I know we talk a lot about Dysons and other high-end vacuums here, because… um, apparently because we are really concerned about vacuuming. Wow. Now I’m a little depressed.
Anyway!
If you want a decent vacuum but don’t want to go Dyson or Kirby or Electrolux, you might want to check out the Eureka R4870G Boss Upright. (That link goes to a refurb on Amazon that’s just $69.99 with free shipping!) This model is a Consumer Reports Best Buy, so a smart choice if you’re looking for a decent vac at this price point.
My husband and I have been wanting a really good vacuum for awhile now. We have a dog and 2 cats and we knew our cheapie vacuum wasn’t cutting it. I did a little research and realized that the Dyson wasn’t all it is cracked up to be. I found that the Kenmore Progressive was actually rated higher for pet hair than the Dyson by consumer reports. We bought the vacuum below and, I kid you not, our carpet CHANGED colors. The suction on this vacuum is amazing and it has a sensor that tells you when the area is clean. It took us 3 hours to vacuum the entire house the first time, that is how horrible our old vacuum was and we actually have a pretty clean house, at least we thought so. I highly recommend spending the little extra and getting this from Sears:
Kenmore Progressive Bagless Upright with Inteli-Clean System
Sears item# 02036933000 Mfr. model# 36933
It’s too bad that looking at vacuums, thinking about vacuuming, or even telling your children to vacuum does not equal vacuumed floors.
The Eureka mentioned is a fantastic deal at that price BUT…. it needs to come with a body builder to push it. It weighs a TON. Seriously… the heaviest vacuum I’ve ever tried. It’s a shame because it really has great suction.
I second the motion on the Kenmore progressive. There are two new models out now. The #1 rated is the bagged version and the #3 rated is the bagless version. Both will run you about $249. Personally, I love my Kenmore Progressive canister (I don’t like uprights) which was rated #1 out of all the canisters. Totally worth the $350.
I really have to put my two cent in. This thing sucks, and not in the good way. (Can I say that?) It does weigh a ton, is always clogged (okay, vacuuming legos is not a good idea), and honestly, the tools and hoses and extending hose extender thing need an engineering to degree to operate (especially on the days when the legos spread from one end of the house to the other have robbed you of all intellectual capacity). So. I don’t like it, and it is the only time I have ever regretted following CR advice. Every time I drag it out, I wish I could buy a new vacuum, but that would make my husband’s head pop off.
I’ve had nine vacuums in twenty-five years, and I have to say that I puffy pink heart my Dyson. Really. I’ve had it four years now, and it hasn’t batted an eye (if it had eyes) at the amounts of cat hair around here. With four cats, that’s saying something.