Dyson's new DC41 Animal is amazing.

Love my MIele.

I had a Dyson and was not impressed. I replaced it with the Hoover Platinum Elite. I cannot speak highly enough of this vacuum. The reviews on Amazon say it all...this vacuum is the best!! http://www.amazon.com/Hoover-Platinum-Lightweight-Canister-UH30010COM/dp/B001PB8EEM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1327331575&sr=8-1

we bought our Dyson Stowaway last year on closeout for $300. it's awesome! does a great job of picking up all the hair from our two labs and the wand is long enough that I don't have to bend over too much (I'm 5'9"). plus i love how compact it is when all wrapped up. it fits in our little linen closet! highly recommend.

Electrolux UltraSilencer Green: soooooo quiet, and gets cat hair out of the carpet.

My orek vacuum more or less does the vacuuming for me. It's also not bulky & easy to transport - I'm always lending mine out so my friends can experience it too..never thought I'd hear myself say that about a vacuum!

I'd like to hear how people like the vacuums that work by themselves at night. Do they really get all the dust up? Do they cover all your areas? Just the thought of something doing my vacuuming for me gets me excited, but I am skeptical.

Miele. At my vacuum store where I purchase the vacuum bags, I happened to notice Dysons lined up as yellow soldiers awaiting repairs. I asked the clerk and he confirmed Dysons are not so great in view of longevity. Something to think about ascertaining before making the investment.

I have the Dyson Animal and the Roomba. The Roomba does do an okay job for during the week and in between regular cleanings. Nothing I've triend really beats how well the Dyson Animal does. It has amazing attachements for upholstery and wood floors - it's just so HEAVY.

I've been very happy with my Dyson Stowaway. Most of my cleaning is cat-related, but even cleaning up drywall dust from minor projects and vacuuming inside duct work, it's held up well, although the construction dust did require me to clean the filter more frequently. I especially love that I don't have to buy bags. Hated always running out of bags on my old Dirt Devil before.

When I lived in the UK I had a Henry vacuum cleaner... just the best ever. Impeccable after 13 years of service. http://www.henryvacs.co.uk/

After moving to Norway, I bought the closest thing I could find, which was the Philips FC 8716
http://demoimg.livecart.com/upload/productimage/5812-2498-4.jpg

I have a Miele Olympus, not the top of the line, but still great. I was recently cleaning up a mess at a friend's house with his Dyson and it couldn't compare to mine. That plus I really dislike upright vacuums, shoving the whole weight of the vacuum around. Much prefer a canister type.

I wouldn't doubt that the Dysons aren't so great in longevity, as this one felt rather cheaply made.

I can't even believe this is a discussion - Dyson, by a mile.

My Hoover WindTunnel (bagless) is amazing for under $100 http://www.amazon.com/Hoover-WindTunnel-Upright-Bagless-UH70120/dp/B002HFDLCK . I use it on low pile carpet through most of my apartment and bare floor in the kitchen and it picks up dog and cat fur very well, but it shines on my stairs. There's a handle at the top and bottom of the canister that makes cleaning the fully carpeted steps slightly less annoying.

I have two large labs that shed like crazy and have tried a ton of different vacuums. I bought the Eureka Optima a few years ago and love it. It's reasonably priced, it's easy to clean (it's bag-less) and picks up hair that is embedded in our carpet. Plus, it has yet to clog and break like my old ones. :)

Love my Miele Olympus! I have allergies and bagless just doesn't work for me.

Like Rainarana said, it isn't the top of the line, but you can upgrade later if you end up needing the motorized attachments for thick carpet, etc. I have hardwood/tile, so it's perfect for me the way it is.

I would never ever go for anything less than a Miele. They're worth every penny.

Just to know which vacuum people like best is not helpful to me. I would like to know which one works best on hardwood floors, since I don't have any carpet.

RachelinChicago, the first review I read for your favorite vacuum said it was best for people with carpet and carpeted stairs, which I have none of.

