions

I love my Filter Queen vacs so far; but want to know if the 360 style tools are good/bad or the old style tools are better?  Mine are the brown & salmon mdls (salmon one is suction-only; brown one has Mdl 88 Power Nozzle)

this is my mdl 31 Filterqueen

FYI, both filters on this dyson DC07, which is ready for the dump due to the odors, were replaced several months ago.  They are clean.  The problem with the pet musty odor is embedded in the dyson's inner parts and ports.  The smell will never ever go away.  Just get worse.  I have no doubt that if any user's manual for an appliance listed the steps you elaborated above to keep them clean/odor free, they would never sell a single solitary unit, especially if they were $600 and sold with the hyped claim that they had ZERO maintenance costs for 5 years, like these dyson models did. 

I completely agree with 3 dyson steps since August 2006 when dyson's warranty was extended from 2 to 5 years.  One, the shorter filter cleaning schedules on models like the DC16 and later dysons to 2-3 months from the 6-9 months on DC07 and DC14.  Two, the discontinuance by dyson of the disingenuous claim that these dyson vacuums NEVER clog.  Three, that these 2 dyson models were discontinued just a few years into their production runs.  Did any other vacuum brand with its supposed signature models [launched its brand worldwide] discontinue their models within just a few years of their production?  I can't name one except dyson and these DC07 and DC14 models. 

Products are not made and marketed for the convenience of the product makers and the retailers.  They SHOULD be made and marketed for the convenience and ease of use by the buyers.  Especially when the price is $600 for a vacuum [and $60,000 for a vehicle].  Imagine buying a luxury foreign car and having 4 recalls on it in less than one year and being told by the CEO of the company [AKA The Prince] that the brand is the epitomy of reliability.   Really?  What dictionary is he using?  Like having 3 major product flaws on a signature model [s] and having the company discontinue them while still under the original warranty period.  

Carmine D. 

A postscript:  Add step 4 by Sir James Dyson and his bagless vacuum inventors:  Discontinuance for all time and on all future dyson models of the gawdawful clutches on the DC07 and DC14 models. 

One possible option for getting rid of the smell is to use the clean up a big box of baking soda or possibly some capture dry carpet cleaner.   Perhaps these things would absorb some/most of the odor?   

Or would it be better to "sand blast" the insides of the Dyson by picking up some sand? 

Venson wrote:

Hi Venson:

Back in the day we vacuum pros called these Rexairs "water hydrants" for obvious reasons.  The only thing I did with them was use them as filler in my store display windows.  I still have the black and white photos somewhere around with them in the windows.

Carmine D.

Severus wrote:

Someone beat you to it.  The product is made and marketed already.  I think it's called "zorb."  With a name like that it must be Greek....especially since the cost is $109.  I think the money from the sales are going to sure up the bankrupt government.  Tho CR says for the $109 a pack users are better off with using BS or sand!   Maybe HS has some thoughts on the subject.  He's a AH BS cure alls expert.

Carmine D.

Zorb is only for carpet dirt stain removal, its a dry cleaning foam similar to the powdered form that Sebo make (Sebo DuoP.) Apart from wasting the product it wouldn't do anything to the condition of "freshening up," hoses and such like. Certainly it wouldn't stay in the "system" long enough due to the actual vacuum.

I was bing facetious on the dyson zorb.  Tho, at $109 a pack the joke is on the buyers.  CR got this zorb one right tho much to the chagrin of dyson.  BTW, add another reason for discontinuing dyson's DC07 and 14 models.  NEVER made the CR top 10.  Not even close.  Why?  Product flaw with the wimpy brush bar.  Sub par.  I know dyson warranty doesn't say it warranties that the components will be industry standard.  In fact more like industry sub-standard.

Carmine D.

Venson:  I'm seeing a pattern here on bagless boondoggles.  60 years ago the Rexair water hydrants.  40 years ago the FQ monster mash machines.  20 years ago dyson's forerunners to the wildly successful and world acclaimed DC 07-11-14's.  Well, on a good note the vacuum industry is spared a little while longer before another bagless vacuum hits the poor unsuspecting vacuum market.  Bagless is beautiful, yeah   yeah   yeah....

Carmine D.

CarmineD wrote:

Hi Carmine,

Rexair and Rainbow's biggest problem is that they didn't/don't allow for spontanaity -- thing that helps user develop a liking for a specific machine.  If you're rug or floor's looking a little ratty, you can't just walk over to the closet and whip out your Rainbow and put it away again.  Not endearing, and certainly not endeariing enough to make either Rexair or Rainbow of nuch interest to the mass market.

Filter Queen is referred to as bagless and it is in the sense that dirt is not collected in a bag of any sort but replacement of a fresh filter cone was required with each emptying. You don't just dump it and walk away.  Because of the need for a fresh cellulose cone after each emptying that rates about the same to me, maintence and expense-wise as having a bagged vacuum.  The cones worked very, very well but dumping the collection bin was probably not too delightful a duty to many stay at home moms or working women, the predominant users of vacuums since back in the day.  The positive side was that FQ has great dirt capacity and you can clean for a good month in the average home befor emptying.  Yet again, due to the convenience aspect, here we have a vacuum that has never bowled over the industry in total but has retained a "following".

Long gone Lewyt was "bagless" too but jumped off the bag wangon relatively quickly and made the switch to the "speed-sak."

Over the years, it seems that people minded shaking out Electrolux and/or Hoover bags far less until the disposable dust bag caught on.

The big issue with bagless vacuums today -- like any others --  is convenience, quality and performance.  If I have to do extra work to get other work done, I look everywhere for the best ways to get around it.  If they can produce a bagless that doesn't require frequent emptying, has collection bin that's easily flushed out and that requires no more than six month filter maintainance under standard cleaning conditions, I could be talked.  Unfortunately, I have seen no such machines.

Best,

Venson

Venson wrote:

Well said Venson.  I add one more:  All niche sellers.

Carmine D.

An update.  I saved the old smelly dyson DC07 from the dump.  Took more time and effort than most in the business are willing to take/charge for.  I used many of the techniques provided by vacmanuk, thank you very much.  And a few of my own from the old days.  Sorry SEVERUS no sand blasting.  While rice may be good to loosen dust on the inside of a hoses, caked on dirt with pet smell on hard plastic doesn't lend itself to sand blasting.  Deteriorates the plastic.  I didn't replace any of the DC07 parts.  Both filters were still new from recent replacement.  Brush roll was still good too.  As was the dirt by pass hose which however was a pet smell trap, like the u tube air way and dirt inlet tube.  Should be fine now however, at least for awhile longer.  I return it tomorrow.

Carmine D.