Vacuum Cleaners Discussions

http://www.appliancist.com/vacuum_cleaners/electrolux-silence-amplified-musical-vacuum-cleaner-ipod-vacuum.html Electrolux have launched a cylinder vacuum cleaner with an Ipod Dock!! Frankly I like the noise of my vacuum. Perhaps this model has a loud motor?! Also: http://www.appliancist.com/vacuum_cleaners/ This model and quite a few "new" European models due to be launched in various parts of Europe soon such as the new "Ease" uprights from Electrolux, only betitled because they are bagless cyclonic uprights fitted with an auto rewinding cable. What will Electrolux think up next? We had auto cord rewinding uprights in the UK back in the 1970s!

Well, I've already done a video about my Miele S6240 Ecoline and I'm about to do one on the Felix.

Hey - did you know John Lewis are now selling an X4 Excel? Same model, different colour (blue and silver):






Since you're the Dyson fan - can you confirm whether a Dyson upright could ever pick up coins and bolts through its floor head? I've never tried in fear of it breaking. I know that both the X and Felix can, and has done whenever I've cleaned homes with them.

The problem with the X series is that there is no manual switch off beater bar - that comes down to the Felix or the powered K3 Vulcano which has a longer hose than the Premium model. But when it comes to daily cleaning I use the X series above anything else - small clean ups either with the canister or the Felix. The Felix is more apt for a small flat or kitchen duty with its top hose and roller brush stop function. Plus, the tools are always ready to hand and the Felix gets around chair legs and slides under with no problems. The X series does have a problem with very thick carpeting. I have wool and thick wool looped carpeting and my X doesn't get confused - but a few owners of really thick carpeting (you could lose a pen or pencil in for example) have had problems with the X series.

Aside from that I just don't like the Miele S7 at all - it's too big, bulky and for all that it is blessed with variable suction control, the size of the machine put me off straight away. If you've got a mansion of home, the S7 will feel quite at home, however. I was given a demo model and only kept it for 6 months, selling it off the moment I could. I found it hard to vacuum up quickly despite its power - and having to manually step on the pedal to elevate the floor head on and off different height rugs really annoyed me no end - as you know with the X's the auto head adjustment does all that work for you, but you have to give it a couple of seconds each time to sense the floor nap.

Gaining access into the brush head is also a bit of a nuisance with the S7 - it doesn't have a brush roll release like the Sebo. I would strongly recommend getting the X1.1 which is just as good as the X4 but has lower power. In each case I haven't noticed much of a difference, really and a good bargain to be had with many owners getting rid of their X1.1's for the more modern looking X4.

Whereas the S7 is more modern, full of little modern features, has a wonderful hose and height adjustable tubes, it is bigger, bulkier and can be difficult to maintain. The dust bag door is also pretty thin on quality compared to Sebo's X which is simpler and ultimately, faster at pick up (I find anyway!).

I think I saw that youtube video, look forward to seeing the Felix one! Yes I did meant to say, I saw it in a John Lewis Home Store just after Christmas, John Lewis said it replaces the X4 Blue and Yellow Model same model but as you say just different colour, and new name!! They where selling off the old stock of the Extra but was only £10 or so cheaper! I can say from the Dyson's I did own, I've vacuumed up coin and nails and it never effected them. Nothing broke at all, I done that with the DC04, DC07 and DC15. Even done this with the DC05. The DC04 it 'clattered' around a bit first. Thanks for your info and views on the SEBO X and Miele S7 much appreciated. I know what you mean about the S7 I tried on in John Lewis, big and heavy. Miele are offering 10 year warranty on all S7 purchased before 31st March 2012 via claim online! I wish the SEBO X would have variable suction control and brushbeater bar switch off. That would take it to a new level in terms of versatility Must admit the Felix is very flexible, and lies flat which Dyson Uprights don't (well the DC03 did!!) to get under furniture. Not everyone wants to get the hose and attachments out every time when just doing a general clean! The SEBO X does look easy to maintain (self maintenance) and cheaper to run and maintain compared to the Miele S7. Now you say the X1.1 looks a good choice as I now have the extension hose for my Felix which should fit the X. The X would be ok on my carpets. The only negative I tend to read about the X is using the hose for stairs or above floor cleaning the machine can tend to tip over, that doesn't put me off! There is some bargains sometimes on ebay for the X! I emailed SEBO last year to say I'm very impressed with their vacuums and think they are so underrated and need to be promoted more. I had a nice reply back from them. Whats your view on the filtration between the X and S7? Loads of reviews and opinions say the S7 has better filtration than the X. But I always thought the SEBO X (and all other SEBO's) had outstanding filtration, hospital standard!?

