Electrolux - Epic 8000

I have had a very heavy Electrolux Epic 8000 canister for 19 years. Bought a Dyson thinking it would work well for in between, and thought it would work well for all the Golden hair on my NEW hardwood floors. The V10 Dyson head was taking the finish off of the tops of some of the beveled edges! I liked the convenience of it, so bought a V15 thinking the fluffy head would not damage my hardwood floors, but it also was doing the same. Returned one V15 thinking it was a fluke. Bought another V15, and the canister seal broke after a month. Returned again to Costco, and never again for any Dyson! My 8000 needs a new hose, and debated on getting that or looking at the store. Vac store had Miele and Sebo, both of which are highly recommended here. Vac store let me take home 2 models to try, the Sebo K3 and E3. The parquet wood floor brush has a better shape than the floor brush for my 8000. I found the smaller size of the K3, and the smaller hose, to maneuver better than the E3. Wish it had a larger bag and a headlight for the carpet brush. Overall happy with the K3. Bought an unused open box unit for $749. My local store recommended the Sebo over Miele, saying the warranty was better. I did not try any of the Miele models. I also like the fact that the Sebo canister models have bumpers around the edges, so they can’t damage furniture, corners, etc. The Sebo K3 would be a bit higher than your price range, and the E3 would be more. Hopefully your local store sells both Sebo and Miele.

You should be able to get a refurbished Electrolux on eBay for $400 or less. I have an 8000 and a 6500, both purchased on eBay, about 20 years ago. The 8000 was traded in to a Vac shop because its elderly owner said it was too heavy. It was like new and a bargain at $300! The 8000 is just like the Guardian, but without the costly hepa filter. It still uses an after filter, and runs cooler and quieter than the Guardian.

The old Electrolux Vacs run forever! I have an Epic 8000 that I purchased on eBay 19 years ago. The filtration is great on mine. I have been using DVC brand bags for mine, but they are not HEPA bags. Looks like they put a new hose on your 2100.

I have wool area rugs and runners. Two of the runners are 80 percent wool and 20 percent cotton, and they are looped style. The instructions said suction only, but that is not enough with 2 Goldens shedding on them. I was using the lowest setting with my old Electrolux 8000. Recently bought a Sebo K3 and switched out the brush roll for the green one. The brush roll on my 8000 was softer than the Sebo standard blue brush roll. The Sebo green brush roll is even softer.

I have a Sebo K3 and an old reliable Electrolux Epic 8000. I bought a Dyson V10 and a V15. Both were returned to Costco. Yes, they are convenient, but otherwise they are crap. Not gentle on rugs or wood floors either.

Used Sebo on Marketplace. Another option, if you can find an Electrolux Epic 8000 that has been refurbished or well cared for. Heavier than the Sebo, and louder, but a really well built reliable long lasting vacuum.

My experience with Dyson was not good. Purchased 4 from Costco. One battery failure, one canister seal broke after a month. The laser fluffy head was taking the finish off some of the beveled edges of my less than 2 year old hardwood floors. Looking at other cordless, none of them had a brush head I would trust with my wood floors. My other vacs are a very old but reliable Electrolux Epic 8000, and a newly purchased Sebo K3. The floor brushes with horsehair bristles are the only thing I can trust to not damage my hickory floors. Or a swiffer.

Fortunately it was Costco, so I was able to return. There is a Electrolux cordless, and an Aerus cordless. Aerus is the original Electrolux company that made mine. I am so used to my 8000, that it is making getting used to the Sebo a bit more difficult. But the floor brushes for the Sebo have a better design than the Aerus ones. So I mostly bought the Sebo for my wood floors. I will never give up my Electrolux. I do wish the Sebo had a headlight for the carpet head…I am used to having one on my 8000.

Perhaps this may be too labour intensive for some, but I have found that the best approach for my cats (short haired but double coated) is more than one good vacuum: 1) a bagless corded vac for heavy cleaning weekly, or twice weekly when they are shedding winter coats. I have the Electrolux 2000w 700 series 2) stick vac for light cleaning morning and night. I have the Electrolux 800 series. This has made it much easier to prevent hair buildup. The small size and light weight feels like less of an effort to zip around quickly for a couple of minutes. 3) daily grooming with a mitt and then shedding comb. I like Wahl tools. 4) a really good hair roller to pick up stray hairs from clothes or linen as you see them. 5) fur resistant lounge and bed covers, and keep dark coloured clothes in garment bags or drawers.

Used Electrolux cannister. Will last longer than you.

My Electrolux canister has a non-powered rug attachment with no brush and it works great on the washable rug.

In some ways, not much would change! Avoid bagless (filter queen, messy to empty), cheaper models would have more reliability problems though vacuums were simpler and easier to repair then. Good quality canister vacuum such as an Electrolux if you have a mix of hard floors and rugs. Electrolux also had better than average filtration for the time and was a bit more compact and easier to pull around than many competitors. Compact/tristar similarly a good option. If you had mostly carpet or prefered to sweep hard floors, a quality upright such as a hoover convertible would be hard to beat. Back when consumer reports was truly excellent (they're hit and miss now), Electrolux usually earned the top rank for canisters and hoover at the top for uprights.

I would really recommend an old Kenmore.  It’s a canister vacuum, you can still buy them new.  However, they show up at goodwill for like 20 bucks.  Replace the bag and filters, clean the roller and you have a really solid machine.  All the attachments are inside the body and it can be stored in a closet or under a bed.  Plus if something happens to it you don’t have to feel bad because it wasn’t super expensive.  Also a Electrolux canister is a great option too.  I will also say a Kirby, but they do take up more space and the hose situation is kinda bizarre.  They are like $1,000 new, but you can get them at the thrift store for like $50 bucks.  Also change the bag and belt on that if you get it.  They are built like a tank so you don’t really need to worry about it getting a little abuse. If you really want something new I think this would work for your situation: https://www.homedepot.com/p/KENMORE-200-Series-Bagged-Canister-Vacuum-Cleaner-BC4002/308593772?MERCH=REC-_-pipsem-_-308593689-_-1-_-n/a-_-n/a-_-n/a-_-n/a-_-n/a Once you get a house/ apartment you can look into a Kirby/Miele/Electrolux.  Just order it on line. Dorms can be a lot on appliances.

I have an Electrolux canister vac for nearly 15yrs. My mom’s had the older model of it for as long as I can remember, probably close to 30 at this point.

I use my old Electrolux or Compact/TriStar (both are canisters & use bags) bcuz I can get under furniture easily & no mess dirt disposal (bag contains the dirt). Also both have a mini power nozzle (Electrolux Sidekick & Wessel Werk HEB160) for vacing upholstery, stairs & 🚗 interiors

Least favorite: Bissell uprights. Every one I've ever used, the end caps for the brush roll has melted. I also find the suction power really lackluster and feel like they scatter more dirt and dust than they actually collect. Rainbow - gigantic pain to use, too high maintenance, and the water is gross AF and messy to deal with Cordless sticks - not powerful enough for my liking, multiple passes to pick everything up and they die too fast. Favorite: Windsor Versamatic, Old school style Electrolux and Kenmore canisters, old school style Hoover uprights, Windsor XP-12. Just good, sturdy, effective machines.

I think the new Electrolux canisters are worth a look. They are light and compact but will outperform a cordless. This sub prefers the sebo and Miele but they are relatively heavy. For those who struggle with a full sized vacuum, we should look at lightweight options that are not crap.