Dustbuster or whatever they're called - any recommendations?

[OuiOui]

We bought one of those poratble hand held vacuums a few years ago (I think for about £40) and it was rubbish. hardly picked anything up even when it was fully charged. We just never used it after a few attempts. Anyway with dd now, it would be so useful for the little rice cake crumbs and post lunch, post dinner little accidents. Does anyone have a good one they can recommend?

Have no recommendation but would like similar advice, also do steam cleaners do as well as everyone thinks?

Ouioui, I'm sure you're interested too..

I've got a dirt devil hand held job (not cordless though) but I'm not impressed with it. The pick up isn't great and if you want to use the tools you have to disable the belt and then re fit the belt when you've done

I have heard that the ultra lightweight one that gets advertised on tv sometimes and in tv magazines etc is quite good. I can't remember the name but its only available by mail order and costs less than my useless dirt devil.

I'd like to know about steam cleaners too - do they really clean baked-on muck off ovens and would they whiten the grout around my cooker (currently a yukky brown from grease and cooking fumes that come out of the fan oven)?

I bought one too many years ago and thought it was rubbish, felt conned really. A dustpan and brush picks up much better. As for the steam cleaners- DON'T! Bought one of those too and they are even more rubbish. It takes ages to remove even the smallest stain, half an hour for something the size of a tangerine!Mine is lounging in disgrace in the shed, and I bought a vax 3 in 1 cleaner instead, which I lovingly stroke each night before bed as it does such a good job so quickly!

my ones exactly - conned! there must be something out there that works!!!

Lou, thanks, feel better now. I knew it was a better idea to blow our dough on other things.

From what I've heard the steam cleaners are only worth getting if you buy a good expensive one NOT one of those cheap 39.99 jobbies you see on the telly ads.

I got the top model of the original dustbuster (Black & Decker 9.6v) which was a bit more powerful than the base model - I use it a lot but it's worth remembering its limitations - small areas of quick pickup. I use it to clear up all the rice ds throws on the floor at mealtimes or if I knock over a plant and get soil everywhere.

Oh and you also need to remember to empty them regularly as when the "bag" thing clogs up you lose a lot of suction.

I've also got one of the Black & decker ones and it keeps the place tidy. Saves getting the big cleaner out as much.I use it after maels around the dinner table, I have also found it brilliant for picking up bits, when they do craft things and cutting, on the table.I can let them make as much mess as they like, without getting stressed about it.It also has the advantage that dh will actually use it!!!

My steam cleaner was 150 pounds and still a load of old cobblers!

I've got a Polti vaporetto 3000, cost £300+ used it once and now it's in the loft!

our dustbuster cost about £40 - bought about a year ago is good for small jobs and crumbs on the sofa etc.