Vacuum Cleaners Discussions

I can't stand the smells anymore. Carbon filters don't work. Neither do the treated bags. I'm really curious about a few models of bagless power nozzle canisters:

1. LG Kompressor

2. Hoover Windtunnel Bagless. (The silver canister rebadged for Hoover. aka LG Cyking)

3. Hoover Platinum Windtunnel Bagless.

4. Some of the Electrolux bagless canisters.

One thing I've got to have on a canister is a long hose. I just realized the other day that the hand tools to my Miele Capricorn are immaculate. I suppose I never use them because the hose is so short! Any thoughts or recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

Having used none of the above I am not qualified to answer the question on which is better, but would like to comment on the genra as a whole.

If you think that you will eliminate odors going bagless, I am afraid you have been ill advised.  Bagless machines can get odors as well. 

Even though bagless machines don't have bags, they still have filters that need changed periodically; and on some  these filters can be quite expensive.    There are some machines that are the exception, but you do not mention them on your list.   Filter Queen, one of the better "bagless" machines has a filter that needs replaced.  Rainbows use water as their filter media, but they too can get stinky if not properly maintained. 

If you already have a bagged machine that is working, but just are tired of the bags getting odors before it's time to change it.  Would it not be less expensive to keep your machine with the bag and just change the bags more often?  Even a machine with more costly bags, a package of bags is going to be less expensive than a new vacuum. 

Bagged or bagless, a teaspoon or two of baking soda or borax never hurts and save a lot of money over carbon filtering medium. If you opt for a bagless machine look for one with an easily washable dust containers and filters. You won't achieve smell-free cleaning sessions either without a little work or expense. Venson

Venson wrote:

Thanks Venson. I'll try this. Which one do you think works best? Carbon really isn't doing it for me.

I'm not looking for smell-free. It's not realistic. My Dyson dc07 doesn't smeel anything like my Oreck Platinum or my Miele Capricorn. The bags start to reek after 2 weeks. I've gots 4 dogs and a cat, but it takes me more than 2 weeks to fill a bag.

Mister_Bojack wrote:

Really, in my heart of hearts, I like borax better but find it hard to find. It was popular for the wash back in the 50s thanks to Rosemary DeCamp and 20 Mule Team but it is still out there now.

I'm down to zero four-legged animals in my keeping but find that a little bit of baking soda -- cheap, easy to find and you can cook with it, even brush your teeth if you want -- helps keep my Miele Capricorn's exhaust from getting the stinkies if I've nothing else around. You just suck up a little as needed and and you're good to go. Matter, of fact I find buying baking soda a lot more helpful than footing the $30 to $50 bill for Miele odor killing filters.

But . . . remember to use just enough of either substance to solve the problem and not create one.

Venson

Mister_Bojack wrote:

I'm getting a mixed message here???? Your asking about a bagless vacuum because you've "had it with bags"...then you say you already HAVE a Dyson which I assume you know is a bagless vacuum. What are you really saying?

Is is safe to suck up baking soda into a vacuum? (Even if it's a small amount?)

I just bought an Electrolux Renny on Ebay and it's take some time getting used to, but I'm starting to love it. I  that hoping to find something as easy to use as the Kenmore canisters but that's better built.

The thing I notice is that the bags for these are SOOOOO Cheap! I mean you can get a CASE of 100 for less than 50 dollars. They seem to work really well too. I haven't noticed any fine dust in the tank of the vacuum. You could change the bag every time you finish vacuuming almost (but I don't)

I suck up some eucalyptus essential oil on a cotton ball and that works good.

mark40511 wrote:

As long if U have good pre-motor filtration (micron/HEPA filtration bag) its OK.  But if its single or 2-ply bag, baking soda will leak thru.

hooverman wrote:
Not quite. Not all vacuums are the same in this regard - if paper dust bags have an open seal with rubberised corners on the perimeter of the hole, this works well to keep any powder in, like Shake N Vac or soda powder, and of course, the design of the vacuum in question, if the dust channel is made to keep dust in rather than leaking. Ive used single bags and 2 ply and find that the better quality Genuine bags on a lot of uprights and canisters seal the powder in without it leaking. In any regard though, baking powder isn't flammable so it is never going to ignite the motor if it ever comes into contact with it.

I have never used Baking powder in a vacuum or on the carpet, but have used Baking Soda.

