Vacuum Cleaners Discussions

Ignoring my other post about canisters, I am looking for a Christmas gift for Mom.. She is getting older now and is having trouble in the strength department... She still lugs her Kirby g3 around the house, but is wanting something for the downstairs bedrooms... After listening to her describe what she hates about all of the vacuums I have brought to her here is what I need to find:

A bypass upright with the motor in the head and not the neck, no on board attachments and has the ability to go under beds..

Does such an animal exist? I'd give her my oreck that I have but the brush roll is so soft compared to the others that it really won't separate the nap and clean the floors...

Thanks in advanced!

Sebos are the only brand that fit that description but can be a little expensive. 

If you hadn't said "by-pass" I'd have suggested the direct-air Oreck or the Hoover Platinum bagged vac.  The Oreck XL Pilot and Oreck Insight did well as does the The Hoover Platinum bagged which can be found teamed with a portable vac for above the floor stuff plus bare floors.  I've used the Hoover upright and portable and they do nicely.  Even better they run cheaper in price than the same kind of set up from Oreck.

How often does your mother vacuum and does she have a lot of traffic?  If she doesn't have a lot of traffic your Oreck might be just fine for her. You might even inquire at an Oreck dealer to learn if there's a firmer brushroll that will fit your machine.

Venson

I was thinking about that after I posted and maybe the bypass isn't a requirement as much as it would be to get weight off the body/neck so there isn't much weight on the arm. I was looking at the hoover platinum bagged vac and really liked what I was reading.

She really doesn't have a lot of traffic, just a lot of lint and what not since the laundry facilities are down where the bedrooms are.

Are the riccar/simplicity lightweights (freedom and what have you) worth their beans in anything?

jkbmmv wrote:

The Riccar Supralites and Simplicity Freedom get great ratings and user reviews. The only disadvantage, for what they are, is the noise level.  How bothersome that is depends upon the individual user.  Other than that, Riccar/Simplicity machines are sold by independent vac stores meaning price may be negotiable allowing them to be competitive as the MSRP is a little up there for a lightweight meant only to handle flooring. 

Note the Hoover Platinum bagged vac weighs in at about thirteen pounds and the Riccar and Simplicity at about nine.

Venson

Dont forget Venson though, SEBO may be expensive but the alternative is the SEBO based Windsor Sensor uprights, usually cheaper as they are based on the older X1 Auto (the one we had for 15 years.) Comes with tools and a wand, but you don't have to use it.

vacmanuk wrote:

Point well taken vacmanuk, but I think cost is an essential issue in buying especially with with the problems we're having here. 

When I had the money -- and steady work -- I bought my Mieles despite, even then, their meaning a disproportunate stretch of the budget.  However, if I had to replace a vacuum now there's no way per budget I could swing a like purchase without seriously messing up money needed for other basic but very necessary things.  The person asking has stated he's pulling three jobs.  I couldn't in good conscience recommend other than what appears conveniently affordable.   That's why I didn't even bother to mention Miele when he spoke of the "command control" he'd like to have on a canister vac.  Miele is best in show but can definitely be lived without if you have to.

Being perfectly honest, I see a decent vacuum as an essential for any household. Yet, in mine, if a replacement machine is called for I'll be buying a good refurb or used item. 

Best,

Venson

Don't let the 3 jobs fool you. I don't have the patience to do anything for too long of a time. They are all part time jobs throughout the week to just give a bit of variety. If I had just one full time job I'd go nuts doing the same thing over and over.

Now, as far as what I was looking for with this, I had 3 Windsor XP12 machines and she didn't like them because there was too much weight on the handle when she used them. Same with my Simplicity 6 series. She had a few wal-mart specials that she bought and didn't like them because they had everything on the neck/bodies and they were heavy. When I brought the supralite she actually seemed intrigued.. I think our only complaint about the machine _is_ the noise... Why would they make the machines so noisy? I mean since they are direct air machines the exhaust goes through the bag so why can't the motors be a bit more muffled? If I remember correctly, I had a post a few years ago about this very issue with commercial orecks... I wonder if a bit of dynamat on the underside of the housing would help? I guess its just a concern with her house because the noise actually echos... Oh well, I have until the middle of January to return the machine if its not tolerable.

As far as the Miele machines, I thought the s7 was the *only* actually made-in-house machine? Not that I wouldn't mind having an s7 upright if I had more carpets, but still? I did actually look at Miele first before I went with the Riccar... The prices really weren't much different, but I am wondering if this is gonna be like the whole Dyson thing, a European vacuum sold in America.. Now to my other post for the remainder of this post...

jkbmmv wrote:
Well if your mom doesn't like the XP12, she's going to hate the Miele S7. Too bulky, too big and its quite a chore turning the handle from left to right. Early models in the UK suffered from handles breaking off.

Lol, no, I wanted the s7. I thought they were impressive machines when they came out.. But then again, I liked the xp12... :/

What about the Sebo Felix or its commercial twin, the Windsor Axxcess?

Hoover WindTunnel Air

XXX VortecCyclonic (a. k. a. Hoover WindTunnel "killer")

Bissell Easy Vac

Eureka Litespeed (Comes either bagged or bagless)

All have on-board tools

hooverman wrote:
Out of all of them, the Hoover Windtunnel Air is going to be longer lasting on the filtration factor - I know, I have tried them all - the Eureka Litespeed is far from "Lite," and needs plenty of screws to undo if the belt breaks and came to the UK under the name of Electrolux Glider Bagless Z5740. The Windtunnel Air is similar to the Vax Mach Air I own - its very plasticky but the U.S get a standard extra long hose that we have to pay out for - it's the most modern vac out of the three listed here and has a lifetime belt as well as brush roll on/off function and washable filters. I had forgotten all about the Air model to be honest.





The Bissell Easy Vac is far from easy - easy to push yes but removal of the dust cartridge and secondary filters are messy - emptying isn't a chore but putting everything back can be - and like the Eureka/Electrolux, has a paper cone that needs to be brushed clean to keep the suction from weakening. Also uses belts that have to be replaced and no brush stop function.

Hi, I was considering the very same factors when buying a vacuum cleaner for my mom. Unfortunately similar factors are true for the health department so when choosing was making sure that the operation and the transportation of the appliance will be effortless. Wanted to make sure she doesn't have to bend down to pull the electricity plug every time she leaves a room and enters a new one, also the vacuum cleaner itself had to be as light as possible. After long research and product review reading sessions I settled with the Hoover Linx cordless vacuum cleaner which satisfies all the previously set needs just fine. My mother also likes it, however she is telling me that the battery doesn't last so long and she thinks it lost from it's battery life some more since we bought it. Will buy a new battery when the battery life drops so much, that she can't finish vacuuming the house in one charge.

Glad you found something at last!

imot wrote:
What I suggest when someone purchases a battery operated "stickvac" is to purchase an extra battery.  In this way, the user can change the battery and continue vacuuming, while the other battery is being charged.  There is no need to wait for a fully charged battery.  I have no idea of how large your mother's home is, so cannot judge if she needs an extra battery.  I also have no idea of the age of her HOOVER Linx.

For future info, there are some pretty good lightweight upright vacuum cleaners w/long cords.

Oreck Magnesium can be the best for your mom as it is light weight but it is very good for removing trapped dirt and pet hair from carpet. it is good to carry and you can easily handle it.

Curious if you considered any canister vacuums? All she would have to handle is the weight of the wand and a powered floor brush, which is going to be less than that of any upright. The primary weight sits on the floor and rolls around on wheels. Just a thought.