Vacuum Cleaners Discussions

It's been a while since I've been on Abby's Guide.  I wanted some opinions.  I found a Miele Red Star on Craigslist for $15.00.  I felt like I couldn't get their fast enough to snag it up.  The cover over the bag was damaged so I dropped it off at my local Vac Shop for a replacement.  The cost will be around $120.00.  The Vac Shop guys said that other than the damaged cover this Red Star is in excellent condition and even the power brush looks brand new.  It came from a pet free home so it will definitely be put to the test in my home. 

Was this a good find and is it worth the $120.00 to fix it?  Even though the Red Star is an older model is it one of their good ones?  Any thoughts on how it will hold up to lots of pet hair?  My S7 still works great, but sadly it has gotten that "pet odor" even with the HEPA filter.  Ugh.

Thanks.

Melanie

vacmanuk wrote:

Is that something I can do myself? Melanie

retardturtle1 wrote:

Hi turtle,

The Radiance doesn't necessarily compare with the S7 because we're talking two different machine designs.  A very interesting idea, the Radiance has two motors and two fan systems that work with single dust collection bag.  It has a direct-air set-up that can be boosted by switching in the clean -air system when doing carpeting and floors.  However, if my memory is correct CR had judged its tool suction not all that great.  There was also a post or two by a tech guy here regarding blowback.  I can only assume that the problem was corrected.

The Miele S7 is a standard clean air vac that also uses two motors but only one is responsible for suction delivery. The other only runs the brushroll.  I also own one and like it.  The "run you to the poor house disposable bags" cost a lot but do a great job.

Sebo excels by the way it is so very user manageable without call for special tools.  It is designed so that you can literally knock an upright all the way down and handle a lot of maintenance issues on your own without a trip to your local vac shop for anything other than parts.  The brushroll can be easily pulled out for cleaning or replacement without having to remove or replace a belt to do so.  I can't speak for Riccar but, though I love it,  Miele has made the S7 upright not very accessible to users for anything else than filter and bag changes.  There's a clean-out port at the back of the machine for taking care of clogging.

As for the mothball thing, we're basically talking about the same stuff used in mens rooms to combat odors.  The base product is clear crystals.  I've used them to deodorize some very smelly old vacs and they work.  They're worth a try but I do not advise use of more than a couple of teaspoons of para-dichlorobenzene in any form.

Venson

catlady wrote:

Bless your ever loving animal heart. 

Carmine D.

catlady wrote:
Hi Melanie - yes, of course you can although I'm not quite sure what model the Miele Red Star is as we don't have the names in the UK< only the model numbers. I have an S381 for example and if its the similar model to yours, then it basically means it comes with the detachable hose to the handle by pressing in the locks to release it from the handle. In this way you can remove the hose and judge for yourself if it needs cleaning out simply by smelling it! This is a long process but I apologise if it is long-winded.

There are several ways to "neutralise" both the handle, hose and pipes however you will need the following:

A long blunt stick, usually bamboo can help or a thin enough stick to fit the hose and the pipes. It has to be longer which shouldn't be a problem if you have telescopic height adjustable pipes, or two way friction fit pipes.

Wet wipes such as either 1) Abrasive types or Anti bacterial types or 2) J Cloth which has been sprayed or left overnight so that it is damp to the touch in vinegar, bicarbonate of soda and lemon juice. 2 parts vinegar, 2 parts lemon juice, 2 parts bicarb. Water this mix down and place the J Cloth in it so that it becomes saturated. Wring out the cloth.

Either with the wet wipes or the wrung out J Cloth, put the cloths in at one end of the telescopic or fixed height suction tubes and push up and down until all dirt has been cleaned out. Dry the pipes by sliding a dry J Cloth up and down the pipes to ensure that everything is dry!

The hose should be laid in a bath or a big enough box that is water tight with the solution poured into it, to let it sit for a few days and ensure all dirt has been removed. The smaller handle can either accept the wet mode or the wet wipe/J Cloth method but I'd use a bent coat hanger to get it down the curved part. Ive done the stick method with the hose but in danger of piercing it, it is easier to let it either hang off the shower rail or laid in a bath and let it dry naturally out of the water. A friend of mine tried to tumble dry their vacuum hose in a pillow slip but it had disastrous effects. Don't go there!! If you can, hang up the hose outside and let it air dry naturally or put thin lint material down the hose so that it dries and collects the ribs. With Miele's hose you can stretch it out fully so that each "rib" gets dried but it is a long and laboured duty.

In both procedures always ensure the hose, pipes and handle is completely clean and dry. If you have as many dogs as you say, then the cleaning out of the pipes, hose and handle should be done at least once to twice a month. This will keep your Miele in better condition than just relying on the HEPA filter or Active Air Clean filter. I have to say in defence of the AAC type, HEPA is better at coping with the pet hair pong. It isn't designed to filter out pet hair pong (as Miele would have you believe) but rather neutralise the air from the bag that has the collected general dust/pet hair. Of course all vacuum cleaners, cylinder types should be cleaned out in this way. As Venson has pointed out the beauty of Sebo's X uprights is that they can be chopped down to small pieces of their naturally "building block" style where maintenance can be easily done.

