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

Non tester- my childrens bedroom, as i always have to do a big tidy first before i vacuum as i wouldn't get the hoover round otherwise, due to the mess they make in their with their toys

Kids' bedrooms. Takes twice as long to clear the toys and clothing off the floor as it does to vacuum it but it has to be done.

Tester here!

~ how did the demo from the Vorwerk rep go? What were you the most keen to try out?

Demo was fantastic - Charlie was really knowledgable and answered all my questions. He told me about all the extras without ever 'selling' (though I am definitely going to buy some).

I was most keen to try out the mopping and vacuuming function - I was blown away by how good it was!

~ how were the instructions in the box?

Honestly? No idea - the demo was so thorough and the machine itself so intuitive, I haven't had to use them!

~ what did the demo cassette bag show after the first use - are you surprised by how much has been picked up?

Ugh, absolute filth. We only vacuumed my small living room rug and the amount was absolutely horrendous. I had no idea how much dirt I was living with!

My least favourite room to vac is ds's bedroom, he attempts a tidy but it's still like trying to vacuum an assault course.

My least favourite room to vacuum is definitely my daughter's room! Always sooo much stuff on the floor, it can turn a 5 minute task into a whole afternoon

Non tester
My least favourite room is a toss up; between ds's room, where the Lego manages to be scattered in a way you don't know it's there till the bloody dyson makes that crunching/grinding/end of the world noise, and the stairs because the shitty design of the hose on the thing is such that, though it just about reaches the top of the stairs, it folds over on itself so much by the time you've reached the top, you might as well not bother.
I hate my dyson with a passion. Can you tell

Our steep narrow stairs are a bitch - dog hair collects at the sides and they are too narrow for the enormous dyson

I hate doing vacuuming the living room. My partner walks in a world of salt, stones and mud from his job in the Royal Navy and the detritus he picks up when riding his motorbike. Combine this with the usual day to day dirt, a beautiful silver long haired cat (Stella) who moults incredible quantities of wispy fur; my long brown hair; my partner's short black hair and his half spilled black coffee every day (don't ask!), and the hardwood flooring gets a real battering.

Moving all the furniture is a necessity with all the various fur, hair and dirt, to get everything properly clean. It means vacuuming, then mopping, then wiping down with Zoflora takes forever!

The kitchen, because bits of food and dirt get trapped in between appliances and under cupboards. Unless I'm down on my hands and knees there's no way to properly clean it!

Tester here (for which a huge thank you!)

1. the demo went very smoothly. Charlie was prompt, charming and extremely enthusiastic and knowledgeable about the product. As per a previous tester, he didn't push the hard sell at all for the extras- but I'm sure I will end up buying them. This product simply sells itself once you see it in action.

I was most keen to try the simultaneous vacuum/ wash function for hard floors. Which is, basically, fantastic.

2. I haven't looked at the instructions properly either! The machine is so intuitive and simple, and the demo so clear, that u haven't had to!

3. the demo cassette was pretty grubby, perhaps not as bad as some previous posters , but we don't allow shoes or pets upstairs so I wouldn't exoect it to be.

Thank you so much for choosing me. It will completely revolutionise my cleaning!

Non tester - I hate hoovering the stairs as our machine is bulky, heavy & upright so I'm in danger of being crushed as it tips down onto me! Also under the beds

Non-tester definitely the stairs, so time consuming.

Kitchen the dogs hairs get everywhere

Worst place to vacuum is DC's room - it's annoying to get around all his toys.

Non-tester
Under the kitchen table. My DC are feral

Tester here!

How did the demo go: Peter was great. He advised me of the extra accessories for the Kobold system which I will be purchasing once our house renovation is complete (when we will have new carpets and soft furnishings throughout), so I can keep everything 'showroom quality.' Everything was explained clearly and I was most keen to try out the DuoClean head which hoovers and mops at the same time. I wasn't disappointed! We cheerfully chucked some Alpen muesli all over the hard floor and the Kobold got every grainy, dusty bit up and mopped in its wake. Great feature.

Instructions in the box: like other testers have said, the demo was very clear and the product itself very intuitive, so I haven't needed to dip into them too much. I did however, want to remind myself how to change the sponge cloth on the DuoClean and the instructions were very easy to follow on this point.

Test cassette: eurgh!! I'd vacuumed the small carpeted area in our dining room the day before and yet the Kobold still picked up a LOT of cat hair (we have two).

Photo: Peter took a few- if you're reading this Peter, please forward them! I'll take some more soon though!

Non tester.. Under the sofa! I just cba to move it therefore it never gets done.

non-tester

My least favourite room to vacuum is the lounge; we have so many toys and pieces of furniture to move that it takes so long.

Least fave place is large through room with plain carpet as household of animal lovers.Need to keep on top of carpets and hate dragging heavy cleaner around.

I really do not like to do my daughter's room - full of tiny bits of lego, other things at creepy places which are obviously found by the vacuum cleaner... then I need to dig out the bits from the collected dust!

Pmama I'm yet to test it but the Kobold has a little trapdoor to catch Lego so it doesn't end up in the bag!

Non-tester: the stairs! We have two steep staircases and our current vacuum doesn't reach to the top of each staircase so I have to vacuum half from the bottom; half from the top and change attachments as it doesn't collect dust and dirt from the edges. My most hated domestic job!

Playroom - endless Lego to pick up or Hoover around.....

The Stairs! Also down side of washing machine and under radiators. Lugging vacuum up and down stairs blimmin annoying and the attachments just don't seem suited for hard to reach areas.

Non-tester - I don't like vacuuming. Period.
But it would be those nooks corners in the kitchen and bathroom that are difficult to reach.