Baking soda is not flamable, but it is corrosive.  So if it gets into the motor parts it can corrode bearings, brushes etc.

Just wrote:
Baking powder and baking soda powder are one in the same. The only time it will corrode bearings is if there's any moisture present since baking powder is a salt.

There have been other ways I've experimented instead of using baking powder - crushed up BBQ brickets of pure charcoal act in the same way as Miele's Active Air Clean or HEPA filter. So, even if you add baking powder to a vacuum's dust bag alone in the hope that smells will be minimised, it can help a fair bit - adding charcoal however gives a stronger defence.

Lucky1 wrote:

What am I really saying? Nothing at all. I've submitted a question to the forum and I'm getting good responses, well except for one.

If you read my message <carefully> , you'd see that I was inquiring about bagless canisters. The Dyson dc07 is an upright.

Ok, moving forward.

I tried borax in a new bag last week. so far so good. The mechanics of carbon for odor control was explained to me by a good friend of mine who's background is in organic chemistry. According to him, the reason why carbon baking soda and borax have limited effectiveness is because they neutralize the odors by reacting to the offending odor molecules. Upon this reaction with the odor molecules, the carbon molecules become neutralized as well. I do know that ozone molecules also work in this manner in those electronic ozone machine/air purifiers. Maybe someday we'll have a vacuum cleaner with an ozone generator built in.

Ozone is a pollutant, even those that are designed to eliminate odors in the home come with a caution.  If you have asthma or other breathing problems O3 is not for you.

Ozone as an unstable oxygen will turn to Peroxide when it comes in contact with moisture, including the moist tissue of your lungs.  Now I am sure someone will come up with a pro of breathing pure untreated car exhaust, but I wouldn't want that in my house either.

Y not go 4 a Hoover WindTunnel + Cyclonic U5780-9xx? That'll outclean any Diesoon or Oweck any day Better yet stick 2 bagged vacs like a Compact/TriStar (preferably w/PN 4 best results) there R plenty of them on eBay

There isn't a bagless vacuum made I would ever recommend, even to someone I disliked, because it would become yet another reason to dislike me. To me you might as well just buy an old fashioned shake out bag upright. They are simpler and less trouble overall than any bagless vacuum. I share your low opinion of the Miele. I know this makes me a Philistine to many vacuum enthusiasts but while the quality of their canisters is superb, the hose is just plain miserable, too short as you say, simultaneously too stiff yet easy to kink, no repair parts so if the hose starts to act up you have to buy a whole new hose and Miele attachments are worse than those on old Hoover uprights. If you want a really good canister with a long hose, buy a Kenmore Elite 21814. They have an 8 foot long hose. If you always use the genuine Kenmore Style Q synthetic HEPA dust bag you never have dirt in the bag chamber. Their bags are superb and seal perfectly to the lid where aftermarket copies of the Q bag have thin mounting cards and always leak dust. Use the Kenmore CF-1 pre motor filter with the genuine Q bag and you have filtration equal to anything Miele ever made. The Kenmore 81614 or BC4027 are another great canister with different power nozzles and a 7 foot long hose. Can't really say enough good things about Kenmore canister vacuums. The prices are reasonable, filter and bag prices are humane and they have perhaps the best hand brush in their Pet Powermate, compared to the crappy air driven hand brush Miele sells as an accessory. You can repair anything on them so they are not throw away vacuums. Even the hose can be repaired, every part is available. The Elite series are about the most powerful vacuums sold in the US with huge airflow. If you want a good upright at a reasonable price the Hover Hushtone commercial uprights are a great value. Hover synthetic HEPA bags use a really good material and the inside of the vacuum will stay clean using them. If you have the money a Windsor commercial upright is my preferred choice. They are custodian proof and will last a lifetime in most households. Don't buy the Sebo version with the automatic height adjuster. Too slow to adjust and adds complication. Stick with simple models with manual height adjustment. Again, use their synthetic HEPA dust bags. With these you won't have to deal with dust when emptying the vacuum.

Wrt Bagless vacuums, beware of Miele CX1 models.  They have an internal, hidden HEPA filter that requires major disassembly by an experienced vacuum tech to clean (an entire internal housing must be replaced to change the filter).  As for bag smells, Sebo offers bag deodorizers that work reasonably well.