Upright vacuum cleaner question?

S

Spydiefan04

Joined
Jan 8, 2005
Messages
819
Hey all, I've had a hoover for years that works great but since I now have mulitple floor types I need something that can clean more than just carpet. I'm in need of a good upright vacuum cleaner with a brushroll I can turn on and off, I have wood, tile, and thick carpet in the house so I need an adjustable roll that will get all three and can be turned off for the wood and tile, and I want something that will CLEAN and last for years. I'm lazy and just want one vacuum to do it all. Don't care about having attachments onboard or at all, nor does it matter about weight and whether or not it's self-propelled. I'm thinking about buying a rebuilt Kirby because I have used several and they appear to clean very well, and look as though they'll last forever, I like the all metal construction. What I'd like to know is what model or variation Kirby's have a brushroll that can be turned on and off. I also like the Hoover windtunnel, does anyone know how it stacks up to the Kirby? (I've always liked Hoovers, but do not like Orecks, the ones I've seen didn't hold up very well). AND if there's any other vacuum out there that cleans really well and should last a VERY long time I'm overlooking (with above mentioned features).
 
Consumer Reports rates a $300 Hoover above the Kirby ($1500). It's lighter, cheaper, and cleans better. My dad has a Kirby and recently purchased a new ~$300 Hoover Windtunnel. He had had a lab mix (dog) for a long time, and the stiff dog hair was all through the carpet. I ran the Kirby over the living room carpet several times, then plugged in the new Hoover. Result: a windtunnel chamber thingie FULL of hair. I'm talking pounds of dog hair here. Emptied the chamber, went over it again... SAME RESULT. :eek: It was pretty gross, but really sold me on the cleaning ability of the Hoover.
 
Not sure if Dysons have reached the US yet, but they have an auto head, and are of the bagless variety. I have three cats... first time I used it, I vacuumed the bathroom and the upstairs landing (both tiny) and it filled the machine. I cleaned two bedrooms and filled it again.

Here in Canada we have a Hoover bagless Dyson copy and that works well. I have used Kirbys in a local government owned civic centre and they are real workhorses. Not sure is a home environment is cost effective? I used Orecks (three) in my hotel in the UK and they lasted about two years. The original free replacement was great until they realised they weren't as strong as they thoguht they were. Now we have 'home warranty' and 'business warranty'! The Dyson was used in my own accommodation.

for my money;

1. Dyson
2. Hoover
3. Oreck
4. Kirby
 
As Foxhole Athiest reports, the Hoover Windtunnel rates above them all, and it definately rates higher than any of the Dyson models.

I bought the Windtunnel based on Consumer Reports, and it does an excellent job.

I don't buy anything anymore without looking at Consumer Reports first.
 
Hi All-

It ain't an upright, but the various MIELE models will ensure dust-free gunrooms. Expensive but effective.

~ Blue Jays ~
 
I have a Dyson - it totally blew away my Hoover upright. Like the previous poster stated - it pulled up a ton of pet hair & dirt (after I had vacuumed w/ the hoover).

Sam
 
If i were still looking for an upright i'd go look at the Dyson Ball. Superb piece of engineering.

15_full.jpg


It doesn't use wheels like normal uprights. Uses a ball sorta thing so the manouverability is excellent. Plus it has a motorised brush head and is superb for pet hair.

Dyson Animal (Ball)
 
My mom has an oreck they are useless, underpowered, don't get to the edges, have poor cord/sweeper interface.
 
CODE 3 said:
As Foxhole Athiest reports, the Hoover Windtunnel rates above them all, and it definately rates higher than any of the Dyson models.

I bought the Windtunnel based on Consumer Reports, and it does an excellent job.

I don't buy anything anymore without looking at Consumer Reports first.
Click to expand...

Having used both Hoover and Dyson, IMHO, the Hoover is cheap and nasty construction compared to the Dyson. In particular, the soft easy shreddable power cord, the tacky plastic cover that covers the tools and the sliding power switch. The performance is certainly comparable though. One thing I don't like about the Hoover is cleaning that vaned air filter contraption every time you empty the container. With the Dyson you just empty the container which holds all the fluff and dust. Hoover is much heavier too.

Dyson DC03 upright v. Hoover Wind Tunnel dual chamber.
 
We have a Dyson which I was VERY reluctant to buy considering all the plastic and the price. We had a Kirby and a Phantom before the Dyson. The Dyson flat ROCKS! We have three animals, one of whom is an Alaskan Malamute. Mals produce more hair than just about any other dog breed. Virtual fur factories. We were put on to the Dyson by friends who breed Malamutes. They were burning up other vacs about every 8 months. They have had their Dyson for three years now and it's still going strong. At work we have the Hoover that Consumer Reports rated over teh Dyson and as with many things, CR missed the mark on this one. The Dyson blows it away.

There was a similar thread a few months ago over at www.practicalmachinist.com . The crowd over there is a little obsessed with machinery of all kinds and I was shocked at how many of them owned and loved Dysons.

Highly recommended.
 
OK, been away for a few days but I'll put some opinions out there, based on my personal observations and uses of vacuums over the years.

Orecks clean fairly well and are light, so they would be OK for a woman or someone with physical limitations, and the helper handle really does work, but they DO NOT hold up to commercial use, and probably won't last too long if used reguarly at home.

Kirbys (at least from my experience) should last practically forever and clean very well, only possible problem with them is the plastic fan is in the front and can be damaged but it is an easy and inexpensive repair. And yes they're heavy, that's not a problem for me and you can get them self-propelled Also, I can get a rebuilt Kirby with a warranty for around or a little more than the costs of a new hoover or oreck, so price is not really an issue, I'd never buy a new one though.

