Vacuum Cleaners Discussions

I am interested in buying an upright vacuum, bagged, and I am willing to spend up to, say, $350.  It will be used, not heavily, by an older woman who has a shedding cat and is not mechanically apt.  A longish cord and an attachment for a linoleum floor would be a plus.  I'll take any suggestion, but in the absence of any I am looking at a Hoover UH30010COM Platinum Lightweight Bagged Upright Vacuum Cleaner with Canister, which is sold on Amazon.  My concern with Hoovers in general is that according to CR they are highly repair prone.  Anybody have experience with this model in particular, recent experience with Hoovers in general, or any other suggestions?

eliot3 wrote:

I have been using the Platinum combo for several months.  Some of the prior vacs that I used were Kirby, Royal, Dyson, Oreck, Panasonic, Hoover bagless (3 different series).

I have been pleasantly surprised at the performance of the Platinum.  Cord is ample at 35'.  Although the bags are large this vac fills them quicker than others I have used.  A  good indicator that dirt is being removed from the carpet.  It is light weight and feels featherwieght when using.  So far no issues with the quality.  The hand held is an excellent performer with superior suction.

Bags are not cheap and not overly abundant.  I would prefer it to be quieter.  I have had to remove the sole plate and clean under it. IMO this should not occur with the use that I have given it.  It has not affected performance and hopefully will not.

The brush can't be turned off.  I use the hand held on non carpet floors.  Having the hand held gives it an advantoge over Hoover uprights with no brush stop switch.  The WT Hoovers get low scores on reliability.  I have not used one for years so I can only report what I read.

The Platinum has the Hoover name, however I doubt it is a true Hoover design.  All vacs have their quirks.  I can't say that I have found one and I highly recommend the Platinum. You should at least try one at home. Just purchase from a store with liberal return policy.

HARDSELL wrote:

You like to ask questions and get answers.  Now let's reverse roles for a change.  I have several questions for you:

1. Which of these above mentioned brands/models were you using just before the purchase and use of HOOVER lightweight bagged platinum?  
2. How long were you using? 
3. How much square feet of rug are you typically vacuuming?
4. ..and how often did you vacuum with these vacuums before the HOOVER lightweight and how often do you vacuum now with the HOOVER lightweight bagged Platinum?

Carmine D.

From the Reviews Tab at the topof this page.  A review of the HOOVER lightweight bagged Platinum by lazaruspup once a regular poster here.  Many of the reviews and industry consumer authorities, like CR and CRI, give this HOOVER high marks.  I think there are valid reasons this combo was relatively short lived in the big box retailers.  When it comes to lightweight uprights with companion canisters, ORECK has a lock on the market.  Hard to detrone a king with 45 years of reign with heirs apparent to the throne.    

http://www.abbysguide.com/vacuum/reviews/388-0-1.html

Carmine D.

CarmineD wrote:

1. Kirby and Royal - 2 - 3 years.  Hoover Whisper less than 90 days. Brought an Oreck home to compare with the Platinum.  Returned the Oreck within 3 weeks.

2. see 1.

3. Approximately 1200 sq ft

4. Ususally vacuum weekly or more if needed.  No change in frequency with Platinum.

HARDSELL wrote:

Perhaps the reason you are filling bags so much and so quickly is due to the vacuums you were using prior to the HOOVER lightweight bagged platinum.  Not working properly?  Not adjusted properly to rug heights?

BTW, you say HOOVER WT are rated poor for reliability.  I'm not sure what your source of this information is from.  You owned 3 but didn't provide your own experience with their reliability just what you read.  What was your experience.

BTW, I've owned an used 4 WT/TEMPO products in the last 4 years and have gifted 3 away.  Prices ranged from $60-$140.  All are still in use.  I've repaired/service all at l;east once during this time.  Only costs are bags, filters [inexpensive] and belts.  Nothing else in 4 years.

Carmine D.

CarmineD wrote:

Adjustments were set properly.  I was not aware that the Fusion and Whisper are WT's.  Where is that info?  My sister has a Fusion that I bought her.  It has fallen apart in less than 3 years.  My experience has not beeh with WT's.  Tempo is not a WT.  Why did you buy 4 and gift each away? 

Motors, brush rolls, switches seem to be the only problems with the WT series.  Seems as it the wheels are ok.  What did you repair on each Hoover? I never had repairs performed on my vacs is 3 years.  Also, you claim to use at least a half dozen vacs.  Repairs on a vac used 1/6th of the time is not so good.

