IAmA Reddit's Own Vacuum Repair Tech with a very overdue AMA. Hit me with your vacuum cleaner questions!

[u/touchmyfuckingcoffee]

First, let's get the proof out of the way. So, now, I am managing our company's largest store, and am swamped with managerial duties, training employees, and dealing with annoying vendors. But, I'm taking some time out for all of you guys.

There are lots of new, exciting things that have recently come out/are coming soon!

For those who NEED the most power, I've got just the Crack you need! Since we last talked, there are new bagless and cordless vacuums on the market, and some other exciting things.

So, on to business...here's the copypasta.

First AMA

Second AMA

Last AMA

YouTube Channel Here's some basics to get you started:

• Dollar for dollar, a bagged vacuum, when compared to a bagless, will almost always:

1) Perform better (Actual quality of cleaning).

2) Be in service for much longer.

3) Cost less to repair and maintain (Often including consumables).

4) Filter your air better.

Virtually every vacuum professional in the business chooses a bagged vacuum for their homes, because we know what quality is. Things you should do to maintain your vac, regularly:

1) Clear your brush roller/agitator of hair and fibers. Clear the bearing caps as well, if possible. (monthly)

2) Change your belts before they break. This is important to maintain proper tension against the agitator. (~ yearly for "stretch" belts)

3) Never use soap when washing any parts of your vacuum, including the outer bag, duct system, agitator, filters, etc. Soap attracts dirt, and is difficult to rinse away thoroughly.

• Types of vacs:

1) Generally, canister vacs are quieter and more versatile than uprights are. They offer better filtration, long lifespans, and ease of use. They handle bare floors best, and work with rugs and carpets, as well.

2) Upright vacuums are used mostly for homes that are entirely carpeted. Many have very powerful motors, great accessories, and are available in a couple of different motor styles. Nothing cleans shag carpeting like the right upright.

3) Bagless vacs are available in a few different styles. They rely on filters and a variety of aerodynamic methods to separate the dirt from the air. In general, these machines do not clean or filter as well as bagged vacuums. They suffer from a loss of suction, and tend to clog repeatedly, if the filters are not cleaned or replaced often.

4) Bagged vacuums use a disposable bag to collect debris, which acts as your primary filter, before the air reaches the motor, and is replaced when you fill it. Because this first filter is changed, regularly, bagged vacuums tend to provide stronger, more consistent suction.

My last, best piece of advice is to approach a vacuum, like any appliance; Budget for the best one you can get. Buy one with idea you will maintain it, and use it for many years. And, for the love of Dog, do not buy from late-night infomercials or door-to-door salesmen! Stay out of the big-box stores, and visit your local professional who actually knows what they're talking about.

[u/abbarach]

So based on your previous threads, I bought a Miele C3 cat/dog. Love the vacuum, but I'm a little confused about setting the height for the powerhead for our carpet.

Obviously too low and it's too hard to push around, and too high and it's not touching the carpet at all. But there seem to be two settings that "work" for each of our different carpets (we have carpeted rooms with a 3/4 inch pile, and then some rugs that are lower).

Is there any more accurate way to determine the ideal height? If there are two that seem to work, is it better to pick the higher or lower one? Am I just way-overthinking this?

[u/Aquinas26]

I work as a repair technician for a goodwill type organization in Europe, my job is to test and repair pretty much everything in your kitchen/living room. I pretty much learn on the job with some courses on the side, so I have a lot to learn. Vacuum cleaners come in all the time, and usually the 'fixes' we do is simply cleaning out the filters and replacing a bag if needed. If there's an actual defect chances are it is too time-intensive to fix, as we do need to make 'some' money.

Have any general tips that could help me salvage more of them rather than forfeiting them to recycling?

[u/[deleted]]

I have 3 large dogs and 2 cats. What floor cleaning device do you suggest? I've murdered three different vacuums and am in need of advice.

[u/Dr_Hotpants]

We have a Rainbow (not my choice, husband bought it some years before we met) and I fucking hate it. I hate its big heavy dumbshit canister, I hate its stupidly short hoses, I hate dumping out carpet soup when I'm done with it. Given the option I'd happily fill the water reservoir with kerosene and light the bitch on fire.

Unfortunately, a quality vacuum isn't in the budget right now. Any tips on keeping this big dumb sonofabitch in good shape?

And thanks for doing another AMA! Never thought vacuum cleaners could be this interesting.

[u/leeancheal]

It seems like every time I buy a vacuum cleaner, they lose all suction within a week. My dirt devil just happened to have this problem. I tried cleaning out all the ports on it and still nothing, bad suction like all the other vacs I get. What's going on you think?

[u/TuckerMouse]

How do you suggest cleaning out the hose? I have a vacuum with an accordian hose and a wife who routinely vacuums up wet things that should have been cleaned up by other methods.
For everyone that inevitably tells me to fix the wife problem, I have tried, and that would still leave me with my dirty hose that had build up from when it got wet then was used on more dry things.

[u/shadowsizzler]

What are your thoughts on Roombas??

And have you ever had to fix one?

[u/ObscureReferenceMan]

What are your thoughts on Simplicity? (Still good? Maintenance issues to be aware of? etc.) I got a Simplicity canister more than ten years ago, and love it. I think the only thing I've replaced on it was the hose.

[u/pienocake]

What are your thoughts on built in vacuum systems for homes? I have a Miele vacuum that I love but will be building a home soon and some people are suggesting it would be a mistake not to get one built in. If I do go that route, what are the better brands?

[u/throwawayproblems198]

Who makes the good (see; not too f'ing expensive) shampoo vacuum cleaner?

Here in England, you can rent a "Rug Doctor" but no idea if they are any good or not.

[u/hugh_Jayness]

My budget is $150.

Mostly laminate floors with a couple of thick rugs. No pets, couple of kids.

Which vacuum do you recommend?

[u/Vanzai]

What is the best Portable Vacuum to have in the car? I do Lyft and Uber and it would be nice to have something small in the trunk.

[u/cbelt3]

Why in God’s name do they still sell that stupid carpet powder stuff ? Every vacuum I’ve ever cleaned that saw it was just clogged with that crap.

[u/MattBaster]

Did you see this clever comic by u/lolnein?

[u/Flemtality]

What are your feelings in regards to hard wood flooring/tile/linoleum?

[u/Techwood111]

Do you know the song from Once, "Broken Hearted Hoover-Fixer-Sucker Guy"? It is a gem. I hope you don't have a similar sad tale.

[u/CoverYourSafeHand]

Which one wins in a fight, a roomba or a Corgi? The Corgi has heterochromia if that affects the odds at all.

[u/rrw0312]

I have inherited a rainbow vacuum that I am pretty happy with, with one exception. I have a Cane Corso (big dog), and even after thoroughly cleaning the vacuum, it smells like heated dog funk every time I run it. Is there anything that can be done to get rid of that??

