Vacuum cleaner - any recommendations for a really good one?

[Rollerball]

As I have dogs my current vacuum cleaner quickly chokes on fur and the removable filter needs removing and cleaning about once every five minutes (dogs tread in mud, mud dries, sinks into the carpet, etc).

I've looked into 'pet' vacuum cleaners and even tried some over the years but they have the same problems.

Is there a high quality and easy to use vacuum cleaner that doesn't choke on fur and also doesn't require a filter clean every few minutes?

 

[Swwils]

Festool midi

 

[JohnD]

where does it choke?

I find a miele "cylinder" which has a bag, used with a simple head that has no brushing/rotating/beating function, does quite well.

The bag holds the hairs so they can't get anywhere near the filter. Nor can dust or dried mud particles.

 

[Rollerball]

Festool midi

Thanks, never heard of Festool before, how are they for customer service if problems arise?

 

[Rollerball]

where does it choke?

I find a miele "cylinder" which has a bag, used with a simple head that has no brushing/rotating/beating function, does quite well.

The bag holds the hairs so they can't get anywhere near the filter. Nor can dust or dried mud particles.

It chokes partly on fur but mostly it's picking up so much dried mud and dust that the dust filter needs to be cleaned every few minutes, if it isn't then it loses suction.

Thanks for the Miele recommendation, so the best option is to get a bagged type (not bagless) and that will avoid having to clean any dust filter?

Are Miele good for customer service in the UK?

 

[JohnD]

maybe a bagged cleaner would suit you then.

I often use a bag with my builder's canister vac when there is going to be a lot of plaster dust, sawdust or other material that would clog the cartridge filter quickly.

 

[Rollerball]

maybe a bagged cleaner would suit you then.

I often use a bag with my builder's canister vac when there is going to be a lot of plaster dust, sawdust or other material that would clog the cartridge filter quickly.

Thanks, is this the case with all bagged vacuums, therefore all of the dust goes into the bag and doesn't go via a filter of any sort? (I've not bought a bagged vacuum cleaner for many years).

 

[JohnD]

yes, but after the bag, there is a motor filter (to catch fine particles and protect the fan and motor), and a HEPA filter (to catch ultra-fine allegens) and an Exhaust filter (which in some cases in carbon-impregnated to deodorise the warm air that blows out)

I may have got the order of those wrong.

If, like me, you are very frugal, you can buy the filter material in sheets and cut it to fit. You get a few filters in each pack of bags, but I like to change them every time I change the bag. You can also buy non-original bags and filters. If you have allergies you might need to buy the best quality parts.

Dust packs down very tightly inside the bags so they seem to hold a lot, and are quite heavy by the time they're full.

The bags are not brown paper, but some kind of layered cloth-like material, white.

I think ours is a C3, but they make several models. Some of the variations, e.g. the "pet" and the "allergy" are the same apart from the colour and the filters supplied when new.

 

[JohnD]

this one, i think, in black. IIRC there is a C2 and a C1, a bit smaller and lower price.

it's very quiet.

 

[conny]

Get a Henry, (Henrietta, George, Pete etc they now come in different colours hence the different names), they are tough enough to use in a workshop and a lot of office/factory cleaners use them or their Nilfisk equivalent. Everything gets caught in the bag which is easy to remove and they hold quite a bit of dirt. A good model will also have a boost switch for extra power if needed.

 

[HERTS P&D]

Shouldn't you ask this question on 'Mums Net', as it's mostly the women who do the cleaning?

Andy

 

[conny]

Might be a single bloke living alone. A lot of us have done it at some time or another.

 

[sxturbo]

I 2nd Conny post, the Henry sounds a perfect fit for your needs.

 

[JohnD]

i heard of a woman who used to chat to her vac while cleaning her flat. "Come along, ******, time to do the hall now"

Come Christmas she got a card from her downstairs neighbours. Inviting her and Henry for Boxing Day sherry and mince pies.

 

[blup]

I use this, it's effectively got a HEPA filter, has powerful suction, takes big bags, and has a pto if you want to use it for tools.

Nilfisk Aero 26-21 PC 1250W 25Ltr Wet & Dry Vacuum Cleaner 240V | Wet & Dry Vacuums | Screwfix.com

My experience of an expensive Miele is as you describe for your vacuums, the filter - and everything else - gets blocked, unless you use it for carpet and floor dust.

Blup