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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

ALL vacuum cleaners are more-or-less crap for heavy duty vacuuming.

71 replies

Sudeko · 04/05/2023 16:52

I don't know what I haven't tried. They all underperform eventually and break down before their time.

OP posts:
User5438790 · 04/05/2023 17:21

Are the Henrys like those old orange Vax from the 80s, we still have ours and use it the garage, for building work and DIY as it manages lots of stony stuff, we must have had it getting on for 40 years

ManxD1 · 04/05/2023 17:21

Instead of 'Henry', get a 'Charles'. Because Charles is a wet and dry vacuum, it didn't have to abide by the ridiculous EU regulations and so has all the gusto of original Henry. I have had Charles for 5 years, used once as a wet vacuum, rest of the time used as an ordinary vacuum. We have 3 dogs, one cat and 2 humans with hair falling out and Charles works. My partner hates it because 'it sucks up the carpet', I have tried to explain that is the mark of a decent vacuum, but he sticks with his utterly pointless Dyson... ho hum

Original poster
Sudeko · 04/05/2023 17:21

I've had the navy blue Miele (good but now overheating and not picking up), the Sebo upright did nothing for us.

OP posts:
Original poster
Sudeko · 04/05/2023 17:22

ManxD1 · 04/05/2023 17:21

Instead of 'Henry', get a 'Charles'. Because Charles is a wet and dry vacuum, it didn't have to abide by the ridiculous EU regulations and so has all the gusto of original Henry. I have had Charles for 5 years, used once as a wet vacuum, rest of the time used as an ordinary vacuum. We have 3 dogs, one cat and 2 humans with hair falling out and Charles works. My partner hates it because 'it sucks up the carpet', I have tried to explain that is the mark of a decent vacuum, but he sticks with his utterly pointless Dyson... ho hum

Ooh, Charles sounds promising!

OP posts:
Hugasauras · 04/05/2023 18:42

Don't get a cordless Shark. Mine is absolute wank. Can't handle any actual bits, always getting clogged, and is just generally shite. I wrestle my Henry around instead now when I need to hoover, he's heavy in comparison but at least he actually does a good job!

Fansandblankets · 04/05/2023 18:46

I have old vacuums that I bought before the EU regs limiting hoovers to 900watts. I have a Sebo D4 2200 watts and a Miele revolution which is 2000 odd too. They’re both about 12/13 years old and still brilliant. I’m dreading the day they give up the ghost!

Original poster
Sudeko · 04/05/2023 18:49

Miele revolution which is 2000 odd too

I suspect I had this one - purchased secondhand by a person selling because it never complied with the EU directive. It was good but it now overheats and accumulates dust everywhere except the bag!

OP posts:
SleepingisanArt · 04/05/2023 18:54

I have a pre EU regulation and a post EU Miele. I have 2 because I had one at home and one at work (restaurant so it really worked hard - used several times a day). The older one is super powerful and if it so much as senses a rug or a doormat it will attempt to suck up the whole thing! The newer one isn't quite so ruthless but still has a good attempt! Change filters when necessary and they are fab...

I hate the Henry range with a passion - useless as far as I'm concerned but so loved by tradesmen and cleaners.... I've always had to go round after both have 'hoovered' with the Miele.

Spendonsend · 04/05/2023 18:57

Our henry has outseen or dyson and the samsung we had before that.
We bought the henry due to building works as it literally hoovered up builders rubble.

I would say that its not amazing on soft carpet but the others died so quickly and got upset if they sucked up a sock.

Prancingponies · 04/05/2023 18:58

I have a karcher vacuum, which is technically a commercial one. It's the smallest of the range, incredibly light weight wise and powerful. Also does wet and dry.

Has to be, with 4 long haired cats and 2 dogs!

Caspianberg · 04/05/2023 18:59

Miele cat and dog, corded. Ours is about 12 years old and still going strong. Gets used on commercial basis also.

User5438790 · 04/05/2023 19:02

Spendonsend · 04/05/2023 18:57

Our henry has outseen or dyson and the samsung we had before that.
We bought the henry due to building works as it literally hoovered up builders rubble.

I would say that its not amazing on soft carpet but the others died so quickly and got upset if they sucked up a sock.

It does sound similar to our old orange Vax which copes with anything. We have a stick Dyson for just general vacuuming but the Vax is a bit on its last legs now and we may need a replacement for more heavy duty DIY stuff and the garage.

Lucinda7 · 04/05/2023 19:10

Had Miele, Dyson, and Vax (years ago). Don't like Miele or Dyson. I have a Hetty Extra (for people with pets). The suction is very good and the bags take ages to fill. I like Hetty and she cleans very well. We live rurally so she has dealt with mud etc. She does occasionally get stuck on a corner but that's soon sorted out. She also has an airbrush attachment which is very good. This is the first Numatic cleaner I have had and I am very impressed.

