Best Vacuum?

Updated on February 26, 2008
B.D. asks from Arlington, TX
35 answers

I am in the market for a new vacuum. I want a Dyson, but my budget does not. What is the next best thing to a Dyson?

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D.G.

answers from Dallas on

I have the best vacuum that I have ever had. It is not made of plastic as so many are. The name of my vacuum is Simplicity 6 Series. I have used vacuums for 50 + years. Simplicity is made with metal and it lasts a long time if you take it in for service about once a year. Hope you get a good one.

Blessings,

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U.E.

answers from Dallas on

Hi Emma - I read the recent Consumer Reports, and Kenmores are really good ... both upright and canister. They rated better than the Dysons.

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N.H.

answers from Dallas on

Honestly? Id say save up and get the dyson. OMG. OMG. I LOVE mine.. and they aren't terribly priced at Target.. but its the best vaccum you'll ever own and it should last forever! With what Ive wasted over the years on "I need one NOW" I could've bought many Dysons :X

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S.M.

answers from Dallas on

If you have checked the Consumer Guide Magazine, you will find that Dyson is not rated very high. I have found Orbeck to be the best.

1 mom found this helpful
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C.L.

answers from Dallas on

I recently watched a consumer reports person on the Today Show and she said the Sears Kenemore brandrated the best at everything!! Price, noise, suction, etc. Way better that some models that cost $2000.00!!!! I have always owned Hoover, but I will definately be checking out Kenemore next time. I know my Kenemore washer and dryer have never let me down in 15 years!!!!

1 mom found this helpful
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M.D.

answers from Dallas on

In my very humble opinion. Kirby's are the best. They last literally forever. Rainbow too is good. I don't know the quality of Rainbow these days.. but my grandmother has hers for 35 years and it was still ticking away fine when she passed. I used to sell Kirby a long LONG time ago and am in love with them. They are expensive though. Hint: you CAN talk them down, and if you have decent credit you can finance it, sometimes with a no interest special. Figure in a lifetime, how many crappy vacs will you buy? And compare to a lifetime machine that cleans all floors, and steam cleans and if you have never seen, the Kirby WILL suck all that nasty junk out from under your carpet. If you have kids though.. I say got for hardwood floors! :)

T.F.

answers from Dallas on

I have 2 Hoover's now and I like them both a lot. Each is about 9 yrs old and I am in the market for another vac. I plan to go with Oreck.

The reason I do not care for Dyson is that it is heavy and not was easy to use. My mom has a Dyson and regrets it. I use my vac daily and I prefer something that works great, fairly lightweight and easy to use.

The Hoover's were not that expensive (about $300 each) and it was a good way to have a vac upstairs and downstairs. With Oreck, I can have a main vac and then the Hoover will be a backup for upstairs.

S

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D.B.

answers from Abilene on

well...i own a dyson...but before i had my dyson i used a dirt devil bagless...i have also heard that hoover works good too and also the eureka boss smartvac.

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P.B.

answers from Dallas on

Someone else recommended the Eureka Altima: worst vacuum I've owned. Has not worked well since the first week despite all suggested upkeep/cleaning in owner's manual. I owned a Hoover for 15 years before that. I will go back to that brand soon.

UPDATE: Bought a new Electrolux canister vac, and it rocks! I went on Consumer Reports website and looked at vacuum ratings. I am so glad I did! My previous Eureka Altima rated a 42 out of 100! I would have never bought it knowing that! Anyway, 2 months into this new vacuum, I can easily say it is the best vacuum I've owned. It sells for $400 online, but I found it at Fry's for $250!! Good Luck!

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J.B.

answers from Dallas on

RAINBOW!!! Yes expensive but if you or anyone in your house suffers from allergies Rainbow helps SOOO much with that. It uses a water tank to trap the dust and hairs so when you go to empty it it doesnt float all over you or the floor you just vacuumed! My Mother had one all my childhood days then when I had boys who suffer from allergies I asked mom for her old one and she got a new one. Well what I didnt know at first is that you can trade your old ones in towards newer ones. So I benefitted from her trade in... sorry Mom! I have traded up 2 times in 15 years. The suction is strong, belts last years, and NO BAGS! I have cats also and it gets lots of hair. Pricey YES but soooo worth it! I have all the attachments for kitchen, car, suckin pillows, carpet cleaning, and creaveces...... it also sucks up wet spills.
I will NEVER have anything else!