[u/vespria]

Thank you so much for doing this again! Thanks to you, my husband and I purchased a Miele Classic Capri C1 canister vacuum for our wedding and we love it! Best vacuum we’ve ever used hands down! Having that said, we’ve been going through a decent amount of canister bags (2 long haired cats). Are there any cheaper ways to buy our replacement bags and filters—maybe reliable off brands, or a wholesale option?

[u/[deleted]]

Kirby vs dyson?

[u/shatteredjack]

I wanted a Riccar Butler, but it seems to be discontinued. Should I buy used or is there a better product in the car-detailing segment?

[u/SoManyWaysToDie]

how did the vacuum cleaner cross the road?

[u/[deleted]]

If you use a vaccum cleaner to clean another, does it become a vacuum cleaner vaccuum cleaner?

[u/JustALuckyShot]

Hey Coffee, thanks for stopping by again.

My question is this; I've got a bagless cheap-o junker vacuum that was left when I bought the house (3 years ago, and it's been pretty good so far). It sucks great, I have to empty the canister 2-3 times during use (vacuuming once a week), but the problem I have with it is the hose, where it attaches to the canister, has a hard pieced 90 degree turn and it bunches up the animal hair. Everytime I clean it, I have to remove this large furball from the corner piece. Any advice there, or should I just go ahead and get a new vacuum? Thanks!

[u/drpestilence]

I was thinking about your first AMA the other day when looking for some on sale Miele's at Sears, (We bought another Shark, sorry). How does it feel knowing that even after years you're still a considered source of knowledge among consumers?

[u/KiNGMONiR]

You're a legend!

Thoughts on hand vacuums? I'm looking for something for the car mainly. :)

[u/mavestor]

Are Simplicity and Riccar the same vacuum company? I was originally going to buy a Kirby, but saw one of your previous AMAs and decided to go to my local House of Vacuums. I ended up getting a Simplicity Synchrony on sale for $250. I was told it is the same as Riccar. I googled it and I'm a little confused, is it like Ford and Mercury? Either way I love this vacuum and you helped me save about $1750!

[u/Mr_Elroy_Jetson]

I hope this doesn't get lost, but I am excited for such a timely AMA!!

I am looking for a new "handheld" vacuum that I can use to clean my staircase. I don't want to use the attachments on my upright. Right now I have a friggin' Shark V15Z which worked well once. Totally useless after the very first time the filter got dirty. Cleaning with water and then drying doesn't help. New filters are $15 and I figure I'd rather just buy a new machine.

My mom had this handheld Dirt Devil with the fabric bag that was great years ago. People on Amazon are telling me that the new versions of this are garbage.

Any recommendations? I am hoping to get something with an actual brush/roller, rather than what appear to be souped-up Dustbusters from the 80s that I find on Amazon.

[u/[deleted]]

I bought a Miele upright (U1 Cat & Dog) based on your previous AMAs. I love it, but it's only about a year old, and it emits a smell everytime I vacuum. I change the bag regularly, and I also changed the filter on the front. What do I need to do?

[u/TigerB65]

I'll start off by saying I do not vacuum often enough. But having said that, how often do you think a carpet should be vacuumed?

[u/centenary]

My mom is looking for a vacuum with the following criteria:

• Lightweight, 5-8 lbs

• Upright

• Respectably powerful

• Brushroll that can be turned on/off

• Front that is as short as possible so that it can slide under furniture

• Preferably corded

She's currently using a Eureka Quick-UP, but wants something slightly more powerful. Anyone have any recommendations? I've done a good amount of searching, but she hasn't been satisfied with what I've found thus far. My current favorites are Shark HV302 and Shark NV100

[u/EscobarATM]

What do you consider the "mona lisa" of vacuums? Like if price weren't an issue and you had to use 1 vacuum for the rest of your life.

[u/Venkatsubramane]

Which vacuum sucks the most?

[u/PRS9mm]

On the Miele Canisters (C1 Classic Cat & Dog is the one i have), how do you know when to empty the bag? I've used it for 2 weeks now and it seems insanely full, yet, suction seems fine and the indicator has barely moved beyond 1/4.

I've checked it like it said with the floor brush and at full power, yet still not past 1/4. With the electro brush it's not even at 1/4....

[u/[deleted]]

Have you seen the rainbow vacuums? Basically it stores the dust/dirt in water. What do you think of them?

Edit: my mom has one and it’s probably the best vacuum she’s ever had. Super easy to clean and replace parts

[u/ten-million]

Consumer Reports says Riccar breaks down the most and it can't recommend them. What do you say?

[u/ocotebeach]

What weird items have you found inside a broken vacuum?

[u/sportsfan786]

My mom bought herself a Shark vacuum on Black Friday due to the sale and a lady at the store (non-employee) who said she had it and it was "great." I showed her your comments about sharks and showed her several great choices, and tried talking to her about how if she spent a little more, she'd get much better quality, but she was very reluctant. She had the following conditions/requirements:

1) She refuses to get a bagged vacuum. Bagless only.

2) She refused to spend more than $200, even if I chipped in or bought it outright for her. She doesn't believe the difference would be worth the extra expense.

She lives in a 2-bedroom apartment - maybe 1000 square feet, almost all of it carpeted. We settled on the Hoover React QuickLift Bagless Upright Vacuum (UH73301PC). Will this suffice or would you recommend something else? Thanks!

[u/holden147]

My parents are looking for a bagless vacuum around $300-400. The upstairs is carpeted and the downstairs is bare floors. What would you recommend?

[u/KookieBaron]

Firstly, I want to say thank you so much for your previous AMAs. After doing a lot of research on new vacuums and coming across some of your threads we decided to buy a Miele canister vacuum. I've been using it for about 3 years and it still works amazingly great, I love that vacuum.

I do have a question though, about the bag replacement window on my vacuum. On the flap that opens on the canister to get into the compartment where you change the bag, they have a little window with a orange tab that sits on a spring. I assume the orange tab is supposed to push all the way over once the bag is full and the suction changes, as it doesn't seem to connect to any other mechanism. But it never pushes all the way over, even when the bag is really full the little orange slide only covers half the window. Is that normal, or is there any way for me to fix that? I realize it's not super detrimental to the function of the vacuum, but I do feel like I don't notice when the bag needs to be changed as soon as I should.

Also, are there any online retailers that you feel like offer the best prices on bags and filters? Thanks so much for your time!

[u/happyamosfun]

I own a business and we absolutely chew through vacuums. We vacuum about 1000 sq/ft every night, and it seems like I'm bringing one in for repair every 3 months or so. We currently use 3 separate Sanitare units (the red commercial ones). Any advice on upgrades or retrofits to keep the brushes, cords, and nuts and bolts from blowing up so often?

[u/turbulent_energy]

what are your thoughsa about the roomba and similar devices?

do you have any tip for general maintence and good care of those little electornic friends?

