TheSamba.com :: View topic - Home use upright vacuum cleaner? RECOMMENDATIONS? Not Dyson.

Sun Feb 16, 2025 10:55 pm

Throwing this question to TheSamba members...

I'm about due for a new home vacuum cleaner. The one we have... I have disliked (hated) since first month of ownership about a decade ago.

2000 SgFt home 90% carpet, 2 cats.

Currently owned is the "Dyson Ball Animal". Dyson... Dyson... Dyson...Where do I begin? How have they become so popular?

***Marketing > Product development***

Hold my beer, let me get to the dislikes, and let me get this off my chest...
Suction is REALLY good, like they engineered it to be good, however, the rest of the unit appears to be have been engineered by FisherPrice Toy Co.

CONS:
-Flimsy plastic all over
-"Bagless" catch container, that you have to empty outdoors, because it can create so much dust when emptying in your home. I'd prefer one use "Bags".
-Claim: "No filters to replace, ever". Lies. I had to replace them for the vacuum to work correctly.
-Claim: "The only vacuum that doesn't lose suction". Read claim above. I had to replace the filters to restore lost suction.
-Working hose assembly for nooks & crannies is stiff and kinks easily.
-Electric cord is stiff and always kinks easily, as if it were made of solid copper.
-Did I mention that it is a mess to empty the container, and a "hook" of some sort is needed to empty the container completely?

PROS:
Suction is pretty good. Cleans well. FisherPrice approved plastic all over.

After a year of ownership of this Dyson Animal Ball, I decided to leave a professional, well written review on Dyson's website of what my opinion was. It was reviewed, and I got an email back disclosing it was "not within compony guidelines/policy/blah/blah/etc", and my review would not be posted. Huh? Only post the +4.0 ratings? Got it. (I think I gave it a 2.0 or 2.5 honest review).

So...

What do you recommend?

My needs:
Upright cordered (120v standard cord)
Light residential use, 90% carpet, 2 cats
I like useful "attachments"
No gimmicks

Mon Feb 17, 2025 3:20 am

I would suggest a good condition used kirby vacuum cleaner. solid, powerful, bagged waste and made in usa. I'm saying used rather than new as they are expensive (in uk).

dyson was flavour all the rage a few years ago but they seem to have been replaced by shark as the one to have.

'dyson vacuums suck' should have been their tag line

Mon Feb 17, 2025 4:05 am

We were a Dyson family for years with 10 kids plus animals, no wait, thst was 11, we must have sucked one or two up. They were great for pet hair s,d long girl hair, but when the battery ones came out we had a $500 one break in year one, and couldn’t get it serviced

We’ve switched to Shark and been happy. We did get a killer atomic deal on a Dyson stick for light pick up in the kitchen last fall and have been happy with it.

I have a Inse in the office that has been good

Mon Feb 17, 2025 6:58 am

You didn’t mention budget but excellent description of your needs. Judging by the toys in your tagline you probably like having high end tools :wink: here are a couple different brands to research. My other advice is go to a real vacuum store and play with the different models. Support your local business. If you are not worried about that. You could support a local business in Portland, and save on sales tax (if you happen to be near by) regardless, usually higher end vacuums have Minimum Advertised Pricing (MAP) keeping prices fairly regulated across the internet retail landscape. Doesn’t hurt to search. I would be regarded as a pro in this industry. One other tip. Find a retailer that guarantees satisfaction if you can. Meaning you can try it in your environment, carpet pile, pet hair, ergonomics, and etc. There is no one size fits all, if you dig.

https://www.riccar.com/

https://www.sebo.us/

Mon Feb 17, 2025 8:06 am

I'd be looking at commercial grade equipment.

We had to get a hepa vac back in '96, to do lead abatement in our house, and there were damn few on the market. A Nilfisk canister unit fit the bill, for something like $750, and I added a gross of bags, having no idea how much you could pack into a bag.
My wife hates it, and I have been beating the snot out of it for decades, using it during renovation projects like a shop vac to suck up plaster chunks, dust, nails, screws, whatever fits. The bag can take about 5 lbs of crap.

We've run thru a variety of cheap uprights, and when they break the Nikfisk comes outta the barn or basement. The only downside is the upholstery brush attachment brush is worn to nubs and wrapped with electrical tape.

Mon Feb 17, 2025 8:58 am

Stay away from Shark !!! Shark doesn't sell replacement parts ! You've been warned.

Mon Feb 17, 2025 9:29 am

You can spray paint your car using a Kirby.

Mon Feb 17, 2025 9:37 am

Kirby is the bomb. cast aluminum body, powerful get the type with the paper bag

P3 ... did you fly from Moffatt Field?
Id watch them all the time. Worked at Ames building 244, next to the NASA hanger back in the day

Mon Feb 17, 2025 9:51 am

also you can unclog your drain, keep a supply of belts on hand, kirbies are hungry critters.

