You know you’re growing up when a vacuum is at the top of your wish list. But with a 3800 square foot house, a good vacuum is definitely necessary! So I’m trying to decide whether a big investment vacuum would be a wise choice, or if I should stick with the better bargains.
My must-have list for a vacuum is pretty short…it has to be powerful enough to pick up dog hair, it has to be lightweight enough for me to lug it up and down the stairs, it has to be good on wood floors, and it has to be bagless. There are few things I hate more than vacuum bags. Don’t ask me why.
Here are a few vacuums I’ve been considering.
1. Dyson DC44 Animal Cordless Vacuum ($399) – I love the cordless option! Since our house is old, we don’t have as many outlets as you would think, so unplugging and replugging constantly sounds like such a pain. Plus I’ve never met anyone who has a Dyson and doesn’t love it. But is it worth the price?
2. Bissell PowerEdge Pet Hard Floor Corded Vacuum ($50) – My dog sheds like crazy, so a vacuum made to attract pet hair is a very nice feature. Plus, the price is so right! But I read that the life span isn’t terribly long, so I’m not sure it’s really a great value.
3. iRobot Roomba 650 ($400) – Another pricey option. Charles really wants a Roomba (he has a thing for robots), but I’m not so sure. The scheduled self-cleaning sounds amazing in theory, but does it really work that well? And what about corners and under furniture? Anyone have any experience with one of these?
4. Bissell Hard Floor Expert Bagless Canister Vacuum ($129) – I’ve never even operated a canister vacuum before, so that would be new. I’ve heard from several people that this is a great option, and that it’s very quiet but powerful.
5. Hoover WindTunnel T-Series Rewind Upright Vacuum ($99) – This vacuum seems to make the top sellers list with each new model, but the reviews aren’t as good as some of the others listed. Is this just a very nice version of your basic vacuum?
Lately I’ve been studying the Vacuum Judge’s 2014 comparison chart. It’s super helpful, but I’d love to know if you have any inside tips or thoughts! Do you have a favorite vacuum?
Update: We decided to go with the Roomba 650 and absolutely love it! We are still shopping around for a deep cleaning vacuum or mop since the Roomba is more for everyday maintenance.
Being the housekeeper I am and knowing the housekeeper you are I would buy 2 Bissell uprights. Keep one upstairs and one downstairs. You will be much more likely to use them if they are accessible. Your dog says she will try not to shed too much and she loves you:)
I’ve had a Miele canister vac for 3.5 years and it’s still good as new! I love it and hope it lasts for many more years. It’s not bagless but it’s really not a nuisance–I only have to change the bag once every few months and I like that dust is contained in the bag rather than flying everywhere when I empty it.
I have a electrolux canister (bag less) I got specifically for hard woods and dog hair ( I have 3 large labs) and it works really really well for half the price of a Dyson. I also have a roomba pet that I run on the hardwoods about every day. Nothing is better than having it vacuum while you’re doing other things around the house.
I have had several Orecks, a canister vac that we spent $1000 and now I own a Dyson and keep in mind we have TWO Goldens so you know how much hair they have!!! Wish I had it yrs. ago…..Love, Love, Love it and it picks up like you would not believe…however, I cannot speak for the cordless one you have listed. So Dyson is my pick for sure!!!
We have the Shark Navigator (the white and sliver one). I love it! It does really well on our hardwoods and tile, as well as our rugs and carpet. It is also very light.
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I’m a big Roomba fan, and given the right expectations, it is truly a life saver. For hard floor surfaces, you basically don’t ever have to manually vacuum again. For carpets, the Roomba is good but you may still need to vacuum for a deep clean about once a month. The newer models have no brushes, which is great since hair never gets stuck on the brushes!
These are some great tips! And you’ve got it right; it makes a massive difference. Choosing the right Vacuum For Stairs can be pretty tricky, but this guide made it a lot simpler! Thank you so much for writing; this was helpful!