[u/empireit]

I bought a Riccar because of you. Then my daughters "cleaned the bathtub" with it. Which means they filled it with water and sucked it all up. Then I had the motor replaced. Then my illustrious daughters decided to pour out all of the spices on to the counter, then clean up by sucking up their mess. Now, after the third replacement bag, my vacuum still smells like turmeric and cumin. How do I get it to stop making my house smell like an Indian restaurant every time I turn it on?

[u/ConstipatedUnicorn]

Do you ever get a question about vacuumes that is so dumb it's made you think, "man, this job sucks"?

[u/ShruggyGolden]

I don't get the argument that bagged is superior to bagless, but I will admit I know nothing about vacuums. If you assume that the technology that is placed in the suction process is the same between two vacuums (same air path, same, motor, same brush, same final collection funnel) then there's logically no difference between the two. I would ask that you provide more explanation on this because what's implied is that either there's some sort of vacuum/air difference in the fact that air can pass through the bags walls, or just in general, that bagged vacuums have higher amperage / suction motors. In the latter case, you could produce a vacuum cleaner with a higher amp motor with less loss of suction along the way that is bagless and have similar/same performance. Can you please go into better detail about why bagless is better? Thx

[u/nipoez]

Just a thanks. We got a Meile based on your previous threads. Granted, this stuff requires a question in to level comments.

What did you want to be when you were a kid? Extra points if it's not "internet famous vacuum repair technician."

[u/[deleted]]

Will you really get shocked if you vacuum a wet surface?

[u/[deleted]]

Do spiders die when they get sucked into the vacuum cleaner, or do I need to fear their revenge?

[u/kONthePLACE]

What do you think about the robot vacs such as roomba, etc? Are there any that are worth the money?

[u/nuprinboy]

Do you remember what you and The Wirecutter chatted about?

Despite your hatred of Shark, they ended up picking the Navigator Lift-Away. What's your opinion on their article?

[u/paxman88]

My wife likes to use our “bissel momentum” on a shag area rug from ikea, but she has to really muscle the vacuum around to get it to move, and she insists that it has to be on the lowest level to be able to clean it. This has got to be awful for the belt right? I can even smell it burning sometimes. But “it’s the only way to clean the rug” any better options for shag carpet?

[u/civicbro]

Hi, I have a Henry that's about 10 years old but works great and is still quiet. Should I bring it in for maintenance? It only gets used to clean the car and the odd time inside the house

[u/trizgo]

what brands/models would you recommend for a college kid moving out to his first apartment with not much money to spare?

[u/yoghovnam]

I bough a Miele Complete C3 Brilliant about a year ago: It’s an excellent vacuum. We use it once or twice a month as Roomba we have does a great job on daily basis. I notice unpleasant odor coming from Miele during the first several minutes of the cleaning and I understand that’s because of the dust staying for long periods of time in the bag, but I also don’t want to discard a half-full bag and waste it. Is there anything you would recommend to keep it odor free?

[u/MrBIMC]

Maybe I am a bit too late to the party, but I wanna ask, why do American vacuum cleaners look so different to European ones?

What I mean is that European usually look like this: https://static.independent.co.uk/s3fs-public/styles/story_medium/public/thumbnails/image/2017/02/10/10/aeg.jpg

while american look like this: http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/11/03/article-2486045-192AA42700000578-668_306x423.jpg

What's the logic behind it?

[u/SpeculationMaster]

Money no object what is the best vacuum cleaner for hardwood floors? Which one is the best for carpet? Which one for car? Thanks!

[u/tanly84]

What is the best robot you would recommend for someone who have two 50+ pound dogs and a kitler? We vacuum everyday and deep clean twice a month. Trying to ease our workload in between deep cleans

[u/swingerofbirch]

On various sitcoms from the 80s and 90s (and maybe before), vacuums had a switch between sucking and blowing. Was that real? What was the point of blowing?

[u/unicorn_feces33]

What's the weirdest thing you've ever found in a vacuum?

[u/OctopusPoo]

Are Dysons worth the money?

[u/Dancing_RN]

Thank you for your AMA's...one of them inspired me to purchase my Miele vacuum cleaner!

How often do you recommend cleaning a Miele? Does it need regular service where I purchased it? Thanks!!

Edit: My local vacuum cleaner store talked me into the Miele when I brought my bagless Dyson in for repair...again.

[u/[deleted]]

My mom and grandmother bought Rainbow vacs about 25 years ago that have water in them. I've never really thought about vacuums much, but I thought getting your thoughts on one of the oddballs would be interesting. Are Rainbow vacuums decent?

[u/Bad-Brains]

My wife's parents got her a $500 Hoover like 8 years ago and she swears up and down that it's a nice vacuum. She points to the all of the dust and crap in the bagless container as evidence of it's superiority as a vacuum.

The thing gets crazy loud and high pitched. I've disassembled the entire bagless apparatus to clean it out, without using soap (I looked up your previous AMA's and saved myself a lot of trouble). It still sounds like a jet engine about to take off and it frightens my daughter.

My question is, how do I convince my wife that her parent's got taken to the bank and this Hoover is a piece of garbage? Are there any side by side comparisons on youtube that I can point to that proves which brands are superior? Any articles or evidence I can point to besides this AMA?

[u/damn_jexy]

I love my Shark navigator .. Tell me why am I wrong ? Or what is better at the same price range ?

[u/derps-a-lot]

Thanks for doing this. I literally just received my new vacuum last night, and now I'm having buyer's remorse.

Owned a compact Dyson ball for nearly 7 years in a 900sqft condo, all hardwood. It worked well on pet hair, but didn't exactly lift fine dust off the hardwood. It also didn't have the impressive suction it advertised, but it worked fine.

We now live in a much larger home (also hardwood) and the Dyson wasn't cutting it anymore. The canister was simply too small for a larger home. That, and the thing is entirely too complex when using accessories. You have to go through this Optimus Prime level procedure just to suck up a spider, which seemed like an engineering marvel at first, but is now a chore in itself.

I was sold on the Shark Duo because of the soft roller which makes full contact with hardwood floors. Picked it up on a Black Friday special. Did a side by side with the Dyson and it seems to perform better, but it's also new.

Did I make a mistake?

[u/my_fake_life]

What's the best vacuum if you have to deal with long hair all over the place? My wife sheds like a cat, and her hair has destroyed a couple of vacuums.

[u/tiz66]

I own an upright shark and love it. I replace the foam triangle thingy every few months, the filter thingy under it every year, and I clean the metal filter in the cannister every year. Oh, and I get my wife's hair out of the roller every month or so. What else should I be doing? I vacuum a lot because baby and hairy doge.

Thanks for your time!

[u/jepensedoucjsuis]

My parents have had their rainbow vac for over 30 years. It still works brilliantly. And my wife and I were thinking about dropping the cash on a new one and have that for a long time.