My hoover upright is 14 years old and still runs as well as the first day. It's beat up, not pretty, but the closet door it is behind makes it just as pretty as the big bulky dyson that costs 4 times as much and lasts one third as long. I don't hate the Dyson, I just love my hoover.

I own the new Kirby. I'm surprised no one mentioned it. I really like it except for the weight. I'd be interested to hear other people's opinion of the Kirby. I got a pretty good deal on one through Ebay. Is a Miele as good as a Kirby?

@Aaakid, we have all hard floors, wood and tile. The Miele is great for them, outperforms the Dyson in almost every test I've seen, and is much quieter. We have two blue heeler dogs that blow their coats a couple times a year and shed heavily the rest. The Miele is perfect for us.

My1950's refurbed Electrolux! After years of spending money on expensive and easily broken vacs, I got the same one my parents had had when I was a kid. I got it off Craigslist, the guy wanted fifteen bucks, but gave it to me for free in the end. We spent about $75 for a cleaning, parts check and tune up, and a new set of wheels. It works better than anything else we have ever had, is indestructible, and the kids could even ride it if they wanted. A new version of this model would cost thousands. I actually smile every single time I vacuum.

PS: great settings for rug or hardwood floor!!

I would marry my Dyson pet hair vacuum if it were sane or legal - it is that good.

My 12-year old Miele red star canister is still going strong, and I love it so much I bought a Miele stick vac as well. Definitely prefer the canister to the stick, but it's good for quick jobs and nice to have a second vac upstairs so I don't have to lug the canister up and down. Don't think I'd ever consider anything but a Miele in the future.

We killed 2 crappy vacuums in 2 years, then bought the Miele Olympus and LOVE IT. It is super suctiony and doesn't recirculate dirt back into the air like our old uprights always seemed to. On the highest setting (made for rugs) the wand actually sticks to the floor so hard you can barely move it. (Not recommended, obviously, as you could burn out the motor--but it is really powerful.) It is quiet and very lightweight also, which is awesome if you have to carry it up and down stairs. It also has lots of settings so you can vacuum your curtains or upholstery or whatever without damage.

Note: We ONLY have hardwood as we have allergies, so I cannot speak to its performance on carpet as we bought the model without the carpet attachment.

@aaakid they say canisters work best for hardwood floors because they can get closer to the baseboards and stuff. my mother had always used a canister and she has tile/hardwood in every room of the house but one. she has never complained. I don't have any specific brands to recommend but i would definitely look into a canister over an upright.

I have had the Dyson animal for about 5 years now - it's good, but heavy. I would much prefer a lighter machine but I paid so much for the Dyson I will keep it around for a few more years. When I was a child my family had a Kirby from the 40's or 50's and it was fabulous - loved that thing!

I just got the Miele Olympus for Xmas and I could not be happier with it. I have hardwood floors with area rugs and a big german shepherd that sheds like crazy. I used to have a standup oreck and I much prefer the canister style with great attachments to get the ceiliings and trim work as well. I would definitely recommend!

I bought a Hoover Platinum Anniversary Edition Wind Tunnel (upright, bagless) to replace my ancient Electrolux; meh. Wish I'd gone with a Miele. Probably should have had the Electrolux refurbished.

LG Kompressor...I bought the Luv300B. I love the cannister compressor...less emptying and less messy than all the other bagless vacuums I've used. And the built in wand is perfect for pet cleanup. It's wonderful.

I LOVE MY DYSON!
I bought mine 7 years ago and it's still going strong!
Two cats, one dog, one toddler, one husband, and one neat freak (me)!

I agree on the Eureaka Optima. I currently have two: one upstairs, one downstairs (not that they are difficult to transport, but more of a laziness factor--if it is nearby, I'll use it more often). About $50, has washable filter. Lightweight. Great on wood and tile...minimal chasing of dust bunny funnel-clouds. Also light enough to easily use on furniture/bedding/window treatments. Probably not quite as magical as the expensive vacs...but I can get about 6-8 of them for the same price.

