Need a new vacuum cleaner - are Dysons really the best?

[BalloonSlayer]

Well are they?

I am not sure Dyson was in business when we bought our last hoover.

How do you do the stairs with one of those upright fellas?

What about the things that look like Dysons but aren't? There was a purple Vax effort in Tesco today.

-----------------------

Hello!

We've noticed this thread is quite old and some of the product recommendations are a little out of date. After weeks of trawling the Talk boards, talking to parents and researching bestsellers, we put the top vacuum cleaners on the market through their paces to find the best vacuum cleaner for most families.

Hope this helps!

MNHQ

[crockydoodle]

I recommend Miele. Better build quality than Dyson

[MissisBoot]

miele miele miele - well worth the money

[jeee]

Henry - cheap, and used by most cleaning contractors.

[mumcah]

I recently bought a Dirtdevil as my upright Dyson had died.However the suction wasn't very good and it felt kind of cheap.It just wasn't doing to business so I took it back.In the end I did end up buying another Dyson but a cylinder one so it's really easy to do stairs.All the extra attatchments stay on the machine and don't fall off and the suction is excellent.It actually pulls the carpet off the floor.however it was £180 which is bloody pricey,but I was desperate and had enough of buying cheap and cheerful.

[Tangle]

We're on our 2nd Dyson after the motor blew on our first (after about 8 years - and looking back we might have been able to get it fixed for about £60). We've always been happy with it, although they do work better if you keep the filters clean. We thought the ball idea might be a gimmick but it is very good once you get used to it.

As for cleaning the stairs, the hose that runs up the back detatches at the top and you can put attatchments on it - if you get the "animal" version there's a special little head with brushes that spin, which does a particularly good job (the only downside being it doesn't have a home on the machine).

Are they the best? Can't say - the miele seems to be the one everyone suggests as the main competitor but I've never had one so can't compare.

[SOLOisMeredithGrey]

I'm still using my DC01 and it's 11yo. My Mum's one is about 13yo and the only thing to go wrong with either of them was the plastic on the wand became brittle. Replaced it and still going strong(touch wood).
Using an upright on the stairs is simple enough; the hose will reach from the bottom to the top step without any problems.

My brother has the Animal 3yo ish ~ they love it!

[StopTalkingAndEatYourDinner]

I have a Miele - 'tis fabulous! Actually look forward to hoovering now!

[belleymum]

Miele definitely.
I have the black one and it's great.

[Tortington]

no

go for a henry

seriousluy

we have a dyson animal

we have a cream carpet and a black dog who sheds

its fkin useless

we now have a cream and black carpet

[SausageRocket]

I have a miele cat and dog upright and a henry. Henry is crappo on deep pile carpets but great for the stairs and hard floors. The miele is the dogs kahunas on my deep pile cream carpets, my carpets look like new again (2 black cats + cream carpets = a challenge for even the most 'up for it' of hoovers). The miele cat and dog upright is heavy and impractical for stairs.

If I had to have just one hoover then I would get the miele cat and dog cylinder.

I hated my Dyson, it was heavy, the thing didn't pick up properly despite filter changes, the hose kept splitting. It just wasn't robust enough.

[DiamondHead]

Lots of people get excited about Sebo's these days.

[izzybiz]

I bought a Henry plus about 10 years ago as I'd just got a dog, its still going strong and still sucks the carpet off the floor!!!

Not too pricey either, mine was £130.

[catinthehat2]

Henry. Used by cleaners & builders everywhere. And me occasionally . Mine was £79 3 yrs ago from John Lewis after I got them to do a price match for Homebase. You can get the bags from Wilko/Asda/anywhere at reasonable prices. THe tube stretcehs up a lot of stairs. It sucks well. I can't see any bits to fall off. Struggling to think of a downside other than it is functional rather than poncey.

[LadyOfTheFlowers]

Our next hoover will be a Henry. Have had an upright Dyson which blew up and currently have the traditional style one, DC08 or something which is purple and silver.
The things that are currently wrong with it are:
Telescopic tube does not stay extended - as soon as you push forwards it goes small, hence it has duck tape wrapped round it!
The little catch which keeps the lid on the dust collector part pinged off, not a clue where the spring went!
The pipe is only have connected to the head - it gapes open at the top so I am losing lots of suction there.
The cable wind-in whatsit is now lazy and it refuses to reel in the last 4 foot of cable.

Other than that - brilliant!

[LadyStealthPolarBear]

I hate our dyson
Can't help thinking that if bagless vacuum cleaners had been first everyone would have been going mad over the 'new' one that neatly traps the dust in a bag that you lift out and replace rather than having to bang to get the dust out, and stick your hand up it, and it flies everyone and IT'S A USELESS SUCKER!

[autumnscoming]

Henry all the way here he sucks up everything he gets caught round corners at times but thats his only fault i wish he would break down so i could buy Hettie but he refuses ..yes i know its not a real person

[Buda]

sausagerocket - I had a quick look at this thread this morning as I needed a new vacuum cleaner and on your advice I am now the proud owner of a Miele Cat and Dog cylinder!

Haven't used it yet as cleaner was here this morning and she vacuumed using the old broken one but am looking forward to giving it a go tomorrow!

I live in Budapest and wasn't sure they would have it but they did. Am afraid to figure out the cost here as opposed to John Lewis though!

[Chandon]

Henry rocks. Biggest dust bags in the industry, last you ages.

[SausageRocket]

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Buda! Fabbo, have you used it yet ?

[Buda]

No SausageRocket. Bloody dog won't stand still and let me vacuum her!



Am planning on using it tomorrow.

[Toppy]

My dyson is strill going after TWELVE years !
I love it. However, just had scary cleaner round here at 6pm who I am about to hire as about to have DC2 and she took one look at it, shook her head and said 'get rid. buy a Miele'
I just nodded

[mooseloose]

Henry Henry henry henry Henry Henry henry henry Henry Henry henry henry Henry Henry henry henry Henry Henry henry henry!

I love him dearly - had him about six years now! We stayed in a seaside cottage and they had one - it whoshed the sand up from the carpets like magic! I went straight out and bought one. Vever had one bit of bother.

[ThisBoyDerekDrew]

Dyson is the king of the uprights.

Miele is the king of the cylinders.

Both according to Which and LOTS of online reviews.

Miele is overall emporer.

[ceres]

maybe i had a duff henry - i bought it instead of a dyson as i had heard they were the best and used by professional cleaners. it just didn't seem that good. eventually gave in and bought the dyson i had originally wanted......an AMAZING amount of dirt came out of the recently henry-ed carpets, i couldn't believe it.

my dyson is about 6 years old now and still going strong - although i am pretty good about cleaning the filter and brush bar regularly. mine has had a blockage before now but a quick look online showed me how to take the whole thing apart and sort it out.

i am tempted by miele when i eventually need a new vacuum, as i have heard such good reviews. hoping not to need a replacement for a good while though!

[Buda]

Well I used my new Miele today and am impressed so far!

Trick now is to get my cleaner to be gentle with it. She yanks the vacuum cleaners around after her.