Vacuum Reco Needed

Not only do I have two boys and two dogs (one of whom is close to 130 pounds), but I also care for some friends dogs in my house when they are away on holiday. I bought a Miele Solaris 6 years ago after having spent an insane amount of time trying to find a machine that would stand up to my needs - and an insane amount of money. This is the only machine that I've ever owned that last more than a year. I highly recommend it and AAA Moley in Evanston on Chicago Ave for service and bags/parts.

You HAVE to get the new DYSON slim DC18.... It is expensive but worth every penny!! They run about $439 and I would NEVER pay that much for a vaccuum had I not seen one at a friend of mine's - It is phenomenal. I have 3 small kids and a dog too - it also comes with all these great attatchments to do ceiling fans, mattress, couch, etc!!! You will not regret it!!!!!!!!!!! Amanda

Dyson - all the way! I've tried them all, Hoover, Dirt Devil, etc. Nothing picks up dog hair like the Dyson. They are a bit pricey -- but mine is going on 5 years old, and is still working like a champ. I have 2 kids, and a small dog. The price you pay is worth it in the long run, because it never breaks down, and 5 years later, it still works like the day I got it.

I love my Oreck. It's a lot cheaper than the Dyson and really light, which is important if you have a two story. That's when we bought it. Ours came with a canister vacuum which I love to do the couches to get up dog hair. It also has a floor attachment too. I think it was $300. I had a hoover before and liked it but it was too heavy to lug up and down the stairs.

Even though they are expensive, splurge on a Dyson. For you, I'd suggest the Dyson Pet. I have used one and they are amazing.
I wanted a Dyson, but my husband thought it was way too expensive. We now have a bissel healthy home vac. It's nice, but not great. It has a ton of clogs already (in the filter part at the top of the cyclone part) and its not even a year old. I would not suggest getting this vaccuum over the Dyson; its just not worth it. We will need a new vac, or to get this one repaired, in a year or two.

I have a Dyson, which I admit, I paid $400 for. It is the best vaccuum I have EVER purchased. I have a dog, 7 year old, messy hubby and 20 month old and this cleans everything. I know it's pricey but I've had mine for 4 years now and have had NO problems at all. Not to mention that there are no replacement parts that you need to keep up with. My friends are all jealous of my Dyson, it just cracks me up!! :o) Good luck!

No Bag, Hepa filter system, and high Amp is what you want. I always buy bissel and I have never had one to die on me I always up graded first. C.'

Depends on price. If I had $300-500 (or more) I would get a Dyson. However, we are happy with our Kenmore from Sears. It has a Hepa filter which helps with the dust and dander and we haven't ever had any problems with it since getting 3.5 years ago. I did recently see that Big Lots had an older model of the Dyson for only $300 which usually sells for $400, if you've got the money :)

We have two dogs that are mainly located in our family room. Our carpet has had a beating because of it. We used to use our roomba a lot but it broke(I have not taken it in to be fixed yet) I also had a Oreck since my parents bought it in 1993 so we used that. Which i so light etc. I went out on a limb and bought the bissel healthy home. It does get heavy when it fills but our carpet after a lab and a pug has never looked better! My mom and sister have the Dyson and they both like it a lot, I couldn't put frth the price. My mom did find hers onsale at Khols.

I'm not sure how many people are aware of this but Stanley steamer has a 3 time a year deal that you pay one amount (depending on your amount of carpeting in your house) and they come out three times a year for that price. Our price is a little over 200.00 a year and it covers our basement family room and three bedrooms.

I just got a roomba for christmas and absolutley love it! We have two cats and two small children. The roomba saves me time and picks up more cat hair than my Bissell. Just set it and forget it!...at least until it catches the attention of a small child :)

Hi J.-

This is my first time posting, but I had to respond... I'm always searching for good vacuums to clean our floors. We have two labs (who shed like crazy) and twin 4 y/o girls. We have both carpet and hardwoods. The best and surprisingly cheapest vacuum I've found is the Eureka Boss bagless upright vacuum. They sell it at Walmart for $34!!! I have to empty it a few times due to all the hair, but the suction is great. It doesn't have attachments for furniture, but I saw they have a Eureka superlite bagless that looks similar (pricewise as well) with attachments. I may try that next. Vacuums typically don't last long for us (usually 3 years) until the motor is burned up from dog hair. I also found that I had to replace the Eureka around that same time (was losing suction no matter what we tried) but the price was so reasonable, I didn't mind.