I use two vacuums - a Neato Robotics XV-11 for the majority of the floor, and an Electrolux Ergorapido stick for the edges. Basically, I run the XV-11 2x-3x or so a week and run around the edges with the Ergorapido 1x a week (The XV-11 doesn't really get the edges very well because of the paneling on my walls).

I have a sheltie/corgi mix that sheds everywhere, and the XV-11 is the only robot vacuum I've seen that can handle her fluff volume.

(Old-model) Roomba for laziness, fun, getting under cabinets, etc. Good on hardwoods.
(Old-model) Yellow Dyson is the BEST design, attachments, ease of use--but not great suction. Love that it's bagless.
Consumer-reports-recommended Kenmore w/HEPA bags--great suction, great on carpets, TOO heavy & cumbersome using the attachments.

I've used a Eureka Mighty Mite canister vacuum every weekend for ten years, and it is still going strong. Works just fine on hardwood floors and low pile area rugs. A bargain at under $100.

I love my Roomba, especially on hardwood and tile floors. He does his best on carpet, which is really pretty good, but if I had more than 50% W2W I would probably get a canister (and hate every moment spent vacuuming.)

I bought a Miele Antares after buying and returning a Kirby (expensive, heavy, loud... but it works well!) I like the Miele because it is relatively quiet, has several modes for different suction power, is simple to use, and had the attachments I wanted: one for carpet and one for bare floors. The main downsides: the small bags fill up fast and are somewhat pricey; it has a hard time picking up long human hairs. Other than those, it's great.

My mom had a Kirby. It ran for about 20 years until she blew a hole in it while she was vaccuming out the car. We lived on a gravel road so the car got seriously dirty. She accidentally sucked up a rock. Needless to say she abused it but that baby never stopped sucking up the dirt. It was heavy but I think that's why it lasted so long.

I love my Roomba for hardwood floors and light cleanings on the area rugs. My cousin used to work at Sears and said the Dysons were always being returned because they frequently broke.

I got a Miele Salsa last year after agonizing over the investment (they are not cheap!). I am very pleased with it. Cleans much better than my old Hoover. I've got a mix of hardwoods and area rugs, plus two long haired kitties. Vacuuming once a week really keeps the kitty hair down. The attachments do great on upholstered furniture, though I do wish there were one or two additional attachments for the hose. It's a little heavy, but I did get used to that. The bags self-seal, so there is no dust cloud when you change them. I have very bad allergies, and the exhaust on this is so well-filtered, I can breathe it in directly and not sneeze. It's also much quieter compared to my old vacuum (the cats appreciate this).

My canister vacuum recently died. I did not want to spend another 400.00 plus for one. I also prefer bags over filters.
I research the best vacuum for pet hair with hardwood and tile flooring. I ended up with the Hoover LINX. I absolutely love it, its a pleasure to use. Cordless, powerful, rechargeable battery, dump the waste, no bag, no buying filters and you can wash the dust container every so often. The Hoover LINX is a excellent choice for smaller apartments without carpet or as a additional cleaning tool if you like to vacuum the kitchen, bathroom and living spaces daily without the hassle lugging around a heavy upright or canister and putting one a way.
I pretty much use the bona microfiber clothe to deal with dust bunnies and molding on my ceilings and I don't have carpet so this was the best option under 200.00. It sucks up pet hair better than the expensive one I had.

This is a very good vacuum review and explanation of which is the best model for various manufacturer by a vacuum guy-
http://www.geyservac.com/best-vacuum-cleaners.php

Now if I could score what GYPSYMOMMA has I would be pretty happy, the older models are just better.

I have a Dyson (the cannister) and I am happy with it, although I expected even better performance. The Dyson Ball was not around yet when I purchased mine, and considering that it cost $600 plus the god-awful tax of 15% I will sure have it for as long as possible.

