Can anyone recommend a good vacuum cleaner?

[bluejeanswhiteshirt]

^That's all I want to know

Miele. Had various Dysons and a Henry in the past and the Miele is better by a country mile.

have you got carpets downstairs, or hard floor?

Are you a muddy house or shoes-off?

Pets?

Miele cat and dog. We had one well before we had a dog as apparently we both moult like mad! Yes it has bags but never found it an issue.

Miele cylinder.

Hard floor downstairs, carpet upstairs. Not muddy but very dusty and crumby! No pets.

Miele cat and dog. really powerful suction. Picks up cat hair and my long hair from carpets with no problem.

Thank you!

tried loads and ended up with a Henry for the last few years and it is great - just sucks up the dirt and no messing. Also much cheaper than all the others.

One of the Miele cylinders. As you have no dirty carpets downstairs an upright is I think not necessary. I like the C3 as it is biggest and has onboard tool storage. I got the black one which has the more powerful motor but is still the quietest I have ever had.

The cylinders hardly vary except motor power and head, colour and the filter (you can get C&D with a charcoal filter to deodorise dog smells, or get an anti-allergy version). They are all very good. The C&D includes the turbobrush which is expensive to buy later. As you have no pets or downstairs carpets I doubt you need it. There is a special quiet one but you can turn down the motor on the others. You can change the filter type you use afterwards if you want. The new synthetic bags are very good for trapping fine dust though.

Have a look at prices on JL, Debenhams and (yuk) curry's as they are all likely to have special offers. IIRC you get a 2-year guarantee. There is one incredibly expensive version to attract the customer who has too much money. IIRC it has a torch on the handle and other automated fripperies.

Miele Cat and Dog. Excellent suction and easy to manoeuvre.

I love my Miele C2 complete (I think) got it bank holiday May just gone in Argos reduced from 229.00 to just 99.00 iirc. I absolutely love it it's fabulous and so powerful.