12 answers

Need Vacuum Recommendations - Please!

I have a 2-story home with tile throughout the downstairs and carpet on the stairs and throughout the whole upstairs. When we moved two years ago, I got a new vacuum - a Kenmore canister vac - which works well enough, but I hate it. I wish I never would have been talked into a cansiter vac, it's a pain! Anyway, I want a Dyson but can't afford it yet - unless my Kenmore dies (I keep praying it will!)

In the meantime, I hate lugging it out when I just want to vacuum the downstairs (which I do way more often that the upstairs) and would like to get a smaller vacuum, like a stick vacuum, preferable cordless to do quick floor vacuuming of the tile. I also have two large area rugs downstairs, so it would be nice to have something that can do both carpet and hard floors.

I have a Shark - I love the swivel head but the vacumm itself works terribly - hardly picks up those "dust bunnies" that come off my area rugs. Does anyone use something that they absolutely love?? Thanks!!

**CLARIFICATION: I'm not looking for a regular full-size vacuum - I want a small rechargeable one for my downstairs...thanks, mommies!

What can I do next?

Featured Answers

Oreck Classic works fine for me. I have a mix of tile and carpet in my home, which is two story. I also have 3 dogs. The classic was $200, they even financed it for free for a year! You don't need the Oreck with all the bells & whistles, the Classic is fine. Bags are not expensive and they sent me a small Oreck handheld vac (can't think of what the name of these is) for free for buying the Classic. It is very light so no problem to carry up & down stairs or to vacuum the stairs themselves. I've had it for over 2 years and it is working fine.

More Answers

I love the swiffer vac for in between vacuums, it works really well and is inexpensive and lightweight, but it doesn't do carpets

The Dyson is the best vacuum ever made!!! And it comes in a small compact one!

I love my Kenmore canister vac :) My mom always had Kenmores, and still does. Good luck on waiting for it to die, you'll be waiting a while!! (I've still got my mom's old one, and while it's not the greatest like the newer models, it still works! haha)

A few years ago I tried a Bissell 3-in-1 cordless stick vac when I was living in a dorm. It was great at first, but after a while, the battery wouldn't hold a charge for more than about 10 minutes! It was ridiculous! I just looked on their Web site & they don't even have a cordless one anymore haha

I never tried another cordless, or any stick actually, yet. I'm going to stay away from cordless tho... I don't want to have to buy a new one every year because of the battery!

I would also suggest reading reviews on Amazon. Make sure you read the ones rated lots of stars, and the ones rated with only 1 or 2. That way you get the good & the bad :)

I've never been able to find a cordless that works well. It's been years since I've tried so maybe they've improved them.

My downstairs, quick cleanup vacuum is a Bissell Easyvac that I bought for $29 the day after Thanksgiving at Walmart. It is a corded vacuum but it's small and light and I just keep it in my laundry room and pull it out to clean my tile floors in the kitchen and my wood floors in the entry and dining room. I actually have used it on my carpeted stairs as well since it's so much lighter than my other vacuum and it did a decent job there as well.

Good luck with your search!
K.

A broom. It works on small carpets--you'd be surprised what the vacumm leaves behind- and works on hard floors. It's lightweight and can be stored away easily.

I also have a Kenmore canister and hate lugging it around. I leave it downstairs where we have mostly wood and linoleum in the kitchen. It is under a bed in the downstairs guest room. Upstairs I keep a Hoover upright bagless that I bought at Cosco for $99. It is good, cheap, easy to maneuver, and comes with a hose you can unhook and use with attachments on-baord. The Kenmore was in the $250+ range. I had first bought a Dirt Devil brand but it was so LOUD I could not use it and returned it to Target. I will be reading your responses with interest since I would love to give away my Kenmore and buy a simply stick broom that works for the kitchen area, but the one I tried from Walmart (not sure of the brand) I returned since it did not pick up hardly anything. Now I just use a broom most days and then a wet swiffer. I am wondering if the swiffer vac is any good?

The only vacuum that I love is the Dyson. There is an option to get it cheaper at Kohls by using the 30% discount. I looked online and the following is 319.00 - Dyson™ DC14 All Floors Vacuum - and with the discount it would only be 220+.

The kohls coupon can be found at one of my favorite coupon sites - http://www.retailmenot.com/view/kohls.com

Good luck!

I have a swivel sweeper that i bought at bed bath and beyond for $30. I love it. I had one that broke so I chucked it but went out and bought another because I liked it so much. (It lasted a few years). I'm on #2 and have had it for 1.5 yrs. Honestly, even if I had to buy one every year, I would cuz they work well. I have all tile, and lots of rugs (some low pile rugs, one shag - works on all of them)
Best of luck!
Jen
PS - my sister bought a Shark and when she came to visit me she used mine and loved it.... then was mad cuz she paid more than 2x what I paid for mine and mine worked better.

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