I love my Dyson Pet! I do agree though about it needing repairs, but I will say that the Dyson company is more than helpful in arranging repairs and covering the cost. I have had 2 minor things fixed since buying it 4 years ago. It is heavy so I am considering a Roomba for the daily maintenance. Also, I do not think the Dyson upright is effective on wood floors. I use a microfiber mop to sweep all the debris into a pile, then I use the Dyson attachment hose to suck up the pile. In fact, I find myself using the hose on most of my house!

I've had the Dyson DC26 (canister) for a few months and am thrilled with it so far. It's the perfect size for our small apartment, stows away in the closet easily, the suction is incredible, and the components and attachments seem high quality. But the best part is how easy it is to empty. No gross bags or filters. The dirt just plops out into the garbage.

We have a multi-vacuum approach in our house and it works well.
- Mint duster mop (http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?SKU=126822) for wet/dry mopping our hardwoods

- Electrolux Engorapido Stick Vac (http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?SKU=16850870&) for picking up large, particulate dirt

- Bissell Hand-Held Pet Hair Eraser (www.amazon.com/Bissell-Eraser-Handheld-Vacuum-33A1/dp/B001EYFQ28) for removing cat hair from curtains and furniture

We have a big, heavy vacuum that gets hauled out for major cleaning but the three above get lots of use and keep the well-used parts of the house nice and clean.

I'm very happy with my SEBO canister vacuum. The salesman told us the motors are the same used in Mieles, but the brand was traditionally manufactured for commercial purposes (e.g. hotels) so the body et al are a bit sturdier. Plus the bumper all around the canister body (the "airbelt") is just too smart

I absolutely LOVE my Miele Callisto. i have had it for several years and still appreciate how wonderful it is every time I use it.

@Rainarana - I have a blue heeler too! It is ridiculous how much he sheds throughout the year. Just looking at him you wouldn't think that it is possible for that much hair to come off of a dog that size.

We killed 2 vacuums in 2 years before getting a Dyson Animal about 4 or 5 years ago, and it has been great. I use it on carpeting, hardwood and tile - and the attachments work really well for vacuuming out the car. My only real complaint is that it is heavy, and can be difficult (atleast for me) to haul up and down stairs if you have to constantly change floors.

I use an Eureka ReadyForce Bagged Canister Vacuum, 900A.

Bought on Amazon for just $60, and its perfect for hard floors & a couple of rugs. Super portable, very effective, and comes with a very long extension for dusting.

My Miele. It is the most important appliance in the house. It was worth the money.

I have more of a question than a comment. I've been surprised at how many people have mentioned using their vaccums on hardwood floors. The guy who installed my hardwood floor told me to to not use a vaccum because the beater bar would eventually destroy the floor's finish. I mostly swiffer the floor, vaccum the rugs, and sometimes use a Hoover that doesnt' have a beater bar, but it is not great for getting into all the areas I need it to for dog hair. Any ideas? Thank you.

two years ago i was looking for a good vacuum. i had my eyes on the dyson at first, but in all the forums I found myself in there were a lot of people screaming for Miele.
I ended up with one and have been super happy with it. Personally I think canister vacs are the way to go. The size and weight make it easy to whip around the house, which makes me vacuum more than I thought I might. It works so very well that it will suck up small socks and keep going for more.
I mainly use this vacuum on wood floors and to dust everything else with. I only have a couple of rugs that I usually shake outside.
The downside of the Miele is that their website makes it hard to decipher which model has what. At least two years ago it was that way. It seems like you can basically get whatever combo you want. I have the Polaris and love it.

@Meggs - Canister vacuums don't generally have a beater bar and they come with attachments specifically for edging and corners which are also great for cobwebs and trim. And many also adjust for carpet or hard floors.

DYSON STOWAWAY!!! Throughout the years I've had my share of vacuum cleaners. Starting with my Regina Electrikbroom and now finally to my Dyson. Still at the top of my lists of favorites is my Kirby and thanks to a good friend and a garage sale, I know have a Kirby G6 added to the collection. I'm a happy lil guy now!