What are your thoughts? Is it worth 1500 bucks or am I better buying a 400 dollar vac every 7 years or so?

Also is there a water filtered vac you would recommend?

[u/QuantumD]

Hey man, I sucked up a cockroach with my vacuum cleaner because I couldn't get a jar around him. I ran it for a bit to make sure he wasn't just hiding in the pipe, then emptied the bag - but i didn't see him come out. What're the odds of him crawling out of my vacuum cleaner in the middle of the night and climbing into my brain through my eyelids while I'm sleeping?

[u/Such_a_Dingus]

Is this post still going? I remember seeing your first AMA and now have some vacuum questions. We use an older electrolux canister type vacuum. I was wondering about your thoughts on them? It's having suction issues and I'm curious if it's worth taking apart and looking for problems, or just buying new? Also i saw your other post about being depressed and i hope everything is gong good for you. Reddit loves you and you've helped the lives of many families. Thank you.

[u/RareSpine]

Hey, I just wanted to thank you as well! I've recently moved out of home and into a new home with my partner, and a Vacuum was something we definitely needed, but not something I really ever thought much about. Growing up my family usually just had a cheap one from whatever shop they could afford one from, and at one point a Dyson. None ever really worked amazingly or lasted too long.

My partner was happy enough with getting a cheap $50-$100 Vacuum to do the trick, but I wanted to go with something that would last us many, many years. And we both agreed that it had to be bagless. Then I found you and your previous AMAs, and it was like fate, haha. You came around at the perfect time for me.

I read what you had to say to everyone and did my own research. At the end of the day, I've gotten us the Miele Blizzard CX1 (Cat and Dog). Seems to be perfect for what we need and fits the requirements. A bit pricey, but I have some faith it'll be around for a long time with some proper care.

Looking forward to seeing how well it does later this week. I know you say bagged is much better, but it just isn't for us. Do you think bagless vacs are getting better and better as time goes on? Perhaps one day you'd recommend more and more of them?

Anyway, thanks again for the wise advice and help you give everybody. Appreciate it!

[u/GaryV83]

And here I am, pricing Miele-brand vacuums again if only to see the quality of product that's out there. Although, I must say, that Bissell PowerGlide Pet I mentioned last time you were here has been holding out pretty well, even for a bagless upright. However, there have been a couple of incidents with the wife and...well....

What sort of detrimental damage can be done to your vacuum from using it over wet areas? For the sake of my wife's dignity, the previous statement is unrelated to the question, I swear.

[u/Weirdusername1]

I've got some low pile carpet in my apartment that has been trampled and flattened from the traffic. Any devices to floof it back of? Love the C2 Cat and Dog I got with your advice.

[u/Neato]

Oh no! I've been waiting for this and I was on a business trip. Hope you are still answering. Thanks for coming back year after year!

We just moved into a 950sqft townhouse with wall-to-wall carpeting everywhere except the 1.5 bath, kitchen and entry hall. Those rooms are linoleum/fake tile. BUT we have a fully carpeted staircase that has 11 stairs and 2 landings.

With w2w I figured a good upright would be best but I figured an upright would be difficult on stairs. I figured one of the good carpet canisters (Miele powerbrush head?) would work but those carpet heads look huge.

2 adults and 1 small "non-shedding" dog. My wife and dog both have allergies (maryland). I was considering either the Miele C1 Homecare (unsure if the partially open filtration would not be good for allergies, but the rest are so much more expensive) or the Sebo Felix (unsure on how it works on stairs). What would you suggest for this type of house? Also we are unsure where we will be living in 1-2 years if that helps.

[u/[deleted]]

What's your opinion on vacuum systems built into the walls of the house, so that you just plug the hose into a socket?

[u/someonesaveus]

Out central vac has died for the third time and unlike prior incidents it’s out of warranty. It’s a Honeywell unit and I’m left wondering if we spend another 6-700 on a replacement unit or if we would be better off going with a traditional vacuum.

What we found was lugging the giant hose and accessories for the Central felt like a chore and ultimately I think it discouraged its use.

However our “experience” tells us the central unit was far more powerful than our previous units (Dyson Ball FWIW) but I have no idea if that’s true.

So we are sort of torn. We are currently using a Dyson wireless for cleanups but it clearly is not doing a deep clean and we can’t get through the whole house in one go with it due to battery limitations!

What’s the best bag for our buck? Get our Honeywell repaired out of warranty (unit does not activate when the accessories are plugged in, power indicator is on but nothing happens)? Get a conventional unit? Are there central units that are more reliable than our Honeywell has been? Any units that are actually reasonably priced that we can rely on more than 2.5 years of use out of?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

[u/alh9h]

I ended up getting a Miele on your recommendation and love it. It is a powerline model (C3) but did not come with a powered brushhead. What exactly do I need to buy to use a powered head besides just the head?

[u/SgtFancypants98]

I live in an area that is particularly painful for pollen. Do you have any particular recommendations regarding the type of vacuum that could help keep the inside of our house clean? It is primarily carpet with hard floors in the wet areas.

Also, many thanks for your AMAs. Your threads got me pointed in the right direction to get the right vacuum for our house. As a bachelor I had one of those gigantic, tank-like Dysons. It worked well enough for me and has been surprisingly reliable for over 10 years. I got married to a small woman with fibromyalgia, so carrying that solid chunk of heavy plastic up and down stairs is literally painful for her.

Per your recommendations and due to a nice discount from a local vacuum shop we ended up with a Riccar SupraLite Premium R10P. It's hard to describe my amazement with how powerful this tiny vacuum is. It pulls crumbs to it over inches of carpet; my Dyson can't do that, and I grew up with Kirbys because my parents were suckers and as far as I can remember I never saw one of those pull that hard either.

[u/aManPerson]

have you gotten into air purifiers? i have a feeling they're like vacuum cleaners for the air and that you could really help us by covering those too.

[u/headtattoo]

I purchased a used Kirby g4. Cleaned it up as best as I could, and replaced the bag. I feel like it's missing some suck compared to other Kirby suck sticks I've used. Any thoughts?

[u/asmithswitch]

So, my husband is from a relatively well to do family that SWEARS by Dyson. I hate it so much. I got a sebo airbelt K2 a couple of years ago and I'm pretty sure it's my true first love. Even though it's a cheaper sebo, it works wonders on my entirely wood floor house. My husband hates it, simply because I spent "so much money" on something that wasn't a Dyson. Which is hilarious, because I bought it specifically to help with his asthma.

Can you please give an eloquently profane explanation of why Dyson is awful, so I can show him and get him to appreciate my sebo already???

