<p>I have a Hoover Windtunnel that is probably at least 15 years old and it was a great vaccuum. Clearly, it lasted a long time! However, it stopped sucking and I’m not sure if it is worth fixing. After 15 years, I know vaccuums have changed a lot. I have consulted Consumer Reports, but many folks rate their products after owning them a very short time.</p>
<p>What do you all like? Are there any brands that seem to work both easily and well? I’m not planning to spend more than $500-ish.</p>
<p>I have a Dyson DC33 Multi-Floor Vacuum. I had it’s predecessor for 4 years and recently when my husband needed a new vacuum for his office I sent that one in and ended up replacing it with essentially the same model. The Dysons with the ball are slightly lighter but the cords are 10 feet shorter, the suction is less and the canisters are very small compared to the DC33 or one of the other non-ball models. Go to the Dyson website for a comparison.</p>
<p>Here’s a comparison of a couple of the balls vs non-ball Dysons.</p>
<p>[Dyson</a> ? compare vacuum, features, models | Dyson.com](<a href=“Dyson vacuum cleaners, hair dryers and stylers, fans, humidifiers, hand dryers and lighting | Dyson”>Dyson vacuum cleaners, hair dryers and stylers, fans, humidifiers, hand dryers and lighting | Dyson)</p>
<p>I just got the DC33 at Bed, bath and beyond for $320 with a 20% off coupon. If you have animals that shed a lot, a lot of people like the animal model.</p>
<p>[Dyson</a> DC33 Multi-Floor Vacuum - Bed Bath & Beyond](<a href=“http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?SKU=17601105&RN=914&]Dyson”>http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?SKU=17601105&RN=914&)</p>
<p>BTW - I had the Hoover Windtunnel and loved it. That’s one the my husband is replacing with the Dyson at the office. The WindTunnel is still going strong but he wanted something more lightweight to carry up and down the stairs (3 levels).</p>
<p>I have the great big Dyson Animal (DC28). I tried the smaller one but it just didn’t do the job and I returned it. This one is amazing. It sucks up dirt I didn’t know I had. While my poodles don’t shed, they do need to be clipped; I use the vacuum to clean up the hair afterwards. They also track in dirt–and I like things clean and dirt free. This vacuum keeps things clean.</p>
<p>I love my Dyson- had it for at least 5 years–my canister needs to be replaced (I am putting it off) because the plastic parts at the base of it have broken off–typical plastic parts!</p>
<p>I have replaced the vacuum at my cabin every 2 years!! Yes I buy one that is about $140. I will just say if you spend $100ish you will replace it at least that often…but in my gut I also say that if you spend $300ish you will replace it that often. They just don’t make them like they used to! I bought the Eureka model that “sucks better than a Dyson”! I have to say—it is doing a great job for $130! And it does suck!!!</p>
<p>But if I had $500 to spend I would probably go with a Dyson again.</p>
<p>14 years ago I needed a new one and the owner of my local vacuum and sewing machine shop told me that if I bought a Miele, I’d have it for 20 years or more. He did a demonstration that included holding it by the tube and swinging it around his head. My husband happened to be with me and that was the defining moment - we bought it. It has had some small repairs over the years (by that same man) and has been just great. The model you get depends very much on what kind of flooring you have.</p>
<p>Mieles are great, but be prepared to spend $700-$1,000 or so. At under $500, IMO, Dyson leaves the competition in the dust. While I’m not wild about its flimsy plastic parts, my Dyson Animal does a wonderful job. I also like the fact that there are no bags to replace. With my two cats who shed all the time, I’d go broke buying bags for a Miele :)</p>
<p>Miele!</p>
<p>We have one Miele cannister we bought new about 20 years ago, maybe $500 then.
Small repairs along the way but still showing no signs of ‘dying’. Great suction, love the powered carpet brush head. I have been lucky to find an occasional part needed on ebay, like when I misplaced an upholstery attachment.</p>
<p>Two years ago, I decided I’m too old to drag the vacuum up and down stairs anymore…so I bought a reconditioned Miele on ebay for about $250 to keep upstairs.
