VACUUM CLEANER - RECOMMENDATIONS PLEASE

NB; Think maybe part of the reason why I'm struggling strength-wise with the latest one I got might be because I made sure the new carpets I had fitted in this house are decent thickness/quality and then said I wanted nice thick underlay under them as well (it's concrete floors here - so carpets etc do need to be thick - because I've found concrete floors are colder than the wood ones I'm used to).

I don't think Hoover make anything like that any more. Have you thought of trying other makes? I think Kirby might still make something like what you have in mind.

CariadAgain, the only bagged one I know of is a Seba upright.
…..but they are expensive - even reconditioned, and heavy.
I gave up after searching and searching for a “bagged” one.
There must be others out there though🫤

Willing to look at any reasonable quality make. The 2nd mistake one I bought cost around £100 - but if it costs more it costs more (ie cheaper in the long run to spend, say, £300 and think "Fine - I'm happy with it").

My Kirby was so heavy, it was relegated to the garage for dealing with spiders’ webs etc.

I don’t understand what might be confusing about the ‘cartridge thing’ dust container - I’ve a corded Shark and it’s easy to remove and empty the see through container without the clouds of dust that my old Hoover created. My Shark also folds in the middle for easy storage and part lifts off to become a hand held unit for stairs, etc.

I’ve also had a Sebo which was very efficient and the replacement bags were available from John Lewis.

Georgesgran

My Kirby was so heavy, it was relegated to the garage for dealing with spiders’ webs etc.

I don’t understand what might be confusing about the ‘cartridge thing’ dust container - I’ve a corded Shark and it’s easy to remove and empty the see through container without the clouds of dust that my old Hoover created. My Shark also folds in the middle for easy storage and part lifts off to become a hand held unit for stairs, etc.

I’ve also had a Sebo which was very efficient and the replacement bags were available from John Lewis.

This is the woman here - ie me - that is very very untechno-minded indeed. My old hoover was a matter of unzip the cloth bag, detach inner bag from rubber ring thingie, empty it, do the same again in reverse.

Me - I'm always wary of what levers/buttons/etc I'm supposed to push - and it took someone else a couple of goes to figure it and show me (whilst I was there worried about breaking one of the poor-quality plastic component bits they use so much these days.

Yep....you're speaking to the woman whose central heating control needed replacing here for the house and I said to the plumber "gotta be simple....simple....simple" and it was maybe more simple than some modern era ones. But he had to rip it out and replace it with a mechanical one similar to the previous one - as I don't think he'd taken me seriously enough when I said "Gotta be simple....simple".

Since the EU decided that the power of vacuum cleaners had to be reduced (cannot remember to what), the only thing that I find picks up all the general detritus, is a bagged machine - in fact they are renowned for being better than the bagless numbers. Unfortunately, you are very limited on what is on the market. We have a Sebo upright (German make), which is utterly brilliant - it practically lifts the carpet off the floor! BUT it is monstrously heavy if you need to cart it around the house. It runs over the same level like a lightweight dream.

But we also have a Miele cylinder vacuum (for stairs etc.). It is also bagged but is similarly mega efficient. Not quite as heavy as the Sebo but has a very long cord, so can be dragged a long distance.

For us, the bagless numbers did not work. They did about two square feet of floor before they had to be emptied. Tedious. Culprits were hairy dogs. Not tedious!

You've reminded now of why our vacuum cleaners lost their oomph....yep....it was an EU ruling and gawdaloneknows what the excuse for that was. I think I've pretty much established I've got to have a bagged machine and with people telling me Sebo ones are very heavy = that is a make I can't go for obviously - as I really don't have that much physical strength.

Almost wonders whether I'll have to use a carpet cleaner instead....

I have a Shark lift away pet version. It has a canister for the dust, it is very easy to empty. Much better than the Dysons that I had previously. Excellent on carpets, it has a beater bar which agitates the carpet to dislodge anything deep down.
Try one in store to see if it’s not too heavy for you.
Has lots of accessories available ; there is a really good thing that is excellent for stairs.
Lots of info on the Shark Clean site.

Cariad: Sebo + maid?

Miele cannot be beaten.

I’d go for Shark every time. Really easy to use and I agree so much better than Dyson

I agree Miele can’t be beaten.

Thanks all. That discussion alerted me into checking out a type of vacuum cleaner I've not used before and so I checked out the Miele cylinder ones and landed up eventually getting a Bosch cylinder one. Fingers crossed it'll do the trick (it was the lightest wired-up one I could find of any) and fingers crossed that buying a Bosch specifically means that's the last one I ever have to buy (motor guarantee of 10 years - I estimate that's about how long I'll need it). Crosses fingers re the usual reason I have for Bosch applying (ie I've just swopped a Bosch washing machine I figure must have been at least 20 years old and was still working for another Bosch one). Tries to forget my last kettle (Bosch again) only lasted 3 years 8 months - so I did buy a different make of that and hope for a reasonable lifespan from that one.