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M.B.

answers from Dallas on

I bought my Dyson when it was on sale at Kohl's using one of the discounts that come out periodically (I ended up getting 30% off of the sale price). IMHO, it is well worth the expense. I have all tile floors and I got the one that's good for all floor types and it gets up everything. I had previously used both top of the line Hoover and Eurekas on tile floors and they always left stuff. I have cats and dogs, so there gets to be tons of dirty/kitty litter all over the floors regularly. After I vaccuum with the Dyson, I can walk barefoot and my feet stay absolutely clean.

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S.S.

answers from Dallas on

Find a pediatric audiologist that will be able to work him on audio desensitivity training (it appears to produce amazing reults). If this should be hard to find (regular audiologist referral...try the pediatric medicine or early childhood psychology departments of a nearby university.

Good luck

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H.S.

answers from Amarillo on

Well, if you have pets, espcially dogs or cats, there is nothing better than the Dyson Animal. It was not in my budget either but I made a few sacrifices to get it after I borrowed my friends and saw what all it picked it. I was amazed and it is WORTH every penny. At the time I had a 6 month old crawling around and it was the best investment EVER! Maybe a different story if you don't have pets, there may a better one out there for the price for you but I swear by my Dyson!
P.S. It has a 5 year warranty

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A.D.

answers from Dallas on

honestly, just look at them, turn them on and push and pull... if it's a bagless, find out how much of that CRAP your going to get all over yourself emptying the canister. I have owned a "nice" bagless for about 2 years... I will never buy another bagless again... freakin NASTY!

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P.W.

answers from Dallas on

Get a Roomba. I have 3 1/2 year old twins, I use mine everyday. I love it so much I think of it as a family member!!
If you can get the Scuba, go for it too. It's amazing. And several times per year the iRobot Corporation has a special whereby if you purchase a Scuba, you get the Roomba for free.
P.

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S.M.

answers from Dallas on

Hi Emma,
In consumer report they said the best vac was a kenmore from Sears. Dyson was rated one of the lowest. So go to good ole SEARS!

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A.L.

answers from Tyler on

Hi, I have a Kirby and yes it does vacuum well but we have had to change the belt on it frequently and it is heavy. Our friends had a Dyson and it only lasted a year. The Rainbow is awesome, but it is way over priced and too expensive! My mom bought a hoover about 4 yrs ago and she loves it! No problems at all. Hope this is helpful.

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R.H.

answers from Dallas on

Emma,

I agree qith some of the other moms, would save up and get the Dyson. We bought the Dyson Pet(the purple one) last year & LOVE it. We have two fawn pugs and they shed a decent amount, the Dyson is the only vac we've had that got up all of the hair. We bought ours at Home Depot, had good price and $299 or over purchases can be put on your Home Depot card with no payments no interest for a year.

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D.H.

answers from Dallas on

absolutley the Oreck! my mom has one and if I'm really nice she'll let me borrow it! lol - it is very lightweight my 3 year old can push it around and actually do a pretty good job.

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M.H.

answers from Dallas on

One of my best friends has a Eureka Altima. She LOVES it. Its less than $100 at Walmart. It is bagless, cleans well and has several on board tools including a duster attachment that you push a button and it charges it with static electricity, you use it, say on your ceiling fan or wherever, stick it back in and hit the button and it sucks the dust out of it! I have been needing a new vaccuum myself and I have my eye on that one as soon as I can afford it!

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J.B.

answers from Dallas on

I wish I knew. I'd like to know what kind of response you get. I've heard Bissel's (spelling?)are good.

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S.W.

answers from Dallas on

I have a Dyson and have used it constantly for over 2 years and never had a problem with it except one: I have long hair and it can easily get wrapped around the brush head. About every 3 months, I get down on the floor with a pair of scissors to cut the hair off the brush. It's never actually caused a problem with the function of the vacuum, but I feel better knowing I've cleaned the brush head. (I'd probably have to do this with other brands too). It really never does lose suction, even when the tank is full and I don't realize it. It's the strongest vacuum I've ever owned. If you can't afford a Dyson yet, I agree with a previous poster - get a carpet sweeper until you've saved enough for the vacuum you really want. (If you get one you end up not liking, you end up creating more work for yourself.)