HTH-
S.

I adore my vacuum and it tackles the hair from my 2 large shedding dogs well. I have more hardwoods than rugs, and I think it works better on the hardwoods, but it does the rugs fine, especially if they are short rugs. I like having the one vacuum for both surfaces. My housecleaner recommended this one and she knows her vacuums well! It is my first canister and I love how easy it is to do the steps and couches with a canister vacuum. The brand/model is: Eureka "The Boss" 12 amps. The bags are a little small, so I probably change them once per month to keep optimal sucking power, but you can but a 12-pack of them online for cheap, so I don't mind it - they are easy to change and this way the mess gets thrown away often and doesn't stay in the vacuum forever.

I highly recommend the pet dyson (I'm sure any dyson variety is fantastic). I have had mine for about 4 years now - I have a 170 lb St. Bernard - and it tackles the pet hair without a problem...even after 4 years. It is on the pricey side - but well worth it - it comes with a lot of different attachments/accessories, etc. - we have used for our couches, hardwood floors and cars. It's great. If it is in your budget - I might recommend trying to get a Linen N' Things coupon for 20% off - I think you can use it towards the purchase of a new dyson.... Good Luck!

We are very fond of our Dyson. We have the Slim which is incredibly light and easy to move up and down stairs and to store. If you are going to get one, both Bed, Bath, and Beyond and Linens 'n' Things will now let you use the 20% off coupon for it. That can save you over $100.

Check out the consumer reports recommendation for a vacuum. I'm so glad that we did! We just got a Eureka 4870GZ Boss Smart-Vac Upright Vacuum - it was about $130 on Amazon.com but I know they sell it at Walmart and other stores around the area. It works GREAT with animal hair! They compared it to the $500 Dyson and said it worked just as well at 1/3 of the price! We've only had it for 2 weeks now but I can't stop recommending it to everyone! Oh and ours came with the paw-paw and I LOVE it for my stairs! Check it out! I read the reviews about it and like everything there are pros and cons. . .now that I have it I'm SO GLAD that we got it! I would HIGHLY recommend it!

I just got a new one it Is the Dirt Devil Turbo Vision. Fairly inexpensive and does a wonderful job. I have a Chocolate lab and two boys and it works wonders to keep their messes under wraps! Now if you want to go more expensive I heard the new Bissell Pet hair eraser is awesome but is kinda pricey! Good Luck!

Hi J.,

We also went with a Dyson. Before the Dyson, I had what I thought was a good top of the line vacuum. What closed the deal for me was...we bought the Dyson took it home. Used my existing vacuum and vacumed the living room floor then turned around and vacuumed again using the Dyson. It made me sick to think there was still that much gunk my old vacuum (which was only a year old) was not picking up. I couldn't imagine my new baby down crawling around on that! I'm a little crazy when it comes to vacuming. It is something I enjoy doing and with a 22month old and 2 dogs I do it alot!! It is pricy but having a mobile child justifies for me!
Hope this helps!

We have Roomba and I love it. It vacuums by itself, you don't have to waste time doing it. It picks up all the dog hair and everything, even goes under the bed where you can't reach.... We don't have carpet, so I don't know how well it works on the carpet, but you can probably read about it on-line.

I agree with the Dyson comments. It really works the best, and we have tried them all. My Hubby brought home our Dyson and I love it. Costly however it pays off because you have no bags or filters to replace. I also love how the dirt collecter goes into the dishwasher. Super easy to clean and clean with.

I highly recommend the Dyson Animal D07 vacuum. You can also use it on hardwood floors and carpet. It's expensive, but so worth it if you have pets. I have a German Shepherd and it works great! It makes cleaning the couches so easy and you don't hurt your back doing it. The attachments are great and easy to use. It's fairly lightweight too, at least the model I bought. Also, you can save $100 if you buy it at bed bath and beyond using their 20% off coupon.

I just bought the Bissel Powerforce Turbo at Walmart. I love it. It is bagless and all but one filter is washable. The one that isn't washable only needs changing about every six months. It is easy to empty and you can rinse out the canister too. I have 2 cats(one long hair) and it works wonderful. It also comes with a pet brush. It is an attachable tool with a spinning brush to use on the furniture or pet furniture. It cost me less than $100. Good luck on your search. I hope I helped some.

