Kenmore - KW3010 Bagged Canister Vacuum

If you are used to cordless fitting into small spaces and being lighter in the hand, you will probably prefer a canister over an upright. They do have the canister itself you have to pull behind you, but with wheels and modern lightweight materials, it's not a big deal, just something to get used to so you aren't wacking into the edges of walls or running over the cat, lol. You're going to want bagged for continued performance. Bagless are good, while they are good. But as you've seen, it doesn't last. Filters clog, cyclones clog, dust gets into the motor and slows it down, it's a whole mess. They require frequent emptying and regular maintenance for continued performance, and even then you are slowing the downhill slide, not stopping it. Bagged vacuums, you replace the bag a couple times a year, cut thread or hair off the brushroll as needed, maybe replace a belt once a year, that's all. Currently Kenmore are generally your best bet for a canister on a budget, they have a range of models with similar performance, and a good assortment of prices, generally based on various features like hose length, cord length, included attachments, onboard attachment storage, etc, not based on one performing better or worse than the other. Their standard models with powerheads range from around 200 to around 500 dollars, depending on the features you are looking for. We currently have the lowest of the low in their model line, not even one of the standard models, the KW3010, it's straight suction only, no powerhead, manual cordwinder, as basic a vacuum as you can get, currently around 65 dollars on Amazon. But it has amazing suction, does great for bare floors and above floor cleaning, large bags, long cord, and it does a decent job on carpet with the included nozzle, though a bit better with the Wessell Werk tk286 turbo nozzle we bought to use with it. (Personally I feel like the standard nozzle does better for deep down dust and grit, and the turbo does better for pet hair, surface dirt, and carpet grooming, so we alternate which one we use, sometimes one, sometimes the other).

Well. There's the filtration, the cord length (plus the handy cord winder), the tools and wands (most shop vacs have a straight wand at the end of the hose,instead of a curved one, very awkward to use with a floor tool, and they generally don't include a proper floor tool), the shape/size (most are big, tall and top-heavy), and the noise, shop vacs are LOUD. However, Numatics are terribly overpriced in the US for what they are, but there are more affordable options. I got the Kenmore kw3010, made by Cleva/Vacmaster, for about 60 dollars on Amazon( it's on sale right now, normal price is a bit higher, about 80, but still much cheaper than a Henry). It's made specifically to compete with Henry, has the same cordwinder, similar size and design, and can even use Henry bags. Absolutely love it. My only complaints are the hose is a bit stiff, but not terribly so, and it doesn't include an upholstery tool. I ordered an upholstery tool and a better dusting brush (it includes one, but with rather stiff bristles), for about 7 dollars each, and that solved that. It does well with a Wessell Werk turbo brush, if you feel you will need one for carpets or rugs also. We have 4 shedding dogs, and lots of carpet. The included Wessell Werk combo floor tool is one of their economy versions done in all plastic, but it does a fine job for us, better than some generic ones that use metal. We got the Wessel Werk turbo brush for around 50 dollars online, but only use it about once a week, just to give the couple of plush carpets a bit of a fluff, and get any stray hairs the regular tool may have missed. Even with the extra bits we purchased it was a fraction of the price we would have paid for a Henry. Link to the Kenmore we bought https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.amazon.com/Kenmore-KW3010-Lightweight-Efficient-Household/dp/B0BSBVSNCM&ved=2ahUKEwiDpv_Vo_aLAxXXk4kEHVQ6NToQFnoECBsQAQ&usg=AOvVaw1lJ7hsrGpyG86Wp48_VvmT

Now that Sears is mostly gone, I'm not sure if this is good advice, but the Kenmore canister vacs are a great budget ($100 to $200 cheaper) alternative to Miele. I own two. The first is from 1998 and a friend borrowed it and her kid vacuumed up a bowl of dog water and then let the vacuum sit for a week, so it makes a weird noise now - but it still works great as a garage/car vac. The second I bought in 2015, and it is still great. Motorized beater for rugs and carpet, floor and brush and crevice attachments, HEPA filter bags, HEPA filter on the exhaust, very easy to find third-party bags and parts. Manufactured by Panasonic, who also sells vacuums under their own name.

For household cleaning, I prefer a canister vac. I have a Kenmore (Panasonic) with cloth HEPA filter bags and a pleated HEPA filter over the exhaust. It has a motorized carpet beater brush, but we got rid of most of our rugs, so that only comes out for entryway rug cleaning. With the long wand, it is easy to reach the ceiling. Vacuuming the tops of bookcases requires standing on something and getting the canister off of the floor, but that's nbd.

Now that Sears is mostly gone, I'm not sure if this is good advice, but the Kenmore canister vacs are a great budget ($100 to $200 cheaper) alternative to Miele. I own two. The first is from 1998 and a friend borrowed it and her kid vacuumed up a bowl of dog water and then let the vacuum sit for a week, so it makes a weird noise now - but it still works great as a garage/car vac. The second I bought in 2015, and it is still great. Motorized beater for rugs and carpet, floor and brush and crevice attachments, HEPA filter bags, HEPA filter on the exhaust, very easy to find third-party bags and parts. Manufactured by Panasonic, who also sells vacuums under their own name.

The comparison of a 120 upright vs a pretty decent Kenmore canister would have to do with some of the following: Ease of use under furniture, dining room chairs/table, etc. Being able to turn off the rotating brush for bare floor. Being able to change heads for bare floors, area rugs, etc.(can't with an upright) Length of hose, length of electric cord. Auto rewind cord on the Kenmore. Quality of hose, and of other attachments. Decibel level. I'm betting the Kenmore can take more out of the carpet than the 120 upright, but it's hard to quantify. Cleaner air with the Kenmore Hepa filtration. There is probably some other factors, but the bottom line is, are these things worth it to you to spend more on the Kenmore?

My Kenmore canister vacuum was so versatile. It could easily get under the couch and coffee table, had all the attachments and the cord auto retracted into the vacuum. It was also a very simple design which meant that it lasted a really long time. I now have a Dyson and hate it.

Kenmore canister-- affordable and a BEAST

I’ve been using a Kenmore canister vacuum for over 18 years now and it’s great with hardwood, rugs, and pet hair.

Commercial tools and appliances tend to be recommended. So bagged vacuums that hotels use regularly, washers and dryers that laundromats use, tools and appliances that restaurants and commercial kitchens use. I live in the states, didn't know that Miele made vacuums. I have a 20 year old Kenmore canister vacuum still going strong.

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

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.

Sorry, you don't want corded canister. We've had 2 Kenmore canisters for 25 years, 2 story, 2500 sq ft. and they work wonderfully.

I own 2 regular kenmore corded canister bag vacuums bought for \~$320 each. The vacuum rolls around following you. They have a beater head for carpet and another for hardwood. Nothing fancy, but both heads and arms go flat to allow you to vacuum under furniture. The suction is scary strong and they have not had any problems for the past 20 years. They will try and suck up anything in or near their path.

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.

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