DC32

I bought a Dyson DC32 "animal pro" corded model back in 2011 that had to cope with masses of Husky mix floof and did so without a hiccup for more than a decade. No complaints about at least the older Dyson models here.

Well, it depends on build quality. The DC32 was still in the era of Dyson where they made things with really thick plastics and quite strong motors. I don't know which Thomas you bought, but cheap vacuums are cheap vacuums regardless of age, and the Dyson was a premium cleaner in its day. I wouldn't call Dyson "built to last", but you can do much worse than a DC32.

Same, I've got a 10+years old DC32 Dyson Animal, and it still works great.

Maybe a battery powered canister style vacuum. I still have a Dyson canister vacuum that is great but I never use it because I hate having to plug and unplug it.

I actually think I used the wrong term. I just meant the regular style vacuum. But I think after a quick Google that's called an upright style. The canister seems to be like the old rainbow my grandmother had. I agree I wouldn't want that. But like a regular old standing vacuum that worked on an ego battery so you didn't need to plug and unplug it to move around the house would be great.

Nothing wrong with using a shop vac as a regular vaccuum cleaner. it gets the job done. I think they are just designed to work in dirty messy shops, so they are bigger, and maybe don't have as good dust filters on them. When indoors, you want to avoid blowing dust and allergens all over the place by using a vaccuum with a hepatitis filter. You can use a regular vaccuum with hos attachments to suck up cobwebs and clean fan blades and stuff. Yes, we have two vaccuums. actually 3, but who's counting? A Dyson cordless handheld. and a Dyson canister vaccuum. We like having one on each level. I HATE dragging that thing up the stairs.

Dyson canisters are designed to sit on stairs. https://www.vacuumwizard.com/vw-content/uploads/2015/10/dyson-dc23-stairs.jpg With an upright for stairs I would just be using it normally not trying to use the hose with an attachment of any kind.

Shark! I’ve had Bissell, Dyson, and Shark. The Bissell I had was an early bagless model, and it was an absolute pain to empty out. I replaced it with a Dyson canister that the sales guy at Bed Bath and Beyond sold me on. I discovered those were a PITA when you have stairs, so I replaced it with a Shark this year. The Shark is easy to empty out and has crazy suction. I’m moving out of the townhome I rented for the past year before buying my house, and even though I haven’t lived in the townhouse in over a month, the Shark keeps pulling up dust and cat hair.