I love my hoover upright bagless. It is not a rainbow, but it works great. I actually got mine used off craigslist. Mine has all the attachments. The thing I like most is that I can clean the bagless part. I even clean the filter so that saves. The filters retail for $20. I have been informed that you can burn up your motor if you don't change the filter, from employee at sweeper store. I just wash mine. The key is to make sure it dries completely, at least 24 hrs. When I empty bagless part I always shake the dust out of the filter. I would check at sweeper stores. They often have used ones. If you do go with used, do yourself a favor and take it a part and clean it thoroughly. I am sure the previous owners of my vacuum thought it was junk. It was disgustling filthy. I believe they cleaned up moist cat litter, don't imagine, but after I cleaned it. It is like brand new. My first one, was given to me by my mom. It held up and worked well for a long. The main reason I needed a new one is because the bottom piece broke off and it wouldn't roll properly. Good Luck!!

Kirby all the way. My mother has one that she past on to my brother and its now 40 years old. they work so well and there is a wide veriety of attachments out there you can take the head off of it and clean the hair out of it that way you do not burn up the moter. it is so good i can't reco0mend it anuff. the new ones are pricey but well worth it. I bought a used one from a vaccumm store down the street from me. Good luck on your hunt.

J.~ I have to say go with the dyson. We just got the all floors dc18, it is lighter than the other models, but picks up just as much. It is totally worth the extra $$. Good Luck.

I have to vote for the Dyson Animal. I have had it for a year now and absolutely love it. I use it on floors, carpet, couch...I have a high shedding dog and 2 kids, so I am constantly vacuuming. It is so easy to empty and easy to manuever.

I have 2 kids and a brown lab that sheds a good bit. We bought an Oreck XL. I love it. It doesn't get the corners really well..just like any other vacuum. But, when you but it, they give you a hand held vacuum that has really great suction and it has a strap so you can hold it on your shoulder. I would definetly recommend it, for pets and kids.

I was a die-hard Dirt Devil fan until my last and 3rd in 6 years died last summer. I bought a Bissell Lift-Off Pet Revolution at Target as a replacement and I would never buy anything other than a Bissell. I looked at the Bissell after purchasing a Bissell carpet cleaner when my daughter had C-diff and rotavirus at the same time and love both. The canister lifts off so I can take it upstairs with me without hauling the whole vacuum on the stairs. Also, the pet attachment is AMAZING. It's not just a brush but it actually has suction. My cat laid on a wool coat for a couple weeks (don't ask) and all it took was a few swipes with the pet attachment to get ALL the hair off. We have two cats and you'd never know it. It's bagless and sucks like you wouldn't believe. I have allergies and the filters are great. I'm always amazed when I clean them. This sweeper sold at Target for about $190. I love my Bissell.

I've had my Kirby for 6 years and love, love, love it!

You can get it with a hardwood floor attachment, the spinning brush (which literally just takes hair off of anything) and a carpet shampooer.

It's a little heavy...but it is the best vacuum I've ever, ever had.

Hi J.-

Our vacuum was also on the outs and thanks to all of the spending we have done over the year (aughh...), we were able to accumulate enough points for a Dyson. We have hardwood floors on our entire first floor and carpet on the second and it works great. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT!!!!!!!! No dogs, but two kids (with another one on the way anyday now) and it works way.....better than the hoover we had. My brother has two kids and two dogs and has the Dyson Animal. He also loves it. My son has asthma (he is allergic to dogs) and when we go to their house the dog hair doesn't seem to be an issue. They are a little pricey, but way worth the money spent. Good luck!!

S.

The Dyson Animal was totally worth the cost for us and does a fabulous job of getting ALL the pet hair up. I am a clean freak (or was before baby at least) so this defintely helps me feel like my home is clean again.

I HIGHLY recommend the DYSON vaccum ( i sell/sold them for years now and have had customers love them) Even people with oreck and kirbys swith.. The "animal is best" it will cost about $500.. my parents have one and love it.. The best place to go is to SEARS becuase they have employees trained on them and can answer any questions! and you can try them out! If you have any other questions on them PLease feel freee to contact me.. I believe in the dyson!!!!!!

We love our Dyson Animal vac--we have 2 cats that shed a lot as well. It is the best vac for the price in myopinion--you can find them at Target, Kohl's, and Macy's.

We have the same issues here, and we bought a Dyson Animal. It really works great!

I bought an infinity at Kmart. It is specifically for pets. It has an air filter on top that is washable, it is also bagless. The wand that comes off the vacuum has a rotating brush and it picks up the hair off the furniture very easily. You can also turn off the rotating bar for bare floors. I LOVE this vacuum.

S.