We have a hoover upright cleaner- bought it when we moved into our new house 7 years ago and it still does a great job. It looks like a vacuum cleaner, so easy to use. Has hand attachments for smaller jobs. It was around $150-200, if I recall. We might have to replace it soon b/c one of the internal lines are starting to crack, but it's had heavy use. We have 3 dogs (one of which had a 'marking' problem) and 3 kids.

 

I think ours is also a Hoover upright, but I don't know the model.

www.epinions.com is often good for reading user reviews of various products. If you find one that you like, check www.overstock.com to see if they have a good deal. BIL got a $300 unit from them for $80 a few months ago!

 

Thanks for the info and links, ladies! Do either of you know whether you can use your own solution in there? Sometimes they say not to not just for $$$ reasons (if they can get you to keep buying their products), but that it could damage the machine if you do something different. I dunno.

Anyhow, if anyone else wants to chime in, feel free. I usually take a little while to make decisions like this.

 

I don't know if it specifically says you can or not- I haven't read the instruction manual in a LONG time. There is a chamber for water- I have put oxyclean, etc., in there before.