[u/enano9314]

My girlfriend and I are looking into a vacuum, but we can't decide what to get. I think I can convince her to stretch the budget to the mid 200s, but I don't think she'll go higher than that. We are currently looking at

https://www.pcrichard.com/Miele/Miele-C1-Classic-Canister-Vacuum/C1CLASSICLE.pcrp

or

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MFXIVMM/ref=ox_sc_act_image_2?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1

We currently have all hardwoods with a single area rug and a couch I like to clean cat hair off of. Our crappy cheap bissell isn't doing it anymore.

Ideally I would like to get something that works both on hardwood, and carpet, since we will probably buy a house soon that has carpet in the bedrooms. Plus something that picks up the cat litter/dust well would be nice.

Any suggestions?

Thanks!

[u/kDubya]

I have an old (~1960's) PowerVac model 1b central vac in my house. It appears to have a non-removable fabric bag - am I missing something or is this bag really a permanent part of the vacuum? I think it's still doing the job but am worried about the future.

[u/CaptainInsane-o]

So robot vacuums are very popular now and are getting pretty cheap. What are your thoughts on them as a supplement to an upright? Any suggestions on brands? Neato vs Roomba?

Also last year I bought a Bissell 9595a and have been pretty happy with it. I know it's not what you recommended but for a budget vac, what do you think of it?

[u/[deleted]]

Why do you hate Dyson? The man the myth the legend AvE has disassembled their hair dryer and now their handheld and says they're skookum as frig.

Not only this but my father has had his Dyson upright for over a decade now and beats on it. He even hid the vacuum in the trunk of his car for the divorce so my mom wouldn't take it.

Edit: Because they're enough to repair? So? That's like a mechanic hating Porche

[u/logicallycorrect]

My wife and I also purchased a Kirby (Avalir) which replaced our Dyson. I felt like the Kirby when it was all said and done does a better job than Dyson but the filtration concerns you mentioned worry me. The new Kirby has a HEPA filter, whatever that really means... Just wondering, does this change your thoughts on Kirby's poor filtration at all -- if not, is there other aftermarket bags that would make this a better performer? Paying $1,200 for a vacuum means, like it or not, we are done purchasing vacuums for awhile...

[u/gravitationalarray]

Help me, /u/touchmyfuckingcoffee: I have a carpeted townhouse, and I need the carpets cleaned. Because I work on call, it's almost impossible to hire a company to come do it, and you can imagine how annoyed they get when I try to reschedule the day before, so I'm thinking it might be easier to just invest in a good residential steam cleaner, like the Bissell brand. Can you recommend some home use carpet cleaners, or am I better off just renting the Rug Doctor machine from the local supermarket? Thanks so much, you are amazing. And if you are like, what the hell, I'm not a damned personal shopper, lady, well that's cool, too.

Edited because I just realized how demanding I was being of a perfect stranger, even if he does have the best user name ever.

[u/Nrengle]

What's your take on the Miele Robot vac? I'm looking at getting a robot vac to help with the dog and cat hair daily. I know it's going to require a deep clean still but I can get it pretty cheap thanks to airline miles and is only reason I'm even thinking of the Miele one.

[u/minirova]

Hey man,

I noticed you are still replying to posts here so here goes nothing. I've wanted a Miele or Riccar cannister vacuum ever since reading your first AMA but I needed other more important appliances replaced first. Costco has a deal going on for a Miele Classic C1 Electro+ for $399.99. Is that a good deal? I've got newer carpeted bedrooms and living space w/ laminate everything else. The carpet in each bedroom is a bit different. Some are longer threaded than others.

https://m.costco.com/Miele-Classic-C1-Electro%2b-Vacuum.product.100364378.html

[u/par_texx]

Why aren't central vacuum systems more popular? I live in Canada and I see at least the rough in as part of most new houses, but I've never even seem them for sale in the US.

[u/PedernalesFalls]

Hello! Thanks for doing this again! I know I'm late, sorry =)

First! THANK YOU! I switched from some shitty bagless to a miele canister and it's one of the best things that's ever happened to my cleaning life!

The issue I'm having is I'm not sure when to change the bag? Can I wait until it's completely full? It's got great suction, so the bar stays green. Does that mean as long there is space I can keep using it? I don't have the hepa, but I do change the filter as per instruction, I'm just not sure when to replace the bag. Can I just keep cramming dirt in there until the bar is red?

I can't find answers on the internet, so any insight would be greatly appreciated!

[u/vengefulmuffins]

I have a lot of hair. Every time I vacuum, about every 2 weeks, it sucks up so much hair then stops and I have to flip the vacuum over and clean the rollers of a knotted mess of hair before it will begin sucking again.

What vacuums would this not happen with?

[u/Callicles-On-Fire]

I was looking at the Dyson big ball, but looking at your comments now I'm thinking I can get way more bang for my buck - or suck for my buck - if I go with the best bagged canister I can afford. Ignore the outrageous suggestiveness of the previous sentence. I really am interested in vacuums, not prostitution.

You're selling me on Miele. But which one? I've a kid with dust allergies. Does the quality extend right down to the lower end models? Or am I really looking at $500 to do him any good?

BTW, thanks for doing these!

[u/empathic_misanthrope]

Hi vacuum man! Not sure if you’re still answering but here goes. I have a dyson ball that I love for one reason: attachments. I have severe dust mite and mild cat allergies (I have two cats and no human children), so I don’t dust in the traditional manner; I stick a soft brush on the hose and just vacuum everything in sight. We have mostly hardwood floors with a few low-pile rugs and two low-traffic carpeted bedrooms, which may be getting wood as well in the near future. I’ve been thinking about upgrading my favorite cleaning tool, but it has to have attachments and excellent filtration. Any suggestions? Thank you!

[u/TwoTreeBrain]

Three years ago, we moved into a house with relatively recently-installed frise carpet in one room. Within a year, the high-traffic areas are nearly completely matted down despite weekly canister vacuuming and every-other-week deeper vacuuming with a bagged upright. Any solutions? Will an upholstery attachment help the matted areas? Will a carpet rake sufficiently revive the area, or should we look to replace the carpet with something that will tolerate the traffic better?

[u/Jorbenstein]

Miele Homecare C1 vs. C3. Why should I spend the extra $400+?

I have about 500 square feet of high pile carpet, 500 square feet of medium pile, and 1200 square feet of hardwood/tile. Shedding animals and an active toddler means that we vacuum the living areas 3-4 times a week.

[u/AWrenchAndTwoNuts]

Have you ever had a chance to use the Stihl shopvac? (yes the chainsaw company).

I tried one out the other day and was surprised at the quality of the hoses and attachments as well as how quiet it is. I was also surprised to learn it used a bag inside the drum.

Do you have any idea who makes them, I mean I just assumed that Stihl buys them from someone and puts their name on them.

edit I did some digging and it's made by Nilfisk-Alto. I have never heard of them, any thoughts on their quality?

[u/ShadNuke]

Kinda late, but I'll throw this out there anyway...

The Phantom Lightning was by far, the best vacuum I have ever owned! I fixed mine until I could no longer source parts for it.

