I;d like to buy my fiance a vacuum...any suggestions?

[thefed]

We have gone thru countless 50-80 dollar wal-mart vacuums. I think several things contribute to this: 1) my fiance is a clean-A-HOLIC, vacuumin at least 2x/day 2) we have 2 cats and a dog to clog things up 3) the vacuums are cheap...recently weve been geting a year or so out of the 40 dollar Bissell at wally world


She has very few requests

Bagless

Under 200 bucks

Vacuums on hard floors well.

Doesnt blow forward (they all have little vents to blow out the stream of air created by the motor....and some blow forward and push stuff away from the vacuum while doing hardwood floors)


Any suggestions? Epinions is making me crazy as I try to sift through 1000 vacuums

 

[bssc]

We got a Dyson animal with the BBB 20% coupon and some gift certificates. Of course, it was still a little above your $250 but it was well worth it since we have five cats. Make up the difference as a gift.

 

[VoyT]

Check Consumer Reports ... they did a comparison not long ago, and methinks they rated the Eurkea Boss very highly.

 

[Achiever51]

We too have the Dyson Animal -- bought it at Home Depot during one of their sales and I think we paid around $350. Very powerful, well designed, worth every penny! (Home of three dogs and a cat, BTW.)

(Previously, I had more vacuums than I can count -- including Oreck, Bissell, Dirt Devil, Hoover, Kenmore. All worked well at first, but were not durable.)

 

[cute fuzzy bunny]

Another business segment overwhelmed by marketing vs actual product performance. And where curiously, destination marketing works well.

The eureka boss models and several hoover windtunnel models top the objective ratings, have superior suction, and meet your price criteria. We use the hoovers as they come self propelled, but its been my experience in having bought four and returning two that the quality of this maytag subsidiaries product has followed maytag down the drain. Hence I'd recommend the Eureka.

I'd point out that most of the expensive vacuums like kirby, dyson and oreck always end up in the middle of the ratings pack at best, but that'd probably start a fight. Oops. They're good vacuums, well made, will do a good job. But I dont think you're getting a good value for your dollar.

Claims of "Never loses suction!", like "made with lump crabmeat!" need further analysis as to the quality of the original suction (and predominance of crab meat).

Be equally cautious of the various subjective "comparison tests". The primary one being to throw dirt on the floor, vacuum with your old tired vacuum and then again with a new one. Emptying your old vacuum and re-suctioning will probably get a bunch of extra stuff up, and getting a new model of your old vacuum will probably also produce pretty good results.

Lastly, I love bagless too but the bag vacuums have better suction and emissions than most of the bagless ones. I found a cheap source of bags and bought 3 years worth for $25.

Amazon.com: Eureka 5902BVZ The Boss Upright Vacuum: Home & Garden
Amazon.com: Eureka 4870GZ Boss Smart-Vac Upright Vacuum: Kitchen & Housewares
Amazon.com: Hoover U5725-960 TurboPower 6500 Windtunnel Bagless Upright Vacuum: Home & Garden

This is the one we have (well, two of them...one for upstairs and one for downstairs). Only vac my wife will let me buy. The carpet/floor button tends to break off after 2 years, not recommended for fine hardwood floors as the self propel is very vigorous and may spin the wheels and scratch the floor, and if you adjust the height too low the self propel belt may break when it and the brush belt become overloaded trying to both move the vacuum and grind the cleaning brush into the carpet.

But once you get the carpet height right and keep it off the hardwood, its an effortless vacuum experience.
Amazon.com: Hoover U6616-900 WindTunnel Self Propelled Bagless Upright: Office Products

I'll also put in a good word for refurbished vacuums. Buy from a reputable source like the factory or amazon. I've gotten a refurb from Overstock and it was also good, but have heard that people have had trouble with receiving clearly well used vacuums from overstock. Most of the refurbs i've bought over the years from Fry's, amazon or factory direct appeared and operated as new.

