Kenmore - 200 Series BC4002

I got a Kenmore 200 series for $170 and I LOVE it! It’s so good!!

Kenmore 200 series are about $200. Miele C1 with pure suction is about $280. Kenmore isn’t as good but it does have a powered brush head at this price. If you only have hardwoods, I would really suggest trying to find a Miele.

I do not recommend the eureka power speed. It does not have a legitimate filtration system and will blow dust right back into the air. Shark isn’t the most recommended machine on this market but some are far better than others. The Navigator Lift-Away NV350 series or NV360 (Walmart) are actually decent cleaners inexpensive if maintained properly. There’s a few things to keep an eye on and they can last quite a long time. 1. Keep the lint screen in the dust bin clean. Hair can sometimes wrap around it. It’s easy to access through the top of the bin. 2. Keep the brush roll free of hair. There is a built-in groove that allows you to easily cut hair. 3. Filters. Purchase a jumbo pack online for $20. Wash the foam and felt pre-motor filters once a month and just replace them every 3. Do not wash the post motor HEPA filter, and replace every 6 month I’ve found these to work well on carpet and hard floor. There is a suction reducing valve on the hose handle that makes it work well on tricky rugs. The Kenmore Intuition upright is another great inexpensive choice. It’s bagged and eliminates the hassle of constant bagless maintenance. Also look at a Kenmore 200 or 400 series canister. Canisters are better for lots of different floor surfaces. You can get a Kenmore pet powermate mini power nozzle that fits the 200 / 400 for extra tough stuff and the fitting it uses is generic so lots of attachments will work with it. I think this is probably going to be your best bet. The 400 series goes on sale online for $220 if you can stretch

There is no such thing as a “self cleaning brushroll” without compromising something. Hair still wraps in the bearings and that’s where the damage really happens. Most self cleaning brushrolls compromise on deep cleaning. The best brushroll for hair wrap is the SEBO cassette design With the variety of flooring and needs, I’m thinking a Kenmore 200 or 400 series might be your best bet. Bagged vacuums have more airflow, lower maintenance, better filtration, etc. pet hair compacts in the bags. With so many different needs, I think this might be the best bet for $200. The difference between the 200 and 400 are an adjustable wand, the power switch is on the handle, adjustable suction, and better filtration.

That’s a tough budget tbh. You need something corded and bagged (contrary to what you might think, a bagged vacuum actually compresses the fur as opposed to bagless which actually fluffs up the fur, so you won’t be burning through a bag every vacuum session. It should last you at least 1-2 months. If you can stretch a little, a Kenmore 600 series pop and go. The pet powermate is worth the premium alone. It amazing with fur on upholstery.

Kenmore is your best bet. I’m not a fan of the 200 series (although it cleans well) it’s very compromised (short cord and hose). Look at the 400 series or 600 series if you can catch it on a sale. Or a Kenmore Intuition BU4050 if you like uprights.

Yep you’re on the right track. If you can get the carpet out first, you could do a simplicity Jill (it’s better built than the mighty mite) neither of these will do carpet well. Or if not grab a Kenmore 200/400 series.

The Kenmore 400 is a solid model.

It’s great! Not sure of it’s availability in Canada.

I'd go with the Kenmore, the others are really going to struggle to lift pet hair and dirt from the rugs.

Ah ok, that one still has a motorized brush head and will suit your needs better than the other two I think.

Best all around option in that price range would be a Kenmore 200 or 600 series canister with the motorized powerhead. Very good performance on all surfaces and all the tools and flexibility you'd need to clean anywhere. But, they don't last forever. 5-10 years probably if you take care of it, but they aren't the most robust machines. To get something better and more durable we would be looking more 600+ range. The reason I haven't recommended the miele models within your price range is because they lack motorized power brushes, essential for deep carpet cleaning. Even if in every other way a miele C1 pure suction is superior to the Kenmore.

A lot of cheaper upright vacuums don't work on hard floors because there is no way to turn the brush roller off. This means the rapid brush rotation tends to kick debris around. Not to mention being really loud, wearing out the brush faster, and risking scratching the floors. I'd look at a Kenmore 200 series canister. It's a solid budget pick and it's in budget. You can shut it's brush off for hard floors, and it included a dedicated hard floor brush which is even better. If you want something even less expensive and lighter, but with less functionality, the eureka mighty mite is around $80 and is a good simple hard floor vacuum. It has good suction, no rotating brush so it won't flick debris around. But it lacks the cord rewind and brush roller for carpets, which the Kenmore has.