It’s been fine also…AND the hoses, brushes, heads all are interchangeable with my original one. </p>
<p>The real new Mieles are very expensive and have power cords that are integrated into the wands so would not interchange with my old ones…</p>
<p>But can you tell I love my Mieles???</p>
<p>Love my Dyson. I have had several over the last few years (gave one to D). I don’t think the plastic parts are that flimsy, and mine get heavy use. I have the purple animal hair kind. I used to hate vacuum cleaners, but I like my Dyson.</p>
<p>We have a Beam central vac…LOVE it.</p>
<p>I love my Electrolux cannister. I just hope the hose on this one wears better than the one on the previous one.</p>
<p>Another dyson vote! I got mine at Costco a few years ago for around $300. With 3 cats it’s great!</p>
<p>Miele- never needed repairs for last 10 years, just added a new one for a lower floor. Never bought higher than the middle end. Does the job just fine and not too heavy.</p>
<p>Electrolux- STAY AWAY! I had TWO of them over a fiver year period. TOTAL RIP-OFF. Most expensive vacuums ever, all made of plastic (not like my mom’s fabulous one growing up). Broke down constantly, hose ripped numerous times, motor completely melted, on and on. Repairs were so expensive and took forever.</p>
<p>Dyson: never tried because I do not like the idea of bag-less- sounds too unsanitary to me as I like to remove all the dirt in a contained space, and not leave any behind or have to touch it to remove it. Also prefer canister style to get under sofas and beds.</p>
<p>My Dyson came with a great rotating brush tool that, when attached to the end of the pull-out handle, makes cleaning under beds very easy (works just like a canister).</p>
<p>I’d buy a Roomba or two and let the vacuuming happen by itself. It is the vacuum that does the most in our household and now my mom’s and SIL/B’s home. We just love it! They are available at Costco. Mom kept buying vacs & returning them to Costco because they kept breaking. The Roomba has worked best for all of us. Try it–if you don’t love it, Costco will take it back, no Qs asked.</p>
<p>Why not stick with the Hoover Windtunnel? You seem to have been happy with it, it is still available, Consumer reports has ranked it very highly for many years, the price is right, etc.</p>
<p>You say “After 15 years, I know vaccuums have changed a lot.” But I disagree. Almost nothing has changed other than the fact that the manufacturers seem to really market the bagless models more now … but that technology has been around for a long, long time. Otherwise not much has changed at all.</p>
<p>We have had a Hoover Wind Tunnel for over 10 years and are very happy with it. If it ever breaks down, I would run out and buy another one.</p>
<p>If you like the Hoover Windtunnel, Costco often has it & many others in stock. You can try it out & be sure you like it or take it back if you don’t or it breaks or for whatever reason, no Qs asked. If you buy it with a CC that provides extended warranty protection, that’s another plus, WHATEVER you decide to buy. Good luck!</p>
<p>The main reason I switched from the WindTunnel to the Dyson was the weight. The last WindTunnel I tried 4 years ago seemed very heavy, especially when lugging it upstairs. I actually bought a second WindTunnel (when my second one broke - a carpet installer abused it), used it a few times and took it back and exchanged for the Dyson. Maybe Hoover has lightened it up in that time.</p>
<p>I thought I would hate the bag-less thing but really it’s much more convenient. With my Dyson, you just hold the collection canister over the trash, push a button and it all falls into the can. No need to remember to buy bags and no need to have to wrestle with them to get them to stay on.</p>
<p>I finally brook down and purchased an Electrolux canister several years ago. My mother swears by them and has had one since the beginning of time, and I always liked it, but I was hesitant to spend the money. After using other brands that others swore by, I knew I would never be happy until I had an Electrolux.</p>
<p>I love it! I’ll never use another brand as long as I live. My cleaning lady also loves it, and she uses many brands at the various houses she cleans.</p>
<p>Ahhh, the great vacuum cleaner paradox. The shop vac is the most wonderful, useful, economical tool known to Man, yet somehow remains unknown to WoMan. I actually have 2, one large trusty Sears version that I have owned for 30 or more years - probably emptied it twice during that time, and a smaller but equally powerful model I bought at Lowes for no special reason other than it was on sale for $29.99. These simple but effective tools create a powerful vacuum and suck like (insert disgusting analogy here) whatever. My wife has told me to NEVER buy a vacuum cleaner for her (again). I bought an upright years ago. She somehow needs to spend $900 for a European model that will barely extinguish a lit match from 1 inch.</p>
<p>Husband uses the vacuum. Over a year ago we replaced a Hoover Windtunnel with another Windtunnel–maybe the anniversary? purchased at Macy’s with a coupon and discount for torn box it was about $100. Even less than Costco :). The old one is still ok, it’s used in the garage for the car. He looked at Dyson but didn’t feel the extra expense was worth it for us. Works fine he has no problem using it on the stairs.
He started vacuuming when I was pregnant, then decided he did a better job. Son is 25 now.</p>