Ok I purchased the misses a top of the line Dyson $600++. I figured we have a good quality machine. We found it very hard to push. A friend comes over with a standard new shark vaccumne cleaner. We ran the Dyson over one area three times picking up pet hair/dirt. On the fourth try it picked up nothing. Now it's the sharks turn. The standard shark picked up more pet hair and dirt.
So being impressed we purchased a shark but upgraded to the shark professional model on October 2013. On December 2013 the rug beater stopped turning. We called shark and they had the misses on hold for two hours and received a new complete shark professional on January 2014. Recently this month a full 12 months a year to date the new replacement died with the same problem. The misses vaccumnes the house once a week. So the shark gets used 52 times a year. She called shark last night and there sending us a new lower half to replace the bad one on ours for the second time. I don't understand them changing the lower half only. I questioned there quality and warranty but received no answer yet. I questioned about them sending a new lower half only too. No answer yet.

If your going to look at or purchase a shark cleaner don't. We have had $59 Hoover's last longer. Buy a Dyson don't bother.
Next up at bat maybe a kirby.

Finding a good dependable vaccumne cleaner is like looking for an electric can opener that lasts. We're using a hand operated kitchen aid can opener now. So much money has been wasted on buying vaccumnes cleaners in the past, none of them last??

We have a good Eureka upright, one of those 'tornado' type models that does a super job, but CANNOT handle dog hair, where the Electrolux canister has no problem with anything except strings from our torn up rugs getting wound on the beater.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

As much as I hate to mix pleasure with business, I can be of assistance here. For the last 30 years I've run an independent vacuum cleaner shop, doing both sales and service for a wide variety of makes and models.

Most of the current models on the market, including expensive makes such as Dyson, are of all plastic construction and have poor long term durability. Like other consumer products, Chinese made examples abound, and the average life of most machines today is less than three years. Many lack any serviceability beyond replacing belts, filter or bags. There are exceptions however.

The Sanitaire upright vacuums, specifically the model S645 and S675, are direct derivatives of the most popular commercial machines in the industry for over 40 years...use commercial grade motors, steel components, including all steel brush rolls with replaceable brush strips, manual adjustments to handle all carpet heights, and large capacity paper bags (no expensive filters to buy).

Performance is second to none and durability runs into a few decades rather than a few years. My personal Sanitaire is 29 years old this year and still going strong. As their commercial heritage would indicate, these units are fully, and inexpensively, serviceable. Prices run less than the Dyson, far less than Kirby, and the machines weight less than either, averaging 16 lbs. There is nothing better when it comes to pet hair.

If on-board tools is a prerequisite, look to the American made offerings of Simplicity. Much of what I said about Sanitaire holds true for Simplicity as well...steel components, serviceability, durability. Performance, although not on the same scale as the high air flow Sanitaire, is superior to just about any other on-board-tool design, although the "Tandam Air" models (X9 as an example) come quite close, albeit, at a greater cost. Simplicity products have excellent warranties, great durability, and are made in Missouri.

With that, I'll leave business behind and return to the pleasure...the indescribable pleasure of fine Smith & Wessons.



Roe

I bought this for my wife on her birthday several years ago.
We got a dog that sheds a lot... I mean a lot! Vacuum gets used four or more times per week. I dont know how it pushes, I'd have to ask the wife. Hepa bags. Works great.

Hoover® Platinum Collection? Lightweight Bagged Upright Vacuum & Canister

We have a place about an hour north of us that only sell's commercial grade vacuum cleaner's and cleaning supplies, my wife bought one there at least 25 years ago, I don't know what kind it is but it still going strong.

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Don

Sanitaire is not available at our local dealer but I"ll stand behind the Simplicity!

ain't no such a word as Vaccumne

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UNDER THE CONE OF SILENCE

We have a Panasonic that was purchased about 10 years ago and is still going strong. It was well rated by Consumer Reports and has a HEPA filter on the air exhaust. It is quiet. Although it is a "canister" model the carpet cleaning head has a motor powered brush that is effective and provides a power assist in moving the head forward. The long cord disappears inside at the push of a button. Overall, we have been very pleased.