Ignore the purple one from walmart, its the same price as the orange one on amazon, but comes with fewer and worse small attachments. It's not a good deal. The main difference between the two on Amazon is the blue one has a variable suction adjustment built into the handle. This let's you lower the suction motor down, for cleaning throw rugs, dusting drapes, etc. Or allows it to vacuum really dense rugs. Really underrated feature imo. The orange one on Amazon is mostly the same minus the suction adjustment. Personally I'd get the blue one off Amazon but if you don't think the suction adjustment would be useful, the orange one is fine.

Ah sorry, the purple one on Amazon is the 600 series. It's a bit larger and more capable, with more attachments than the 200. It sort of goes like this, 200 orange is most basic, then the 200 series blue, then the purple 600, then the silver top of the line one. What kinds of floors are you looking to clean? This will determine how much a miele or sebo would run you for your situation.

Hmm, to be honest I'm almost stumped. Normally I go to a Sebo Felix, since it has a variable suction control switch right at your hand. But it's not a cheap machine, and it's not particularly lite. My other go-to option is a Kenmore 200 series canister, one version of which has variable suction. But it's a canister style. Otherwise very good machine at a more budget friendly price. Stick vacs are a lot more hit or miss. While many dyson models have variable suction they also tend to stick down to dense rugs, even on lower power. I'm a little reluctant to say this honestly, but a shark stick, corded or cordless may be a reasonable answer in your case. The corded sticks tend not to clamp down too much (partly because they don't have a ton of suction). And same goes for the cordless models. This might be one of the few cases where something like a shark rocket corded, or a shark cordless may actually be a viable choice since your rugs sound tricky. Avoid models with the "duoclean" rollers, flexible tubes, etc, keep with the simple ones and they should work OK for a time. I'm open to hearing other's opinions as well, honestly don't like steering people to shark but here we are.

Kenmore is decent. In your budget thats probably the best option. Something like a 200 or 600 series canister with the motorized powerhead. Good on carpets and hard floors alike. That being said kenmore is no longer made by panasonic and quality has definitely gone down some. I still recommend them as theyre still worth it for the price in most cases. Parts availability may not be fantastic but unfortunately thats the case for basically everything in this price range. I really wish it weren't the case but that's where we're at. Not trying to be too much of a downer but want to temper expectations a little.

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.

That’s a great cleaner! Avoid Shark (as ever)

Kenmore 200 for a canister, Kenmore Elite for an upright

Kenmore 200-series. Not as good, but similar for the price.

This or the Kenmore 200-series canister - good value for the money.

In your situation with pet hair and mostly hard floors, a canister style machine would be the best fit. A powered floor head is likely needed since your rugs are probably packed with embedded pet hair since cordless vacuums, especially Shark, are very ineffective in cleaning them. For the actual hard flooring a more simple floor head without a brush roll will work best. The Kenmore 200 series gets really close to that $200 price point (currently $220 on Amazon) and may even come down in price with upcoming holiday sales. It includes the floor heads you need to get things clean. The Kenmore canisters are probably the best value around at the moment and will blow any cordless vacuum out of the water. Far better suction, agitation, capacity, versatility and filtration.

They're the same machine. Vacuums marketed as "pet" vacuums typically just have a paw print stamped on them and sometimes a slightly different accessory set, performance is identical otherwise.

Here’s an even better option and it’s on sale. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075F4YTVF/ref=sspa_mw_detail_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9waG9uZV9kZXRhaWw

Yes, the 200 Series is still the model that will meet your needs. It is still a canister vacuum with hepa bags and a carpet powerhead. The difference is the cord is a little shorter and the power cable for the powerhead is clipped to the wand instead of covered.

You're welcome. Always buy what you can afford. My co-worker said "don't be house poor", you know when your house costs so much you can't afford to do anything else. The Kenmore 200, 400, & 600 Series canisters are a mixed bag. They are the only affordable bagged canisters with carpet powerheads. They clean carpets well enough but the small hard floor brushes bring them down. They're more durable than the Kenmore Intuition but they're also very ancient and their maneuverability has some of the worst canister traits, with only 1 caster wheel it can tip over easily. I don't recommend the 200 because it has a clip on power cord to the wand for the powerhead. The 400 and up have a covered power cord on the wand, so I only recommend the 400 and up.

