who loves their vacuum cleaner?

[mamaduck]

I'm in a major funk. Storming around the house cursing under my breath kind of funk. I've been having chest pains and back pain, and am having all sorts of tests run by my doctor... I've been tired this week, and went way too long without vacuuming the house. There is pet food and crumbs everywhere, scraps of paper from projects and god knows what all over every room. I finally work up a teeny amount of gumption to vacuum, and find that the motor is burnt out on my barely 2 year old vacuum cleaner. I spent 1/2 hour trying to vacuum with more crap flying out of the vacuum than getting sucked in. The house looks worse than when I started -- and it smells horrible from the smell of the burned out engine. And now I'm in even more pain from the work.

So, tomorrow I have to go buy a vacuum cleaner on the AMEX and just hope we have the money to pay it next month. Which is actually kind of doubtful. This just STINKS.

So, I'm not in the mood to research this very carefully at all. Can someone recommend a vacuum cleaner that costs less than say, $150? I don't really want another bagless either. Too much extra work.

And please, send me some pleasant vibes today. I need them!

[momto l&a]

Mamaduck, I hope your DR finds out whats bothering you and you get back to normal quickly.


Second we have found that you get what you pay for in terms of a vacuum cleaners. We really went out when we bought ours but oh do we love it, the things we use it for, oh my! Its a Rainbow so way more than what you want to spend. If I had it to do all over again I would consider a Dyson they are alot less $$ but from what I have heard are good. Sears carries them.

[MamaMonica]

Hope you have a better day . Wish I could help with the vacuum but I hate mine- we have a Eureka ordered- $165 including shipping. It is the top rated HEPA filter upright in tis price range (Consumer Reports). I can't remember what the number of it was, though! I hope it is better than the Boss upright. Dust flies through the bag on this whenever I vaccum and the belt periodically pops off. I also have togo over the floor six times to pick up the crumbs.

I have a push sweeper that actually works better on cheerios, crushed toast and cut up paper than the vacuum and do a pre-sweep with that. (

Unfortunately my house is also a disaster. If that makes you feel any better.

[mountain mom]

Hi there,
Many good vibes comin your way I know what you mean about the vaccum. I love my oldschool electrolux canister vac. My dh broke the attachment for my powerhead and instead of replacing it he bought a shopvac!!!! GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

I highly suggest that you check out a vaccuum rebuilder, you can get an awesome deal with usually a guaruntee on a vaccum that would retail new for about 500. I got all new parts for my old gal and it was less than 50 bucks!! Like I said electrolux is my fav, although those new hepa filters look awesome, if you were to find one second hand it could be in your price range. Bigbox stores and outlets are another option if you shop those.:

I really hope your week gets better, a clean floor really helps I know where you're at with that one. Thinkin of you and sending

[cat_astrophe]

I say, buy a fairly cheap vac and one of those cheap bissell rolly carpet sweeper thingies. For some reason, kids seem to love using those things, so you might find that they keep the carpets clean for you. They really pick up the stuff well, you just have to vacc to get the deep down stuff.

I hope your week gets better.

[oceanbaby]

Sorry I don't have any recommendations in that price range. I have an Oreck and I love love love it. It is sooooo lightweight, yet powerful, and keeps all dust and smells inside. I've had it for about 7 years now and have never had a problem with it.

My mom had a Rainbow when we were kids and it was also awesome.

Unfortunately, I think vacuums may be a get what you pay for kind of deal - the really good, last a lifetime ones seem to be pretty pricey.

[Lucky Charm]

Oceanbaby, I have an Oreck also, and I love it, love it, love it!

It is a bit more than $150. But they do have payment options. I paid $100 down, and $25 a month. I cant tell you how great this vac is. gets up all the dog hair, lightweight and very easy to use. My wrists hurt after years of doing CPR, but this is very easy on the hands and really gets up stuff. amazing.

However, my sil has a cheap little dirt devil, its red, and she swears by it.

[snoodess]

I third the Oreck raves. We adore our Oreck. Got it on eBay too and it works great!

[anothermama]

I agree with the poster who said you get what you pay for with vacuums. Don't get one of the $50 or $60 ones because they STINK.