We have 2 free range bunnies living in the house and needed a vacuum that could pick up stray hay without immediately dying. We went through four vacuums in 1 year before buying a Shark Navigator bagless upright vacuum from Woot.com for $80. The vacuum picks up anything from bits of litter to long pieces of hay to, I mistakingly found out, pages from a phone book. It is completely modular and there is no part of the vacuum you can't get to to pull something out of. That was key for us, even though with the Shark we rarely have to anyway. Almost two years and probably about 20 pounds of hay later it is still going strong. Highly recommended!

I never thought I could love a vacuum, but I LOVE my Dyson Animal. We have a (short haired) black dog and white carpets. I use it on my hardwood floors too (beater brush turned off). Plus the upholstery attachment is fantastic.

A Miele, hands down.

i'm with edin. Miele, no contest. best engineered hose/attachments - gets under the lowest beds, furniture. my latest purchase is the Pisces model for 5K sf paver/stone house with many large area rugs. canister vacs are light years better than uprights.

AAAKid: Consumer Reports says canister vacs for hardwoods. Their "best buy" is the Kenmore Progressive. I have had one for 3 years, have only hardwood and tile, and love it! There is usually some sort of sale and you can get extra $$ off with a Sears card.

As for the "don't use vacuums on hardwoods", with the Progressive you can turn the beaters off.

I could not go without our Kirby Heritage II. It's from the late 1980s and was purchased off of Craigslist for less than $75. We have four cats and one very furry dog so keeping up with the shedding can be difficult without a good vacuum. Our floors are hardwood and we have large area rugs in most rooms. The Kirby is the best vacuum I've ever used and I thought an expensive new Panasonic I had a few years ago was going to be hard to top. The Kirby's are heavy but they come with a ton of attachments and are virtually indestructible. The shampoo attachment works wonders twice a year when I drag all the large room size rugs out on the deck for a deep cleaning. The roller arm has bristles that will pick up every bit of fur and the suction is always strong. The fact that a 26 year old vacuum is still working so well amazes me. If I ever needed to replace this workhorse I will look for another Kirby.

I bought a hoover Elite Rewind a few years back (primarily because of the integrated cord rewind) and have been VERY happy with it. Not only did I pay less than $100 (it was on sale plus a store coupon), but it has withstood quite a bit of abuse from 2 kids and a dog. It is heavy, and cleaning the filter is kind of gross (as with any bagless), but my floors are CLEAN and it is a great vacuum for getting dust and lint out of tight corners and behind appliances. Well worth the money.

MIELE, MIELE, MIELE. My hubby and I both had each a miele, and have had them for over 15yrs without a problem - our respective mothers do too, our SIL do, our entire families do, some for 25 years. Miele is a kind a vacuum cleaner that you buy for life.

I think people mostly buy DYSON bcs they think it is hip and it will reflect their personality - Miele doesn't do that - it is just a reliable, quiet, workhorse...

Oreck. Performs as well or better than any heavy duty vacuum and it's so light that I don't mind taking it out for any mess. LOVE.

I love my Roomba. I won't go back to vacuuming EVER. I have hardwood floors, and it's magic for me to see them clean when I did practically nothing.

I have to clean the brushes, replace the filter, and empty the dust bin, but other than that, it's just a matter of avoiding the room the Roomba is in to evade the noise.

I read somewhere their Roomba broke. It brought panic to my thoughts. I really wouldn't want to care for a house without one. I got mine free with points on a credit card, and I have dedicated the points on that card for the next Roomba.

I have an older Miele with the motorized wand for carpets. Its nice because it has a switch that you can shut off the brush when vacuuming hard floors. I like the cloth like bags that seal up as you remove them from the machine, no mess to clean up. I vacuum once a week and the bags seem to last forever for me. I've had this vacuum for 6 years with no problems. My mother has the same model since 2000 and has only ever had routine maintenance on it once. I will only buy a Miele. Plus, I believe the products we have in our home should work well and be aesthetically pleasing.

miele miele miele miele miele miele. almost can't go wrong with any of their models (but do check out the variants online). mine isn't the highest-end model, but it could suck the wood off the floor if I let it (I have hardwoods, with low-pile area rugs, but my version can be dialed up for high pile rugs, too).

