Lightweight affordable vacuum

April 29, 2007 2:44 PM

What's the best lightweight-but-still-cleans-well vacuum out there? Besides Oreck, I mean.

Here's the situation: About ten years ago, I splurged on an Oreck upright (even though I am not a neat freak by anyone's stretch of the imagination). It has performed wonderfully, and I'm glad I purchased it.

My mother has occasional bouts of polymyalgia, which is nonspecific inflammation of the joints. When she gets these flareups, it becomes difficult to do many household tasks, including vacuuming.

The last time she had a flareup, she lived rather close by, so I let her borrow my Oreck. She raved about how easy it was to use (only 8 lbs., according to the ads), and thought it was just the greatest thing.

She's since moved 80 miles away, and so my visits are more infrequent. She recently had a flareup of her polymyalgia, and lamented that the clunky Panasonic upright vacuum is so heavy, she can't vacuum any more. I do the vacuuming for her when I visit, but I can't always make it out there every week.

She'd love to find a new vacuum that's as lightweight as an Oreck, but doesn't cost the proverbial arm and a leg. I've read some of the other threads that tout other vacuums (Miele, etc., though they seem pricey, too), but can't seem to find any that are feather-light that she can use easily.

Anyone have any ideas? Thanks. :-)

posted by kentk to home & garden (19 comments total)

This sounds like a job for Roomba.
posted by yohko at 2:51 PM on April 29, 2007 [1 favorite]

Have you thought about giving your mom the Oreck and then getting something for you that maybe doesn't have to be as light?
posted by mdonley at 2:56 PM on April 29, 2007 [2 favorites]

Perhaps a good vacuum is one of those few things in life that's worth spending a bit more on? Give your mom your Oreck and buy yourself a new one.
posted by Plinko at 3:08 PM on April 29, 2007

Does Oreck have used vaccuums you could purchase? Perhaps abandoned ones that people had repairs done on but never picked up?

mdonley has a great idea.
posted by Sassyfras at 3:08 PM on April 29, 2007

I had the same thought, mdonley. I understand that kentk is pleased with the Oreck, and glad he purchased it, but it sounds like his mother really loves the thing. In a case like that, the most generous, selfless, loving thing to do is give it to her.
posted by Kirth Gerson at 3:11 PM on April 29, 2007

The Roomba idea has merit -- what if she didn't have to vacuum at all? Of course, if she has stairs, it won't be a full solution.
posted by amtho at 3:14 PM on April 29, 2007

I think you pretty much have to give the oreck to your mom.
posted by sid at 3:16 PM on April 29, 2007

Remember, nothing sucks like an Electrolux (it's a real advert).

Seriously, if you don't want to spring for the fancy, lightweight vacuum which you can use every time as your regular vac, you might try something like this little Eureka which she can use when she has a flareup and she can use her regular vac when she is feeling fine. Does her regular vac have a power assist? Lightweight is one thing, but a power assist can make the chore a snap and as far as I know none of the really light vacs have this. Hoover makes some excellent upright vacs with power assist which should be pretty easy to manuever as long as she doesn't have to lug them up and down stairs. The Roomba also sounds like a decent fix for those bad days.
posted by caddis at 3:17 PM on April 29, 2007

As a replacement for the Oreck which you will give your mom, consider a Shopvac or otherwet/dry vacuum: not expensive, powerful, slurps up anything, and available in a many capacities. Opposite-of-chic, but I like the $200 I saved.
posted by gregoreo at 3:28 PM on April 29, 2007

I can't offer any positive advice, but I can give you a negative review: DO NOT buy the little Eureka caddis links to above. We have one to use on hard floor for when our larger vacuum is overkill and it barely works, and its performance on carpet is terrible. I don't know about other, similar vacuums, but that particular one is waay more trouble that its cheapness and lightness is worth.
posted by MadamM at 3:34 PM on April 29, 2007

I have a Bissell 3106A Featherlight that I absolutely love. It's superlight (4 1/2 pounds), and can also be used as a handheld "dustbuster" type vacuum as well as a standup vacuum. And it's hard to beat the price ($25).

I've never used an Oreck, so I can't compare its suction power to the Bissell, but for small rooms, I have absolutely no complaints with the Bissell Featherlight.
posted by melorama at 3:38 PM on April 29, 2007

A canister vac might be just the ticket... the part you push is light. The heavy part is on wheels and is easy to move around.
posted by Malor at 4:03 PM on April 29, 2007

Consumer Reports suggests that if you want a low-weight, low-cost vacuum cleaner, that you should consider the offerings of Hoover and Bissell:

The 16-pound Hoover is among the best at cleaning carpets, a plus because you cannot switch off the brush. If you have more bare floors than carpet, seldom use the included tools, and need a low-emissions model, you may prefer the 18-pound, bagless Hoover, which was otherwise judged similarly. For a quieter vacuum, the 14-pound Bissell scored very good or better for carpets and bare floors, but is pretty basic.

posted by grouse at 4:38 PM on April 29, 2007

The bagless Samsung we bought recently was cheap as chips (here in Korea at least), works splendidly (as far as I can tell), and is pretty much feather-light. But I don't pay very close attention, to be honest.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 4:52 PM on April 29, 2007

I will give a third recommendation for the Roomba. Their prices are compatible with most other vacuums and the convenience, especially for your mother will be worth ten times that amount.
posted by JJ86 at 5:57 PM on April 29, 2007

Dyson, Dyson, Dyson
posted by A189Nut at 6:11 PM on April 29, 2007

Dyson (which I have) is too heavy...although a good vacuum.

The obvious answer is to giver her your Oreck and either use her's, or buy yourself a new vacuum.

By the way, if you want to buy another, I have very good luck with buying used/reconditioned commercial Orecks (still very lightweight, but a little heavier-duty). I have found the cheapest nationawide prices at Harbot Freight...

$200 - http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=55146
posted by wylde21 at 11:26 PM on April 29, 2007

I like the Roomba idea. I love love love ours.
posted by pyjammy at 11:56 AM on April 30, 2007

Nthing Roomba. LOVE it.
posted by orangemiles at 12:03 PM on April 30, 2007