Someone else asked this earlier, my answer is: [Kenmore 200](https://www.amazon.com/Kenmore-81414-Lightweight-Telescoping-Retractable/dp/B075F4YTVF/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.v4iO7zH6o_0X2Az5THuQWtfMUDyb3wXLNAQIKE6P7qzs48KRASyjz4ZEmRRto4MS_baiguYLCXYsemcCBm9Xvf1d5wkjV7z8hP9TrzC8eBfS68UJL1e-Y3tGxBANMGglPQgvOdxPShc0QllS18CvG63RcFAdmYsG2x6cSuk42HzL5nhWz0BAycdZzAU4NWGtxmxcERCZ03AXgGt46vfEFA.e4Y38bUlfb7CSbFXBSJJX8oNsUWXh31Tbb71wuU6L74&dib_tag=se&keywords=Kenmore%2Bcanister&qid=1751603543&sr=8-3&th=1&psc=1) series. It’s $220 on Amazon right now. (Might drop for Prime Day next week.) It’s not a forever vacuum, but it is a dang good budget cleaner. I bought one when Target was clearancing them, and hot ham, it’s the best $200 I’ve spent on a new vacuum. Again, it’s no Sebo or Miele, but I can’t recommend it enough for $200. I like it more than the upright Kenmore’s someone else recommended. I have one (bought one out of morbid curiosity) and have had to warranty the hose twice because it just keeps crumbling and splitting over 3 years.

For you, I’d actually rec the [Kenmore 600](https://www.ebay.com/itm/133669226311?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=kybo-n08r2-&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=ihh0miwltii&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY)! It’s similar to the 400 but comes with extra tools like a mini motorized brush for pet hair. (Also linked you to their eBay which was $240 earlier this week, looks like it’s back at $299 but you get an extra year of warranty vs Amazon.) The Amazon reviews are all over the board, but I also dislike how Amazon merged reviews of a million different old and new models under the listing. My takeaway as an owner of a 400: as long as you don’t abuse it, vacuum up wet or large objects, yank it viciously, carry the heavy canister base it by the hose, or regularly smash/drop it hard into things 24/7, you’ll be fine. Take care of it and it’ll be fine.

Just don't by a stick one - useless. Get either an upright or a canister corded one - maximum real suction power. I have 2 canister corded vacuums, Kenmore and Panasonic, one for each floor level of our home. Work perfect for hardwood and carpeted.

Just get a regular canister Kenmore or Panasonic vacuum. All those stick and battery vacuums are gimmicks. $300-$500 dollars, will last you forever. Maximum suction, 30' retracting cord, HEPA bag - hose arm and head will go under furniture. I have 2 story home with hardwood and cat. Amazing how much dander a single cat can generate in a day. I vacuum every couple days when I see that thin layer on the floor. Cat's 7 years old, vacuum is 22 years old.

I have a Kenmore canister and the Panasonic equivalent both for 25+ years running fine. Nothing has every broken so parts are no concern. Just replaced the filters every 10 years or when my brain reminds me :D.

Kenmore canister-- affordable and a BEAST

What I was just going to suggest. It's a huge part of the reason I love them.

A canister with hepa filtration, long hose, and all of the attachments. My parents had a kenmore canister that was great for many years.

Just realized she had carpet. My bad, the shopvacs don't have a roller brush, so that probably won't work. Maybe consider a Kenmore canister vac from the recommended list on the automod. I unclog a lot of different vacuums but not many kenmores. Slightly larger hose diameter, plus a ton of suction and a straighter airpath than an upright vac lessen the likelihood of a blockage. They should also be well within budget

We have a shark at work that my boss is obsessed with even though it can’t clean for crap…. To show her I brought in my old Kenmore canister and filled the bag full in one pass of our building. I’ve tried all of them and a nice garage sale or curb side Kenmore canister has always been the best bang for the buck 😂

I have a Kenmore canister from Amazon! On sale it was 450 Canadian

You might like a Kenmore canister vac, the power head is super light and they have wands so you can reach places more easily. Also changing the bag is really easy, and you are only moving the hose around not the weight of the whole machine. Figuring out where to place the canister might be tricky, probably beside your chair on dominant side is best, and you can pull it behind you through doorways. The newer models, the handle is a loop, so you don't have to grip it all that well to use it, and they are strong and quiet. My grandma used a wheelchair a lot in her older years because she fell so frequently, and she had one. Worked pretty good for her because with the hose she could sweep a pretty good sized area without navigating the chair too much. She would stick the canister under the chair and put her foot on it so as she moved the chair, it moved with her. They go under tables and stuff really easily too, and you can actually stick your foot in that loop handle to get under low beds and furniture so you don't have to bend and risk tipping the chair.

