Vacuum Cleaners Discussions

I am interested in buying an upright vacuum, bagged, and I am willing to spend up to, say, $350.  It will be used, not heavily, by an older woman who has a shedding cat and is not mechanically apt.  A longish cord and an attachment for a linoleum floor would be a plus.  I'll take any suggestion, but in the absence of any I am looking at a Hoover UH30010COM Platinum Lightweight Bagged Upright Vacuum Cleaner with Canister, which is sold on Amazon.  My concern with Hoovers in general is that according to CR they are highly repair prone.  Anybody have experience with this model in particular, recent experience with Hoovers in general, or any other suggestions?

HARDSELL wrote:

I bought a HOOVER Z, HOOVER WT, HOOVER TEMPO made in Mexico and HOOVER TEMPO made in China.  I purchased the HOOVER WT first for our new LV home and new carpets when we first moved in in August 2006 [$140].  Outstanding rug cleaner.  Not so good on floors even tho it has a barefloor setting.  20 pounds got to be too much to push around every day.  Church needed a vacuum with OBT, I gifted WT away in April 2007 after buying the new ORECK XL, which I still have and use.  WT is still going strong for the Church.  HOOVER Z was $100 new from HOME DEPOT in Nov 2007 and I donated it away new to the Church for the 2007 holidays.  I bought it because I had a Z previously for 6 months in 2006 in our home in VA and liked it.  Couldn't resist the price tag [$100] which Venson mentioned here.  Still going strong for the Church.  The TEMPO's [2] to compare a HOOVER/MAYTAG TEMPO with a HOOVER TTI China.  [$75 and $55 respectively] Same same in every way.  You can read my reviews here on the reviews page for the WT and 2 TEMPOS.   Again, I donated the China made TEMPO [newest bought] to the Church.  Still going strong for the Church.  Since I didn't use the new Z after I bought it, but donated away, I didn't write a review here.  If I did, I would have said for $100 it was an offer I couldn't refuse. 

I vacuum daily and have for the last 12 plus years [dog sheds daily year round so no choice].  Dog dies, I still vacuum daily: Habits are hard to break.  Alternate between ORECK [if I'm vacuuming the floors too] and TEMPO if not vacuuming the floors.  ORECK is the best on my floors.  I have about 700 sq feet of wall-to-wall rugs and 1000 sq feet of tile [not counting garage].  Plus assorted area rugs through the house.  I replace the paper bags in both uprights every 2 months and they are never ever even half full to the line for changing.  Daily vacuuming is the key.  Doesn't give the surface dirt time to imbed into the carpet and matting onto the floors.

I would never recommend vacuuming 1200 sq foot of carpet with an ORECK let alone just once a week. Not the best size wise [nozzle head] for all that carpeting.  Takes too darn long to do a thorough job. 

BTW, you said that HOOVER WT's were rated low in reliability and when pressed cited motor, brushes and switch problems.  I asked you for the source of that information.  You didn't answer.  Gave some nonsensical response. The motors and brushes in the TEMPO and WT are the same.  On some of these models, the switches too.

Carmine D.

retardturtle1 wrote:

I agree.  I suspect they were bought and used after using a dyson DC07 for several years.  So those rugs were filled to the brim with years and years of built up deep down dirt.  Especially if vacuumed just once a week.  The reason that a HOOVER with WT technology, even a lightweight, would fill the extra large bags quicker than the others used before. 

Carmine D.

CarmineD wrote:

Do you think you can escape that dig?  The Platinum followed a Kirby, Royal, Hoover Whisper and some in between.

I replaced approximately 250 SQ Ft of carpet with wood flooring.  The carpet had been vacuumed wit the DC07.  The installer said he had never removed carpet ot that age that did not have filth under it.  I only vacuum weekly because we do not have animals in the house.  We do not track in sand or filth.  Most times shoes are removed at the door.  Remember the Orek had a chance and failed (twice).  My carpet always receives compliments for looking clean and visitors are always surprised to learn its age.

Perhaps you could reduce your vacuuming if you left the filth outside.  Of course the BS would still follow you throughout.  How do you dehydrate it enough to vacuum daily?

HARDSELL wrote:

Just as I said in my post above. If it's a dig, you dug the hole yourself and fell in it.  Thank you very much for your honesty.   

A rug can hold its weight in dirt and still look clean to the eyes even for years.  You said that the HOOVER bagged lightweight [with WT technology] which you are using for several months is filling bags more often and more quickly than all the previous vacuums you used.  Why?  I told you so.  The previous brands and models are not working properly and/or not adjusted correctly.  Turtle gave you another reason.  The proof of all the dirt left behind in yours rugs by these other vacuums is in your new HOOVER bags [with WT tech].  Also proof that WT technology even on a new lightweight HOOVER model is the gold standard of rug cleaning.  The reason in part Consumer Reports consistently rates HOOVER with/w-o WT technology as the best in uprights.  ORECK is a contender at just 8 pounds but a very distant second. 

