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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Can anyone recommend a hoover that actually works ?

32 replies

witchscatsmother · 26/10/2006 15:51

As usual, hoovering today entails working up a sweat pushing the damn thing - as you do. Then taking the large brush off the hose and then, crawling about on my hands and knees, sucking up every last little bit of fluff, crumb and anything else which sticks to my carpet like velcro, with the pipe itself.

And no ..... the bag doesn't need replacing, nor is there any loss of suction because something is stuck in the hose. It's almost 2 years old, not an ancient model by any means but I am sick to the back teeth of it. A job which should take 20 minutes is a major operation, with more elbow grease involved than hoover suction, and takes up to 2 hours to get it done properly.

Furthermore, every bit of plastic attached to said (Vac) hoover has dropped off or cracked. These include the port into which the hose is supposed to be neatly hooked, the docks on which you are supposed to store attachments, one of the wheels keeps falling off and the foot pedal on the brush (for carpet and hard floors) is broken too.

So I really want to get a new one ...... does anyone own a super-sucky hoover which doesn't require constantly taking the brush on and off to suck up the normal stuff which accumulates on carpets, and if so, what is it ? Is it possible to hoover a normal sized house without sweating buckets with the effort involved ? One which gets cat hairs up relatively easily would be particularly good.

OP posts:
Marina · 26/10/2006 15:55

We have a Miele which has served us well in both small flat and 3 bed house. No cat hairs though.
It is tough as well - has been dropped down the stairs more than once.
Got it from John Lewis.
Have never been tempted by Dysons - I don't want to see the crud I get out of my carpets, thanks .

MissyBabee · 26/10/2006 15:58

the Dyson range. i have cats.

howlidaymum · 26/10/2006 15:59

miele for us too and we have long haired ragdoll cats with lots of white shedding fluff!
We have the blue hepa one from the new range and is ace!Suction very very strong.

hana · 26/10/2006 15:59

we have a dyson and have never had problems, it's about 6 years old. have to get past seeing the dust and dirt you vaccuum up! hidden away in cupboard when not in use and it clear cylinder does encourage me to empty often
v lightweight as well and can bump up stairs easily

peegeeweegeeWITCH · 27/10/2006 13:52

We had a Hoover one, and the operation you described was just the same - it was a nightmare!

Then OH brought a little red Henry home from work. About as basic as you can get - no attachments, no different settings, huge bag, just switch on and go. I love it!! It does have an unfortunate habit of falling over but other than that it is lightweight, great suction and easy to use...

(and it has a cute smiley face

webcrone · 27/10/2006 13:56

Did major research when we bought new vac - we ended up with a SEBO which has been fab. And then I borrowed neighbours Miele and fell in love... (neighbour has cats and swears by Miele).

wannaBe1974 · 27/10/2006 14:05

I have a dyson too and it's great for hoovering up the pet hair.

Monkeytrousers · 27/10/2006 14:10

I really don't get the dyson thing. I have a 30 quid one called 'the boss' from tescos and it's great.

Twohootsandapumpkin · 27/10/2006 14:16

Just to let you know someone recently asked specifically about Dysons on another post. There are lots of replies which are probably quite useful if you are thinking of buying one.

I have a cat and have an Dyson Animal (designed for pet hairs). Have had it a good few years now and it's great (had a Miele cat and dog before that which blew up and was useless - but others swear by them?). On the other post though, those who have bought Dysons recently have said they are rubbish - something to do with changing manufacturing to China in recent years....

GODisGOOD · 27/10/2006 15:02

AS I AM GOD i know everything. Tesco stores have a 'petlover' upright bagless vaccume for 69.25. this is value for money and works very well.

babe1 · 27/10/2006 18:49

I'm with peegeeweegeewitch (!) on the Henry. He's a cheerful little chap, yes, does have a habit of keeling over like an undignified drunk (thinks... is there such a thing as a dignified one?) I think this happens when the bag is fairly empty. I've had mine years, 3 kids, 2 dogs (one long haired and moults loads) and a cat, and still works fine

Bucketsofbloodydinosaurs · 30/10/2006 09:46

Witchcatsmother, please can you just let us know what brand yours is so none of us buy one!

Can anyone else confirm that I am not being thick but that Dysons don't have a brush switch thing for use on non-carpeted areas? The base of my Dyson is getting knackered on my floors, can't help thinking that's poor design.

WitchICouldGiveUpWork · 30/10/2006 09:50

I am with Webcrone-SEBO every time.
Fantastic hoover-almost pulls you round the house,changes from carpet to wood/lino/laminate automatically.
I love it.
Not cheap but would let dp go before I let my Sebo go...

northerner · 30/10/2006 09:51

Dyson for me everytime

madmarchscare · 30/10/2006 09:54

We have a Dyson Animal, its good, but heavy.

JoolsToo · 30/10/2006 09:55

what I have found (and I have had many vacuum cleaners) is that the bag type ones are better than the bagless.

rebelmum1 · 30/10/2006 10:21

Don't believe the marketing I have never been so dissapointed with my dyson. It's heavy, really bulky to carry upstairs, the design is appalling for the belt and I have a real job changing it and it breaks frequently. All your little extras to help get in corners snap off and break really easily. You just want light weight, good suction.

rebelmum1 · 30/10/2006 10:23

Ah I feel better now, the person on the other end of the Dyson helpline didn't want to know ...

GoingQuietlyMad · 30/10/2006 10:31

Miele absolutely killed the other brands in all the Which trials, with about 5 out of 6 'best buys'.

we got the cheapest yellow one at 90 pounds online. it is brilliant. much much better than the dyson we had before. works even on wooden floors. v quiet. couldn't be happier.

soapbox · 30/10/2006 10:34

I love my Henry - and would never now use anything else - I think it is the hoover of choice for most cleaners with good reason

Having said that, we don't have pets so no idea how well it performs of hairs.

rebelmum1 · 30/10/2006 10:39

I used to have a henry when i was a school cleaner (was studying at the time), we used to fight over it. Had a vac pac too, it goes on your back like a rucksack! Henry is definitely good I wished I got one.

UCM · 30/10/2006 10:49

Get a Henry, you will never look back. He smiles at you too, which NO other hoover does.

jasper · 30/10/2006 11:07

Henry

Cappuccino · 30/10/2006 11:10

Henry - soapbox you're right, we chose our Henry because the cleaners used them in all 3 of the offices that me and dh worked in

I love him

rebelmum1 · 30/10/2006 11:19

damn i wish i'd got a henry ..