Thanks for letting me know you saw the video. I'm useless when it comes to talking...I do writing so much better!

Well... the X series basic microfilter doesn't do well with pet hair -the Charcoal filter is so much better and keeps back the odour.

A few years ago I picked up what I thought was suspicious just from the cheap price of a badly abused Sebo X4 from Gumtree in Edinburgh. The seller was a bit alarmed when I innocently asked if I could switch it on at first and when I did, by golly the smell of dog that came out of it was appalling. I eventually haggled and got the price down from £70 to £40 because of the smell. The owner had had the Sebo for at least 4 years and it had barely been cleaned internally. It took me about a week to clean out the X internally and the hose had to be replaced as the old one just stank too much and I suspect at some point, excrement had been picked up that had been wedged into the coils of the hose.

For a year the X4 had to have a Charcoal filter fitted - even after my expert cleaning and taking apart everything, the X4 still had an aura of dog emanating through it. Now, 2 years on since purchase and with a microfilter fitted, the X4 no longer smells of dog, but fresh clean expelled air comes into the room after vacuuming. I think the machine just needed a year with a Charcoal fitted and a new hose to get a nice smell from it - and SEBO hoses are hardly expensive if you consider Ebay! Compared to the S7 where you have the option to upgrade the simpler Super Air Clean to Active AIr Clean or HEPA (and I'll point out that the AAC filter is made for pets and smokers and does well enough without having to buy the more expensive HEPA) the free Super Air clean copes until three or four of the dust bags are used and then a dank smell comes out of the machine. If you are a pet owner, the charcoal filters on both the S7 and X are crucial.

The S7 is a fantastic vacuum - if you have all day to clean and a slow life - but as I said previously, it is bulky (and you've found that out yourself) and some of the parts and design are questionable for what you've shelled out for. Now for stair cleaning with the X series, if there's a main step where the X can sit against, it can use that step as a stabiliser whilst you stretch the extension hose and put the hard end into the straight X wand. The beauty of the hose is that you can actually let the extension drop around the base of the X and curve it around - this seems to give a bottom weight to the hose in use and prevents the Sebo from falling over as much. You're only losing a couple of inches of stretch but the extension hose will pull out quite well - I find anyway and I have a 10 year old extension hose!

Where warranties are concerned, I will warn you now that Miele UK don't always stand by their guarantee and the S7 had initial quality problems when it first landed in the UK. Also we never had a guarantee with our old X1 Automatic Grey and black model that went for 15 years of utterly reliable service until I had to replace one other drive belt that was utterly my fault when the original one broke (another model worth looking out but only struggles if you fit a pet hair turbo brush on the end of the hose as the motor lacks the stepped gearbox that the more modern X1.1 and X4/X5 has that won't shut off automatically - also avoid the white X1 Automatic as it only has 850 watts and can struggle towards the end of the bag with poor suction.)

Whatever current X model you choose, it is simpler and faster to use, even if you have to give it a couple of seconds for it to adjust to the floor. If you don't, it won't pick up the first time when moving forward, but thereafter as it senses and adjusts automatically, it will pick up. Compared to the Felix, I prefer using the X for above the floor cleaning and carpet care - the Felix is a great kitchen/small flat vac that I've always kept by. Sorry this answer is so elaborate but I feel it's important given the prices of the S7 and X.

Personally though, if you're happy with your Felix, why would you want to change to an X?? I will admit that when I bought the Felix, I also bought a spare plastic handled wand from an Ebay seller. I figured that it would be more practical to keep both the extension hose and the spare wand - and I was proved right. Although SEBO produce a straight plastic tube which in theory gives the Felix extended reach, the X wand with a handle is so much more comfortable as well as pretty ideal for inserting excess hose into and then using the wand to point and suck up dust.

