to dislike my Henry Hoover?! (lighthearted post)

[Dieu]

It's chunky, it's clunky, it's not ideal to store, it gets caught in doorways and behind items of furniture, it then turns over on its side, I often have to yank out its cord rather than it extend automatically, I feel like I've done a workout by the time I've finished with it (though perhaps that's no bad thing!), I inwardly groan every time I have to take it out.

Everyone else I've spoken to loves their Henry Hoover, so I suspect it's just me ...

Argos compact vacuum

We have yhis and it is ideal for small flats and houses. Feels a bit cheap but boy does it pick up dirt. Tis incredible.

My Miele was only a tiny bit more than a Henry and is a million times better in every way.

Henry is the only man Hoover that's lasted any real length in my house. He even replaced mr Dyson who was quickly flagging. I have the worlds most maltiest dog.

I have taken out the bag thing tho so he is now bagless and works perfectly

What are the red brush things Auntimatter?

I love my Henry (a blue one as we are City supporting household)

What is this red brush of which you speak? Our black round brush had mysteriously vanished - should I replace it with some other gizmo??

I do know of a woman who still has the same Hoover, made by Hoover, as she had in the early 80s and it's actually really good

I got the neumatic Henry (the improved version) and it came with a red whizzy brush attachment as standard. It is better than the standard black head ... when I can be bothered to de-hair it! Maybe they'd have them on the Henry website, as they would fit the standard Henry hose.

The Henry is fab for heavy duty mess, that's why most trades people have one in their van.

I have a GTech Airam which I use regularly to keep in too of things because it's so light, easy and the best ever on cat hair (better than my old Dyson Animal).

However, the Airam is a sweeper rather than a vacuum cleaner so has no attachments and doesn't go into hard to reach places. I have a traditional Bosch cylinder vacuum cleaner (Which best buy) that I get out every few weeks as needed to get to those hard to reach bits.

Wonderful Henry red brush: www.henryvacs.co.uk/acatalog/Turbo_and_Airobrush_Heads.html

I was thinking of getting rid of my Henry because he didn't pick up hair well enough but vacuum cleaners and SO expensive and SO uninspiring. This is less than £30 and improves his performance immensely.

Aww I love my Henry. He is so cheerful and sucks like nobody's business (excuse the pun). OP, if you are waiting for him to break down, you might have to wait a while as they are supposed to last for years and years. I hope you find a vacuum cleaner you love :)

I agree. I fucking hate him. After he's had yet another one of his tantrums falling over and such, I turn around to curse at him and he's smiling at me. Bastard.

Noooo you have to be nice to him or he'll act himself.

I love my harry and always say sorry if he tips over

Team miele here too

We have Henry's bastard cousin Bertie, I hate him on every conceivable level

We bought a Hairo brush (like the red whizzy brush but designed for picking up hairs obviously and slightly cheaper) and it's totally made me fall back in love with Henry whereas before he was 'Henry-the-Awkward-Bastard-must-have-been-designed-by-a-bloke'.

Whizzy brush needs the hair snipping with sharp scissors and binning after every use but takes zero effort in use, a bit like using an upright whizzy hoover but one that weighs almost nothing IYSWIM.

Hey if it makes me want to hoover more than once a week it must be good

Some of these responses have made me chortle uncontrollably.

I don't much like my Henry. Whispers as it's here next to me. Cord to long and I can never put my finger on the switch even though I've had it for years. I.m sure it disappears sometimes. Cord far far too long. Impossible to store. Was thinking about a Dyson but this thread has put me off.

We replaced Henry with hetty a few months ago and I keep wishing she would break down, absolutely bloody useless, I'm going to try the alternative attachment suggested. Thanks everyone.

I used Henry for work. Hated the bloody thing. Love my original dyson till fil pulled it down the stairs while I was in hospital having ds1.
I now have a vax cylinder which washes and hoovers. Its great for accidents-looking at the dog.
I like the big bag, bought a different cleaner last year which did half a room before it needed emptying, struggled with sawdust and eventually set the smoke alarms off when the motor broke. It was 3months old.
Was so glad when I saw this vax, I missed the last one.

I hated mine so much that I bought a new Dyson last weekend after struggling with it for nearly a year. I only bought it on the recommendation of loads of Mumsnetters (glares). Having previously owned a Dyson the Henry never came close, I can't believe anyone who has used a Dyson would think that a Henry is a good Hoover!

They are horrible, smelly things. They turn turtle if you dare to suggest they travel in anything other than an absolutely straight line. Their grin is annoying.

Their only redeeming feature is that they're difficult to choke. I'd have one to use in the car but that's it.

after 3 dysons in 8 years i love the henry... only problem is getting kids toys etc out of the bag... when i finally kill henry ill try this miele thing.

waves pompoms for team miele

Henry is a cunt.

That is all.

I love my Miele