Three years ago i spent a fortune for a Rainbow. The best spent money EVER. Once you get your house cleaned, I can never use another cleaner...

Wow! I can't believe how many comments there are about the humble vacum. We have the Dyson Animal and it's really, really good. The only thing is that my hair gets tangled around the spinning part of the carpet attachment. We also have an Electrolux Rechargable Ergorapido, which I use to clean up the kitchens, bathrooms and window sills (flies aargh!!) midweek.

My family has always used Oreck. I have a hand-me-down from my mom and it does the job. I also have a frenchie, it picks up his fur with out any problems. I love that it's light weight & it seems like they never die.

My house is mainly laminate though, so I use a large washable microfiber mop. Way cheaper then buying Swiffer dry mops.

Sometimes i'll go around with my little $15 Dirt Devil upright to pick up dust/dog hair.

Apartment Therapy, can you do a discussion like this on the best Steam mops? My fiance and I want to register for one and are not sure which one is best. I'd love to hear what the readers have to say.

I have the Miele Delphi.
It works amazingly well on my hardwood floors, area rugs, 2 cats and allergies.

Dyson Animal (and not at ALL because it's "hip" -- it just works!) (But it's the old one, and it is heavy.)

Our new house has a central vac.(We still use the Dyson in the bunny zone.) For the hardwood, I just use the flat felt edged attachment that doesn't have a beater bar. We thought having a central vac would be so wonderful, but the darned hose is so huge and bulky (25' long) that it's as big a chore to haul around as the Dyson. However, the tank for the thing is in the garage, and we only have to empty it a couple of times a year. No bags. (Vacuums that require bags are into "aftermarket profits"-- never again!)

After moving to San Francisco from Europe, after a lot of research, I ended up buying the same vacuum I had in Finland, the Electrolux UltraSilencer Green. It's small, but oh so efficient. Has a good filter, which are easy to find (the temporary handmedown Eureka vacuum we had before that had no bags or filters available anywhere, ended ordering them with a hefty delivery fee from a specialty store online). AND the green model, while not the cutest color ever (black & green), is mostly postconsumer waste, and cradle-to-cradle. How awesome is that?

And it's not as pricey as a Miele.

I have a Miele that I is still going strong after 8 years which I use to thoroughly dry clean. I also have had a Bissell Big Green for avwhile now that i think is a good wet cleaning vac for the money, but not without flaws. I wrote a review on Amazon, where I bought it because it was the best price (sale, plus free shipping) http://www.amazon.com/review/R1II0KB8KLXKSJ/ref=cm_cr_pr_perm?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B000VD5TGG&nodeID=&tag=&linkCode=

I have a dog that sheds a lot and I couldn't live without my Miele. I have a bottom of the line model but it performs great and I have never had an issue with it. I will only buy Miele from here on out.

Miele, aboslutely. I replaced my exhausted Hoover Wind Tunnel with a Miele Olympus (an entry-level Miele @ about $300) and entered a whole new world. The suction, the quality of construction, its flexibility of movement--the thing is amazing. A friend of mine has a Dyson which seems clunky and unable to get into corners, furniture, on top of doorways. I totally love my Miele!

We're currently in the market for a vac. Been thru several vac brands, some more than once, returned a couple including a Dyson which lasted < 2 wks. Never again. Leaning toward Electrolux as we've been using a hand-me-down from parents for 20+ yrs on our vehicles and it's still going strong and does an excellent job .(Unfortunately, most of it 'disappeared' in a move yrs ago & all that's left it the vac itseltf + the crevice tool). That said, we borrowed my parents' Rainbow to do a deep clean - carpet, rugs, tile, hardwood plus shampooing carpet & upholstery - and were HORRIFIED at the filth we removed from our CLEAN house. Not seeing a Rainbow in our immediate future but if it's within your budget, you should stop reading this post and take one for a test drive without further ado. There is no comparable vac. Too bad it won't get me to work & back every day or it would be our next purchase.