The color schemes have changed. Ours is red. But, this is the closest current offering to what we have. I believe they are available from Target.

The Mrs bought an Oreck Commercial upright vaccumne about four years ago. To maintain the warranty, she has to take it in to the dealer once a year for routine servicing.

It works great, so I'm told.

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Inconsistently consistent

I have had a Dyson for about 8 years and never had a problem with it and it does a much better job than the cheap other plastic brands I have had or used. Years ago I worked at a theater where we had nice commercial vacuums and cleaned them every day after use. I had cars that cost less than what the Kirby's were selling for.

They all have the same power 12amp maximum, buy the cheapest hoover and replace when worn out

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Stang1911

I have an Electrolux that's at least 20 years old. I've had to replace a few parts on it over the years including the powered hose which controls the power nozzle. I have been wondering what to get when it finally goes out and now I know what to avoid.
Jim

I got the wife a new Kirby in 1982, it's still going strong...... her mom passed away so she bought her mom's (even older than ours) at their auction & keeps 1 on each floor of our old Victorian......but she also bought a cheapie from WallyWorld if she intends to use it on vacuuming anything she doesn't want run thru her Kirbys.

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be safe,enjoylife,journey well

Not even close to true. 12 amp is the highest UL listing allowed on vacuums, but that tells you nothing about the performance of a given machine, nor will it allow you to make a comparison between units.

The size and/or number of the fans, the overall design of the vacuum, and the amount of air flow restriction introduced by on-board hose assemblies or filtration systems all have far more bearing on the performance of a vacuum than the amp ratings. Both the Kirby and the Sanitaire have some of the highest air flow and deep cleaning ability available, yet both are rated at "only" 7 amps.

Roe

We bought a top of the line Kirby which lists for something like $1600 (but nobody pays list) new off of Ebay for about $350. It belonged to a little old lady who bought it but never used it. You can find good deals on Kirbys if you look. We've used two for the last 30 years and both still are doing fine. I wouldn't be afraid of a clean used Kirby but I would pick carefully. They are heavy but self propelled.

Get the Shark-it has the highest percentage of 5 star feedbacks on the net. We have it, and it eclipses anything I have ever used- $125.00- you will be amazed. People actually post photos of the dirt they picked up with the shark-some right after using another vacuum!

The more you think about it, you come to realize that vacuums all suck.

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Inconsistently consistent

After years of cleaning yachts (pretty much vacuuming daily) and burning up untold vacuums, I came to the realization that a <$100 cleaner will do the job as well as any other expensive one.
I haven't had a vacuum of any price, last much more than a year with daily use. Upright or canister.

You will usually find decent inexpensive vacuums at local, independent retailers. They will also, usually, stand behind any vacuum they sell.

I stay away from all those brands like Ryson and Snark.

Ya had to do it dintcha?

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Dick

Stranglehold, how about cordless? I help with the vacuuming and have a couple of small, Japanese, corded uprights. But the adds I've seen for the Dyson cordless models look pretty convenient. And I hear Makita, the cordless power tool guys, makes good cordless vacuums as well.

You romantic devil!

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"I also cook."

I had a Kirby for close to thirty years, and it had been rebuilt at the factory when I bought it used from a Kirby store. Hard telling how old it really was. For whatever reason it always reminded me of the front end of a '57 Chevy or maybe a Studebaker. I wouldn't say it worked nearly as well as the new designs of today, but you just couldn't kill it. It did have a safety switch on the housing that seemed to wear out every few years. I eventually jumpered the switch and never had another problem other than occasionally replacing a busted drive belt.

I finally gave it away and bought a new Dyson, mainly because I was tired of changing bags and spilling dust every time I did. The Kirby had originally been manufactured to use without disposable bags, and even though it could use them, it always created a mess.

The Dyson amazed me. That sucker can really, well, suck. It's at least ten years old now and going strong. It hasn't missed a beat yet. No belts, no bags, no maintenance other than emptying the canister into the trash. I've been truly impressed with the Dyson.

Now, if I could just figure out how to teach my wife how to use it.