Panasonics have the fan behind the bag, and are the quietest ones I've seen, only problem is they don't pick up anything, you fill up a hoover bag vacuuming behind one, and Panasonics DO not last any better/maybe worse then Orecks from what I've seen.

Hoovers have always compared favorable to anything else over the years, Comsumer Reports picked them #1,(I've had a cheap one that still works well after at least 6 years) they hold up for a long time considering they're mostly plastic, inexpensive, and another independent agency tested the Hoover vs. top-line Oreck vs. Dyson just on cleaning and ranked Hoover windtunnel #1, Oreck #2, and Dyson #3, these were the only 3 tested in that one.

Dysons, I don't know much about them but people either love or hate them, many people say they clean VERY well and I have no reason to doubt them, I personally prefer a bagged design. My only worry with Dysons is that I have HEARD from many sources that they do not LAST long, again that is what I have heard I have never personally used one.

One last thing, Does anyone know anything about Electrolux and what they are making now, are they still i business and if so does what is made now compare to the old stuff??? I used to only use those and have an older upright and canister that is older than I am. Also, unlike the Kirby, the fan is Behind the bag, you can suck up nuts and bolts with an Electrolux, or at least you could the old ones. I've pretty much decided to go with Kirby unless I find that the new Electroluxes with the features I want are as good as the old ones. IF I were to personally rate vaccums from my own experience I'd put Electrolux (at least the models I've had and used) #1 and #2(tie) Kirby and #2(tie) Hoover running about the same, slight edge to Kirby for greater durability.

Thanks a lot for the suggestions and these opinions are simply based on my personal experiences with various brands over the years (only one mention I can't comment on myself is the Dyson, but am open to opinions/suggestions)
 
Tell me more about the Dyson Ball. What function does the ball make easier or better?

I hear that good vacumns suck!!!
 
I don't have any personal experience with any of the Dyson models, and my wife did look at one prior to buying the CR top rated Hoover. The Hoover Wind Tunnel we have is a bagged model; the bagless looked like it would spew the captured dirt to easily. I do have friends who have a Dyson, and some like them, and the others think they are crap. I did go have to get a new belt for the self propel drive on ours a couple weeks ago, and saw several used Dysons on the showroom floor.

The Hoover did replace another Hoover that did very well for over 5 years. Prior to that we had a Eureka, which turned out to be crap after only a few months.

jmxcptr, you and I seem to disagree on just about everything. I personally have been a subscriber to CR for the last 21 years, and have had very good luck following their recommendations. While I do agree that they miss their mark on occasion, my batting average with them has been in the 90 to 95 percent range.
 
Thanks I like the looks of that upright, and it seems like the price is not too bad, you wouldn't happen to know if it is as sturdy as the old ones, say from 15-20 years ago?
 
My wife has had one of those Electrolux for about a year, so far so good, we did panic a little last month when we could not locate any bags from sears.

Sears is where we got ours, but for some reason they dropped it. Ours is light and has a quiet 2 speed motor controlled with a switch. I love the handle feel (ergos :rolleyes: ) and it uses bags (hepa) and also a hepa filter in the front. We found bags now at lowes, at least they say they have them when we called (with the vacs).

We had a wind tunnel and I hated it because it would run for 30 minutes and shut off and you had to empty and "VACCUM !!!" :eek: the darn filter. I did this for a year or so and got tired of it.

Robbie Roberson ;)
 
CODE 3 said:
jmxcptr, you and I seem to disagree on just about everything.
Click to expand...

That might be true, but I don't think any less of you as a person ;)

I actually subscribe to C/R's online service and have for a couple years and will use it as a research tool, but never as my only tool. I base a lot of my opinion on my years in the hifi business. My problem with CR is that they never seem to find the most expensive offering in any group to be the best, usually picking a unit that has a better dollar to performance ratio, even if the more expensive product is better. For some people it doesn't have to be a lot better, even if it costs a lot more, only that it's better. Their speaker and amplifier recommendations make me absolutely nuts. Then there's the great review they gave my Kitchenaid fridge that had to be repaired seven times in two years before I finally got Kitchenaid to exchange it.

I remember looking at C/R when we bought our Dyson and seeing the bagged Windtunnel rated slightly above above the significantly more expensive Dyson. I might have even bought the Hoover on that recommendation as I really didn't want to pay Dyson's price, but we really didn't want to deal with bags as they're an ongoing expense (somewhat offset by the higher price of the Dyson) and my wife has dust allergies, so the way the Dyson empties is pretty slick.

If anyone wants to try a Dyson, they sell tehm at Costco and have a 100% satisfaction guatantee, so if you don't like it you can take it back. As to price, the best deal I could pull off was to buy it at Bed, Batch & Beyond with one of their 20% off anything coupons that they are always sending out.

Code 3, I am friends with many who have significantly differing viewpoints from mine. Heck, my wife is a raving Democrat :D
 
jmxcpter said:
Code 3, I am friends with many who have significantly differing viewpoints from mine. Heck, my wife is a raving Democrat :D
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You poor guy. :( I bet you and the wife have some very interesting conversations! ;)
 
wolfmann601 said:
Tell me more about the Dyson Ball. What function does the ball make easier or better?

I hear that good vacumns suck!!!
Click to expand...

I don't know how to explain it so here is a picture of it tilting. Basically it makes it more manouverable.

theball_dyson_dc15.jpg
 
When you read Consumer Reports you get the honest opinions of a group of laymen who don't have any specialized expertise.

That's great for some things -- razors for instance; nobody else knows any more than they do about shaving, so their opinions are as good as anyone's and unlike advertising they're objective. It's not so great for things like motorcycles or audio equipment -- there you want the opinions of people who know a lot about motorcycles or audio equipment.

I guess you don't need any special expertise to review vacuum cleaners so I would trust them on that.
 
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