Dear Kozy11,

This is my first time posting, but I wanted to share my experiences/adventures in choosing a steam mop. I realize this isn't the correct place for it, but I'm not sure if and when AT will do a steam mop version of this post...
1. I tried the bissell steam mop because I owned the bissell little green carpet shampoo machine. It was whisper quiet and did a great job cleaning, but the handle design wasn't ergonomic. I could only hold it a certain way and so after cleaning, my hand would actually ache a bit. The mop cannot stand uprigt on its own (has to be leaned on something). Also, I noticed that the water tank did drip. While I'm not sure if a drip and a leak are interchangeable issues, I remembered that my bissell little green leaks (although it does a good job cleaning) and so, I returned it.

2. I next purchased a dirt devil steam mop because I own a dirt devil vacuum and it performs very well (see how I think here? :) ) It was a cute little thing and cleaned well and could stand upright on its own. It did hiss once the steam was generated which seemed noisy compared to the silent bissell, but the deal breaker was the tiny water tank. By the time I used it on just my 6x12 foot kitchen alone the tank was empty and the mop started to smell like burning plastic! I didn't want to have to keep filling the tank multiple times during a single mop session and so I returned it.
3. I then purchased a shark at BBB. I asked the salesgirl and she said that this is the one steam mop that never gets returned and that the BBB salespeople buy this mop too. I took it home and have decided that this one is here to stay. It also makes a hissing noise when the steam is generated and like the others is does a great job cleaning, but I like it because it swivels quite well and the mop head can be flipped over and used, so thats like getting to use the same microfibre pad for twice as long before washing it. Also unlike the others, the pad has a bumpy (but soft) surface, not a smooth surface (like swiffer pads for eg). I like this because it provides a very soft scrubbing. It does not stand upright on its own, but the tank is big enough to get a good thorough clean done.

And since this is AT, I should also say that it has the nicest design IMHO. Its white and silver and quite sleek.

I hope this helps you.

I have owned the $80 (CDN) Dirt Devil bagless upright (12amp) since 2005 and that thing just keeps going. Its a bit clunky, but not as huge as some of the uprights I've seen (even Dyson), but still has really good suction power. Since I decided to grow up and start cleaning regularly, I've found all the attachments to be useful too, especially along the edges and stairs. I do wish it had a smaller head/mouth/ cleaning face whatever, to get into corners better, but since I'm already revisiting those areas with the attachment, I'm ok with it.

I admit I have freely ogled my friend's Dyson -- it seems so sexy and sleek and compact. She lent me her new dyson; I'm not sure which one it was, but it was really compact and and I was surprised to discover that 1) the compact lightweight dyson was just as heavy as my clunky DD and 2)my clunky DD did just as good a job as the Dyson, atleast during that one session I tried them both in separate areas of the same room. Dyson lovers, please don't harrumph or eye roll :)

I hate to admit it but I sometimes wish my DD would get sick and pass peacefully leaving me free to acquire a sexy new cleaning companion. Then I realize I'm spending too much time on AT and turn the computer off to go clean something.

I would've posted the model but I haven't seen my vacuum in over 2 months thanks to a moron who borrowed it. All I can say is it's purple and the best ever of all the vacuums I've ever used/owned. Maybe AT can write about people who borrow household items and don't return them? I miss my vacuum.

I own the shark navigator, I love it. I compared it to my miele and the navigator picks up what the miele leaves behind, which is not a lot more, but I payed a 3rd of the price at BBB.

Miele is superior in every way. Essential for hardwoods, pet hair, dust. A total investment, to be sure. But they last 20 years no problem. I've had mine two years. When I need to buy one in 2030, I will buy another Miele, the end.

