# I want a vacuum that totally sucks. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 2, 2004, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-a-vacuum-that-totally-sucks/277785 "2004-12-02T22:34:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2004, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-a-vacuum-that-totally-sucks/277785/21 "2004-12-03T22:33:09Z")
> [@nyctea scandiaca](#): > > [DYSON.](http://www.dyson.com/) > > BEST. VACUUM. EVER. Whoever’s second isn’t even close. By coincidence, our Dyson came just after we finished vacuuming the living room carpet with a high-dollar Hoover. When we saw what the Dyson picked up, we gave the high-dollar Hoover to a neighbor. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2004, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-a-vacuum-that-totally-sucks/277785/22 "2004-12-03T22:35:23Z")
Forgot to mention… it also does great on wood floors. And I really like the thoughtfulness that was put in its design. Guys like it because it’s like one of those robot toys where you can move the parts all around and make new things out of it. ---
**Author:** ![Cherry2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cherry2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cherry2000)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2004, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-a-vacuum-that-totally-sucks/277785/23 "2004-12-04T00:04:30Z")
Right now I have a 12-AMP Bissel Powerforce (but yes, what I really want is a Dyson!). I also have a Himalayan cat. Who sheds copiously. I got the thing at Walmart (the vacuum, not the kitty 😉 ) for around $50. That was two years ago, and it still works great. Our thought was “for $50, if it dies, it dies”. But so far, so good. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2004, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-a-vacuum-that-totally-sucks/277785/24 "2004-12-04T01:10:57Z")
> [@choie](#): > > Heh. Thanks for the suggestions, everyone! And I’m glad all y’all who piggybacked on my humble thread are getting what _you_ need, but I’m still stuck here with grungy floors! 😃 > > 'Cause alas, when I speak of a budget of $125, I ain’t kidding. That’s the ceilling, and even _that_ is more than I should really spend. Geeze louise, aren’t there any other low income Dopers 'round these here parts? Or anyone who’s just not able/willing to spend $200+ (!!!) on a vacuum? Surely _some_ of you without Mieles and Dysons and Electroluxes and Orecks are still kinda happy with what you have? > > Have some pity on me! Hath not a poor person floors? If we spill something, do we not require decent suction? I’ve never spent more than about $80 for a vacuum cleaner in my life, and the carpets still seem to get clean. Anyhow, if you can get to a Sears early tomorrow morning, they’ve got their $80 Kenmore on sale for $35.99 from 7-10am. It’s model #33079, an upright, the sales flyer says. I can’t guarantee that they have the exact same vacuum on sale in NY as here in MD, but these things are usually pretty much the same nationwide. I dunno what sort of on-board tools it has, but pretty much all the vacs have the basic brush/crevice tool/curtain cleaner combo these days. I’ve got nothing bad to say about inexpensive Kenmore vacs. They tend to suck like a cheap crackwhore. Of course, I’ve only had two of them, but I got the first one in the mid-1980s, and got the second when the first one died. So they last pretty well, is what I’m sayin’. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2004, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-a-vacuum-that-totally-sucks/277785/25 "2004-12-04T02:09:14Z")
It’s a pain in the ass, but I really like my Rainbow. ---
**Author:** ![choie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/choie/32/7829_2.png) [@choie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choie)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2004, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-a-vacuum-that-totally-sucks/277785/26 "2004-12-04T03:59:38Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > I’ve never spent more than about $80 for a vacuum cleaner in my life, and the carpets still seem to get clean. > > Anyhow, if you can get to a Sears early tomorrow morning, they’ve got their $80 Kenmore on sale for $35.99 from 7-10am. It’s model #33079, an upright, the sales flyer says. I can’t guarantee that they have the exact same vacuum on sale in NY as here in MD, but these things are usually pretty much the same nationwide. I dunno what sort of on-board tools it has, but pretty much all the vacs have the basic brush/crevice tool/curtain cleaner combo these days. Awesome, thank you, **RTFirefly**. I’m not sure we have a Sears in NYC but there may be one in train distance! [quoteThey tend to suck like a cheap crackwhore. Of course, I’ve only had two of them, but I got the first one in the mid-1980s, and got the second when the first one died.