Kobold VK200 Upright Vacuum Cleaner feedback thread - NON testers - chance to win a handheld vac NOW CLOSED

[AnnMumsnet]

This is the feedback thread for the 10 Mumsnetters trying the Kobold VK200 Upright Vacuum Cleaner.

Non testers - we also have 5 handheld vacuums to be won - simply share on this thread what your least favourite room or place to vac is and you will be entered into a prize draw where 5 non testers will each win their very own Kobold VC100 handheld vacuum cleaner (RRP £129.00)

Back to the test, the team at Kobold say “compact, unbeatably handy and extremely powerful, the Kobold VK200 Upright Vacuum Cleaner is the ideal addition to your household, making life easier and cleaner.
Designed by global German household appliance manufacturer Vorwerk, the Kobold VK200, in combination with two different attachments, takes care of all your floor cleaning needs. Whether it’s carpets or hard floors – the VK200 Homecare System has it covered.
The unique SP530 DuoClean head allows you to mop and vacuum at the same time – a world first! It uses just 100ml of water to cover up to 20 m² of hard floor. And the best part? Simply remove the cleaning cloths when you’ve finished and pop them in the washing machine ready for next time.

“The EB400 brush head meanwhile ensures vacuuming is thorough, gentle and hygienic – driven by its own motor, a special rotating brush scans the floor 16 times per second and removes dirt and dust completely. Even the finest dirt particles do not stand a chance!

“Visit kobold.vorwerk.co.uk to find out more about the Kobold VK200 vacuum cleaner and discover the array of clever additional accessories that turn this machine into the Ultimate Homecare System! Simply click and swap to the attachment you need to expertly deal with upholstery, furniture, mattresses, textiles and anything else you need cleaned. Built to last, the Kobold VK200 is the only vacuum cleaner you’ll ever need”.

Testers - please share below your first impressions (we will add more Qs later on)

~ how did the demo from the Vorwerk rep go? What were you the most keen to try out?
~ how were the instructions in the box?
~ what did the demo cassette bag show after the first use - are you surprised by how much has been picked up?
~ please share a photo!

Testers thanks for sharing your first impressions - after you have used it a few times, please now share the below:

~ Do you think the Kobold VK200 will save you time?
~ Did you think that the vacuum was powerful?
~ Did you think the vacuum was easy to manoeuvre?
~ And do please share a photo!

Finally, testers - now please share the below

~ What are you overall views on the vacuum cleaner?
~ Would you recommend it to other people with similar floors to you?
~ please share a photo and add a review here

Thanks
MNHQ
Standard Insight T&Cs apply

Testers - please share below your first impressions

~ how did the demo from the Vorwerk rep go?What were you the most keen to try out?^
The demo was really good, Peter went through everything really clearly so by the time he'd left I was really confident about what the vacuum could do and that I could use it properly and correctly. I was most keen to use the DuoClean head! I was amazed when he showed me it that it vacuums and mops at the same time, basically.

~ how were the instructions in the box?
The instruction booklet is pretty massive! I've flicked through them but to be honest I haven't properly needed to read them as the demo covered everything.

~ what did the demo cassette bag show after the first use - are you surprised by how much has been picked up?
I was pretty disgusted by what was picked up considering I'd hoovered about 12 hours before the demo and I didn't think there was much there to pick up! It was amazing that it picked up quite a bit of dust and dirt from deeper in the carpet. I was really impressed because I now feel really positive that this vacuum cleaner will thoroughly pick up everything every time I use it. This part of the demo was great because I also saw and felt how light the VK200 to use.

Overall I am so impressed with this vacuum cleaner. The DuoClean head in particular is SUCH a timesaver for my wooden and tile floors. Also, my 3 year old dislikes our old vacuum cleaner (a Vax upright) as it's so loud - the VK200 is a lot quieter (particularly on the auto mode) and he isn't as bothered by it which is fantastic. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to test this, it's a pretty outstanding product and it's a lot more than a vacuum cleaner.

I only have one pic so far as I've been so ill with a throat infection, but once I start to get better I'll take more of the various extras as well! This was taken while Peter was setting it up during the demo.

Non Tester

THE STAIRS! I hate doing it and why does the dog hair always seem to gravitate to the corners. Having to lump the heavy hoover and try not to kill myself with the wire it's just a massive pain in the proverbial, needless to say I don't do them as often as I should.

Least favourite place is under the beds, having to get on the floor and reach under with the hose. King size bed is the worst as you have to swap sides and work from the other end to make sure you've covered it all!

Dining room, where the dog spends most of her time. It's covered in hair all the time.

Non Tester - I can't stand vacuuming the stairs!! The bottom of the stairs is wooden, and the stairs are carpet. My vacuum is so heavy, and the cord is so short, it's such a struggle!!

Non tester

My least favourite place to vac is behind places - like the TV and sofa!

Non Tester
My least favourite place to vac is the stairs - such hard work lugging the vacuum cleaner up the stairs, balancing it and negotiating the cord as well!

Non Tester - the bathroom, going round the toilet and other tricky spaces round the sink etc,.

