Cordless Vaccuum

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Hi All

Hope you are all well & safe

Our current clunky Dyson corded vacuum is coming to the end of its life. It's making very strange noises, the pipe for the hand attachment is split, and its generally ready for replacing (not withstanding the fact it's far too heavy).

So we've decided to buy a cordless vacuum.

We've done some research and we can't really afford a Dyson V11 or V10, but have seen the VAX Blade 4 @ £219.99.
Can anyone vouch for if this is any good?

For background, we have a 5 bed semi detatched with quite small rooms (the actual floor space is similar to most 3 bed semi's), 2 cats and a newborn baby. So there is quite a lot of dirt to pick up on the floor. Most are low-medium pile carpets, with tiles on the kitchen floor.

If this machine won't be suitable, can anyone recommend something that will be?

Thanks

Emmia

We replaced our cheap zanussi (which was fine, until it wasn't! and very noisy) with a Miele which feels significantly more robust and has great suction on carpet and hard floors... both cylinder, corded vacuums. 

Ours isn't the cat & dog variety but I know people with those (and furry friends/children) who are very happy - similar price to the vax too. 

Apjs87

I have a Corded dyson and a Bosch cordless. Both are good in different ways however I’d always have a corded hoover simply for the better suction and the fact it picks up so much more dust. You’re up against the length of time the battery lasts between recharges also. IMO have a look for another corded vacuum

victor2

Go corded. Battery powered ones are fine for light use, but battery technology hasn't yet got to the point where they can replace a good old mains powered vacuum. Plus the battery deteriorates over time and will eventually need replacing, and they're not cheap!

We have had a corded dyson for many years. It has lasted but has too many cheap plastic parts to look like it will last forever.

[Deleted User]

You know the MSE way to go?
I'll be first to say it... Henry or Hetty.
Corded but with a very long cord. They cost around £100 to £120. The bags are very cheap from amazon and should only need to be changed once a month. We've had ours for well over 10 years and will outlast any other hoover, corded or cordless. If we plug it in at the bottom of the stairs it will reach everywhere in the house even upstairs in a standard 3 or 4 bed semi.

Martin_the_Unjust

Deleted_User said:

You know the MSE way to go?
I'll be first to say it... Henry or Hetty.
Corded but with a very long cord. They cost around £100 to £120. The bags are very cheap from amazon and should only need to be changed once a month. We've had ours for well over 10 years and will outlast any other hoover, corded or cordless. If we plug it in at the bottom of the stairs it will reach everywhere in the house even upstairs in a standard 3 or 4 bed semi.

This ^ is the right answer.

roddydogs

You can use Henry's bag more than once, just slit the bag at the bottom, empty, then fold over about 1/2" either staple or use 3 old pegs to close off.

rach_k

I can't comment on the particular model you're looking at but I disagree with other comments.  I wouldn't go back to a corded vacuum cleaner if you paid me.  They're so much lighter and easier to manoeuvre, and not dragging a cable is liberating!  Stairs feel a lot safer too.  I haven't noticed any lack of power.  I don't need a cleaner that would suck the leaves off a tree outside; as long as it will hoover the floor in front of me that's fine.  

We have a 5-bedroom house but it was originally a 3-bedroom (we added attic rooms) so perhaps a similar size to yours.  We have an older Dyson (I think maybe a V6) and I can get round the house on one charge, including lots of stairs, as long as it isn't too dirty.  We have a mix of flooring - fairly thick carpet, LVT and wooden floorboards.  It's good on all of them.

I'd say cordless vacuums are more suited to little and often cleaning.  If you go two weeks without doing it, it will probably take more than one charge and you'll have to empty it more than once.  However, because it's so light and faff-free to use, it doesn't feel so much of a chore to do every day or every other day, so little and often suits me.  If you want to go round once a week, maybe get a corded one with a larger canister but otherwise cordless is great.  I use a Henry at school and can't honestly see why people love them so much... apart from the face.

neilmcl

rach_k said:

I'd say cordless vacuums are more suited to little and often cleaning.  If you go two weeks without doing it, it will probably take more than one charge and you'll have to empty it more than once.  However, because it's so light and faff-free to use, it doesn't feel so much of a chore to do every day or every other day, so little and often suits me.  If you want to go round once a week, maybe get a corded one with a larger canister but otherwise cordless is great.  I use a Henry at school and can't honestly see why people love them so much... apart from the face.

This is the key. It really all comes down to your cleaning habits. If you, like a lot of people, do one big vacuum every other week or so then a corded vacuum is probably your best bet as you'll need the power etc to cope with a more deeper clean plus you won't have to be emptying it every 5 minutes. If you're one of those who don;t mind doing a quick, light clean every other day or so then maybe cordless is the way for you. Personally I prefer my corded Shark, I've yet to try a cordless that has the same cleaning power.

Mutton_Geoff

For that sort of money, the Miele Cat & Dog (even if you don't have pets) is very good. I bought a replacement when the >10 year old one I had stopped working. I later repaired the old one (the mains connection in the retracting spool had broken) so now I have two. Yes, you have to plug them in but they are very powerful. Look out for offers where you get the car cleaning kit included.

The only annoying thing is they changed the bag design between models I bought so I have to buy two separate types of bag for them!

Snuggles

I have a Miele Cat and Dog and a Dyson V10 Animal (two cat household). I hardly ever use the Miele. The Dyson does everything I need and I can always do the whole house on one battery charge.