[/QUOTE] Um. You _are_ still talking about the vacs, right? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2004, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-a-vacuum-that-totally-sucks/277785/27 "2004-12-04T04:48:06Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > They tend to suck like a cheap crackwhore. Is that good? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2004, 10:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-a-vacuum-that-totally-sucks/277785/28 "2004-12-04T10:30:44Z")
> [@Unintentionally Blank](#): > > Is that good? 😃 I suppose I could clarify in terms of chrome and trailer hitches. 😉 **choie** - try the [store locator](http://www.sears.com/sr/storelocator/framedMap.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@2084387087.1102156001@@@@&BV_EngineID=cceiadddfdjmedkcehgcemgdffmdflh.0&vertical=SEARS&PagePath=http%3a%2f%2fwww.sears.com%2fsr%2fstorelocator%2f&Env=www.sears.com&targetPage=http%3a%2f%2fclients.mapquest.com%2fsears%2fmqlocator&vertical=SEARS&link=search_criteria) to find the nearest one. They’ve got stores in Brooklyn and Jersey City, it says there. Good luck! ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2004, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-a-vacuum-that-totally-sucks/277785/29 "2004-12-04T15:48:21Z")
> [@Carnac the Magnificent!](#): > > In addition, how much suction does the **average** home need? I can’t believe that industrial suction, repeated month after year, is good for carpeting. When people pick up lots of “dust,” might not a lot of that dust be carpet fibers? Once the inbedded debris is removed, the upkeep involves surface dust–unless you have a diseased yak. 😉 Correct. Ask anyone who cleans carpets for a living. They’ll tell you that the best maintenance is regular vacuuming for dust. Failure to do this routine maintenance will eventually cause the carpet to fail. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2004, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-a-vacuum-that-totally-sucks/277785/30 "2004-12-04T18:00:21Z")
When you buy a cheaper vacuum cleaner, be aware that for most machines under $300.00, many of the moving parts are plastic-and they will wear out under heavy use. For example, our Hoover canister vac does a good job-but the beater brush bearings are nylond plastic-and the wheels as well. When these wear out (and my wife vacuums twice a week), they most liely will be not replaceable. My Dad has a Regina (cheap crap)-he tried to fix it, but all of the plactis parts cracked and broke-he actually epoxied it back together! That is why it is worth buying an expensive machine-the moving parst are made of metal, and will last-and if not, they at least aRe repairable! Are the wheels on the DYSON plastic? ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2004, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-a-vacuum-that-totally-sucks/277785/31 "2004-12-04T19:53:30Z")
My theory on vacuuming is that the best vacuum you can buy is the one you use a lot. Since I found dragging my old cheapo canister vac out of the closet a royal pain, I chose a :shudder: cordless vacuum from Eureka. No cords to get in the way, it’s small enough to leave hanging on the wall, charging, and you don’t need super duper suction to get cat hair and dust off a hardwood floor. The charge will also last a lot longer than it will take to vacuum your entire studio. The biggest pain I have now is emptying the small dirt bin, but it’s a far sight less of a hassle than dealing with a cord. ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2004, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-a-vacuum-that-totally-sucks/277785/32 "2004-12-04T20:09:34Z")