I second the vote for Henry. He is a British institution, a fond childhood memory (most schools use them) and the hoover of choice for builders/professional cleaners. He has the best suction and very little heat or noise is produced, unlike some other hoovers I have used. Plus his happy smiling face encourages you to hoover and makes the whole task a lot more fun. You can get mugs with his face on them and mini toy versions too.

Note: I am British, so I use "hoover" as a generic verb/name for a vacuum cleaner.

Miele! I had a Dirt Devil can vac for years and years before it finally gave out. I went with the Miele Sirius and couldn't believe how much better this vacuum was! It is almost whisper silent, doesn't push dust back out into the room, is light and easy to move around. My mother and sister made fun of me for how much the replacement bags & HEPA filters were, but I have a small apartment, only wood floors and they last quite some time.

There is nothing not to love about my Miele!

Dyson DC26. Small, light and easy to store making it great for tiny spaces. It is easy to maneuver, has great suction and is able to pick up all the cat hair and dust from hard wood and carpet. Couldn't ask for more... except maybe a lower price tag.

Rainbow. Hands down! You'll realize your "clean house" was never really clean.

We've had a Miele for 12 years now -- purchased by my then boyfriend as a gift to me. (It was a sign!) Our White Star is still going strong. We upgraded it to an electric hose when we bought our house, and it has been a great tool in combating the daily fight against dust, dog hair and lego!

Shark Navigator: Suction of a Miele/Dyson without the high cost.

I always grew up in homes with central vac systems, and vacuuming was "my job" so that's what I was always used to (and I honestly don't like them). When I moved out I suddenly realized I had no freakin clue about "regular" vacuums and this foreign concept of having to change bags! I followed my sister's advice and got a dyson (her old yellow model has been going strong for 6ish years). I got a refurbished dyson ball (I highly recommend refurb'd dysons, much cheaper, basically new, and they still come with a warranty) and have had it for only about a year but I'm reasonably pleased with it. It doesn't seem very heavy at all to me and does a great job picking up cat fur in the carpet. We have white carpeting and it can always pick up dirt and hair that I can't even see. You can also turn off the rotating brush part for doing the hard floors.

Plus let's face it, I am a sucker for well designed things, even if it is only a vacuum!

I just moved to a new place and wanted to get a great vacuum at a great price. I did a bunch of research and found that a lot of the expensive vacuums aren't the best. If you have allergies you should get a bagged vacuum with HEPA. If you don't you can go with a regular bagless without HEPA. Make sure has both carpet and floor settings, has multiple attachments and a powerful motor (at least 10 amps). Make sure it also has a warranty. You don't really need dirt sensors and retractable cord.

If you're trying to get the best value like I was a good reference is Frugal5.com, they list the best for the price to be:

Ovente Cyclonic ST2000
BISSELL Zing 22Q3
Dirt Devil M085590 Featherlite
Hoover WindTunnel UH70105
Eureka AirSpeed AS1051A

The Miele S194 Quickstep is great.

I have been looking for a lightweight but quality electric broom that I can use on my hardwood floors and area rugs. I love Miele products so I gave this one a try.
IT IS THE BEST!! I can use it for my upholstery also and I love the telescopic wands.

More info: http://ibookmarkedit.com/miele-quickstep-universal-vacuum-cleaner-s194/

I had a Dyson animal that fell apart after 5 years - lost suction, developed gaps in the fittings where dust could blow through, and plastic parts started snapping off. My new vac is a Miele. Between the two, the Miele is quieter and the bag actually gets more dust out of the air which matters because of my allergies. The Dyson was much heavier and harder to push around the room, but it tended to get the hair and dirt off in one pass, the Miele tends to take a few swipes to really clear everything up. The Dyson scratched my hardwood floors a few times, so far Miele has been much better. Neither vacuum could handle thick shag rugs. From my experience, I would prefer the Miele.