This one is also a reasonable contender, its made using older generation Dyson technology if you're all hot and bothered about that. The primary difference as I understand it from a friend who is an expert in these things (yeah, and he finds computer stuff equally boring) is that the tip of the suction/cyclone nozzles is a little different and if you dont empty the cannister when you're supposed to and overfill it, the unit may lose suction quicker than the newer design. Hey! I thought these things didnt lose suction!
Hoover Mach3 Cyclonic Upright Bagless Vacuum - Wal-Mart

The Mach 5 has also been very well recommended and is a clone of more recent dyson technology, and the bissell healthy home is also often given thumbs up by the pro's as perhaps an even better version of 'dyson' technology. But the bissell is a little over your price range.
Amazon.com: Bissell 5770 Healthy Home Bagless Upright Vacuum: Office Products

 

[DangerMouse]

Hey TheFed, are you always such a romantic devil, buying your fiance household appliances? (please note this is not a criticism as I know she has asked for this applianced) Make sure you surprise her and when you give her the vacuum give her a bunch of flowers or a box of chocolates and let her know you appreciate that she is so meticulous with her vacuuming. It's those unexpected little gifts that mean so much.

BTW every woman's site I have ever belonged to, when this question comes up, the Dyson Animal is always the winner, even though it is over your suggested price tag.

 

[Webzter]

Consumer Reports put a bagged Kenmore model first on their most recent best buy list.

We own that one and a Dyson Animal. We own carpet that you can't use a beater bar on it... the Dyson has worked the best by far, but we just use the hand tool and the mattress attachment (they sent us one for free, it doesn't come with said attachment). However, the Kenmore, which was half as much, works amazingly well on the basement where we can use a beater bar.

 

[cute fuzzy bunny]

Hey TheFed, are you always such a romantic devil, buying your fiance household appliances?

I have a buddy who bought his girlfriend a red dust buster for valentines day. He thought this was a pretty smooth idea.

IIRC, that didnt work out very well for him. In fact, ten years later (and nine and a half after they broke up) whenever I mentioned something I was getting for someone she'd always retort "Its better than a #$%$ing red dust buster!"

 

[bright eyed]

what i've wondered about the consumer reports vs. dyson debate is if the CR testing only used new vacuums and thus the loss of suction factor was not factored well? do they have someone use the vac's for 6 mths and then test?

just wondering...i'm reluctant to buy the hype too and hey, i've already confessed my lack of exuberance over cleaning, but i'd just like to know the facts anyway!

or if in fact the dyson is not as fab vs. it's competitors, perhaps the competitors need a smarty pants w/ a brit accent to market their products! (bet you that's been discussed in those ad mtgs...)

 

[thefed]

Another business segment overwhelmed by marketing vs actual product performance. And where curiously, destination marketing works well.

The eureka boss models and several hoover windtunnel models top the objective ratings, have superior suction, and meet your price criteria. We use the hoovers as they come self propelled, but its been my experience in having bought four and returning two that the quality of this maytag subsidiaries product has followed maytag down the drain. Hence I'd recommend the Eureka.

I'd point out that most of the expensive vacuums like kirby, dyson and oreck always end up in the middle of the ratings pack at best, but that'd probably start a fight. Oops. They're good vacuums, well made, will do a good job. But I dont think you're getting a good value for your dollar.

Claims of "Never loses suction!", like "made with lump crabmeat!" need further analysis as to the quality of the original suction (and predominance of crab meat).

Be equally cautious of the various subjective "comparison tests". The primary one being to throw dirt on the floor, vacuum with your old tired vacuum and then again with a new one. Emptying your old vacuum and re-suctioning will probably get a bunch of extra stuff up, and getting a new model of your old vacuum will probably also produce pretty good results.

Lastly, I love bagless too but the bag vacuums have better suction and emissions than most of the bagless ones. I found a cheap source of bags and bought 3 years worth for $25.

Amazon.com: Eureka 5902BVZ The Boss Upright Vacuum: Home & Garden
Amazon.com: Eureka 4870GZ Boss Smart-Vac Upright Vacuum: Kitchen & Housewares
Amazon.com: Hoover U5725-960 TurboPower 6500 Windtunnel Bagless Upright Vacuum: Home & Garden

This is the one we have (well, two of them...one for upstairs and one for downstairs). Only vac my wife will let me buy. The carpet/floor button tends to break off after 2 years, not recommended for fine hardwood floors as the self propel is very vigorous and may spin the wheels and scratch the floor, and if you adjust the height too low the self propel belt may break when it and the brush belt become overloaded trying to both move the vacuum and grind the cleaning brush into the carpet.

