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Cordless vacuum wanted but which one?

(89 Posts)
Luckylegs Mon 16-Nov-20 16:07:24

I’m finding that my vacuum is really heavy and making my arm ache like billyo. I’ve been looking for a light cordless and can’t decide between Shark, Gtech, etc etc. They all sound marvellous until you read the reviews and they are all unsatisfactory in one way or another.

We bought our D the Gtech handheld to clean the car and she thinks it’s wonderful but on reading the reviews for the full size one, there’s so many faults found with it. I don’t particularly need a pet version and obviously it’s just for running around the carpet/wooden floor and picking up bits. I think a good old fashioned Ewbank is what I need, if there still is such a thing but with a motor! Any ideas or advice please?

Funnygran Tue 17-Nov-20 11:15:40

My DH bought a Miele cordless upright. It was rather pricey but he always says you get what you pay for! It has fantastic suction and has two batteries so there’s always a charged one. It also converts into a smaller one with a nozzle for car cleaning etc. My only criticism is that it’s rather a faff to convert it and the battery doesn’t come out of the holder very easily. But it works.

Gwenisgreat1 Tue 17-Nov-20 11:18:21

I, too, have a Dyson stick and love it. But DH won a Roomba, I love it more. It tootles around, the only input from me is to shut doors where it isn't needed. Have to admit I do go round with the Dyson occasionally to where the Roomba doesn't manage.

amazonia Tue 17-Nov-20 11:26:35

Dyson cordless for me

catwoman Tue 17-Nov-20 11:28:01

Love my Dyson stick. Really easy to use. This is my second one. Always have emptied after each use.
Bought a new battery for the old one & son has it.

suzywhoo Tue 17-Nov-20 11:28:21

I have a Dyson stick animal, I have come to hate it, 1st few months it was great, then kept 'surging' on high power. I washed the filter and I bought a new one so I could wash one and use the other, it takes no time at all before it starts 'surging' between low and high power every time I use it, so constantly removing the filter. I'm fed up with the blumin thing, I paid a small fortune for it and yes I've had it about 3 years now but can't justify buying a new one ...so I use my corded Dyson Ball which is amazing.

Madwoman11 Tue 17-Nov-20 11:28:47

Had Gtec upright and handheld for 3 years. Nice and light anc efficient

lovebooks Tue 17-Nov-20 11:33:10

Making notes from this thread. The worst lightweight vacuum cleaner I've ever owned was a Vax. We invested in a Dyson years ago - extremely efficient, but it's SO heavy! I'm now looking for a lightweight, handheld, rechargable and efficient model for stairs. Not into masses of tools - just a pointy one and a small brush would probably do. What would you recommend? Tempted by Halo.

Sunnysideup Tue 17-Nov-20 11:36:51

GTech K9, no contest! So good that hubby does all the hoovering. Yay!

Juicylucy Tue 17-Nov-20 11:38:41

Dyson stick cordless I volunteer for our local Good neighbours scheme and help out cleaning for elderly or infirm so mine gets used on a very regular basis it’s brilliant.

mbody Tue 17-Nov-20 11:45:05

Dyson every time. Absolutely brilliant.

FlotheCrow Tue 17-Nov-20 11:46:57

My daughter bought me a Gtech Air Ram cordless vacuum cleaner for Christmas last year, and it's the worst I've ever had. It's light, but too light and there's nothing like sufficient suck. The battery runs down very quickly and takes a massive four hours to recharge when it conveniently runs out half way through your housework. Not only that, but it's absolutely hopeless at picking up, and needs constant emptying. I have a labrador, who moults constantly, so I have to hoover every day, but her fur is light as thistledown. Nevertheless the vacuum cleaner seems to push the fur around the carpet instead of picking it up. It doesn't get close enough to the edges of skirting boards or furniture, and with no crevice tool accessory, I have to brush out the corners of the stairs. I shall certainly never buy a cordless vacuum again.

Kim19 Tue 17-Nov-20 11:53:29

I've a Vax Dynamo. Inhales beautifully but a blighter to empty. I'm tempted by the brand Shark(?) which suggests it has mastered the hair round the brush technology. Anyone recommend this or otherwise, please?

Mollygo Tue 17-Nov-20 11:55:50

I have a GTech Air Ram but no pets. It was on a special offer and came with a hand held and tools. I was concerned that there was only one battery for the two units but when I called GTech about that they simply sent me an extra battery.
I can do the whole house with one charge if I use both units and my car has never been cleaner.
My only issue is with my Granddaughter’s exceedingly long hair, but the only vac that’s ever coped with that was Henri!
NB my DD recommends a Shark.

Luckylegs Tue 17-Nov-20 12:12:27

Thanks so much for the replies. I think I have almost decided on the Gtech, just because there’s £100 off at the moment! It means that the Mk2 with pet thing is cheaper than the original I think.

