For years, Consumer Reports has been testing vacuum cleaners head to head. Every update is the same story, for the same effectiveness there is significantly less expensive options and for the same price there is more effective vacuums.

I doubt any of us are dumping a measured amount of talc, sand, and pet hair into carpet before vacuuming and measuring how much is in the cannister or bag after vacuuming. It's not just lifting it out of the carpeting, the filtration system needs to trap it in the cannister/bag rather than putting out a "fog" of talc, sand, and pet dander.

We have had both a Dyson Animal and a Shark Rotator Truepet. Both cleaned the floors equally as well in my opinion. The Shark cost less, has more features, and is a bit more flexible for a variety of uses due to its design.

There are probably others that will do an equally well or better job. As with all things, somebody creates a new technology and then everybody else jumps on board and runs with it.

I bought a refurb Dyson Ball Animal for $279 three years ago and it's been working great. I've got three cats.

 
We've always had 3 dogs, and my wife won't use anything but a Dyson. She will not have a bagger or filter, just dump the canister in the trash. Agreed repairability is not great. The local vacuum repair guy (who just retired and who serviced many brands) would not touch a Dyson, but they were also heavy pushers of HEPA filtered machines for the lines they sold.

I got the Dyson pet stand up vacuum a couple years ago and it has been great. Last year I got the Dyson cordless smaller pet vacuum and love it. I make a joke that if my mother (who passed away a few years ago) had been around and used it, she would put put it in her Will.

Looks like I should take a look at a Shark. Plus, wait until Black Friday.

Thanks for all the responses.

Dyson has made a couple duds in the past but there current line is durable and powerful. Handy vac that they make is top notch.

Got the cheapest Dyson on stick vacuum a couple Black Fridays ago. Very happy.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: sig77,

I thought this video was pretty good.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DK-7X3oSVoA

We are on our second Dyson, this one being the Animal. Our first Dyson had a larger canister, which may not sound like a big deal, but I now must empty the canister when I am half finished with our house. We have a small house and I vacuum every Wednesday.

We bought the Animal because I loved the job our first Dyson did.

While on vacation (with our Dog), I used the Shark that was in our rental's closet. I do not remember the model, but I was very impressed.

My next vacuum will be a Shark.

It appears the prices on the nicer vacuums has come down in the past 18 months.

I have an older dyson animal. Still works like a charm. I hear the newer models at hit and miss.

We have two, a Dyson Ball and an older Dyson upright. Both have been great! If you have a problem and need to call Dyson, their service and help is fantastic. Well worth the extra money, in my opinion.

We had mixed results with dyson and have been through a couple. We thought they worked well until we bought a Miele.

We vacuumed first with our Dyson Animal, then vacuumed again with the Miele and filled up the bag.

We switched.

quote:

Originally posted by tatortodd:
I doubt any of us are dumping a measured amount of talc, sand, and pet hair into carpet before vacuuming and measuring how much is in the cannister or bag after vacuuming. It's not just lifting it out of the carpeting, the filtration system needs to trap it in the cannister/bag rather than putting out a "fog" of talc, sand, and pet dander.

This needs to be restated with emphasis. The vast majority of vacuums leak around every crack and crevice of the cannister and blow substantial dust out of the exhaust. Bagless are the worst, and most aren't even constructed to make an airtight seal around the removable bin. A good beater bar and suction means little if it's just trapping the big stuff and pumping particulate out the other end. A sealed system with bags made of filter media, not simple paper, is the solution. If the inside of the canister is dust free, you're onto something. Miele for us.

I have a Dyson and a Shark. They're both good.

I bought a slightly used Miele canister floor dragger whatchamacallit model to I could have that versatility. It's fine, I like it.

Check out a Miele C model in next Friday's Black Friday sale, and buy it. You won't be unhappy.