Cleaning devices

[PapaSmurf2k3]

So the other day I was pushing my lack-luster hoover cannister around, going over the same damn spot over and over again waiting for it to suck up a loose piece of junk on my floor. The bag is semi-fresh, and even if it wasn't I'm tired of swapping those things out and trying to remember which ones to buy when I'm out (if I can even find them).

The time has come to upgrade. I figure I have some pretty high quality badass equipment everywhere else (TV, Stereo, comfy bed, etc), might as well get a badass vacuum cleaner. I hear dysons are expensive and over-rated. Does anyone have any suggestions for a decent replacement? I don't have any pets, so excessive hair isn't an issue (so long as Torry doesn't come visit).

Also, does anyone have /use a reasonably priced steam cleaner? My carpets were pretty dirty when I moved in, and that resolve carpet cleaner s*** doesn't seem to touch it. I figure I could also use it on my cars too.

And go!

[Razi]

The Vorwerk we had since I can remember has been working without missing a beat and can vacuum up anything.
I don't know much about vacuum cleaners though.

[nissangirl74]

Hoover is the best, IMO. We have a regular one for our carpets and one specially designed for vacuuming / cleaning the tile floors. I have never found a home carpet cleaner that was worth a damn. Go to Home depot and rent a Rug Doctor. They work really well and they really aren't that expensive to rent. Dyson is definitely not worth the money.

[Kompresshun]

Ditto on the Hoover. We have a bag-less one right now and it works excellent. I think we got it at Big Lots for $70 or so and we've had it for a couple of years.

Before our Golden Retriever passed away, we had a cheaper vacuum cleaner because his hair would destroy most of them. Surprisingly the cheaper one was recommended to us by another dog owner and it was great during that time. When we got our current dog, she chewed through the cord and we decided to just replace it.

As for a carpet cleaner - I HIGHLY recommend the "Little Green Machines". They sell them almost everywhere and they're around $70-100. It has been a lifesaver numerous times and I use it in the house and in the vehicles. It's fairly compact and works better than the more expensive models IMHO. I was able to pull a 3 week old Diet Coke stain out of the Jeep a while back, so i've been a firm believer in it ever since.

[Jesda]

I'm an Oreck fan. Made in Tennessee. Simple, light, and dependable. I also agree with Dyson being overpriced. The Oreck XL has one design flaw where large pieces of paper can sometimes get stuck in the end of the intake tube. You just flip over the vac and yank it out with a pen. Target carries them but I went to an Oreck retail location which threw in an additional vacuum bag, one free tune-up (whatever that is), and a can of glass cleaner for the same price.

For small spills I have a Spotbot and for the whole room I have a Bissell stand-up wet-dry heated vac. For the whole house, renting a Rug Doctor is the way to go.

[alms24sebring]

Nooo! Oreck is the worst. Ive heard horror stories and witnessed it not picking up even dust.

Go bagless. I honeslty didnt think anyone still used bags anymore, I mean I dont even see them on shelves. Anyways, anything bagless is good but I would get a Hoover. My new vacuum (I forget it and Im not checking right now) is awesome. Bagless and it has a wind up cord which is freakin GENIUS. Like you pull it out however long you need it then step on a button that winds it back up internally and it never gets tangled. Most of all, it picks up everything.

Edit: Its a Hoover T-Series... I checked

[carloslebaron]

I must disagree about the last comment, because Kenmore also is selling vacumm cleaners that use bags, I myself own one of them. Sears has in stock the bags, and also these bags can be found like crazy in thrifty stores at an incredible cheaper price. It happened that my last vacuum cleaner went bad a year ago, and I went back to Sears to buy me a similar one, due that I had several bags in stock in my house. I have almost a hundred 20-50555 bags, most of them were acquired from a person who put his ad in Craigslist giving them for free, and half of them were the anti-bacterial ones.

To me, the vacuum cleaners that use bags are better, because the bag itself also acts as an additional filter, besides the other air filters used at the flowing exit of the air. The cheapest vaccum cleaner that uses bags can pull a quarter from the floor and that is good, and their prices start from the round hundred and up.

About sound, the Kenmore vacuum cleaners don't make much noise, but surely you can't hear the TV when cleaning around with most vacumm cleaners anyway.

