<p>Looking for inexpensive (read under $150) upright vacuum reco for my 86yo mom. She’s moving into a 1br apartment next week and it has wall to-wall carpet. She’s moving from a house w hardwood floors and her 30+ yr old canister vacuum won’t cut it. </p>
<p>We went shopping today and I’ve come away frustrated. She doesn’t want to spend much money, but wants something lightweight. She’s als a complete techno-phobe, so it needs to be VERY easy to use. (bagless seems to be be a better option, as putting a bag on properly can be a challenge for her and she will give up and it won’t be attached properly. Don’t judge…that’s what’s she has done w the current canister disaster. Open for comments on this). </p>
<p>Please help! I’m not against looking for a used model on ebay or Craigslist. </p>
<p>ARRGGHH. I get it. hate to say my favorite is a Dyson–I’d look for the cheapest around, pay the difference between actual price and the budget (don’t tell her) and be happy. I now have a shark which is great but it’s very top heavy and is heavier over all than the Dyson I owned in actual use. The total weight is the same for the Shark but when you actually use it bulk of the weight leans into the handle rather than remaining on the floor so it’s a lot heavier in use. The shark though does have a canister option (part of the vacuum) which might work for your mom.</p>
<p>You do only have a one bedroom so even with a bag you could change it every once in a while for her. My mom has a Singer vacuum which she LOVES because it is so lightweight and easy to move. Does a good job. Easy handling.</p>
<p>So… in a one bedroom apartment, the bag would not need to be changed very often. I bet you could change it couple of times a year for her and that is all it would need.</p>
<p>Will she have a pet in the apartment? If so, then she’s going to need something quite effective to get up hair and dander.</p>
<p>When you say that it must be lightweight? Why? If her apt is on one floor, would she be picking it up? If it’s easy to maneuver even if it’s not very lightweight, how is that a problem? </p>
<p>Do you belong to Costco or Sams Club? If so, I’d go there to get the best one for the 150 budget.</p>
<p>Thanks all. No pets. It needs to be lightweight as she doesn’t have much upper body strength, nor coordination for the push/pull action. (Not a old age issue, she’s never been very coordinated!). One thing I didn’t mention is she’s tall (5’9"), so tall ones ok. </p>
<p>She hates the clunky Hoover wind tunnel we have at our beach house, as it weighs a ton & has self propulsion. </p>
<p>The Oreck Magnesium model I once saw at Costco was very light. I looked it up and it gets pretty good reviews. It does have a bag but I agree, you can change it when you visit. It should take a long time to fill up in a one bedroom apartment.</p>
<p>Check Best Buy for good deals, on sale now, with ratings and weights. Like you, my Hoover wind tunnel type is so heavy, even the kids hate using it. </p>
<p>I got my mother a low amp lightweight Bissell and it’s good enough (snap off canister, snap back on.) Bissell has a few that can be cordless (saves bending to plug it in, though it seems the use is 15 minutes before recharge.) The Bolt weighs under 6 lbs. Thing is, though, you still have to know how to remove the canister on some bagless models to empty it- and then get it put back together. </p>
<p>I happen to be looking now, too. You also want to check the return/repair policy (Target not so good on this.)</p>
<p>“Look at the Miele stick vacuum. Lightweight and easy to handle–different attachments too.”</p>
<p>I have one of those for picking up crumbs on the rug under the dining table in the kitchen. It is indeed very easy to use, but it is not self-propelled, so it does require some pushing around. It is a piece of cake for me, though. It has a bag, but I only changed it once since I bought it in November 2013 (thanks Amazon for reminding me!), and I have cat hair all over that rug. I assume a neat older lady without pets would not need to change the bag too frequently. Miele is pretty efficient at packing the crud into those little bags! It is $100 over the budget, unfortunately:</p>
<p>I have a lightweight Oreck, purchased on sale at Sears (think it was about $200). It has a HEPA bag and weighs about 7 lbs. Many vacs weigh double or more than that. While bags are a nuisance, I found my prior vac without a bag messier to empty. This is probably not the most effective vacuum on the market, but it works well in my busy house, so should be good in small apartment. It has no attachments, instead a small shoulder carried option with tools is available. </p>
<p>I have not had good luck with electric brooms. They are light weight and rechargeable without dragging a cord (plus for elder), yet their cleaning power even on hard floors has been sub-par. </p>
<p>The Miele weighs 10 lb. Thumper, those rechargeable ones are so frustrating because they are designed for either battery life or power. The rechargeable Dyson I thought could work for me was great, but only if I could finish to vacuum the stairs in under 5 min. It was returned. </p>
<p>The stick vacs/electric brooms have no rotating brushes or beater bars, so far as I know, so they would do a poor job on carpet.</p>
<p>Every time I’ve bought a cheap vacuum I’ve regretted it. They work poorly and break easily. Any chance you can add some funds to the process so your mom can afford a better model?</p>
<p>MommaJ, the Miele stick does not have a powerbrush, but it is very powerful and does a decent job on carpets. Unfortunately, one ends up paying for power in either $$$ or lb. </p>
<p>My advice is to try and have her take the bag less canister off and back on by herself before you buy one. Some are harder to snap on/line up than others… The one we have DH has trouble lining up/snapping the canister back on. </p>
<p>Get one with a bag and change it yourself every blue moon. Her space won’t require bag changing very often. and she doesn’t have pets. Honestly easier than futzing with a bagless at that age (okay, any age). If bagless, definitely have her try snapping the canister off and putting it on (and the emptying). They’re all plastic tabs and once broken that pretty much kills the vacuum.</p>