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M.A.

answers from Wichita Falls on

Best vaccuum i've ever had - Eureka The Boss, Smart Vac -Walmart $138. I too wanted a dyson, but read a consumer report comparing high dollar and down vacs and this one beat the dyson, kirby and all! i've had a kirby and many others. this one beats them all. it's a little heavy but definitely is the best i've had!

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C.W.

answers from Dallas on

I own a carpet cleaning company and come accross this question all the time. Although Dyson is a fine vacuum, for the price I don't feel it hold's up as well as other high end vacuum's. For the same amount of money, I would buy a Riccar, which is heavy duty and parts are made of metal not plastic. For someone that doesn't want to spend $400+ on a vacuum, go to the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval website. There is a bunch of Bissell and Eureka vacuum's on there that have earned their seal. Also, they come with a 2 year full refund gaurantee. I've also had many clients rave about their Hoover WindTunnel. I would plan on spending a min. of $200-$250 to get a good vacuum that will last and help maintian the life of your carpet.

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P.C.

answers from Dallas on

have you considered buying dyson from Ebay? That's where I got mine, brand new in box and 200$ less than the retail offered. You can save additionally if you look locally where you can pick it up in person rather than pay 20-50$ shipping. I don't know the next best after dyson. I had Hoover before - and it is a huge difference between the 2.
Good luck!

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J.S.

answers from Amarillo on

Hi Emma D,

Glad to hear that you really want a Dyson vacuum cleaner. I think they are really nice, I don't know of one that compares to the Dyson. However; I thought that you may be interested in getting what you really want. You don't have to settle for less. With an extra $300-$500 a month added to your current budget, you could purchase the Dyson of your choice.

Knowing that you have a fabulous husband and an exceptional 2 year old, you're just a step away from getting what you want. Please visit: http://www.homeandgardenparty.com/Home?WebId=jstockard to see how you can get whatever you want.

Many blessing to you and your family!
J. S
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L.T.

answers from Amarillo on

we also wanted a great vaccuum at a more affordable price. we almost got suckered into buying a kirby from the salesman that came to our house. but instead we decided to try ebay and found a brand new kirby at half the price of retail. you might shop around for the dyson you want and then do some online research for a better price. good luck!

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C.S.

answers from Dallas on

Buy a used vacuum and/or an old-fashioned push carpet/floor sweeper and save your money until you can get a Dyson. There's no next best thing to a Dyson. A Dyson is just "it" when it comes to vacuums.

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D.P.

answers from Dallas on

I own a Kirby and have had it over 20 years and is still in perfect condition.

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J.M.

answers from Dallas on

We just bought an amazing vaccuum. We have had a Dirt Devil for years. I thought my floors were clean. The Eureka Altima has my floors so clean, it is crazy. It brushes, fluffs, and just about goes by itself. It is also only $90 at Target. I love it so much, I called my mom about it after the first time I used it.

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B.D.

answers from Dallas on

We have had a Kenmore (Sears brand) canister vacuum (the one with the HEPA filter) for a long time, and we really like it. I know Consumer Reports ranks the upright Kenmore as its best buy. I think it was around $300, which is less than what I understand Dysons cost.

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C.S.

answers from Dallas on

My vacuum really SUCKS! Of course, that's a good thing...

I love my Oreck XL21. It's more expensive up front, but it has a 21 year warranty. It's awesome at getting things off the floor. You can go right from carpet to tile. And it's got a HEPA filter bag so you're not putting dust/dirt/stuff back into the air.

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S.B.

answers from Amarillo on

We bought a Dyson at Overstock.com almost 4 years ago...WORTH THE MONEY! It was an older model and about half price!

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D.C.

answers from Dallas on

give oreck a try. don't know how much you are able to invest BUT I have had the least expensive one for 5 years and it is going strong. I have pets and vacuum daily. It goes from carpet, to tile, to wood without a problem and is very light. Oreck will service your vacuum each year at no charge so for my money I will never buy any thing else.

My daughter-in-law does have a Dyson and it is good but I much prefer my Oreck. Much lighter and easier to use.

Good luck.

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A.W.

answers from Dallas on

We have had our Dyson 14 for 3 years Truthfully we hate it, everyone in the house has long hair that may cause some of the problems but we just got it back from the Sears repair and it's messing up again. And after buying the 5 year warranty it cost over $700 at Sears. A big wast.

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