The one that is completely perfect obviously doesn’t exist so I’ll just have to make up my mind and go for it!

Davida1968 Tue 17-Nov-20 12:12:48

Recently we bought a Dyson cordless which DH loves. (I rarely do the vacuuming so I can't comment! ) He likes both the "options"; using it as a hand-held & as full-size.

allsortsofbags Tue 17-Nov-20 12:21:55

Mr allsorts bought a Gtech and we have the hand held, love them.

mphammersley Tue 17-Nov-20 12:29:41

I had a Gtech air ram and hand held for many years, and loved it, but like most things it eventually ran out of steam. I have just had a Shark Duo Clean Pet version, because I have cats. Very different in style to the Gtech, takes a little to get used to, it converts from upright to hand held, whereas the Gtech was two separate vacs (more expensive now). But my Shark is a great vac and I am very happy with it. One thing is that is does not stand up on its own, I think that is to do with the weight at the top of the hand. So if you are leaving it you need to press a button and flip the handle over and it is stable. You soon get used to that. Good luck, but cord free is definitely the way forward.

Dalfie5577 Tue 17-Nov-20 12:33:47

I smashed up my elbow several years ago and found hoovering so painful I was often in tears - as daft as it sounds. I bought a Shark cordless and it's excellent. I can quickly whip round each day without dreading doing it or any after effects. Light, easy to push and folds up for storage. Brilliant-can't recommend highly enough.

widgeon3 Tue 17-Nov-20 12:34:16

I've had 3 Dysons. Their performance was impressive.... on the whole but I would not buy another. The batteries of the 1st 2 became kaput shortly after the 2 year guarantee had expired. I rang them to complain .'Oh, how unlucky', said the 'helper ' on the phone. My last caller has still got that model and it's 8 years old. However, we can sell you a new battery at a preferential price ( over half the cost of the original bought in a sale. The third dyson started to judder after 1 hour's use in total only. They diagnosed the problem for me as my overfilling of the dust container..... after an hour? i eventually got my money back from John Lewis
I then bought a GTerch which also lasted all of an hour as it then refused to recharge. The girl on the 'helpdesk' said I could have ruined the motor by overcharging it. At least the dysons had not let me down here. Not a word about overcharging in the booklet..... but the'helpful 'girl said 'Well i am telling you now.!
This is now awaiting its return to Lakeland ( I bought it here because they offered a 3-year guarantee) but I am not sure what else to buy. My ancient trusted Miele functions well but I need something lighter and more easily manageable. The Bosch is quieter and very efficient( apart from the rewinding of the flex) but is now very heavy to manipulate
My eyes are more susceptible to the dust so I find emptying of the canister can cause both mess and pain.
... so with built-in obsolescence and inconvenience of use, I do not think anyone has solved my problem I, too wish I had kept my mother's old Ewbank

Rosina Tue 17-Nov-20 12:34:20

We had a Gtech but have been disappointed. A few weeks back a friend recommended the Dyson V11 - she said to go for that one as the cleaning session lasts much longer and it is extremely powerful, and she ceretainly was right! (She spends ages researching everything so I am often lazy and just ask her advice!) It's quite an expensive cleaner, but we were stunned at the difference in our rugs and stair carpet. You can see at once how well it cleans - we had to empty the dust container about six times, and I felt mortified that I had spent so long pushing a cleaner around that was doing nothing much at all. This converts easily to a hand held also.

Startingover61 Tue 17-Nov-20 12:43:02

I recently bought a Dyson Cyclone 10 Animal (cordless) as I have a dog with long hair. I’m really pleased with it. It performs so much better than the GTech I’d had previously. The one drawback - as already mentioned - is that it requires charging quite a bit more, but overall I like it a lot and will be sticking with Dyson.

Cambia Tue 17-Nov-20 12:55:39

Had a Gtech and we had to return it. It wasn’t anywhere near as good as the Dyson stick we have now, but then again it wasn’t nearly as expensive either! I do have a heavy Miele which I leave upstairs for the cleaner to use but I love the Dyson and use it nearly every day as it is so easy.

JanT8 Tue 17-Nov-20 13:00:11

I’ve had a GTech in the past and it was very efficient, now packed in its box for granddaughter to take to Uni next year.
I now have the Dyson Animal 8 even though we have no pets! It was highly recommended by a friend and I love it ! Kept on its bracket on the wall, attachments are so easy to change, brilliant for cleaning the car and very efficient. Also very easy to dismantle for a thorough clean of the unit.
Be aware that if you go for a newer model they do get progressively heavier, hence the choice I made.

Leolady73 Tue 17-Nov-20 13:00:13

I’ve boycotted Dyson since he’s moved his manufacturing to Singapore and we’ve lost lots of British jobs

Nvella Tue 17-Nov-20 13:49:17

I bought a Halo Capsule which is cordless but has bags. It was half the price of a Dyson and got very good reviews in Which. I am very pleased with it.