Vacuum recommendations? (possibly two types needed)
June 19, 2019 10:17 AM Subscribe
Hi - we have some new vacuum needs (stairs and robot) and I wanted to check-in with AskMe for recommendations and maybe things I'm not thinking of.
1) we just recently moved into a house that has a carpeted staircase and upper floor. I have a very basic upright Eureka vacuum that seems fine for the upper floor, but I can't imagine easily using on carpet. The carpet is low-pile, if that info is helpful. I did some googling and see recs for cylinder vacs as well as hand-held for stairs. Would I regret relying on a hand-held? I've never had to vacuum stairs before. Please recommend handheld or cylinder, and a specific type if possible.
2) our downstairs has linoleum in the kitchen and hardwood throughout the rest of the area. We plan to have some area rugs (under the dining table, in the living room). Can a robot vacuum navigate all of these surfaces? Some of them? Which one would you recommend? We have five people in the house so dust and dirt tend to build up easily. We are trying to be shoes free but I hate hate hate having debris stick to my bare feet. I was hoping a robot vacuum could keep some of that at bay since I don't anticipate vacuuming daily (we have an upright cordless Electrolux for hardwood vacuuming; it's not perfect but does okay).
Any other advice on maintaining these various surfaces at an acceptable level of clean is welcome.
1) we just recently moved into a house that has a carpeted staircase and upper floor. I have a very basic upright Eureka vacuum that seems fine for the upper floor, but I can't imagine easily using on carpet. The carpet is low-pile, if that info is helpful. I did some googling and see recs for cylinder vacs as well as hand-held for stairs. Would I regret relying on a hand-held? I've never had to vacuum stairs before. Please recommend handheld or cylinder, and a specific type if possible.
2) our downstairs has linoleum in the kitchen and hardwood throughout the rest of the area. We plan to have some area rugs (under the dining table, in the living room). Can a robot vacuum navigate all of these surfaces? Some of them? Which one would you recommend? We have five people in the house so dust and dirt tend to build up easily. We are trying to be shoes free but I hate hate hate having debris stick to my bare feet. I was hoping a robot vacuum could keep some of that at bay since I don't anticipate vacuuming daily (we have an upright cordless Electrolux for hardwood vacuuming; it's not perfect but does okay).
Any other advice on maintaining these various surfaces at an acceptable level of clean is welcome.
I got a Bissell Zing a couple of months ago and it works great. My stairs aren't carpeted but they do have some anti-slip tread on them and this was easy- small enough and light enough- to maneuver up and down those stairs. The rest of the house has tile, and wood floors with a couple of flat-weave area rugs and it's worked great everywhere. A whole lot cheaper than any Miele.
posted by mareli at 10:44 AM on June 19, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by mareli at 10:44 AM on June 19, 2019 [1 favorite]
I have and adore this Eufy for a robot vacuum and it navigates well between linoleum, hardwood, and rugs. I will say that it has a tendency to occasionally deposit a clump of pet fur when clambering onto a rug from a harder surface but that's just a sign I need to empty the little debris chamber.
To keep your floors optimally clean, you really do need to run it daily and remember to empty it pretty frequently. Otherwise it will keep running until the battery winds down and it needs a recharge but not suck up any new crud.
posted by anderjen at 10:48 AM on June 19, 2019 [2 favorites]
To keep your floors optimally clean, you really do need to run it daily and remember to empty it pretty frequently. Otherwise it will keep running until the battery winds down and it needs a recharge but not suck up any new crud.
posted by anderjen at 10:48 AM on June 19, 2019 [2 favorites]
Seconding the Eufy!
posted by KleenexMakesaVeryGoodHat at 10:54 AM on June 19, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by KleenexMakesaVeryGoodHat at 10:54 AM on June 19, 2019 [1 favorite]
I own an older Roomba. It has various challenges and perils, and I've learned workarounds. None of were predictable, you just notice them over time, and either keep Roomba away from that part or else Roomba-proof the area to be more suitable.
Carpets/surfaces aren't a problem (so you're ok on the gist of your question), but if there's a high bump to get on/off an area carpet (like a plump Persian), that's a problem.
Roomba can work under chair/sofa/piano/etc legs if there's clearance, but if the span is narrower than Roomba's width, it can get stuck...or simply not clean thoroughly (you'll soon learn which challenges pose which results).
If you have nests of extension cords behind furniture, Roomba will definitely get caught up. You need to tie up slack tightly.
I could list every possible challenge, but you just won't know till you use it. And when you know the problem spots, you can, again, either remove the problematic item while cleaning (take it out of the room or else perch it atop a coffee table or whatever), or you can just listen for Roomba's "trouble" sound, and come rescue it. It's not a pain, Roomba feels like a pet.