But once you get the carpet height right and keep it off the hardwood, its an effortless vacuum experience.
Amazon.com: Hoover U6616-900 WindTunnel Self Propelled Bagless Upright: Office Products

I'll also put in a good word for refurbished vacuums. Buy from a reputable source like the factory or amazon. I've gotten a refurb from Overstock and it was also good, but have heard that people have had trouble with receiving clearly well used vacuums from overstock. Most of the refurbs i've bought over the years from Fry's, amazon or factory direct appeared and operated as new.

This one is also a reasonable contender, its made using older generation Dyson technology if you're all hot and bothered about that. The primary difference as I understand it from a friend who is an expert in these things (yeah, and he finds computer stuff equally boring) is that the tip of the suction/cyclone nozzles is a little different and if you dont empty the cannister when you're supposed to and overfill it, the unit may lose suction quicker than the newer design. Hey! I thought these things didnt lose suction!
Hoover Mach3 Cyclonic Upright Bagless Vacuum - Wal-Mart

The Mach 5 has also been very well recommended and is a clone of more recent dyson technology, and the bissell healthy home is also often given thumbs up by the pro's as perhaps an even better version of 'dyson' technology. But the bissell is a little over your price range.
Amazon.com: Bissell 5770 Healthy Home Bagless Upright Vacuum: Office Products

super info here, thanks

i was almost sold on the eureka , but i see that many reviewers rated it under par for hardwoods...



hmmm

 

[thefed]

I have a buddy who bought his girlfriend a red dust buster for valentines day. He thought this was a pretty smooth idea.

IIRC, that didnt work out very well for him. In fact, ten years later (and nine and a half after they broke up) whenever I mentioned something I was getting for someone she'd always retort "Its better than a #$%$ing red dust buster!"

i

i woulda been gone long ago if this was the case with her. for xmas she got a toaster, can opener, handheld vacuum, and coffee maker...lol but she asked for it

 

[Moemg]

How are the dyson's on hardwood floors

 

[Danny]

We have a conventional Hoover and also a Roomba Discovery. We rarely use the Hoover(boring and too much work), use the robot everyday...gets stuck occasionally, but I really like turning it on, going out to golf and finding it back on its recharger ready to go again for a different part of the house. Not that powerful, but entertaining - it goes "oh, oh" when it gets stuck, and does a little triumphant ditty when done. Consider it part of the family now.

 

[bright eyed]

seems like there are a few roomba supporters round here...given all the hullaballoo about suction etc, seems like the roomba would not be able to clean as well as some of the top tier candidates that cfb listed? is the convenience the kicker here?

 

[JohnEyles]

If you REALLY loved her, you would get your ass under the
house installing a CENTRAL vacuum unit. Might also
ultimately be easier on your nerves if she's into vacuuming
multiple times per day ...

 

[Webzter]

How are the dyson's on hardwood floors

Get a microfiber dustmop for $15 at Target instead. You'll be way happier

 

[cute fuzzy bunny]

I find the Roomba terrible. Its fine for scraping a little hair off the top of the carpet but it has no appreciable suction. Super for hardwood floors providing you have no rugs of any kind, especially ones with tassels, and no furniture or cabinets that it can wedge under.

My old one worked great on my expansive hardwood floors in the old mcmansion, but I had to go 'free' it 3-4 times during its run around the house. And it squeals and beeps with great regularity while its stuck.

Annoying. Interesting. Cool technology. Not a great problem free cleaning tool unless your needs are specific.

perhaps the competitors need a smarty pants w/ a brit accent to market their products! (bet you that's been discussed in those ad mtgs...)

Oh yes, thats key. Like I said, I find it hard to believe a company managed to create a destination marketing product that sits in your closet most of the time.

I've always said that i'm quite impressed with the guy with the english accent, but I'd be more impressed if he came to my house and cleaned it.

Its a fine vacuum with an interesting technology that works well. But if thats what you want, buy a mach 3 or mach 5, based on nearly identical technology, or a one of the lesser known 24 nozzle Shark products that has a superior root technology basis...and save yourself $200-400.