Meanwhile keep adding bicarbonate of soda / soda crystal powder to your dust bag once a week. You don't need a lot, just two teaspoon sizes which will coat the bag, lessen the fill aspect and give the machine a chance to fill the bag with expected household dust and pet hair.

Of course don't just take my advice - this isn't the ultimate advice but I've found it works for me!

vacmanuk wrote:

Hi vacmanuk,

The machine she's having the odor problem with is her S7 upright.  As well the Red Star canister  that's she's just got has an electric power nozzle and an integrally electrified hose I believe.   Submersion in water or over-wetting it internally is not at all advisable for this kind of hose.

Venson

Well if its the S7 upright, the hose and wand part can still be "washed" with wet wipes and then dry wipes pushed up and down the parts to dry the hose and pipes out. As with my cylinder post I have stated that all parts have to be dried.

Venson wrote:

Hi Venson

The s7 is a beautiful machine to say the least...would love to service one and check it out at the shop.

In the case of the riccars/sebo/s7..how do they compair overall in build quality...motors, filtering , electronics  ect. to eachother...

Ive yet to use the radiance i was gifted....as i want to tear it down and do a look over ....working on the radiance is not alot of fun when your at the shop so ill do this one at home and at a leisurly pace....i have the 8 series of this model...used a couple months then returned...and forgotten about. Im not impressed with the tool air-flow/suction either...meager to say the least but customers rave about it and it does well at the shop ...so im eager to see what it can do at home....but all in all i cannot complain one bit about the radiance....it was FREE and im very happy have one....btw''''in your shopping for the s7 did you ever consider the radiance....and what all did you try out....i only ask ask because i love to hear user feedback on any vacuum....thank you for your time venson.

turtle

retardturtle1 wrote:

Hi turtle,

Well, if you check yours out you should see more metal in stategic places.  Here's a link to its page at the Riccar site.  http://www.riccar.com/products/uprights/?prod=RAD

Click on the "Features" link.

In answer to your question, the two main reasons for the Miele S7 purchase was one, to expand my personal knowledge and two, to have it around a while to see what it was like to work with day to day.  I really didn't think you could say much about it without trying it. 

It wan't so much about going out looking to see what was available.  I seldom go shopping online or brick-and-mortar establishments without already having researched the thing I want.  By the time you see me in a store it's more a matter of me looking for what I want at a price I want to pay. 

Miele of course, had been selling uprights all along but for once here was one that wasn't outsourced from Panasonic or elsewhere and was also somewhat different from others of its kind.  Yet, I already had bought the Capricorn canister and needed one more vacuum cleaner like a hole in the head. But -- it just so happened I had a little mad money AND no one to stop me.  I'm glad.  However, being perfectly honest, I would not have bought the S7 unless there'd been a really good price on it.  I got my Tango model at a very, very nice price

I'd seen the Radiance well before this.  Elegant by way of overall style, I loved the look of the brushroll and its "Tandem Air" system was a nice notion I thought.  Then again the direct air part of the deal did not enthuse me much.  All I could think of was the clatter and clang of overlooked coins, paper clips or whatever when they hit the fan.  I hate that.  Pricewise, per Riccar's website,  the Radiance lists at 1,100 bucks and the new Radiance Premium at around I,500.

As for endurance comparisons, re Sebo, Riccar and Miele, I can't say.  I have owned vacuums old and new but tried to take care of them.  The biggest problem for a good vacuum is its owner.  The person who changes the bag or empties the collection bin and also replaces or cleans filters in timely fashion will probably get far more mileage out of the same machine someone else can kill in five years or less. 

Venson

Ive had two repairs on my old Sebo X1 Automatic - the lifetime belt eventually snapped (the previous owner, my Uncle seriously abused this vac) after 13 years and it lasted 2 years more before we sold it on. 15 years isn't bad going; our old Hoover Junior lasted 13 years before that with constant repairs and more money spent on it to the value of the Sebo which had been brought brand new. Having only owned Miele cylinders for the best part of 8 years now, I'd say Sebo and Miele are both considerably longer lasting. However the S7 isn't as easy to break down like the Sebo X models are when it all goes wrong.

vacmanuk wrote:

I only recall one American vacuum series by Shetland-Lewyt that put out a line of canisters back in the day that were "modular" in nature allowing easy removal of motors, etc., for alledgedly easy customer self-maintenance.  The idea being, should a motor fail or some other part of the machine suffer damage, you could simply pop it out or off and replace it with a new one yourself.  Great idea but the series did not last long on the market.  Why, I don't know.

Nilfisk, in my opinion, so far makes some of  the easiest to self-service canisters  though ordering and replacing an entire motor unit is one thing.  Changing motor brushes is more radical, less expensive but best handled by a competent service person.

The S7 has those special screws that require a specific tool to undo them.  My curiosity, for once, is not that great I find.

Venson

.