Vacuum cleaners?

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Lizard1977

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#112575 13-Dec-2012 08:47

Looking at getting my mother-in-law a vacuum cleaner for christmas. She's recently moved into a small flat, but her last cleaner broke before moving, and she's been looking for a new one since. It's a very small place (1.5 bedrooms), and she has one short-haired cat.

We went to Godfreys in PN and there were two cleaners in our price range (~$100). The first was a Hoover 1350W cyclonic bagless model, and the second was a Piccolo 2000W cylclonic bagless model. The Hoover has a slightly smaller dust bin compared to the Piccolo, and a shorter cord (by about 1M), and the filters are more expensive (~$40 compared to ~$15 for the Piccolo). I've been online to look up both models, and the information isn't exactly comprehensive. It seems like the Hoover has more favourable reviews (though not many to read through), and there was some concern about the Piccolo overheating (due to the filter not being cleared often enough, apparently).

Does anyone have any first hand experience of either of these models/brands? Or an alternative in the price range that is better (and available in PN)?

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#731778 13-Dec-2012 09:14

Hmm, it's not usually a good idea to buy women housework appliances as presents.

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Lizard1977

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#731823 13-Dec-2012 10:08

Usually I'd agree, but in this case it would be welcomed. So no issue there.

Dunnersfella

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#731878 13-Dec-2012 10:45

Godfrey's have an interesting in-store demo...
Ask for a demo and they'll throw dirt onto a 'special strip' of carpet. The carpet has magnets underneath it to make the vacuum head stick closer to the carpet - hence better suction even on low performing units, and 'feel' as if the suction power is great than it really is.
They often buy in vacuums they can't actually purchase through the importer to demo against their in-house brands, in doing so, they use their vacuums on the special carpet, and the oppositions vacuums on the other, non-magnetic strips of carpet.

ajobbins

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#731903 13-Dec-2012 11:14

Avoid the Piccolo. We have one and it's a piece of crap. Runs for a new minutes then overheats and stops.

We struggled to vacuum our our 1.5 bedroom (tiny) apartment before it would overheat.

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Lizard1977

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#731951 13-Dec-2012 11:50

ajobbins: Avoid the Piccolo. We have one and it's a piece of crap. Runs for a new minutes then overheats and stops.

We struggled to vacuum our our 1.5 bedroom (tiny) apartment before it would overheat.

I read some reviews that said the same thing. I asked the salesperson about it, and he said that it was because the filter wasn't being cleaned (properly, or at all), meaning the airflow was getting blocked and making the engine overwork.

How does this relate to your experience? Is it a case of the filter clogging up to quickly, or something else? I accept that filters need to be cleaned out from time to time, but if it clogs up after a single use, then that's a bit excessive in my view.

trig42

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#731957 13-Dec-2012 11:59

See if you can find a deal on the Panasonic MC-5520, they usually retail around the $149, but if you can get cheaper, they are a good little vacuum (take bags though).

Batman

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#731969 13-Dec-2012 12:11

Don't get bagless ... Less suction and dirty like anything

Bee

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#731972 13-Dec-2012 12:16

We have the Shark Navigator Pro Liftaway and its awesome! but a bit out of your budget...

Doing your best is much more important than being the best.

ajobbins

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#731975 13-Dec-2012 12:20

Lizard1977:
ajobbins: Avoid the Piccolo. We have one and it's a piece of crap. Runs for a new minutes then overheats and stops.

We struggled to vacuum our our 1.5 bedroom (tiny) apartment before it would overheat.

I read some reviews that said the same thing. I asked the salesperson about it, and he said that it was because the filter wasn't being cleaned (properly, or at all), meaning the airflow was getting blocked and making the engine overwork.

How does this relate to your experience? Is it a case of the filter clogging up to quickly, or something else? I accept that filters need to be cleaned out from time to time, but if it clogs up after a single use, then that's a bit excessive in my view.

Considering it happened the first time I used it new out of the box, I'd disagree. It does get worse as the filter gets dirtier, and the filter is a real pain to clean too.

I wouldn't buy another bag-less vacuum, unless maybe a Dyson.

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SCUBADOO

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#731983 13-Dec-2012 12:34

joker97: Don't get bagless ... Less suction and dirty like anything

I agree 100%

Our last purchase and first ever bagless cleaner was an expensive well known brand. I wanted bagless!
Never again. Too much work, mess and cleaning for me. Our next purchase will have a bag.

YMWV

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#732000 13-Dec-2012 13:04

Nilfisk Coupe Parquet RRP $199 Frequently priced at $140-160. Best vacumn cleaner in the ~$150 price range, well liked in consumer magazine. Really compact machine so good for small houses.

HTPC / Home automation (home assistant) enthusiast.

mattwnz

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#732001 13-Dec-2012 13:12

Dunnersfella: Godfrey's have an interesting in-store demo...
Ask for a demo and they'll throw dirt onto a 'special strip' of carpet. The carpet has magnets underneath it to make the vacuum head stick closer to the carpet - hence better suction even on low performing units, and 'feel' as if the suction power is great than it really is.
They often buy in vacuums they can't actually purchase through the importer to demo against their in-house brands, in doing so, they use their vacuums on the special carpet, and the oppositions vacuums on the other, non-magnetic strips of carpet.

Really,How do you know that? I wouldn't have thought it would be allowed without some form of disclose. I have had an instore demo myself, and they show one head on a miele, and how useless the head was on carpet, really hard to move. But I ended up buying the miele and didn't have that problem. Their test with the vibrating heads is quite impressive, but I wasn't a fan of the pushy salesperson and hardselling, so I didn't buy from them.

The miele cat and dog is one of the best vacuum cleaners you can buy. You get what you pay for, and it is probably outside the OPs range, but buying a cheepie could be false economy in the long run.
I did buy a cheap panasonic for $200 several years ago. It is bagless, underpowered (even though it is quoted as 2000watt) and the attachments are pretty flimsy, although it rated well in consumer at the time, but not in the same league as the miele. The miele also has a rotating head which is a must for carpet, as vibrates the carpet getting dirt from deeper down in the pile.

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#732023 13-Dec-2012 13:38

my vac cost just under $1000 with a vibrating head - the best thing money can buy in terms of lifting crap off carpet ... it is bagged but we bought the dust detour attachment so the dust goes into the trap and gets dumped and our bag never fills up :)

but anything "cyclonic"/bagless that's not a dyson doesn't suck stay well away!

other than that i can't advise any more :) but i buy the $150 one that they can give you lots of free bags maybe?

mattwnz

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#732031 13-Dec-2012 13:46

joker97: my vac cost just under $1000 with a vibrating head - the best thing money can buy in terms of lifting crap off carpet ... it is bagged but we bought the dust detour attachment so the dust goes into the trap and gets dumped and our bag never fills up :)

but anything "cyclonic"/bagless that's not a dyson doesn't suck stay well away!

other than that i can't advise any more :) but i buy the $150 one that they can give you lots of free bags maybe?

I have tried a hoover bagless with a vibrating head, and it had heaps of power. Although it retailed for about 1k too.

I don't have any problem with bagless, the only downside is that you have to empty it regularly, and this can mean that the wear an tear on the release switches is higher, and thus they are more fragile than bagged models. Bags for some are very expensive, and the cheap no name bags you buy from the supermarket can be inferior quality, which can void the warranty on the device if you use them.

mrgsm021

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#733561 17-Dec-2012 13:26

Bee: We have the Shark Navigator Pro Liftaway and its awesome! but a bit out of your budget...

+1

The Shark Navigator is awesome the only thing though is the dust compartment is a bit too small.

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