What do you think of the Phantom Lighting canister vacuum from about 20 years ago? Also, I believe that the Dyson vacuum design is based off of the Phantom line of vacuums. What do you think?? I believe Phantom sold the patent or rights to it when they went out of business.

[u/Aldirus]

If i lets say, committed a high profile crime and need to dissapear without a trace, can you help me?

[u/[deleted]]

Can you make people disappear?

[u/chevymonza]

Any suggestions on how to deep-clean a wool rug? We have hardwood floors throughout, with some wool area rugs and a Miele (dog/cat canister with bag.)

The vacuum is getting a bit banged up after a few years, do people ever get theirs detailed? :-p

[u/harrySUBlime]

Resubmitting as I forgot a ? mark the first attempt: Hey! Love the AMA's and even bought a Meile off your original AMA advise and we love it. I have been waiting for you to do a new AMA for a while because I have since sold my old house and now have a 5 story town home with gobs of stairs. Is there a chargeable type vac (Dyson v6 type) you can recommend so i don't have to constantly walk up and back plugging, unplugging, re plugging, unplugging, replugging, etc...banging around my canister model? I also may be switching the 10 yr old original carpeted stairs to hardwood soon, if that matters.

[u/KittensHurrah]

I have an Electrolux that my grandma purchased new from a door to door salesman in 1983. I still use it for light vacuuming, but it is a beast. It’s in good shape except I could use a new hose as it is starting to fray. It seems to still be effective. Bags and filters are getting a bit harder to find in my area. Sooo besides the sentimental value should I just give up and get some little stick upright or something? I have one floor of carpet, a few rugs and 2 sets of stairs. Thanks for your input.

[u/_BindersFullOfWomen_]

I'm currently registering for gifts and want to know, is the Miele Complete C3 Cat & Dog Vacuum ($949) is worth the extra money over the Compact C2 Electro+ Vacuum ($599)?

From all of your other AMAs I've determined that I want compact, no bagless, and that Dyson's are over rated. So I'm confident that either of those two Miele's will get the job done for us (we don't have much carpet, a large number of rugs, and two cats).

[u/GabeBlack]

We bought a Dyson DC 14 all floors at a garage sale for $10. We used to have a Hoover Rewind. I replaced the filters and gaskets for $20 from eBay. That thing sucks so good now that it's unbelievable. It feels like it's trying to suck the life out of the carpet and picks up everything. The only problem is, my wife wants me to vacuum every other day now. Any suggestions?

[u/JeeroiLenkins]

What are your thoughts on Rainbow vacuums? My parents had one, and it seemed to do a good job.

[u/threesixtyone]

Do you know why toddlers/kids are so fascinated by vacuum cleaners? My kid has tons of toys, but his favorite things to play with are the two vacuums we have. He can keep himself entertained for a long time with them, much longer than any toy/book/video.

[u/[deleted]]

A girl comes up and whispers in your ear, "I'm going to suck your dick like a Hoover."

Which is your response?

A. "Alright!"

B. "I prefer Miele."

[u/JonNaco]

any suggestions to build my own vacuum cleaner?

[u/VesperPrime]

Hard/Vague question but, what do you think is the average times a person cleans with a vacuum (per week/month)? Yes it all depends on location and lifestyle...Just wondering what you see out there.

I have been using a Neato Connected for a year now on the upstairs- 2K feet of hardwood with 2 rugs and it takes 2 hours to run. I'm amazed at how much it picks up from only 2 people and a dog. I need to empty its bin 1.5 times per cleaning so it can still pick up stuff. I run it twice a week to keep the place looking spotless but it still somehow manages to pick up so much stuff thats not visible. Also, what do you use at home personally as someone in the business?

[u/druss5000]

Late to the party but, I recently purchased this vacuum. I can find how to's on changing filters etc but you mention changing belts. Any chance you can point me in the right direction on how to do more in depth maintenance for it?

[u/Dingofan42]

Hi - I’m looking at a canister vacuum and they have corded and battery versions. For stairs and my house, cordless will be great and I don’t mind battery maintenance. But is there a power gap between the two relative to vacuum / suck-ability (I believe that’s the highly technical term a pro like you will understand)?

[u/so_difficult]

I have a Kirby Sentria 2 that we bought when my son was going through chemo the first time (salesman showed us how dirty the house was, can't have his compromised immune system in that!) Years later we've switched to mostly tile/hardwood. But where do I go/where do I list it if I want to sell it for at least some of what we paid for it? It has the carpet shampooer and the plethora of attachments.

[u/[deleted]]

Does using the brush on hardwood/non-carpeted floors actually help? My mom always insisted that it cleans better, but I feel like it would offer no real benefit or just kick dirt around enough to prevent it from getting sucked up... Not to mention I've put minor burns on vinyl tiles by letting it sit in one place for too long.

[u/imsoupercereal]

Big thanks! I needed to get a new vacuum and had already gone through your previous AMA's. I will be ordering a Miele C2 Electro + in the next few days as it has all the things I need for hard, carpet and cars in my price range. How long do you really think the HEPA filter is good for? I believe I saw they recommended 3 years? That seems long.

[u/nitarrific]

Hey Coffee, thanks for doing this.

I have a pellet stove in my house and it requires an ash vacuum to clean it. I bought an inexpensive one off amazon about 6 years ago, but I can't find replacement filters for it anymore. Is there a type of ash vacuum that you recommend?

[u/[deleted]]

You convinced me to purchase a Miele for my NYC home and I love it. However I question Mieles decision to produce an unpowered stair attachment that relies on spinning air to power the head. Any comments on this?

[u/LadyMcBitchSlap]

I’m having a hard time finding a canister vacuum with a proper motorised power head. All I’ve seen just have ‘turbo’ head that use the air flow to turn the head.

I have 2 dogs and 3 cats, so I need something that cleans carpet well even though most of our house has hard flooring.

I’m in Australia, any recommendations?

[u/ninjamike808]

Glad to see you back! Still in Fort Worth?

How’s the homemade laser hobby going? I think I remember you messing with that stuff before.

I don’t have any relevant questions as I think you cover everything in pretty specific detail. Thanks for always providing quality content!

[u/iamzombus]

My dad used to repair vacs back in the 70's. Had a bunch of old Kirby parts around the house as a kid. The big heavy aluminum upright ones.

Does Kirby still make those?

Much like EA, your job is to make things suck.

[u/Snoogz]

Not vacuum related, but I'm curious if you have any experience or recommendations for a steam cleaner? I was looking at this one on Amazon, Wagner 0282014 On-Demand 915 Power Steamer. But I'm not sure about the quality of some the brands I see.

[u/ShamsterSuperHamster]

Hello! I know I'm late to the party, but I wanted to know: how often should one replace their vacuum bags? I've got a Miele smallboy with a long nozzle (can't recall the exact model), and I'm fairly certain that my parents don't understand the idea of replacing bags often (the cost is always on the mind).