Your welcome, sometimes talking is not always necessary the video was fine. Thanks for the tip regarding the micro filter and pet hair, might upgrade my Felix with the Charcoal Filter as I'm, getting a puppy soon! That was a very good bargain you got on that X4, good for you. Your hard work paid off then clean 'smelling' X4 in good working order. It amazes me now how some people treat vacuum cleaners even today and the state they can get in and what they use them to pickup, and they still expect them to work 100% without any TLC! Glad you rescued that X4! Its good that the Charcoal filter removed the animal smells so you could fit the standard micro filter again. I like the idea you can upgrade and or down grade (if you can call it that!) the filters on the SEBO & Miele vacuums I like that idea, you can not do that on a Dyson (although most of the newer models come with HEPA filters as standard). Yes I did find the S7 big, heavy and bulky but sort of light to use. I agree some of the parts like the bag compartment door is flimsy compared to the SEBO X one. Thats a very good tip on stair cleaning with the X thanks for that tip. Must remember that if I get one! Thanks for the heads up regarding Miele warranty good to get another opinion for someone else. Thats what I like about the SEBO they seen to last and are built to with out any problems, or minimal. Thats good to know about the X1, thought that had a 1000 watt motor! Yes I agree the X is a simpler easy to use and quick, I thought that when I tested one in John Lewis. I noticed that when I was testing the X with the automatic height adjuster. I do love my Felix but I miss not having a full size vacuum so to speak that has a flexible hose connected to a wand to do quick above floor cleaning thats where the X appeals to me. I have thought about buying a straight wand for the Felix now I have the extension hose but its the fact i would have to get that attachment out to use it where as the X wand and hose are there to hand!

Well, when my video about the Felix is being done, it will be shown with the extension hose and a few optional accessories I find better to use for my cleaning needs. Good luck with whatever you choose - just remember the original all white X1 Automatic has an 850 watt model, the rarer grey/black floor head model has 1000 watts. The latter one at 1000 watts is better value on power but again if need to use a mini turbo brush, the more modern X1.1 and X4 are a better bet. Like you, I'd also like to see a variable suction dial and a brush on/off function with the X series. I've mentioned it, I've emailed the company but they're happy with the X range and may well be renamed "Classic" in later years if they do try out a newer more modern upright vac. When you see the D series against the Miele S5 cylinder/canister, Sebo will get there in the end to produce something a bit more modern, but it's all a question of when...

Look forward to seeing your Felix video. Thanks and thanks again for the tips on the SEBO X series probably go for the X1.1 or the X4! That would be nice to see the X series updated to have variable suction dial and to turn the brush bar onoff, may be they will in time. Unless they see the Felix as a modern version of the X! May be they have an X replacement in the pipe line but like you say a question of when! Or may be they do not! It good to speak to another SEBO fan there doesn't seem many of us, like I said to SEBO UK the brand is so unrated and need to be promoted more IMO! Be interesting to see what SEBO will do if this european law comes in with regards to limiting motor wattage!

By the way the 'new' motors in the Felix you mentioned do you know when they launch? Are they planning a new Felix Line up or just fitting the new motor to the current range do you know?

The current 2012 models on sale now definately have the upgraded motor - earlier 2011 models may well have them too. Apparently they are a little quieter, but more importantly don't produce much air thrust.

vacmanuk wrote:
Just been alerted to day that the only way of identifying the new models is if you remove the filter at the bottom of the bin and shine a torch into the motor vent - older Felix motors use Ametek Italia motors - the newer ones dont have anything written on them other than B/S/H written to the side. UK bound models may have new serial numbers that begin with "X" or "Y".

Panasonic have at last updated some of their bagged upright vacuums, but this model uses a 3.5 litre dust bag and is priced close to the SEBO Felix:

Panasonic MC-UG614:
5.9Kg
Swivel head and 2 motor system.
7 metre cord
Tool kit
Mini turbo brush
hard floor to carpet adjuster/on/off.
3.5 litre capacity bag, 1900 watt, 250 air watts (Claimed).

I demo'd one in the John Lewis where they are selling and it's a good-ish model. Has variable suction on the handle just like the Felix. Difficult to get around furniture due to its 14" floor head though.