You're welcome! They're not really all that expensive, and I think you would really like it. They used to come with separate hard floor brushes which are really nice for pet hair/food/accidental broken glass, etc. I haven't seen one in a store for years, but when we had a sears/Kmart in my town people bought those ALL the time. My mom still has her original one, from 1982 😂. It's absolutely had a hard life and seen better days, it's delegated to their finished basement these days, but surprisingly it still works pretty damn good!

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 bought a $25 used kenmore canister vac, then disassembled and meticulously cleaned it cause I was overwhelmed with the idea of spending a grand on one of a dozen different options. I’m very happy with my purchase, and like hyperfocusing on projects like that.

A Kenmore canister would easily fall under your budget and have a lot of the ergonomic features you need, like lightweight, cord reel, foot pedals, and fingertip controls. Tbh any canister these days have foot pedals and cord rewinds. I'm a Miele fan, but sebos are a better value. If you can get the Sebo k3 from a dealer (usually for under $700) that would be your best bet. You'd use your dominant hand to maneuver the floor head while using your non dominant to pull at the hose to reposition the canister as you go. If you don't have two hands at your disposal pulling the canister and working in sections while surrounding the canister also works. Bonus points if your place is the perfect size for the canister to use only one plug centrally. These canisters tend to have less weight in hand than even stick models (other than the upright style stick models). These canisters will also last 20 years, with each bag filling up every 3-9 months depending on if you have pets and how many people you have at home. Bagless vacuums require deep cleaning and filter maintenance that will aggravate allergies with the aerosolization of fine dust. with bagged models, you simply toss and replace the bag every few months, and replace the filter every 4ish bags (which works out to 2-3 years for a smaller home/family). Sure it's a disposable, but they're made from recycled fibers already and it's a better prospect than buying a subpar machine every few years. It is also just more hygienic. And are the only option for folks with the worst allergies. Sebos work excellently and have good filtration, however Mieles, with their HEPA filter do filter slightly better and function better and more quietly, however they are more expensive. Any Miele with the parquet twister floor tool and seb217 would be right for you. I recommend buying it from a dealer as you can mix and match the floor heads. From a dealer you can get the c3 Kona with the seb217 (instead of the 228 bc it's lighter) for under $850 on sale, and there are sales. You might be able to get the c1 homecare model for cheaper, so ask about that. The cat & dog model is cheaper but you'll want the HEPA filter. Also Miele bags & filters are cheaper than sebos, even if youre using Miele HEPA with the full size machines. Sebo parts are only sold by dealers and they're very expenny. The Miele allergy pack is 8 bags and a heap filter for $55 (~retail for the Miele HEPA or Sebo filters alone). Other than that, I'd say lookout on the used marketplaces for good deals. I got my $1800 Miele for $300, so it's possible. Good luck.

Guys, I bought it and it's working great for me. Thanks again.

Get a bagged kenmore canister.

I would strongly suggest a Kenmore bagged canister on Amazon. Not too pricey and bagged is MUCH better for allergies and pet owners

I'm shocked Kenmore bagged canisters aren't more popular. Ours has been an absolute workhorse for over a decade and it's still strong as hell

My Kenmore would like a word with you. Absolute unit and hardy as hell

I don’t think so. I’ve had Dyson and Shark and the vacuum I have now is my ride or die: HEPA filter disposable bagged Kenmore.

It depends on what you mean by “repairing”. Repairing usually refers to replacing a worn belt, the brush roller gets hair tangled around it on the sides where you can’t cut it and needs to be taken out and cleaned, and the vacuum can get clogged and needs to be cleared out. If you want to do any of that, don’t get a shark, because you can’t open them up to do any of those basic things that you could do on most vacuums 10 years ago. Look at a simplicity, or kenmore for plug in. Or Henry quick for cordless 👍🏼