Of course, I recognize that today's new vacuum cleaners might have a better suction, less noise, etc etc, but their price is absurdly high, and I am not crazy about living in a perfectly dust free house, because even sealing doors and windows, dust will find the way to get inside...for me, the vacuum cleaner I have does the needed job for a very affordable price...

[alms24sebring]

I can disagree. The older bagged vacuums are dirtier in my experience. After a while you can see the dust spewing out of the exhaust and the bag. The newer ones have better filters not to mention they have ribbed belts so that they dont slip and burn and fill your house with that disgusting burned vacuum smell. Ugh, its worse than burned popcorn. You dont have to spend 500 on a top of the line one thatll suck your pen15 for you too after dinner, you can find a nice one for ~200 or so. Its a good investment and you dont have to worry about finding or installing bags.

[numbnuts240]

You dont have to spend 500 on a top of the line one thatll suck your pen15 for you too after dinner

but if one did indeed want that...

[sx moneypit]

[Jesda]

If any vacuum cleaner is coughing visible dirt, it needs to be serviced.

[alms24sebring]

I clean the filters regularly. I remember being able to see it seep out of the bags though when it was on or if you patted it.

[szh]

The most recent issue of Consumer Reports has a good list of vacuums! For the past few years, a Hoover model has been at the top: the Hoover WindTunnel Anniversary Edition U6485-900.

We have an older version of this and have been using it for many years now. The only problem we have with it is that the belt for the beater brush is a bit too easy to break if you go onto a deep carpet and let the suction (which is strong!) lift a heavy carpet up and jam the brush. This problem does not occur with wall-to-wall carpets - only heavy on-the-floor rugs (we have some heavy Pakistani rugs).

Our simple solution is to take care and not let the brush stop for too long - else the friction of the motor spindle against the jammed belt causes it to break.

Z

[szh]

Also, does anyone have /use a reasonably priced steam cleaner? My carpets were pretty dirty when I moved in, and that resolve carpet cleaner s*** doesn't seem to touch it. I figure I could also use it on my cars too.

We have a Bissell rug shampooer/cleaner and it does an "okay" job on bad dirt situations. Stairs are a pain in the butt though!

FWIW, what has worked much better is to have a local Stanley Steemer guy come by every four to six months when they have a special multi-room offer active. Much better to get it steam cleaned professionally by them!

Also, you may want to try a different carper cleaner than resolve ... it has been so-so for us too. The other one (Jesda mentioned the product name some years ago!) works much better.

Edit: found the name: Folex ... it is better than Resolve.

Z

[szh]

Edit: Its a Hoover T-Series... I checked

The Hoover WindTunnel T-Series Rewind Bagless UH70120 is the highest-rated bagless at Consumer Reports, but it does not clean as well as their bagged model (which I mentioned two posts above here).

This mention in the review: "Requires manually emptying the bin, which is messier and sometimes presents problems for those with allergies or respiratory issues" would bother me though ... I much prefer just taking the bag out from our current Hoover and throwing it away.

Z

[alms24sebring]

I still prefer wind tunnel over bags. Thats why you dont empty it inside, in the kitchen or wherever. I go outside and dump it. Thats true I guess, alot of dirt does fly up but I just turn away and hold my breath.

God we sound like a bunch of housewives in here lol. Can anyone recommend a good broom and mop?

[szh]

God we sound like a bunch of housewives in here lol. Can anyone recommend a good broom and mop?

Z

[Kompresshun]

God we sound like a bunch of housewives in here lol.

You guys might. I don't even think that I know how to turn ours on. The only vacuum I use is my shop vac

[Encryptshun]

God we sound like a bunch of housewives in here lol.

You guys might. I don't even think that I know how to turn ours on. The only vacuum I use is my shop vac

You don't know how to turn your housewife on?

If you need, I can give you a few pointers there, Casanova.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

I'll be honest, I completely did not expect this thread to be this popular.

Anyway, I guess let me reiterate: bags are out. Not an option. I don't care if it can S my D after dinner (or even before dinner for that matter).
SO it sounds like the hoover windtunnel T-series is the way to go. One other thing I forgot to mention about my current hoover (which wasn't cheap when I bought it) is that the little switch on the handle that goes from "floor" to "rug" always seemed to flip itself as I was vacuuming feverishly. Its like the G-forces of my back and forth vacuuming overwhelmed the switch, and the beater brush kept shutting off. I taped it to always be on rug after the first 5 minutes of vacuuming. Has anyone had this problem with the windtunnel (which is starting to win me over just based on its name).

