Recommend a vacuum cleaner please

[Tiredandbored]

I need a new vacuum cleaner as mine has given up the ghost. Have been reading online reviews, but there are so many conflicting views, can anyone advise me on a great vacuum they recommend?

We have a large house with hard flooring downstairs and carpet upstairs. No pets.

I've only ever had corded and bagged vacuums in the past, but find them heavy to carry around. Was thinking about getting a cordless, but not sure if they sacrifice power and suction for portability? Also worried that they might lose battery life after a while.

Have ruled out a robovac as we use the vacuum for the car as well as dusting etc.

Any advice on what you would recommend?

Out of interest, what do you use?

Henry cordless, although corded Henry is just as good but heavier and the cord annoys me. I like the freedom of little Henry following me unhindered

I don't think I want a Henry, his beady little eyes following me everywhere and giving me the evils if I missed too many crumbs.

DH took the p!ss out of me earlier because I hoovered the patio with our old Henry. I also use it to clean the wood burner. It is a proper unbreakable workhorse, was cheap as chips and has a really long cord. We also have a cordless Dyson V10 which is so easy to use for a quick whip round, bits that have got particularly grubby or the car. Proper vacuuming is done by the cleaner.
I am off to Google cordless Henrys even though I don't need one - sounds like the perfect machine and I'm intrigued!!

Following with interest as all my friends are Shark lovers and our cordless Vax gives us the rage whenever we use it. It’s completely shit. Won’t even hoover up a Rice Krispie unless you crush it to dust with your foot first. And then once you’ve finished you lift it up and a load of debris falls out the end. AAAARGH! It makes me angry just thinking about it.

Aargh!! Everyone has a different experience of each brand! Why can there not be one fantastic vacuum that does everything really well and we all rave about?? It's a minefield!

I have a Shark Lift-Away and I think it's terribly over rated. Does a great job on carpet, but mine doesn't work on laminate or vinyl where it just pushes the crumbs and fluff about the floor. I find it quite heavy to use too as it pulls itself forward on carpet so my arm gets a right work out pulling it back again. When you use the nozzle to hoover the edges of the carpet you have to be careful not to pull on the hose too much as the machine falls over fairly easily when you do. I really don't understand all the great reviews it got.

Miele are the best by far.
I've got a Cat &Dog one and it's honestly amazing. I've had Dyson, Shark and others and the Miele outperforms them all. Miele also just last forever and always come out very very high on Which! tests. I really really recommend them.

GTech are great as a quick lightweight thing.

I tried a Shark again recently and sent it back as it was SO shit in comparison to the Miele & GTech. They're very over-marketed but not that great in comparison.

Ok, am swaying towards Vax or GTech if going for a cordless stick vacuum, Miele or Henry (though I might paint over his eyes) for a heavier duty clean.

Are they all good on both carpet and hard floors? Any issues with losing suction, getting blocked or having to clean filters really often? Anything you love or hate about them?

I always say Miele on these threads. The Cat & Dog C3 to be specific, even if you've no pets. I've had mine years and it's hands down the best vacuum cleaner I've ever had.

A big NO to Vax cordless. I have one and have to unclog it every time I use it. I hate the thing. I'd call it a total waste of money, except that it's good at getting dog hair out of rugs.

I have a shark cordless and a Dyson V8. If I had to choose, I prefer the Dyson.

Thank you Drama, that is helpful!

Can you tell me why please Aurea? I had pretty much ruled out Dyson due to poor reviews, what is it you like about it?

My Henry did take all the abuse thrown at him, but I hated him getting stuck in doorways smurking at me. Also used to end up rocking on his back/side like a turtle frequently. I kept my old Dyson for doing cobwebs, dog biscuits that get stuck down the side of cooker/washer, cleaning up after decorating. Current Shark anti hair wrap is extremely heavy, dust box very small, does pick up well but the 'anti hair wrap' isn't true (I still have to cut the hair build up off the brush 😒). I do like the headlights though for seeing under the sofa and into corners if it's not daylight. Plus I find it picks up small dust well.

My mum has a bagless Miele and absolutely raves about it. She has persuaded about 3 people to get one and I probably will follow soon. Expensive but should last forever.

We currently have a cordless Vax which is rubbish. It was ok initially but only when used on 'Boost' mode which uses loads of battery. Within 6 months it started to lose suction and now struggles to pick up anything.

Oh also adding my mum has a Dyson cordless. I much prefer using that for stairs when I do it for her. Not sure it'd want one for my house though as 3x bed, mostly carpet and have pets. DM has 2x bed, mainly wooden floor/vinyl and no pets so it's a quick whizz over with the Dyson. My lift away is crap on my stairs, and I've a landing half way up them so in theory it should be easier to reach.

I love my Dyson - really don't get the "hate" they get on MN.

It's a newer model with the bigger tank and increased battery life.

It does the job well, hangs up nicely on the utility wall so is easy to store/charge and be accessible.

Am baffled by the Henry love - hated it.

The only brand I've not experienced is Miele and given how impressed I am with my washing machine and tumble dryer then that's probably one I'd consider (as well as another dyson) when I'm next in the market.

Miele every time!

Henry- long chord, amazing suction, hard wearing and most hotels in Ireland use them according to a hotel manager friend who got one for her own house after always using them to clean in work!!!

Ps I had a dodgy miele, found the suction awful and whenever I bitched about it nobody would believe me so they're obviously very popular!

Dyson are light, easy to manoeuvre and look good but they are so weak in comparison to others in actually sucking up dirt. So maybe they need to be a bit heavier to actually do a decent job of what they were invented for. Our cleaner said she would never have one and doesn’t know any cleaners who would and the difference of when she’d been compared to when we had done it was significant. 10 years ago everyone seemed to have Dysons but when we asked for recommendations from Facebook friends, it seemed as though everyone had pretty much moved away from them!

Am still unsure about the best cordless - haven't had any negative comments about the GTech yet - anyone with any experience of it want to share their thoughts, good and bad points?

The Miele seems to be pretty high up the list for a corded 'main' vacuum, going to price it and see if I can justify a stick vacuum as well for quick cleans.

I love my dyson I've always had them and cannot recommend them enough.
I know some people say that their performance isn't as good but I disagree.

Miele bag less. Much better than the dyson I had previously.