Vacuum cleaner advice?

ianpwilliams

Hi all, I'm wondering if I can get some advice on vacuum cleaners (or maybe a link to a good vacuum cleaner forum?). Here is my situation:

1 - I live in a small, cramped flat, so I want a cyclinder rather than an upright)
2 - I don't vacuum very often, so I'm not too bothered about having to empty it regularly (hence a small cyclinder rather than a large upright)
3 - Low maintenance is extremely important (because I consider vacuuming to be a pain as it is). None of this changing twenty filters rubbish!

So, like most people my first stop was Dyson. This was gets great reviews, although there's always a few really bad reviews, and it's more expensive than I'd like:

http://www.johnlewis.com/dyson-dc26-multi-floor-cylinder-vacuum-cleaner/p230861046

So then I looked at a nice little Vax one, which is less than half the price, but since then it seems that maybe there could be a lot of maintenance involved with this one:

http://www.johnlewis.com/vax-c89-ma-b-air-vacuum-cleaner/p231687428

So then I started looking at random ones, including the Henry (!), and now I have no idea what to go for. But I'm thinking surely it must be possible to get a small(ish) cyclinder vacuum cleaner with reasonable suction and low maintenance for around £100?

phill99

Henry every time.

Incredibly robust, long lasting, strong motors and simply engineered. No gadgets and bits to break off like dysons. Don't even need a bag.

ianpwilliams

Yes some people do seem to like the Henry. I forget to mention I want bagless. The other thing I forgot to mention though is, it might be useful to have the odd tool or two (I don't know if the Henry does or not). My flat has a lot of furniture in it, so it's a case of needing to get behind and/or under things, so I could do with one fairly regular vacuum head where I could still get behind things, and also a small vacuum head so I can climb under things (like computer desks), and lift things up (like cables etc) and get under there with a small attachment.

evoke

I've got a small, cheap Vax for my ground floor laminate flooring. It's really easy to use, fairly light, bagless and works well. It's rated at 2kW but has a slider to adjust the power. It has a self-rewinding mains cord and HEPA-filter. It has some basic tools and a turbo brush for stairs.

You should take a look at the current Vax range at Argos as there are some cracking deals.

Hudson1984

I wouldn't recommend the VAX, I just returned mine it was awful!!! Really noisy and looses suction far too often.

Forget bagless and get a henry, what's the big deal on having a bag anyway? you won't regret buying a henry, and if you shop at Tesco, they've been giving away £20 vouchers for £40 shops (only to be spent on electrical) which means you get one for £89.99

YOU WON'T GET A BETTER HOOVER FOR £90!!!

pimento

I find my upright takes up less floor space than my old cylinder because the upright is all tidied up and the cylinder sprawls everywhere with the hose taking up way more space than just the one square foot that my upright does.

I've had bagless and always got covered in dust when emptying the container so this time went for a Sebo with a bag. best vacuum I've ever had. It really does suck.

gmgmgm

I really wouldn't worry about bagless. Unless you have some very particular reason not to, just get a Henry.

McKneff

Henry, every time.
I have one now and its on its 12th year, still smiles at me every morning when I get him out from behind the settee.

ianpwilliams

I am tempted by the Henry, and it does have attachments too. What about on the maintenance front? Is it low maintenance?

Vectis

We used to have a Henry for cleaning the office, when we had offices. Worked fine but very noisy. Ok for an office but I wouldn't use it at home. It's a bit 'industrial'.

We have a Vax for home, looks similar to the one in your link. Works great, the house has never been cleaner! I'd recommend it.

phill99

ianpwilliams wrote: »

I am tempted by the Henry, and it does have attachments too. What about on the maintenance front? Is it low maintenance?

I have haf mine probably 15 years and done zero maintenance to it. One of th hose attachments has just cracked and I'll replace it but that's the first thing.