[MinisterofDOOM]

Also, does anyone have /use a reasonably priced steam cleaner?

One thing to watch out for is the fact that most consumer-grade "steam" cleaners are nothing of the sort. They're just wet vacs. You mix hot tap water with soap in a reservoir and then spray it on the carpet. Most of them don't heat the water on-board, and very few of them actually use steam at all.

My mom has a Hoover carpet cleaner that does okay, but it's loud and tedious. It's certainly no miracle device and with the frequency of use it gets, I'd say go with a heavier-duty Rug Doctor rental on occasion instead.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Bissell-Littl ... 07/9863572
Is that the little green machine you were talking about Chris? I'm a bit worried about how much they are pushing its environmentally friendliness, and avoiding HOW it works, its consumables, etc. Does it use steam? Does it use some sort of chemical crap to clean the floor?

While a Stanley Steemer guy might be a viable option to just bomb the house, I'm a bit wary of random people in my house, as well as I'd want something I can use on the car. I can't see myself asking the stanley steemer guy to steam out the 240 haha.

I would say these 2 are looking good. The hoover seems to have more balls, the bissel seems simpler.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Hoover-SteamV ... gMethod=rr
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Bissell-Power ... gMethod=rr

For vacuum cleaners, I was looking at these:
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Hoover-T-Seri ... 2/17164648
Pros: 12 amps of raw sucking power
Retractable cord (f*** self winding)
rinseable filter with monitor feature
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Hoover-T-Seri ... 0/14237599
Pros: everything listed above except it weighs less and costs less.

[VQpwrdSE-R]

For vacuum cleaners, I was looking at these:
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Hoover-T-Seri ... 2/17164648
Pros: 12 amps of raw sucking power
Retractable cord (f*** self winding)
rinseable filter with monitor feature

We have this type of Hoover except its grey and marketed as a pet hair busting machine. The construction is similar think we paid $149 at kohls. had it for over a year and I like it so far. The washable filter is nice. The folding handle is great for carrying up stairs and not banging up the walls.

RETRACTABLE cord FTW! saves some time fumbling with powercords

My wife was looking at some POS bissel with some mircobot pull apart canister mini sweeper for sweeing stairs. Looked like it was good for nothing. I said hellz no.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

OH YEAH! I forgot to mention my house has no stairs. None. Really not many houses in MS have stairs. I think they confuse the locals.

I believe Jeremy said that about the Stig.
"Some say that he is confused by stairs, and ducks offend him".

[JSWORKS]

I would stay away from the Dyson's as others have stated. I had a Tornado (or something to that effect) for almost 12 years - bought it off an infomercial back in 98 (It was one of the first bag-less ones). It was amazing for all those years, but finally broke last summer. The Fiancee and I splurged with some engagement money and bought a Dyson - Such a piece of crap. Way overpriced and cheap plastic feeling. I have literally vacuumed over the same piece of lint stuck on the rug 20 times and it wont pick it up!

[alms24sebring]

Ive always wanted to know about the Dysons. I wouldnt pay 300 for a bladeless fan either. Who cares.

And retractable cord is the phrase I was looking for. Its freakin awesome. Those are good prices too, I always remembered vacuums always being in the hundreds for even a simple one. Of course this was yeeeaaars ago

[Kompresshun]

You don't know how to turn your housewife on?

If you need, I can give you a few pointers there, Casanova.

I am the housewife most of the time

Well until Thursday, since i'll be working more. I definitely don't need any pointers on flipping the switch though, I can turn it on just fine

Here's the vacuum cleaner we have: http://hoover.com/products/details/u550 ... s-upright/

[alms24sebring]

I am the housewife most of the time

I definitely don't need any pointers on flipping the switch though, I can turn it on just fine

[PapaSmurf2k3]

I have literally vacuumed over the same piece of lint stuck on the rug 20 times and it wont pick it up!

Man, doesn't that just grind your gears?! I would hate that. Seriously if that happened to me, that dyson would turn into a $500 frisbee... or target at the end of the gun range (for youtube shens).

[Kompresshun]

I am the housewife most of the time

Hey when the wife brings home the majority of the bacon, you do what you're told