What is the best vacuum for a pet filled, kid filled house?

[mischiefmummy]

My beloved Bosch Pro-Pet has finally given up the ghost. What would anyone recommend as a replacement? Thank you!

i have a vax air now, the pet model and its been fab. ive had dyson animal and henry animal as well, i still use my henry for cleaning out the car but the vax beats dyson hands down!

Miele cat & dog, probably

or any other Miele come to that, but the cat & dog has an extra filter and/or better brushes (or something)

Miele. Expensive but very, very robust

Argos had some miele vacuums reduced the other day, might be worth a look op.

I'm liking the look of Miele (my 10 yo Dyson is giving up the ghost, but fighting hard) but am a bit about bagged hoovers after the joy of the bagless Dyson.

How are they for emptying and cost of replacement bags? (Or am I missing the bagless Miele?)

very interesting, thanks for all the ideas. I've just borrowed a Miele (an old and battered one!) and I think it would be ok on carpet but wasn't so convinced about hard floors. The pro-pet has retractable brushes so I find I get a better result if I can put the brushes away when doing the hard areas. Will go and look more closely at the reviews.

I use about 4 bags a year, there made of fabric now and filter better than my old bagless vacuum did. I get them off amazon.

the miele bags are expensive, but you can get cheaper substitute ones on ebay - I have been meaning to try some out, but haven't needed any yet. others have said they work just as well (pref the fabric ones, not paper)

they hold a lot though & the vac doesn't lose suction until they're stuffed

Sebo. I had a Miele cat and dog which was fine until the plastic catches broke (which was quite quickly). My Sebo has gone on forever, plus they have a great help desk, based in the UK

I have a Miele and Dyson and hard floor and carpets. Miele is much better than the Dyson especially on the hard floor.

I have still got the first bag in my Miele as I use my Dyson to empty the Miele bags so I can reuse them

what a good idea, honeydragon! I have emptied bags occasionally (when I've hooved something up by accident) but it's a messy process - using another vac to do it is genius

Oreck - I am very happy with it and only wish that I hadn't struggled with a heavy upright Dyson Animal which didn't even manage to pick up well after four years. I would never buy one again