After four or five efforts, you'll know what needs to be done, and you'll permanently Roomba-proof (e.g. cord organization) what you can. And you'll learn that you need to do a few minutes of temporary prep on each room. Which is a pain, but still way less of a pain than, er, vacuuming. How you perceive it, psychologically, depends on your house, your Roomba model, and your psychological make-up.
Non-robotically: don't assume Dyson is above your budget. Watch for refurbs, spot sales, and deals on older model types. Also consider that you won't need to buy a new dustbuster every few years, because this is a better and longer-term solution for that sort of thing. Note that Dyson works best for spot-cleaning or one-off rooms. If you must do "cleaning days" where you power completely through the house, a battery-powered vacuum isn't for you.
Also, cleaning a Roomba and an older-model Dyson (they've made the process more effete lately) is dirty work. You'll need to TOUCH DUSTBALLS, and wash your hands after, and this drives some people crazy. It's not a part of your current config, so beware.
posted by Quisp Lover at 11:04 AM on June 19, 2019 [4 favorites]
Carpets/surfaces aren't a problem (so you're ok on the gist of your question), but if there's a high bump to get on/off an area carpet (like a plump Persian), that's a problem.
Roomba can work under chair/sofa/piano/etc legs if there's clearance, but if the span is narrower than Roomba's width, it can get stuck...or simply not clean thoroughly (you'll soon learn which challenges pose which results).
If you have nests of extension cords behind furniture, Roomba will definitely get caught up. You need to tie up slack tightly.
I could list every possible challenge, but you just won't know till you use it. And when you know the problem spots, you can, again, either remove the problematic item while cleaning (take it out of the room or else perch it atop a coffee table or whatever), or you can just listen for Roomba's "trouble" sound, and come rescue it. It's not a pain, Roomba feels like a pet.
After four or five efforts, you'll know what needs to be done, and you'll permanently Roomba-proof (e.g. cord organization) what you can. And you'll learn that you need to do a few minutes of temporary prep on each room. Which is a pain, but still way less of a pain than, er, vacuuming. How you perceive it, psychologically, depends on your house, your Roomba model, and your psychological make-up.
Non-robotically: don't assume Dyson is above your budget. Watch for refurbs, spot sales, and deals on older model types. Also consider that you won't need to buy a new dustbuster every few years, because this is a better and longer-term solution for that sort of thing. Note that Dyson works best for spot-cleaning or one-off rooms. If you must do "cleaning days" where you power completely through the house, a battery-powered vacuum isn't for you.
Also, cleaning a Roomba and an older-model Dyson (they've made the process more effete lately) is dirty work. You'll need to TOUCH DUSTBALLS, and wash your hands after, and this drives some people crazy. It's not a part of your current config, so beware.
posted by Quisp Lover at 11:04 AM on June 19, 2019 [4 favorites]
What kind of square footage? I find a robot vacuum to be super slow but reasonable for a quick mostly-hands-off cleanup (save rescuing it on occasion).
If you don't have much square footage (and if you did, a robot might not be great), the battery-powered Dyson could be great. The power probably isn't what you'd get with even a cheap corded, but again, it's great for a quick clean or spot clean. Very convenient, I've found. Doubly so for stairs or multiple rooms so you don't have to change outlets.
posted by supercres at 12:27 PM on June 19, 2019 [1 favorite]
If you don't have much square footage (and if you did, a robot might not be great), the battery-powered Dyson could be great. The power probably isn't what you'd get with even a cheap corded, but again, it's great for a quick clean or spot clean. Very convenient, I've found. Doubly so for stairs or multiple rooms so you don't have to change outlets.
posted by supercres at 12:27 PM on June 19, 2019 [1 favorite]
I have a cheapy vaccuum for upstairs - just a $50 Dirt Devil - but just wanted to say you are correct in wanting separate equipment for upstairs and downstairs.
posted by The_Vegetables at 12:52 PM on June 19, 2019
posted by The_Vegetables at 12:52 PM on June 19, 2019
I had this same question and I found this link to be very helpful (tried to make it a pretty url link but it didn't seem to work:
https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/adiidz/iama_reddits_own_vacuum_repair_tech_and_ive_lost/
posted by gregjunior at 1:05 PM on June 19, 2019 [2 favorites]
https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/adiidz/iama_reddits_own_vacuum_repair_tech_and_ive_lost/
posted by gregjunior at 1:05 PM on June 19, 2019 [2 favorites]
Dyson convert here.
