Vacuum Cleaners Discussions

We just had wool berber wall-to-wall carpeting installed in several rooms of our home. The manufacturer recommends a suction only vacuum, without a beater bar to "avoid excessive fuzzing."
First, is a beater bar and a brush roll the same thing on a vacuum?
And second what's my best bet for a vacuum? We have 700-square-feet of wool berber carpets, 600-square-feet of laminate and 200-square-feet of tile (including stairs) to vacuum. We own two boxers (dogs) that shed short hair and live in a dusty (agricultural) area.
At the recommendation of a local shop we tried out a Miele Titan (with 217 head) with the brush roll on (they're some of the softest brushes according to sales person). We used it for a while on a remnant of our carpet and I noticed what I think is some fuzzing so I worry that with extended use we will really wear into the carpet. Is there anything with some kind of brush roll or option other than straight suction to really get the dog hair up? Or something with enough suction not to worry about it?
The Miele seemed to do a very nice job but we're struggling for an accurate comparison point.

THANK YOU!!!

MBZimm wrote:

Let me answer your questions first:

Beater bar and brush rolls are not the same but frequently used in the vernacular as the same.  The former has metal and plastic bar strips that beat the carpet in addition to brush tufts that sweep the carpet.  The latter has just brush tufts.

There is no other option to pick up dog hair [on rugs] except a brush roll.  Straight suction alone will not suffice.  Have to have a vacuum with a revolving brush [upright and/or canister with a power head and revolving brush].

"Fuzzing" is a natural phenomenon of rugs expecially wool regardless of the vacuum: Straight suction and/or vacuum with brush roll.  It will occur over the first several months of vacuuming regardless of the vacuum type.

Finally, you have an excellent vacuum for the cleaning tasks:  MIELE Titan with the mid size power head and revolving brush.  Ideal.  Not to worry.  Enjoy all four: Wool berber carpets, the MIELE Titan for vacuuming, and the two boxers.  All can live in perfect harmony in the same household.

Carmine D.

Hi Carmine,

   Thank you for your thoughts. We knew fuzzing will be an issue with any rug/carpet and actually like the look/feel but didn't want to encourage wear on the carpet with the vacuum. For great suction power and softest brush roll it sounds like we're on the right track with the mid-size head on a Miele. Any other options that might be better or come close? Spending this much I want to make sure I know what I'm getting is the best for the job.
The shop also has a silver Miele (forget the model) that was discontinued recently (shop guys says because they changed colors basicaly) but it keeps the tools inside (instead of on the hose port), has the slightly larger GN filters and the hose swivels at the handle (which is nice) but even at a small discount it's $150 more. Same head as the Titan. Any worries going with a recently discontinued Miele if for all intents and purposes it's the same vacuum as some of their current offerings?

MBZimm wrote:

Probably the Capricorn.  Excellent choice too.  Not to worry about the discontinuing model.  MIELE supports its products with parts and services forever.  Immer Besser.

Carmine D.

 

Might I add . . .

Berber's big problem is due to its being an uncut  carpet composed of relatively large loops. Revolving brushrolls whacking at the fibers that  these loops are made up of can, little by little, break the strands that compose the weave and and cause the"fuzzing" or "pilling" you mentioned.

My suggestion is this -- compromise.

Personally, I'd take the Miele and power nozzle but would also purchase an adapter to allow use of standard (generic) one-and-one-fourth-inch tools.  I'd then purchase an inexpensive straight-suction rug nozzle with a medium-firm brush strip (no serrations, no combs) from my dealer for a run over my Berber carpeting every couple of days or so and limit my use of the power nozzle to maybe once or twice a week. Miele makes a nice dual-purpose nozzle for rugs and bare floors but it costs around $75.00 and I think that's ridiculous.  (I actually bought one just to see what it was.)

If you do not have heavy trafffic on your carpet and doggy fur is you're major concern, straight suction may be fine though you may need to apply a little elbow grease here and there.  The power nozzle's purpose is to dislodge gritty dirt before too much of it sinks too far down in carpeting and does damage.  This requires vigorous action.  The heavier your traffic the more you should straight -suction  vacuum between uses of the power nozzle (also necessary) to maintain your Berber's original look.  Berber rugs are of a lucious design but suffer all the same problems all rugss do when grit and dirt become ensconced down at the backing of the carpet.  The better Miele power nozzle has several height adjustments. Set it only low enough to maintain steady contact with the carpet but no lower.

Venson

Well, I've been there with new Berber wall to wall carpets and the best thing I used for two years was a bagless upright vacuum. Not the most expensive model and something fairly basic like the Dirt Devil Dynammite mini upright. That model has a brush bar with plastic "beater" like bars. For the carpets it was superb as I was going through ONE sebo 5 litre dust bag per month plus dog hair. The beauty of bagless is that you can simply empty whenever the bin is needing to be emptied, no bags to waste and thus no money wasted.

I would definately recommend buying a cheap mini upright vacuum like the Dirt Devil first and also consider the Miele. It will be enough to get rid of pet hair alone and the fuzzing / top carpet surface fuzz. Also watch the electric brush on Miele. It may have a large floor head but the dust channel at the back can clog with fuzz, especially Berber type and that can be annoying to have to constantly clean it out.

Vacmanuk and Venson raise interesting points.  While your carpets are still new before shutting off the vacuum when you are finished cleaning, allow the vacuum to run for a minute or 2 with the nozzle/brush roll head off the carpet.  This will allow the "fuzz" and rug nap to be picked up and pulled all the way through the cleaning path into the bag.

Carmine D.

So, seems like Miele Titan at $550 is our best bet, over the discontinued Jubilee (silver model) at $750?

Is there anything as soft on berber that's cheaper??? I have little to no doubt either is a great vacuum but this is a lot for us to spend right now!

MBZimm wrote:

MIELE Jubilee S5281 discontinued:  Retails between $800-$900.  But generally comes standard with the SEB 217 too just like the Titan.  If you are on a budget, the MIELE Titan at $550 is the better value.  If not, the MIELE Jubilee for $750 is the best buy IMHO.

MBZimm wrote:
Get a mini bagless upright first and see how you fare! You can always hang onto it for emergencies or sell it on later. You'll be wasting bags with the carpet fluff you accomodate.

vacmanuk wrote:
Which mini bagless do you suggest? And although I'll go through more bags, won't I still spend less on bags than a mini vac and get the benefit of both surface and deep cleaning at the same time if I just decide which canister to go with?