> [@Unintentionally Blank](#): > > When I was poor, all of my vacuums were second hand. Our perception was that we wanted to spend _enough_ money to get a good product that lasted a long time. > > We purchased a Bissel handheld rug shampooer for a song and the B@stard broke in four months. a $.12 piece sheared off, making the thing useless. We bought a Bissell upright shampooer and it lasted, maybe 16 months with regular (but not overly so) use. > > We then bought a Hoover - got the cheapest version of their shampooer at, like $170 at Walmart. The only differences between it and their Gold Star bestest model was about 6 feet of cord and three add on pieces we’d never use. That sucker has run so well, for so long, under heavy use (senile, puking cats and twin two year old boys) that we’ve been exteremely happy with it. > > So use this as a guideline: Find a neato cool vacuum cleaner, then look at the cheapest member of the line. I’ll bet good money that the part you’re interested (the vacuum), has the exact same pieces as the top of the line model. Right on brother! When I went shopping for a vacuum I went to a vacuum repair shop. To sum up the conversation in a few sentances… If you the best bang for your buck i.e. reliabilty w/ a very good cleaning job… go with a hoover upright. if you want the best suction and can spend money… Dyson. ---
**Author:** ![spingears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2004, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-a-vacuum-that-totally-sucks/277785/33 "2004-12-04T20:21:10Z")
> [@choie](#): > > Cheap joke, I know. Anyway, I need to buy a new vacuum, but have been vacillating for ages on what brand and type to get. Well, Dopers, my floor is in your hands. Any thoughts? Try out the TOL DYSON. Get an in home demonstration if at all possible. I have a central vac that replaced a drag along Electrolux ‘pig.’ When the CV goes out a Dyson will be given serious consideration. My daugher will be moving soon and will probably want a Dyson. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2004, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-a-vacuum-that-totally-sucks/277785/34 "2004-12-05T01:15:32Z")
Given the thread title, the only possible answer is a Dyson. According to their advertising, they **never** lose suction. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2004, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-a-vacuum-that-totally-sucks/277785/35 "2004-12-05T01:58:38Z")
The concept used in a dyson has been around for a long time but I haven’t seen it in a vacuum cleaner in 40 some years. Nothing wrong with it but it doesn’t make it pick up dirt any more than a “regular” vacuum cleaner. Some things to consider when comparing models: - The more expensive models will have a higher hp motor and therefore greater suction. You are limited to motor size by the amperage loads found in your house. Nobody is going to make a vacuum cleaner that exceeds a 15 amp circuit. -uprights are, IMO easier to use on rugs. All high quality uprights come with hose attachments and accessories so things like turbo brushes should be considered highly desireable. -bagless systems are more prone to leak, which makes a mess. The dyson style of cleaner being the possible acception. Even with the Dyson you are subject to a dust plume when emptying it out. Not a plus for allergy sufferers. You vacuumed for a reason and reintroducing the dust into the air defeats the purpose of vacuuming. -serviceability is desireable. Uprights are belt driven and you WILL throw a belt when Johnny’s toys jam up the works. The ease of access to the roller brush is a minor but somewhat important consideration. My recommendation is to keep to the $300 and under price range and go for an upright with bags. It will store easier than a canister and make less of a mess with bags. The Dyson may be a nice vacuum but it is overpriced and the dirt canister looks small compared to a similar sized vacuum with bags. I have cats and my Panasonic does what it is supposed to do. My only complaint is that the high hp motor sucks the hose so hard that it’s hard to extend it out. You don’t need that much suction for dusting but its nice for doing chairs. ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2004, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-a-vacuum-that-totally-sucks/277785/36 "2004-12-05T04:52:06Z")
How funny that I would have read this thread earlier today! Did any of you see Saturday Night Live tonight? One of their fake ads was about the Dyson Toilet. It was funny as hell. E3 ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2004, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-a-vacuum-that-totally-sucks/277785/37 "2004-12-05T07:35:09Z")
> [@Enright3](#): > > How funny that I would have read this thread earlier today! > > Did any of you see Saturday Night Live tonight? > > One of their fake ads was about the Dyson Toilet. It was funny as hell. > > E3 😃 That sounds hillarious! If his toilet is anything like his vacuum cleaner, I imagine it would be like opening a window in a plane at 30,000 feet. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-a-vacuum-that-totally-sucks/277785.md?page=1)