Mon Feb 17, 2025 9:53 am

my59 wrote: I'd be looking at commercial grade equipment.

We had to get a hepa vac back in '96, to do lead abatement in our house, and there were damn few on the market. A Nilfisk canister unit fit the bill, for something like $750, and I added a gross of bags, having no idea how much you could pack into a bag.
My wife hates it, and I have been beating the snot out of it for decades, using it during renovation projects like a shop vac to suck up plaster chunks, dust, nails, screws, whatever fits. The bag can take about 5 lbs of crap.

We've run thru a variety of cheap uprights, and when they break the Nikfisk comes outta the barn or basement. The only downside is the upholstery brush attachment brush is worn to nubs and wrapped with electrical tape.

Nilfisk makes a nice canister product. OP is looking for an upright for home use.
Commercial vacuums for a business are not necessarily stronger or tougher than a consumer vacuum for a home.

Commercial vacuums might have longer cords than a consumer vacuum cord. A commercial vacuum might have a direct flow through the motor rather than bypass flow outside the motor. Some commercial vacuums are better for short pile commercial pile carpet without hairy animals. I’ve burned out many “Commercial vacuums” in a 40,000 square foot store that get used every day on short pile carpet and hardwood floors. Honestly the Dyson consumer vacuums are some of the toughest. I’ve sold a bazillion Dyson vacuums. Sure they might break or not meet a consumer’s needs. But I’ve seen more expensive “Commercial vacuums” break down and fail.

Mon Feb 17, 2025 10:02 am

I had a Sebo someone threw out as it needed recording. It’s an impressive line of kit. I sent it to one of the kids when we downsized

Mon Feb 17, 2025 10:08 am

Abscate wrote: I had a Sebo someone threw out as it needed recording. It’s an impressive line of kit. I sent it to one of the kids when we downsized

Do you have a recommendation for the OPs requirements listed above?

And Do Kirby owners have a favorite model for the OP to audition?

Mon Feb 17, 2025 10:23 am

Many an old Kirby can be found cheap on Craigslist. they are robust units, readily repairable. I have my moms old kirby, she got it used some 61 years ago. It however does not have the paper bag within the cloth bag, only the cloth bag. get the better ones with the paper bag within the cloth bag, thus better for dust removal, and you wont have to empty it outside. The paper bagless kirby's need to be emptied oitside.
they are very pricey new, nut used ones, even ones mamy decades old can be found, and they still work fine. I think people die and their old kirby still runs so the next of kin sells it. these are lifetime tools. The sherman tank of vacuums,.

Mon Feb 17, 2025 10:24 am

Cusser wrote: Stay away from Shark !!! Shark doesn't sell replacement parts ! You've been warned.

Shark aka Euro-Pro LLC does sell parts. Which part didn’t they offer to sell you? And does your current vacuum brand sell that part? What vacuum are you using currently? Is it an upright using vacuum bags?

Mon Feb 17, 2025 10:40 am

$2100 for a new Kirby :shock:

Mon Feb 17, 2025 10:59 am

Many of my customers got rid of their Kirbys because they were too heavy and a pain in the ass to use. A client of my dad, gave us a new Kirby in the 80s. I think mom used it once and went back to her Electrolux vac. Vacuuming was my job in the house and that Kirby was a SOB nobody wanted to use. I think it weighed more than me as a kid :lol:

Mon Feb 17, 2025 11:11 am

not sure why you want an upright.

my miele canister is well over 20-years old, and runs like it’s new. easy to use. replacement parts readily available.

can’t beat german, air-cooled engineering.

Mon Feb 17, 2025 11:16 am

dodger tom wrote: not sure why you want an upright.

my miele canister is well over 20-years old, and runs like it’s new. easy to use. replacement parts readily available.

can’t beat german, air-cooled engineering.

I love a Miele canister. Still not what the OP has in mind.

Mon Feb 17, 2025 11:34 am

We have the earlier version of this one:

https://kenmorefloorcare.com/products/vacuums/upright-vacuums/pet-friendly-bagged-upright-vacuum

Excellent suction and filtration. Solidly built. Kenmore now sold by most major retailers ... Home Depot, Lowes, Kohls, etc.

Mon Feb 17, 2025 11:45 am

chrisflstf wrote: $2100 for a new Kirby :shock:

Craigslsit used kirby, seems to be near $100 in S.F. bay area. Some more, some less. Quite a few for sale right now. near 5% of new price!!!!!
New they are crazy expensive

I like buying used good well made stuff, saves money and is the ultimate in recycling, saving the planet!