Non Tester - least favourite place to vacuum - under the kids' rugs. There is always something scary ''what lies beneath'' -esque.

Am desperate for a good vacuum cleaner. V interested to read this test - looks a good one.

Non-tester.

Mmmm. It's a toss up between the stairs and the car. Both are a complete PITA to keep clean without a handheld.

For me it's the lounge: several low spaces, such as under the lip of the sofa and the tv unit, and the boys (5,3,1) all eat at the table but the carpet still has be hoovered at the end of every day to pick up the crumbs/bits that find their way on to the floor...The hand held Hoover would be fab for a quick whizz around after meals or when the boys have played with play doh or crafts...or glitter.

Non tester -

For me it's the lounge: several low spaces, such as under the lip of the sofa and the tv unit, and the boys (5,3,1) all eat at the table but the carpet still has be hoovered at the end of every day to pick up the crumbs/bits that find their way on to the floor...The hand held Hoover would be fab for a quick whizz around after meals or when the boys have played with play doh or crafts...or glitter.

Edited because my DH said the car it's another 'avert eyes when you climb in' space!

Kids paly room as the floor is always covered with food and toys.

Living room. I hate pulling sofas out

Tester:

~ how did the demo from the Vorwerk rep go? What were you the most keen to try out?
Peter was really lovely, there was a little soft sell going on which was to be expected really but the vacuum sold itself to be fair. The demo was comprehensive and I was able to try everything out myself and go back over anything I wasn't sure of (for example I couldn't open the door on the back to change the bag as it was quite stiff, Peter was able to tell me just to use more force, something I would have hesitated doing for fear of breaking it).

I was really keen to get on and use the Duo Clean head and I cleaned all of our hard floors the moment Peter left It was easy to get started as Peter had already mixed the fluid for the pads and had demonstrated how to apply it etc. I cleaned the whole area in 10 mins instead of the usual hour and we went off to Kenilworth Castle for the afternoon with the time saved.

We also purchased the Polster Boy attachments at our own expense and so I was also keen for those to arrive (two working days later) to clean our sofa cushions with. The cushions always released a load of dust into the air when you squished them, I've had no success reducing this cloud of dust with our current vacuum cleaner. 5 mins a cushion with the flat beater attachment in the Polster Boy set and they're perfectly clean and not a spot of dust released.

~ how were the instructions in the box?
Peter left the instruction book on the dining table (where he had been demonstrating), I haven't needed to open it. Because I had to keep the box sealed until Peter came to demonstrate, I had no need to read the instructions or indeed do anything myself, Peter showed me everything I needed to know.

~ what did the demo cassette bag show after the first use - are you surprised by how much has been picked up?
I vacuumed our lounge the night before Peter arrived (he came at 9:30am) so there wasn't much chance of things getting dirty. I did a thorough vacuum (as I would if mum was visiting) and I was satisfied our current vacuum cleaner (Dyson DC40) had done a good job. Peter did a reasonably quick vacuum over the same area and the amount of fluff and fine dust the Kobold picked up was crazy. I was really impressed.

I was also really impressed that the Kobold easily vacuumed Hama beads from our dining room floor. I purposely left them on the floor to give the Kobold a good test (as our Dyson mostly shoots them across the laminate rather than vacuuming them up). The Hama beads were sucked up with ease.

I've attached a photo of the dirt the Kobold got off our one year old lounge carpet after it was vacuumed with our Dyson.

Non tester

DS's bedroom - there is just too much stuff in there!!

My least favourite room is the master bedroom. Mostly because its a huge room (one of the biggest in the house) and I seem to shed hair at a riduclous rate! My hair is so fine it takes ages to get it all up and out of the deep pile carpet - especially with the crappy vacuum we currently have which we had to buy as a stop gap replacement after our much loved Miele broke. This would make vacuuming our bedroom so much easier - in fact I think it would make vacuuming the whole house a much more pleasurable experience.

non tester
living room is my worst room. 2 disabled children with eating disorders means lots of messy play and food handling needed. lots of mess created and have to tidy up while looking like it doesn't bother me

Non tester. My least favourite place to vacuum has to be the stairs. We have 3 floors of them and I find it very tiring lifting a heavy and cumbersome vacuum up and down!

Hate hoovering the stairs and landing. Pretty sure one day I will fall down them whilst balancing the Hoover and trying to get all the muck up

Non tester:

My least favourite place to vac is my youngest child's room. Even though i ask him to clear the floor there are always little bits of Lego on the floor.

Non tester here.

My least favourite place to vacuum is under our furniture. Some of it is quite low and it is hard to get the clunky vacuum attachments in. I also hate cleaning the car as it is so hard to get the nooks and crannies clean!

Tester.

Mine is arriving later this week. I want to see how it copes with all the hair my Maine Coon sheds everywhere, and also want to clean the sofas. I will report back...

Oh gosh, the stairs for sure. Blooming dog hairs just seem to go all the way up the stairs and show up on the dark coloured carpet. It looks fab when it's just freshly hoovered but awful when it's needing done!

Has to be the two sets of stairs and hallways since we had a loft conversion. It's never ending and hard work!