In the meanwhile, a number of objective testers other than CR have come up with the same approximate findings...the Kirby, Oreck, and Dyson products are very good but expensive performers in both suction and hair removal and well exceeded by a number of far cheaper products.

The Kenmores, Eureka Boss and Windtunnels always seem to top out the ratings. Kenmores are spendy though.

Dysons are about the easiest bagless to empty, but the tools on some models are REALLY hard to use.

Check this fatwallet thread. It'll take a little patient reading but at several points some really good information is doled out.
Hoover MachX Series and Fusion Vacuums (Possible Dyson Clones) at Wal*Mart for $98.88 & $168.44 !!!

 

[Sue J]

I just bought one of these -
Kenmore 25513 Progressive Canister Vacuum with True HEPA Filtration, Red Pepper at Sears.com

We have mostly hardwood floors and my favorite vacuum had just died. We also have a few carpeted rooms and my upright vacuum had been falling apart for a while and I got fed up with that one, too.

The advantage of the canister vac is that this one has a powered head (brush and suction) and then you can easily take that head off and use the floor brush on the wood floors. It comes with all the attachments including a mini powered head for furniture and steps.

So far I'm pleased with it and it's a lot easier to push around on carpet than the upright.

After having bags and bagless, I prefer to use bags. I thought the bagless was such a great idea until I had to empty the container. It's very messy! That fine dust goes everywhere. I ended up taking the thing outside and trying to empty it into a plastic bag and it was still messy, and any breeze blew that stuff all over me. The first time I used it I regretted going bagless.

The model I linked is one in a line, some with more features/more expensive, some with fewer features /less expensive.

 

[thefed]

If you REALLY loved her, you would get your ass under the
house installing a CENTRAL vacuum unit. Might also
ultimately be easier on your nerves if she's into vacuuming
multiple times per day ...

wow....i like that idea....i really do.....theres tons of access...and with a 15 ft hose, i wouldnt need all that many outlets....hmm....


NO NO NO


stop me ..... save my money....get me a 30 dollar bissell before i regret it..

 

[Tiger]

Buy a reconditioned Electrolux, they last forever. We are on our second Electrolux in 30 years. When we had our vacation house we bought a reconditioned one and it was as good as a new one.

 

[Bigritchie]

Well clearly you should go for the best vacuum in the universe! Just remember to set it on suck and not blow!

 

[CuppaJoe]

I have a buddy who bought his girlfriend a red dust buster for valentines day. He thought this was a pretty smooth idea.

IIRC, that didnt work out very well for him. In fact, ten years later (and nine and a half after they broke up) whenever I mentioned something I was getting for someone she'd always retort "Its better than a #$%$ing red dust buster!"

I’m unclear on the concept as maybe I would buy a new vacuum for the cleaning lady instead of for the fiance; but I highly recommend the movie, "White Palace," (1990) with James Spader and Susan Sarandon. The Sarandon character goes ballistic upon receiving a dust buster as a gift.

 

[OAG]

Hoover, hoover, hoover. But my next one will be a Dyson. My DW does not do the Vacuuming, alergeries, do I have to do it. My DD has a central system in her home and I do not like it -- while it is nice not to have to haul the entire machine around the house, the hose is big, long and heavy, the attachments are few and very unwieldy to use (due to the large diameter hose). Kind of a hard system to retrofit since getting the outlets in convenient places is tough.

 

[clifp]

Question for the women on the board. Is there a good or bad time to give practical things? I assume V Day is not a good idea but are other times bad?

Also since the woman the board are more practical than average woman, could you share thoughts of girlfriends reaction to the Vacuum cleaner for a B-day present?

 

[W2R]

Question for the women on the board. Is there a good or bad time to give practical things? I assume V Day is not a good idea but are other times bad?

Also since the woman the board are more practical than average woman, could you share thoughts of girlfriends reaction to the Vacuum cleaner for a B-day present?

Don't give her a vacuum for her birthday!!! OK? LOL

Give her a dozen red roses, a card declaring your undying love, and sentimental jewelry (with an inscription?). Give her sexy lingerie. But don't give her a vacuum.