Vaccuum Cleaner

I think the absolute best vacuum is the Rainbow, You can actually get them very reasonably off of ebay. They have rebuilt ones that last a long time if you don't want to spend all that money. I have an Oreck xl2 and I love that as well.

I agree with the suggestion of the Rainbow! We splurged on one because my husband has allergies, asthma AND we have FIVE pets. It is SO worth the money. You'd be amazed at how much your old vacuum leaves behind! We have noticed a HUGE change in his allergy attacks and there is no pet odor anymore :)

From one Dyson hater to another! :) Seriously, I have the same complaints as you do.

I agree with Christy about the Rainbow. They are spendy, but you can do a payment plan and they seriously last more than 30 years. My husband just vaccumed our house last night with the Rainbow (we borrowed my mom's) and our house smells so fresh. You can even vaccum your matresses and pillows with this system, and its AMAZING on hardwood and tile......something that the Dyson could only aspire to ;) haha!

Good luck in your vaccum search!

Hi, H.:

Go to a vacuum cleaner store and purchase a used Electrolux.
Good luck. D.

I love my Kirby. I bought it 22 years ago and it's still going strong. I occasionally have it cleaned and inspected at a local vacuum shop -- about every few years or so. I just hate Kirby sales practices and I'm not sure I'd ever buy one from a door-to-door person again. Maybe a local vacuum shop would have one for sale slightly used. I have to say that I will never use anything but a Kirby again -- and I'm like you: kids, pets, hardwood, carpet and in and out of the house a lot.

I just bought AN Oreck vacuum this weekend, I was finding it hard to justify paying $300. for a vacuum but I am very happy with it. The vacuum is very light and I can carry it up and downstairs wiht no strain at all.

I talked to friends who are Oreck owners before I purchased and they all really loved their machines.

They have many models to choose from but I got he $399. model but I paid $299. for it.

KI

I can't tell what to get but I can tell what NOT to get - an Oreck! I also have carpets, area rugs and hardwood. If you have any type of mid-high pile carpet (like a frieze carpet) - it takes both hands to push it. There is no height adjustment. I am absolutely worn out when I am done vacuuming. You have top pick it up to go onto another level of flooring such as an area rug or to go over the cord. It will not tilt back to move from one height to another. It does not get everything up. I can go over the same spot several times and I still hear it picking up stuff. It will not pick up a ficus tree leaf, or a piece of candy wrapper but it will suck up half of an area rug. I too have kids and husband who come in from the yard and constantly bring in grass, sticks, dirt and such - it doesn't get it in one pass like the commercial says - it will take several passes (this in indoor/outdoor area rug, very low pile). The little side brushes are useless, they just push the dirt along, they don't rotate (like on a Hoover) to help get the dirt into the vacuum. And the hardwood/tile mode is useless as well. It still spits the dirt out the back (unlike the Hoover where it has a mechanism that keeps it from spiting out the back). It was the worst 500.00 I have ever spent. It does have a good warranty and I take it in every year for it's tune-up. On the second time I took it in for it's tune-up, they had to replace the motor - I don't do that much vacuuming b/c! I know this was long but I wanted you to have a full review of the Oreck.

I love my Oreck. It is light weight and works great on wood and carpet. Also it is not much more expensive than the Dyson or other store vacuums. I have had mine for 5 yrs+ and I have 6 kids plus two cats. I vacuum once a day and mop the wood floor once a week.

Good Luck!

I have my oreck over five years and love it! Good luck.

i live in the country and have 4 young children so dirt is always being drug in. i have found that baglesses dont work well at all. canisters are the best but rite now i have an "in between vacumes" vacume. its a bissel powerforce that i bought at walmart for $30. I love it. for such a cheap vacume it works great! it has a lot of power for an upright. i have had it for about 3 months now because i like it so much and am afraid to get a more expensive vacume and not like it.

miele are the best!!!

If you want light-weight, I can't really help you, but I have a Hoover Widepath that I LOVE. It is bagged (good for allergies and doesn't lose suction) and CHEAP but I've had mine for years without any problems. You can buy them on Amazon.com.

Get an electrolux! Its well worth the price. I have gone through probably 7 vaccuums in 13 yrs and each one stopped working. Whether it was the cheap $70 one or a dyson. I purchased the Oxygen Ultra a little more than a yr ago and have absolutely no regrets! Wish I had done it sooner. I too have 2 kids (boys) a husband, 2 dogs white floors and a muddy back yard these days. It works wonders.

Many of the Dysons were recalled because there was a problem with the way the canister was fitting and the filter was rapidly filling with dirt and debris. If you are washing your filter out more than every 6 months, that's probably the problem. They will FedEx you a new canister for free. All Dysons have a 5 year warranty and I have always found their customer service to be excellent, so give them a call before you just give up on your Dyson.

I don't have any other advice to give you, because you would have to pry my Dyson out of my cold, dead hands. They are heavy, but with a 2 year old and a dog, my Dyson is just about my best friend.