I have a year-old Miele canister vacuum and it has been okay but what has been mind-blowingly good is a Dyson V10 Absolute that I bought in December and to which I added the $129 soft-head hardwood attachment. I bought it intending to use as a touch-up vac for the stairs, cars and some hard-to-reach places but have found it to be an amazing vacuum cleaner that cleans much better than anything I have ever owned or used before. Even the lowest power setting cleans way better than our Miele which I pretty much have stopped using altogether in favor of the Dyson.
The downside is battery life as, on the highest power setting, the battery lasts about 6 minutes total. On the lower settings I can do a lot of the house but usually not all so I have been alternating upstairs/downstairs vacuuming on different days (3200 sq/ft total, hardwoods, carpet about 50/50). I plan to buy another one for upstairs because, given the results and ease of use, it's worth it.
posted by bz at 3:37 PM on June 19, 2019 [1 favorite]
I have a year-old Miele canister vacuum and it has been okay but what has been mind-blowingly good is a Dyson V10 Absolute that I bought in December and to which I added the $129 soft-head hardwood attachment. I bought it intending to use as a touch-up vac for the stairs, cars and some hard-to-reach places but have found it to be an amazing vacuum cleaner that cleans much better than anything I have ever owned or used before. Even the lowest power setting cleans way better than our Miele which I pretty much have stopped using altogether in favor of the Dyson.
The downside is battery life as, on the highest power setting, the battery lasts about 6 minutes total. On the lower settings I can do a lot of the house but usually not all so I have been alternating upstairs/downstairs vacuuming on different days (3200 sq/ft total, hardwoods, carpet about 50/50). I plan to buy another one for upstairs because, given the results and ease of use, it's worth it.
posted by bz at 3:37 PM on June 19, 2019 [1 favorite]
I also have that Eufy and it's been solid. I would actually spring for the one with the electronic barriers, because you'll probably find it tends to find its way into a place and then close the door on itself, or get high-centered on something, etc. But it has gotten over rugs and other half-inch obstacles (including thick power cords) just fine.
It seems sort of stupid how it meanders about, but you'll always be surprised (and perhaps, like me, horrified) at the amount of hair and dirt it gets. You'll have to empty it regularly and cut the hair that gets stuck on its brushes, and you might think, why do I even have a robot if I have to do this work? But it's worth it.
Note that you may have to robot-proof the house to a certain extent — my Eufy has sucked up shoelaces that jam it (easily removed but it will halt progress) and can get stuck on certain cords. So just stow that stuff away if you can, or toss it in the anteroom and put up a little barrier.
You can set it on a schedule and stuff, but I just hit the button to auto-clean when I'm going to be doing other stuff and it does its thing. It finds its way back to its charger (mine's under the couch) and hides there happily until it is called to action again.
posted by BlackLeotardFront at 6:17 PM on June 19, 2019 [1 favorite]
It seems sort of stupid how it meanders about, but you'll always be surprised (and perhaps, like me, horrified) at the amount of hair and dirt it gets. You'll have to empty it regularly and cut the hair that gets stuck on its brushes, and you might think, why do I even have a robot if I have to do this work? But it's worth it.
Note that you may have to robot-proof the house to a certain extent — my Eufy has sucked up shoelaces that jam it (easily removed but it will halt progress) and can get stuck on certain cords. So just stow that stuff away if you can, or toss it in the anteroom and put up a little barrier.
You can set it on a schedule and stuff, but I just hit the button to auto-clean when I'm going to be doing other stuff and it does its thing. It finds its way back to its charger (mine's under the couch) and hides there happily until it is called to action again.
posted by BlackLeotardFront at 6:17 PM on June 19, 2019 [1 favorite]
Love my Miele canister vac. The brush lights up so I can see what I’m doing, and I can press a button to retract the cord - no unwinding or rewinding. If you go to a Miele dealer, you can get the red HomeCare C3 which is the same as their top of the line Brilliant C3 for $500 less. They offer this to keep their dealers happy so that you have a local option for servicing your vacuum and buying filters for your vacuum. Also: great to go with Miele because they have HEPA bags!
posted by oceanjesse at 8:11 PM on June 19, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by oceanjesse at 8:11 PM on June 19, 2019 [1 favorite]
When we redid our downstairs to all hard flooring + rugs we got a Roomba and I have never regretted it for an instant. A couple years later I upgraded to the Roomba that you can control from your phone/Alexa, and that made it even better. Our Roomba does a great job of keeping the tumbleweeds of cat hair under control, not to mention all the other random dirt, crumbs, etc. We have a regular vacuum for the upstairs but it's nothing I'd particularly recommend, we really should likely get a better one some time.
posted by oblique red at 7:20 AM on June 20, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by oblique red at 7:20 AM on June 20, 2019 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Glomar response at 10:38 AM on June 19, 2019 [3 favorites]