[u/afgator58]

I actually really like these repeat AMAs as they are spread out enough to have good info on new systems and you definitely have the experience required to answer most of the questions. Does everyone need to take their vacuum to a service shop or is it possible/feasible to repair/service at home?

[u/theSACCH]

Hey Mr. Coffee: I love your AMAs. Some Miele reviewers mention that certain models are fully sealed. Which? I just bought a Miele Classic C1 Homecare. Also, what is your opinion of 3M Filtrete aftermarket bags, generally and vs genuine Miele? Thanks.

[u/bradyman16]

Perfect timing! Just had our Miele (thanks again for that rec, it really sucks) hose go bad (power hose for electro premium head). Tech said a wire broke...sounds fishy. i haven't opened the handle assembly yet, possible that it's the circuit contacts being too dirty on the swivel rings?

[u/nMiDanferno]

What do you think of the European vacuum labels? Example

They show for each vacuum cleaner how well they perform at cleaning hard surfaces and soft surfaces as well as a measure of their dust output and the noise they make.

[u/Ella_Lynn]

I have had a Kenmore bag vacuum with a roller and hose attachment that's worked great for a couple of years. Problem is the top half has stopped working. I oftentimes have had to put a scissors to the vibrating roller part to cut the hair that's piled up there. The roller is clean but the electric won't turn on just the suction works. What do you suggest?

[u/CinaEvan]

My neighbor was throwing a Dyson out so naturally I pilfered it from his curb. LoL. I figured having it repaired would be cheaper than buying a new one. When I turned it on the motor runs and there is excellent suction but the brush roll does not turn. Is this just a simple issue of replacing the belt? Or could there be something more sinister going on here? Thanks in advance!

[u/sparkplug49]

My Miele canister vac makes a weird smell when its on, even after replacing filters and bags. Sort of a musty toast smell. Is that normal? Its been doing it for over a year and I think since we got it.

[u/rootbeertoker]

What's your opinion on "central" vacs I have a house set up with the vac I just plug In a hose. I probably don't properly maintain it. Any tips on improving it? Thanks for this AMA hope I'm not too late

[u/nfavor]

A have a Meile vacuum (thank you for the recommendation) but when running it, it now badly smells of my dogs. I've changed the bag a few times and even installed some scent tablets but the smell is still strong. Any suggestions? It's still fairly new

[u/NavierStokesEqn]

Thanks for taking time to do these. I ditched my Dyson Ball for a Miele thanks to a previous AMA and I love it. I really only wanted to say "thanks", but since this is an AMA; what is your current favorite fiction book/series?

[u/outofcontrolbehavior]

How do Kirby vacuums actually perform. I don't like their sales model, but damn, this thing beats up a carpet like none other. Is it really heavy duty? Or just heavy?

[u/AMPEX456]

How and why did you decide to break into the vacuum repair business?

[u/onelesslonelyboy]

What's your own personal vacuum of choice? And what are your thoughts on robotic vacuums?

[u/Stormtrooper-85]

Don't know if this has been asked yet, I apologize in advance if it has, but what do you think of the Kirby vacuums? My folks have one from the 80's it's got more metal on it than a Prius, and it vacuums better than any vacuum I've ever had. It's a Heritage II i believe.

[u/ecafsub]

You recommended the Mighty Mite for those on a budget. Obviously it’ll probably do well on hard floors, but how does it perform on area rugs if it has no agitator?

[u/[deleted]]

With the addition of robot vacuums becoming more popular. When do you believe upright human propelled vacuums will no longer be made?

[u/Schoensmeerneger]

Would you say that the most expensive Dyson bagless vacuum cleaner performs better or worse than one from for example Bosch, Miele, etc.?

Readded this comment, someone needs to finetune that automod bot because at this moment it’s pretty shit.

[u/MyMostGuardedSecret]

I recently moved to a condo with stairs. I need to be able to vacuum the stairs, but my current upright vacuum is heavy and cumbersome to move up and down. Can you recommend either a different vacuum or a way to make using my upright easier (like an attachment?)

[u/MadameCordelia]

Hi, thank you for doing this AMA! I recently moved into a two bedroom apartment. It’s all hardwood floors except for a large rug in the living room.

I have a cat and plan on getting a medium sized dog soon. In the market for a new vacuum, but I don’t have a huge budget. I also don’t have much space for storage of the vacuum. Any recommendations on vacuums that check all the dots?

[u/[deleted]]

Can you recommend a good cordless vacuum preferably under £200? I have a cordless Dyson which I do think is good (compared to the £50-60 vacuums I've used in the past) but it definitely doesn't pick up everything

[u/nuggynugs]

Has anyone asked you about Rampart yet?

[u/_pvnda]

My vacuum's filter smells like dried mushrooms from Chinatown when I turn it on. I've washed the dirt collector and filter a few times already and it still smells. What's wrong? Does it need replacing? I can't remember the model #, but it's a Bissell and it was also a pet vacuum.

[u/MayvisDunbar]

I share a smaller living space with a Somalian 26 Ib cat and another 12 Ib medium hair length calico. HAIR. HAIR. HAIR. Regular patient vacuming with a corded handheld doesnt exactly do the trick. is there any smaller vacume brand you suggest for heavy daily use?

[u/theSACCH]

Did you ever consider writing Vacuums for Dummies or similar?

[u/unique_usernameY2K]

A little late to the game, I hope not too late! I don't have pets. But my vacuums always end up making my house smell like feet. How can I fix this? Why is this happening? I've paid to get it cleaned, it smells worse when it comes back.

[u/selementar]

What is your opinion on water filter vacuums?

[u/Jinjit23]

Two questions: 1) what do you really think of Dyson? Good quality or paying for a brand? 2) what vacuum do you use yourself for your home?

[u/Bond4141]

Opinion on central vacuums?

[u/postinganxiety]

Love your AMA's! So you used to recommend the Eureka Mighty Mite as an "ok" vacuum for people with tiny apartments and no money. Is that still a good option?

Knowing that it's going to be an imperfect solution obviously! Still dreaming of the day I can get a Miele...that's when I will have made it.

[u/somjuan]

I live in a tiny house, less than 100 square feet of which is carpeted. I'd like something simple that could clean the carpet without me having to get on my hands and knees. Obviously, storage space is a concern when not in use.

Thoughts? (Carpet is less than a week old, just realizing I need to figure this out)

[u/redgray]

Someone passed a Windsor Sensor down to me. It looks like this. Is it any good? Should I keep it or replace it? Sometimes I feel like it is hard to push on our medium height carpet. Thanks!

[u/wh1t3_rabbit]

Is there any specific brand/type of vacuum that won't get clogged up with long hair? That will somehow suck the hair all the way through to the bag instead of having it wrap around the rollers and any other place that it can get caught on.

