Recommend me a new vacuum cleaner please!

[SophieB100]

Henry is finally giving up the ghost after many years of loyal great service!
This time round, I want an upright - not too heavy.

I have looked at Shark, Dyson and Vax models (are the cleaners that use water good - if so, what one?)

Max budget is £400. I don't care if cordless or not. Just want one that is reliable, picks up cat fur and not too heavy.

Any recommendations would be great - quite a bit of money for me, and would hate to make the wrong leap! Love Henry, if all else fails I would get another one, but he does sometimes get caught up, topples over. Bless him, getting old (aren't we all )

Thanks!!!

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MNHQ Update
Whether it's pet hair, muddy footprints or the endless toast crumbs, the right vacuum can make everyday cleaning that bit easier. Our guide to the best vacuum cleaners is up to date with tried and tested options, from cordless Dysons to trusty Henrys, all tested in real homes. We hope it's helpful!

I bought a shark based on loads of recommendations. In all honesty, it seems good on carpets but crap on hard floors - it manages to suck up the dust and dog hair but any bits of grit just rattle around in the tube then drop back on the floor when it's switched off 🙄

Yep don't buy shark . Wish I hadn't .

I bought a shark and it's brilliant

Shark has been the best vacuum I've had and I've had a Henry, Miele, Dyson and Vax - I've got 2 dogs so have gotten through a lot of vacuum cleaners as I use them a lot every day. Shark has been the best and the longest lasting - it's still going strong 2 years in. I'd only ever buy Shark now. It's a corded vacuum - I'm not ready to make the leap yet to cordless as don't think the suction would be strong enough for what I need it for.

Miele was the worst and possibly the most expensive.

Thank you above posters, this is helpful.
Shark does seem a bit Marmite - the reviews on Amazon reflect this too.

I had a cordless Shark and thought it was rubbish. Dyson cordless was also rubbish. I have a cordless v-tech now which is great. Main vacuum is a Miele (cord) which is brilliant. Can't really beat a corded one IMHO.

Our Sebo is going strong after 10 years. It is bagged, which puts some people off, but to be honest they need changing very rarely (twice a year, max) and they don’t lose suction like our old Dyson used to.

@Sittingonthefence83 can you post a link to the miele? Thanks. I've considered getting one

I’ve got a corded Dyson, DC41 Animal I think. It’s about three years old. I’m very happy with it, and it’s very happy with me as long as I remember to clean out the filters on schedule.

I also have a robot vacuum but I can’t recommend that, it’s totally rubbish.

Sebo. It's brilliant. We also have a Shark, it's the worst vacuum cleaner I've ever had. The dust container is tiny, it's suction is questionable, and it's just so dirty. Filthy dust container, dirty filters. Whose idea was it to invent something where you had to hand wash the dirtiest party of it (the filter)? Plus it blocks. All the time. It's got lots of buttons and comes apart in 50 different ways if that's what you're after though.

Meanwhile my Sebo purrs along quietly and efficiently. And on the rare occasion it needs emptying, I can seal the bag and just drop it in the bin.

My

Persian cat fur is my bug bear, I won't to avoid anything that needs constant cleaning out of the roller thingies if possible. Also need something that gets deep enough to get to the bedded in fur!

Hadn't considered Sebo - thanks! Amazon have a range between £300-£400. The Pet Epower has 70 quid off at the moment, around £330. Will read the reviews later.

Thanks very much for all this.

Henry Hoover. I have had a shark, dyson and a Henry beats them all down, that's why cleaner always have them. Got an industrial one, so the cord is longer. The hose reaches half my stairs. Can get a reusable bag and apparently they do a cordless one now. Sucks up everything and all parts are replaceable. Never going back.

I'm a bit of a collector of vacuum cleaners (I have 4). The best one I have is an industrial Henry (can't remember his name, he's orange) and the best thing ever. I've just bought a Vax pet to replace an old Vax pet for carpets which is also really good.

I've got a vax pet hoover, brilliant on carpet but not so good on hard floors.

Miele is the best ever I have had/used. (I am a cleaner so have used many brands)

I also have loads of vacuums, including Henry, Vax, Kirby, Miele, Bosch, Dyson and a Eufy. I've also used a v tech.I

I have lots of cats and dogs, so need something that performs well. My favourites are the Vax air stretch, it is lightwight, you aren't constantly changing plugs and suction is great. Cons are it doesn't last years, but cheap enough to replace, the long cord can get in the way.
Miele is my favourite for hard floors, even with the turbo head it isn't as good on carpet.
Bosch Athlet is cordless and great for a whizz round. Batteries don't seem to have a long life and it fills quickly
Eufy is great for running round daily, doesn't deep clean, but tidies between hoovers.
I now use the vax, bosch and eufy with the miele occasionally. I was considering sebo, it was the weight, cord length and having to purchase bags that puts me off, although I actually prefer bagged, just not buying them!

I’ve got a shark liftaway and a sebo felix and I’ve just inherited a miele so I’ve been testing We have an insanely fluffy cat.
The sebo does a fair job on all surfaces and I’ve grown to prefer the bagged side of things. The Miele lifts the carpets when you go over it and does the best job on hard surfaces.

However when I’ve vacuumed the carpet with the sebo or the Miele and then immediately gone over it with the shark the container has filled with cat hair. No dust or anything else - just cat hair.

Worst vacuum I’ve ever had was the Henry. Good on hard floors but absolutely useless on carpets. Really really bad. So bad that I got rid after two weeks.

I've got a Shark Liftaway. It's terrible on hard floors where it'll suck up hair and dust but push things like toast crumbs along in front of itself. Like a broom, a very, very expensive broom.

It does a decent job on carpets, but won't vacuum up to the edge, you have to bend down and go over the edges using one of the attachments. The Shark also pulls itself forwards on carpet which is great until you have to fight against that force to pull it back. I'm a little older and that hurts my shoulder and arm after just one room.

I don't understand the hype around Shark vacuums. Was it an influencer thing? I think I remember reading a very popular one had been plugging them.

Check out the vacuums Which recommend.