20 years ago we moved into our present home and while remodeling it soon after moving in we decided to install a Central Vac Unit. We have a pretty large home and have outlets for the vacuum all over the house including in the garage, and my workshop. We purchased 4 kits that include power heads, 50 foot hoses and all attachments. We now have each one of the 4 kits in different areas so my wife does not have to drag them up or down steps or very far to vacuum. The Central Vac unit is not only very convenient but it is much more powerful than regular Vacuums. The 12 gallon fiber bag in the main unit holds lots of stuff and they never break! It is also hypoallergenic and so we don;t have to breath in any escaping dust.

Yea it was a big expense getting the unit, having it installed and buying the extra kits, but it has served us hassle free for 20 years now and is a pleasure to use. I don' thing we could ever go back to a regular vacuum again.

well,well, lets talk about "karma" yesterday the wife was "VACUUMING" and stepped on the cord while pushing the machine, it died instantly. I took it apart 'cause she thought she'd pulled the wires out. nope wires were all fine, I said she prolly burnt the motor out. Lucky fer her she had an appointment in town and while there bought a new rig.

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UNDER THE CONE OF SILENCE

My wife is allergic to everything, we have tried just about every vacuum on the planet and nothing has ever made her happier than the big Dyson with the rolling ball. I would first say that we have invested quite a sum of money in putting all kinds of money into filtering the air in the house, from furnace to a machine that somehow drops most dust to the floor, there is very little dust floating about the house, which amazes me when I go somewhere else and see the dust floating through the sunlight. When we first got the Dyson I tried it out and was amazed at how well it manuveured without being powered. I've used the machine to clean the house after my wife has been gone for a period of time and don't find it all that bad, where in the past I hated it. You actually drive the Dyson around, I guess that appeals to me at least for the short period of time I use the thing.

I'm allergic to vacuuming!

Gave our Dyson Animal away a couple of years ago (too heavy) and replaced it wth an Oreck Platinum. Very happy we made the switch.

We have an 8yr old Oreck Platinum as well, GR8 machine, very lite and easy to maneuver, on the 3rd belt now. Really dislike the large, heavy and clunky units. We have carpet, tile and wood flooring does all equally well.

I just bought a $49 Shark from Amazon. It works great and we have two kids, 3 dogs, 2 cats and by far the worst offender - the slob typing this post.

When Dad passed away, he had about half a dozen vacuum cleaners at the house. I swear he was collecting them. We adopted the Oreck Platinum, and have been pretty happy with it.

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Even older, even crankier....

Many decades ago, I got myself a Hoover Elite. Aside from bags, belts and rebuilding the beater bar, it's still the best vacuum cleaner I've ever used.

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Keep on Chooglin'

When we moved into our house, the was a Rainbow brand vacuum left in the basement. This model has a water container on the bottom, and the top part looks like a small shop-vac. All the dirt from the motor just lands in the water container. No bags or filters to change or clean. This unit last for at least 15 years after we moved in. The hand wand with roller unit stopped working.
Now, with 4 cats and a dog, we just use the cheap-o Bissel or Dirt Devil units with the plastic canisters and the roller brushes.
We vacuum every 2 days.

Bought a Filter Queen in 1970. The wife retired it 5 years ago and it is now my "shop" vac. Replaced the hose a couple of times, but it still sucks strong...with a new filter that is.

Can't believe I paid $350 for it. What is that in today's dollars, about $2500?

We also used Kirbys and have purchased extra units at Good Will over the years for parts and backup units. Recently we purchased a Shark as my wife seemed interested in the infomercial. When it arrived the plastic construction was a turn off as the Kirbys are usually like a tank. But when she started using it, the weight alone was welcome as well as pick-up power. In fact going over areas where the Kirby was used produced significant dust and dirt to suggest that the Kirby was not picking up the fine debris.

I'm in my second year with a Dyson DC39 Animal canister model. I love it. It's used once a week and performs great. I've had to call customer service twice. 1. the "pre filter" that requires washing with cold water dried too slowly and soured. I just asked what should I use to clean it. They sent me a new one free. 2. the brush gear stripped, and they sent a replacement with no questions asked. I am fairly certain the original failed due to dogfood wedging in it and stopping the brush too many times. I now pick those random pieces up by hand.