My review for the ORECK XL is also on this site.  I like this ORECK model so much I bought 3 more and gifted them to family [with needs and wants that are matched by the ORECK XL].  See, simple and easy when you know what you want and need.  When you don't, you are hard to sell.

Carmine D.

CarmineD wrote:

For your benefit I should have worded differently.  The installer was surprised at the lack of filth under the removed carpet. I did not say the Platinum removed more dirt than the DC07. 

I read your XL review.  Means nothing since I used two that failed.  Of course you have already established that you do not like deep clean carpet so the Oreck is satisfactory for you.  BTW, A single yard sale that I shopped at today had 3 Orecks for sale.  I believe they were being replaced with some brand that starts with D.

HARDSELL wrote:

You got it right the first time.  I wondered and asked often here why you sold the dyson after using just 2 years if you liked it as much as you said so.  You finally provided the answer below.  Thank you for your honesty.  I highlighted. 

A deep rug cleaner like the HOOVER WT will remove the dirt other vacuums leave behind even in the matting and under.  BUT.. you will have to vacuum thoroughly.  HOOVER suggests 7 passes forward and back for best results.  I suggest doing this 7 pass method with daily vacuuming for at least 7 consecutive days.  Why?  If you've vacuumed once a week routinely for 5 years with vacuums that leave dirt behind [as you say], it will take a rigorous vacuuming routine to get the rugs back to normal clean.  Like the ORECK tho, with the smallish nozzle head on the HOOVER lightweight bagged [even with WT tech] it's going to take you a darn long time to vacuum 1200 sq feet every day with 7 passes back and forth.  At the end, change the bag and go back to once a week and as needed.  Monitor and track your bag usage/replacement.  If the 7 daily vacuum days works, it will save you money on bags in the future.   Let me know the result.  Always happy to serve and assist.  But.. you have to get over your ego and id and listen and follow my instructions.  Or, you are still going to be hard to sell.  Your choice, not mine.  You can have it the hard way or the easy way.  It's your time and money. 

HARDSELL wrote:

Carmine D.

CarmineD wrote:

Hi eliot

Personally if it was me I'd save up and go for a SEBO. Having just visited www.ebay.com I can see there are quite a few Sebo models on there under the $350 mark and whilst the X4 model is heavier than Oreck, it has a lighter gliding aspect thanks to its electronic head; the machine can also clean hard flooring without marking and doesn't need a Lino tool - I regularly use my X4 on hard floor lino and no damage ever occurs. Given that there's a pet involved the Sebo X can accept other tools such as a mini turbo brush for above the floor cleaning. If the owner intended has to clean cushions or anywhere where the animal is going above carpets you would need to consider a vacuum cleaner that has optional tools and a hose to deal with this - none of Oreck's models have a hose on board unless you consider the much more expensive Oreck Pro commercial upright model and that weighs more than Sebo's basic X4. Over the lighter XL, whoever owns it will have to do bend down to the floor and undo a screw to replace the drive belt - on the Sebo uprights, push a button and the brush bar pops out - the machine is fitted with a lifetime drive belt.

Another alternative is the Sebo Felix or Windsor Axcess which is the same machine in the U.S Starter prices are usually $400 which is a bit more than the asking price. Generally if reliability is what you are after and little to go wrong the older SEBO X1 Automatic or X4 should suffice. U.S models under the Windsor tag go under the name of " Windsor Versamatic." The Versamatic models on EBAY.com are well priced whilst the X4 has slightly more power (check out 300427569260 on Ebay.com from a seller based in Maine for example)

Windsor Versamatic                                                                                                                                                                     Sebo X4

eliot3;

The HOOVER UH30010COM is a very good upright that does a very good job of getting at that deep down dirt.  I do like this.  It is comfortable to use and does not require alot of strength to push/pull/hold.  The handle is also very comfortable.  It does have a long cord, so there will be less moving of the plug, as the user vacuums.

I would not follow what CR says, because they get it wrong. You can read, from my posts, that I do not use what they say.  What I have always told people is to use it to see/compare the features of some models.  They do not even have all of the  brands available.  That right there makes it a bad guide, because the potential vacuum purchaser may be missing out on a very good vacuum cleaner, if it is not listed. 

If you are going to get the HOOVER, I would suggest that you take your time and look around.  I know that you can find this model, for alot less, in other places.  You can find it for alittle over $200.00.

HARDSELL wrote:
HARDSELL;

This was a good reply to the OP