That said, my dad has this one
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...ance&s=kitchen

And I LOOOOOOOOOOOOVE vacuuming his house! He's got two cats and a teenager in the house and it works like a dream.

We have a VERY old Hoover, which I love because it's nearly 15 years old and still works great. We are looking to replace it this year and I'll probably get either my dads vacuum or another hoover.

[mamaduck]

Originally posted by sweetbaby3
Oceanbaby, I have an Oreck also, and I love it, love it, love it!

It is a bit more than $150. But they do have payment options. I paid $100 down, and $25 a month. I cant tell you how great this vac is. gets up all the dog hair, lightweight and very easy to use. My wrists hurt after years of doing CPR, but this is very easy on the hands and really gets up stuff. amazing.

This might be a good option for me, actually. I was just looking at the site and drooling over it.

There is a $400 one and a $500 one -- and the only real difference appears to be that the $500 one has a longer warrenty and 2 speeds. I'm wonderin if the more expensive one is worth it or not. Hmmm.

Also, I'd have to convince my Dh! Somehow the words, "I'd like to finance a $500 vacuum cleaner," don't sound real convincing when I practise them out loud!

[tnrsmom]

Moving this to Natural Home.

[CerridwenLorelei]

I love my bagless windtunnel though

it is pain to clean sometimes...
I loved the dust brush( it disappeared and I need to order a new one) and where it could get that other tools couldn't
It has some tremendous UMPH power getting things up though
6 of us two Boxers... well it gets used a LOT ..

I did look at Dyson's but couldn't get one right then but dh and I have talked about our next one being a dyson

[Wabi Sabi]

I agree with the other posters- you get what you pay for. I went through several cheap vacuums in a very short time. Every time one broke I'd end up buying another cheap one because it is all I could afford. I finally got one for Christmas a while back and it is great! I've had it for 5 or 6 years now with no problems at all. Here's a link to it:

http://www.hoover.com/db/xq/asp.hvrP...traUpright.htm

It is a Hoover Windtunnel. Just a word of warning: Hoover makes several versions of the Windtunnel. I bought one for my business last year thinking it was the same one I had at home, but it didn't work so well, definately poorer quality.

Still, this should be right in your price range. I've seen them around $140-$170 on sale, a bit more if you pay full price.

[SaveTheWild]

Get a Good Used One

I too think that the cheap vacuums are a nightmare. They will break and you will have to buy a new one, and thereby throw more money toward a bad purcahse. That said, though, I also don't think you should put it on credit that you can't pay or go for a new Oreck that you pay monthly for -- I think that if money is tight you will end up feeling tied down by the payments. It seems like the best option is to find a really good, used one. Oreck, Royal, etc (if possible get one with metal, rather than plastic parts ... they last much longer and are just al around better). Ebay is a good option or a thrift store (I got an awesome eureka canister vac (just like the one my mom had for years ) for 2$ at a thrift store. (here's an Oreck at ebay : http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...category=20617 There are actually a lot of Oreck's there... Here's a Royal: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...category=20617 this is similar to what I have. these rock -- they are heavy because they are metal, but they are unstoppable and unbreakable and powerful)

Some people just get tired of stuff even if it works perfectly, and want to get rid of it (or, in the case of ebay, they may have bought a vacuum they can't afford and have to get rid of it to get some cash). That would be what I would do. If you can't stand waiting and need to vacuum right away, I second the idea of a push carpet sweeper. It is cheaper, works, and you will always use it. That will get you by until you find a good deal on a used one...



[edited 'cuz I found more vacuums at ebay]

[mamaduck]

Okay. I just posted a poll. Think I'm going to try to finance a good one, but I can't decide. Help me out by voting!

http://mothering.com/discussions/sho...hreadid=110339


Thanks.

[Emmama]

My husband talked me into getting a Kirby vacuum. I had one growing up and hated it because it was so heavy. The new models are not though. It is a great vacuum and I would not trade it for another one. We had a Dirt Devil Upright before that which was a complete waste of money.

We financed the Kirby and this October (3 years after purchase) it will be paid off. Kind of pricey but they have a great lifetime warranty so it will last forever!