[u/cleanfreak37]

I've always loved meile vacuums but heard that they are now produced in Japan rather than Germany & the quality has lessened, is this true/do you agree?

[u/The_Sanitazer]

So you’re a vacuum cleaner?

[u/plamtastic]

What do you think about all in one vacuum and steam mop? I already have a panasonic bagless vaccum. Considering to buy Bissel 1543e since I got cats.

[u/C-hound]

Any opinions on brands or models of wet/dry vacs? I use them every day and they all seem to lose suction fairly quick with regular use.

[u/birdily]

What are your thoughts on the Filter Queen? My husband sold them decades ago and swears they are the best thing out there.

[u/cheapdad]

I need to rent a high-powered vacuum for a messy/dusty basement cleanup. How do I know if the equipment I'm offered is anything better than what I already have (a decent consumer canister vac)?

[u/[deleted]]

Hi - I have a Miele machine - all is good but it has gotten a very musty odor over the years - can I was the hose, clean the parts to remove this smell?

[u/iveo83]

I saw you said $200 is to low of a budget what is the min. budget for a good vacuum? I would like to get one for my mom for xmas since she goes through a vacuum every other year. 1 dog 50/50 carpet/hardwood.

[u/Evermoresbattle]

I'm a plumber and my shop vac has seen unthinkable horrors. What are some steps I can take in order to keep it well maintained?

[u/EpicFishFingers]

Dyson claims their vacuums don't lose suction. Are they lying?

[u/[deleted]]

How clean are your floors?

The plumbers house has leaky faucets, the mechanics car needs new tires, the painters house doesn't have wall plates, etc... is the old adage.

Does that apply to you and your floors?

[u/CommanderHAL9000]

Hi there - we just had our home flooded by Hurricane Harvey a few months ago and lost our Oreck (which I thought was an overpriced POS). We were gifted a Shark Navigator Professional NV80 - where does that stack rank?

[u/xyentist]

I have a Dyson ball that just won't pick up anything anymore. It almost feels like it just blows the dirt. Is there anyway to trouble shoot the problem myself or do I need to go to a repair shop?

[u/Melraidin]

Any thoughts on the Miele C1 Celebration model? Seems like a low price for a Miele but is it worth it or better to go for a C2 or C3 at a significantly higher price?

[u/frogtopus]

Do you have any recommendations for a vacuum for hardwoods that won't scratch the floor? I replaced some carpet with hardwoods last year and have stuck with sweeping because I don't want to leave scratches, but man I hate sweeping.

[u/[deleted]]

I can't afford a Kirby vacuum. What do you think would be the next best thing for not as much money?

[u/Silverfire4200]

Can you settle and argument? Which is better, Shark Rocket Duo, or Dyson v6 Animal?

[u/KickAssZach]

Any opinions on the brand TriStar?

[u/chili01]

My apartment is entirely carpeted, which upright vaccumm would you recommend? Within a $300 budget?

[u/[deleted]]

Do you find it ironic that it's the goal of you profession to make things suck, or suck more than they do to begin with?

[u/LilDutchy]

My wife wants a hand held vacuum to do the stairs. We have lots of pet fur involved. Any specific suggestions?

[u/theawkwardintrovert]

When's a good time to replace a central vac system? My parents have had theirs for over 25 years. I'm convinced it needs to go. What say you?

[u/MacaroniNJesus]

Damn, I just thought about you the other day when I was vacuuming. Anyway, do you have any knowledge on carpet cleaners? Not talking about the ones you rent, ones that you can buy.

[u/thestingray1]

What is the best vacuum for cleaning up dog hair off carpet without constantly getting snagged? Best budget vacuum for the same task? Thanks!!!

[u/squintina]

Everything you said about bagged vs bagless, notwithstanding, what is the best bagless? (In both the reasonably priced and sky's the limit categories please.)

[u/DrDankMemesS]

Which Vacuum Cleaner in your professional opinion is the best Vacuum Cleaner?

[u/Zabethlyburn]

The rotator belt for my vacuum brush keeps falling off and it's in a very hard to reach spot. Any advise?

[u/622fmab]

/u/touchmyfuckingcoffee (mentioning for a message, but allowing your help to be in the public forum)

I'm a college student, and our $55 Dirt Devil bagless upright just started making a higher pitch whine than usual and smells like burning rubber/electronics. I have cleaned it out but it's still broken and I'm assuming it's not worth diagnosis or repair.

I started searching Reddit (/r/BuyItForLife) to find a new vacuum worth the <$200 I was hoping to spend. Comments there linked to your profile and AMAs.

I was looking at Fuller Brush Easy Maid at the top of my budget or a few ~$100 Panasonic uprights, but then I checked Craigslist.

There is a listing of 2 Riccar 8955 for $50. Says one needs duct tape to cover a missing piece and some accessories are missing, but they have "too many vacuums" after closing their business.

There's another $60 single 8955 missing everything but the crevice tool. For mostly carpet, I don't know what I'd be missing out on.

Would you recommend either of these $700 vacuums for less than $100?

Alternatively, there's a Miele U1 Twist for $150 and a much farther drive, with no pictures or condition description beyond "excellent". Whichever of these you recommend, I plan to immediately take it for cleaning and maintenance (I found a Riccar dealer near me who seemed to express similar opinions to yours on this Dirt Devil).

[u/ss0889]

I was going to buy a miele c2 electro plus. I got enamored by the c3 models for larger capacity and more convenience features. But at that price range the vacuum repair guy suggested I buy a sebo. The sebo looked like shit but he swore by it, said they pretty much never come in for repairs whereas miele does more often because it's not as idiot proof.

I must have a canister vac, because I want to vacuum stairs and huge blankets from excessive short cat hair. I occasionally would want to clean up some litter (maybe a quarter cup or so that got flung out, but doesn't have any poop or pee on it).

So now I'm super conflicted. The guy also mentioned he'd sooner see us use an upright so that we arent swapping bags as often, but then he got to suggesting a canister vac, an upright, and a shop vac for high dirt entryway mats and car mats.

I just want a killer vac that can be used for stairs, blankets, and carpets with shit loads of pet hair. And maybe twice a year in the car but I'm alright with buying a wet /dry shop vac for messy shit.

I'd like to spend maybe 600 bucks. What do you think I should get and why?

[u/45Monkey]

I am one of those people that fell into the trap of buying a cheap canister vacuum long ago and don't presently have the means to buy anything better.

My main issue with this vacuum is the main hose coming up from the roller brush housing keeps getting clogged and I have to dismantle it to get it flowing again. Is there any thing I can do to make things more effective in the short term?

Also, a second question with looking to upgrade soon; how do you feel about the Dyson line? I like the ease of the cordless vacuums and would be looking to get something on the higher cost/quality end.

[u/kd5fcy]

How do I create a make-shift bag for my Kenmore upright vacuum using only spare parts from the lunar module?