Leonberger · 04/05/2023 19:10

We have henry. He has outlived the worlds most rubbish shark (lasted less than 6 months) multiple dysons, a vax and even a Miele.

We have 3 big hairy muddy dogs, plus 3 kids so twice a day he is out without fail and there’s never been any problems. Wouldn’t bother with anything else now!

Gymnopedie · 04/05/2023 19:10

We bought our Panasonic upright at the same time as the Harrier jump jets were being decommissioned. As soon as we switched it on we knew what they were doing with the decommissioned engines.

It's still going very strong and sometimes I'm surprised we have any carpet left.

DailyCake · 04/05/2023 19:21

Pre-EU Miele cat and dog. Twenty years old and still as powerful as new. I also have a Neato robovac and on turbo it's a beast!!

alltoomuchrightnow · 04/05/2023 19:28

Absolutely agree re the old Henry! Mine is amazing.. he totally sucks !!! ;)
He also removes everything in his path, so in a cluttered house I do have to be immensely careful!
But yeh.. he's incredible. I think he's actually banned, he's so strong!

Pudmyboy · 04/05/2023 19:28

Gymnopedie · 04/05/2023 19:10

We bought our Panasonic upright at the same time as the Harrier jump jets were being decommissioned. As soon as we switched it on we knew what they were doing with the decommissioned engines.

It's still going very strong and sometimes I'm surprised we have any carpet left.

😂

Pudmyboy · 04/05/2023 19:34

I have a very noisy corded Dyson Ball basic jobbie which is good, and 2 battery Sharks which do not pick up as well as the ads make out, need to go over areas several times. I like their headlights and that they fold up neatly for storage, but would not get another.
Battery vacuums do seem a bit pants at anything other than light cleaning.
Lot of people like Henrys but as I am tall, cylinder vacuums hurt my back due to having to hunch over when using them
Interested to read about 'industrial' style vacs like Karcher: will keep in mind for future reference

FirstnameSuesecondnamePerb · 04/05/2023 19:46

We bought a shark, cumbersome arse of a thing. It then blew up, 2 weeks after the warranty expired.
Replaced it with a robot!

DoTrollsShitInTheThreads · 04/05/2023 19:56

There's loads of these threads and it's amazing how we all have different experiences of the same vacuums. I have a commercial pre-eu Henry which is good, but if I want the dog hair off the rug (which I do!), I have to go over it with the cordless Dyson.

Bk1000 · 04/05/2023 20:20

The last few vacuums I’ve had-

Melie (sp?) cat and dog cylinder- older pre eu model was amazing, eventually died a sad death which ended with me being electrocuted by it and throwing it out.

Then shark upright- hated it with a passion, absolutely useless, always blocked and complaining.

Then Dyson cordless- useless useless useless. Always blocked, filter’s constantly need washed, battery is hopeless, suction is awful.

A few weeks ago I impulsively bought a Henry in a supermarket as I couldn’t cope with the rubbish Dyson anymore and even though it’s a new model and looks quite cheap/flimsy the suction is far better than either the shark or Dyson. I would never go back to a cordless again!

it can actually pick up stuff without constantly being blocked as well, last week my toddler chucked Lego all over the place and instead crawling around picking it up I took the bag out of Henry and vacuumed it all up and emptied it into the storage tub, think there was only a couple of little jams, the previous 2 vacuums would have been completely blocked by a single piece of Lego ( not that I ever deliberately hoover up lego pieces of course…)

Blondewithredlips · 04/05/2023 20:31

Sudeko · 04/05/2023 16:52

I don't know what I haven't tried. They all underperform eventually and break down before their time.

Totally agree. Presently have 3 but only 2 working.

OnlyTheBravest · 04/05/2023 20:32

I understand OP. I still miss my 1900w Panasonic. That vacuum really worked well on my carpets. Since then I have been through a Henry, Dyson and the best on carpet so far has been the Miele cat and dog with the carpet head. Not as good as before but adequate.

Iudncuewbccgrcb · 04/05/2023 20:33

Sudeko · 04/05/2023 17:21

I've had the navy blue Miele (good but now overheating and not picking up), the Sebo upright did nothing for us.

That's exactly what my Miele does when all the filters need a good scrub.

15- 20 mins taking it apart, washing it all out under the tap (basically everything except the hepa filter) and once it's all dry it's like new again until the next time.

I've never let it get to the overheating stage again since the first time as it's pretty obvious it needs doing once you start losing suction.

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