CarmineD wrote:

Hi Carmine

I myself never really saw the kirby or the royals as deep cleaners.....ive used them in commercial-residential...shop setting and wasnt really impressed...yet with the tempos riccars pans, ect all left a better deep clean and better over all grooming..

I have some tempos/wt in service at some of the county accounts [5yrs] in use...and all have done very well holding up under the abuse they take everyday...still a deep cleaner to date. and easy, inexpensive to service/maintain.

Had seen and heard some really good things about the whispers...dyson like perf with tempo type cleaning/grooming ....wonder about the dislike? the panasonic...hmmm?

I got to use the hoover platinum bagged for a cpl days at home.....loved it. cant say enough about its great performance. wish id had one......would like to know about exact like/dislikes of each unit tho...knowledge/curiousity nothing beats user exp...

turtle

HARDSELL wrote:

I bought a HOOVER Z, HOOVER WT, HOOVER TEMPO made in Mexico and HOOVER TEMPO made in China.  I purchased the HOOVER WT first for our new LV home and new carpets when we first moved in in August 2006 [$140].  Outstanding rug cleaner.  Not so good on floors even tho it has a barefloor setting.  20 pounds got to be too much to push around every day.  Church needed a vacuum with OBT, I gifted WT away in April 2007 after buying the new ORECK XL, which I still have and use.  WT is still going strong for the Church.  HOOVER Z was $100 new from HOME DEPOT in Nov 2007 and I donated it away new to the Church for the 2007 holidays.  I bought it because I had a Z previously for 6 months in 2006 in our home in VA and liked it.  Couldn't resist the price tag [$100] which Venson mentioned here.  Still going strong for the Church.  The TEMPO's [2] to compare a HOOVER/MAYTAG TEMPO with a HOOVER TTI China.  [$75 and $55 respectively] Same same in every way.  You can read my reviews here on the reviews page for the WT and 2 TEMPOS.   Again, I donated the China made TEMPO [newest bought] to the Church.  Still going strong for the Church.  Since I didn't use the new Z after I bought it, but donated away, I didn't write a review here.  If I did, I would have said for $100 it was an offer I couldn't refuse. 

I vacuum daily and have for the last 12 plus years [dog sheds daily year round so no choice].  Dog dies, I still vacuum daily: Habits are hard to break.  Alternate between ORECK [if I'm vacuuming the floors too] and TEMPO if not vacuuming the floors.  ORECK is the best on my floors.  I have about 700 sq feet of wall-to-wall rugs and 1000 sq feet of tile [not counting garage].  Plus assorted area rugs through the house.  I replace the paper bags in both uprights every 2 months and they are never ever even half full to the line for changing.  Daily vacuuming is the key.  Doesn't give the surface dirt time to imbed into the carpet and matting onto the floors.

I would never recommend vacuuming 1200 sq foot of carpet with an ORECK let alone just once a week. Not the best size wise [nozzle head] for all that carpeting.  Takes too darn long to do a thorough job. 

BTW, you said that HOOVER WT's were rated low in reliability and when pressed cited motor, brushes and switch problems.  I asked you for the source of that information.  You didn't answer.  Gave some nonsensical response. The motors and brushes in the TEMPO and WT are the same.  On some of these models, the switches too.

Carmine D.

retardturtle1 wrote:

I agree.  I suspect they were bought and used after using a dyson DC07 for several years.  So those rugs were filled to the brim with years and years of built up deep down dirt.  Especially if vacuumed just once a week.  The reason that a HOOVER with WT technology, even a lightweight, would fill the extra large bags quicker than the others used before. 

Carmine D.

CarmineD wrote:

Do you think you can escape that dig?  The Platinum followed a Kirby, Royal, Hoover Whisper and some in between.

I replaced approximately 250 SQ Ft of carpet with wood flooring.  The carpet had been vacuumed wit the DC07.  The installer said he had never removed carpet ot that age that did not have filth under it.  I only vacuum weekly because we do not have animals in the house.  We do not track in sand or filth.  Most times shoes are removed at the door.  Remember the Orek had a chance and failed (twice).  My carpet always receives compliments for looking clean and visitors are always surprised to learn its age.

Perhaps you could reduce your vacuuming if you left the filth outside.  Of course the BS would still follow you throughout.  How do you dehydrate it enough to vacuum daily?