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Original poster

Best vacuum for back?

33 replies

cakedup · 03/03/2019 18:55

If you have a bad back, what type of vacuum cleaner works better for you?

I just got rid of my pull along hoover and changed to an upright. After one go, I feel like it's affecting my back - even though I thought uprights were meant to be better for backs?

It's a VAX and quite heavy - so maybe this is the issue. Are some uprights quite light? Do I just need time to adjust? Or do I now need to buy another pull along barrel vacuum cleaner?

OP posts:
eggsandwich · 03/03/2019 19:44

I’ve literally just brought a sebo as I needed a vacuum that would cope with thick pile carpets I’ve got in a couple of rooms.

Its upright and very light and the front of the hoover goes up and down depending on what floor your hoovering, when I go from carpet to tiles it goes down and when I go onto carpet it goes up, blooming brilliant.

Also its really good at picking up long hair on the carpet where my previous Henry hoover would struggle with it.

Backseatonthebus · 03/03/2019 19:45

Sebo here too, I'd say it's the best you can buy.

Original poster
cakedup · 03/03/2019 22:09

I've never even heard of Sebo! So you're both saying it's not strenuous on the back because it's light?

I have hardwood floors all over by the way, so not like I have a difficult floor to hoover. But it's a small flat so lots of manoeuvring.

OP posts:

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Original poster
cakedup · 03/03/2019 22:10

And I have two cats so have to vacuum every day! Therefore I do need a hoover that doesn't strain my back.

OP posts:
ChesterGreySideboard · 03/03/2019 22:14

I don’t have a bad back but I have a Shark. It is just a stick type vacuum. It has a motorised head which pulls itself along. It’s very light and it can bend in the middle so you can go under the bed etc without having to bend.

Busytizzy · 03/03/2019 22:28

I have pelvic pain irritated by pushing and pulling movements. At home I have a Miele cylinder, which I love, fab on the laminate and the carpets. I tried my mum's new corded Shark at her house and it hurt my back straight away!

Ren84 · 03/03/2019 22:48

We have a shark duo cordless. It's so light weight and easy to use, 100% recommend!

Itsallokusually · 03/03/2019 22:55

The Dyson v10, which is ultralight.

DanFmDorking · 03/03/2019 23:40

Get yourself a Henry.
a) it's easy to move,
b) light to use (because you are only moving the 'pipe' and not the weight of the whole machine)
c) you can adjust the height of the 'pipe' to suit your stature.

Best vacuum for back?
SunnyTikka · 03/03/2019 23:42

I have a Shark Duo cordless but I wanted one that was even lighter so I just got a Gtech AirRam K9. I’ve only had it a day and I love it already.

Original poster
cakedup · 04/03/2019 19:37

I did wonder if Dyson's were any lighter.

DanFmDorking I use a vacuum cleaner every day so my mum was telling me to get a Henry actually, saying they must be durable considering they are used in commercial settings.

Will have a look at the shark duo, thanks.

Busytizzy I was also considering Miele - only because it always comes up top in lists for vacuum cleaners for pet owners.

OP posts:
Tenpole · 04/03/2019 19:57

Roomba.

Original poster
cakedup · 05/03/2019 23:00

Tenpole am I right in thinking you would need a normal vacuum cleaner as well as a Roomba? A Roomba can't do your skirting boards for example.

OP posts:
ProudAunty2nine · 05/03/2019 23:10

Can't recommend one but do recommend you dont get a Henry
Good suction is the only thing worth its money with the Henry
They are hard to move = you have to physically pick it up - and it is quite heavy - to go round corners the wheels do not turn they are static
Pulling the cord in and out is done by hand - theres no automatic cord winder and you need to bend down for this pleasure
That is just two of the most stupid design features on the Henry.
Don't buy a Henry

Tenpole · 06/03/2019 06:54

My Roomba does the skirtings far more efficiently than I do!

NoseyParrot · 06/03/2019 07:13

My back is OK but I've got a robovac and I love it!
However, there's no carpets/rugs on the floor, so I'm not sure a robotic vac is that good in this case.

Original poster
cakedup · 07/03/2019 22:41

Definitely gone right off Henry now ProudAunty2nine!

Tenpole but I'm talking about the little ledge on my skirting board that is above ground level. And what about vacuuming corners? And sofas/chairs? I have cats you see.

NoseyParrot I don't have rugs/carpets on the floor - are you saying that's a good or bad thing for a robot vac?

I'm actually really tempted! Last time I looked robot vacs were well out of my price range but they've gone down a lot!

OP posts:
safariboot · 07/03/2019 22:51

Most corded uprights are heavy AF nowadays. That's why we got a cordless Dyson. But that's not perfect either, it's actually quite hard to push over carpet especially if the beater brush is playing up, which it usually is.

GoldenSyrupLion · 07/03/2019 22:53

Dont get a Henry. Bad for a bad back. I switched to a Shark. Very light and great suction. Much better for my back.

Original poster
cakedup · 09/03/2019 08:24

safariboot I did have a much lighter upright Vax before which was fine, hadn't noticed until now that it 'lightweight' was one of it's features and that a similar upright Vax would be so much heavier. It takes so much longer to vaccum with a heavy one too.

Don't really want to go back to the lightweight VAX though because I just found it wasn't very durable. Bits breaking all the time. Bad quality. It was the quality of a toy.

OP posts:
LokisLover · 09/03/2019 08:27

I’ve got a shit back and have a dyson. Putting it away and getting it out is almost harder for me than the hoovering itself so that influenced my choice to get an upright. And emptying it is easy too.

LokisLover · 09/03/2019 08:29

This may sound odd but I try and use my arms to hoover more than my back and brace my core. Changing how I do it has helped. I had my back fused so I have to be really careful.

WizzyBee · 09/03/2019 08:31

If you can afford it go for a Miele cylinder vac. Really good quality and extendable tube so you can stand upright.

cherrytree63 · 09/03/2019 08:36

I have the Dyson (can't remember model number) stick hoover. I find it fine for my back.
Two drawbacks: having to frequently empty it (although it's really easy to do)
I have arthritis in my wrist, and find the stairs difficult, due to bearing the weight and keeping the trigger pressed, unlike with my old cylinder hoover.

mando12345 · 09/03/2019 08:48

I've got a miele cylinder and I wouldn't recommend for a bad back, its not heavy but kind of awkward to pull around and take from room to room and up the stairs.
My MIL had a gtech ram, mk 2, very light and easy to use but extremely poor at picking up compared to the miele, we used it all the time as did her housework. I've used Henry's in holiday cottages and find it piss poor at picking up dog hair.