Dyson V6 : was my first stick vacuum,didn't last long
Miele HX2 : awesome, until it broke(not mechanical) and needed a proprietary part.
Ryobi : lots of good reviews, wife complains too bulky and roller partially working.
My work around was buying 2 old school used Dyson DC models and upgrading the battery packs with aftermarket. Heaps of parts around will never buy new again
IMO Dyson = Apple.
I'm in UK, 70m2 split level flat that's 20% carpet.
I bought a Sebo E1 with the premium parquet head to use on the 80% hard floors, and it came with an air-powered head for carpets. It works waaaaay better than my old Vax canister. So this was a straight swap and is stored in its place.
I'm also looking for convenience, while the Sebo E1 is amazing, plugging and unplugging and especially lugging it down a spiral staircase is ok but a hassle to do regularly.
So I bought a used Miele Triflex HX2. It can stand upright on its own and is super light on the hand as it can be assembled with the motor/bin closer to the floor. It is stored in a nook in the kitchen and is largely out of sight.
IMHO, best of both worlds.
Sebo: Felix, E3, or D4.
Miele: Anything with the Electrohead
Go to a shop or two that stock them so you can try it yourself.
It's best to have a corded and bagged vac and then, if you have the budget, buy a cordless. That way you have best of both worlds. The cordless would last a lot longer as it would be secondary/quick ups.
Dyson is the best cordless on the market but like all bagless, needs constant cleaning and maintenance. You could also look into a Miele Triflex HX2 or Duoflex HX1 (needs way more cleaning), or a Henry Quick (the only bagged cordless).
Look at seboshop.co.uk for refurbs, worth calling as well in case they have something that's not yet online.
You could also take a shot at eBay refurbs, some vac repair shops recondition them.
Miele and Sebo are the best brands on the market. You'll want to look for corded and bagged.
From Miele, Triflex HX2 Cat & Dog, or the Triflex HX2 Pro. They have around 60 minutes battery life, automatic flooring detection so it adapts to your hard floor in terms of brush bar power, the Pro comes with two batteries which is probably a bit overkill for a small flat, whereas the pet comes with a motorised brush bar pet tool, which the pet tool I can’t say wether it’s good or not because I don’t have that. I just know Miele do some very good quality and long lasting vacuums that everyone raves about.
From Dyson, considering you’re in a small flat, you’d probably be best with the V12 Detect™ Slim, it has a smaller dust bin but would be fine in a smaller space, it also has 60 minutes run time, adaptive cleaning which changes suction according to how dirty an area is, the green light is brilliant and so much better than just a white headlight (as gimmicky as it sounds) it really does light up the dust, and the pet-like tool (it’s called the hair screw) has not once had hair around it on mine (and we have 2 long haired people and 3 cats), it’s always hair free because it’s cone like design the hair works its way down the cone and gets sucked up, I love the hair screw tool.
And also I wouldn’t worry about changing from corded to cordless despite what people say, it’s the difference between a good and a bad one, the bad ones only last about 20 minutes, my Dyson boasts 60 but I can get a good 90 mins out of it, and if you’re in a small space then it will be ample anyways, I live in a 3 bed rather large flat with hard floor and carpet (and the carpet uses more power for suction and brush bar speed) but I can get everywhere done and still have battery left.
From Miele, Triflex HX2 Cat & Dog, or the Triflex HX2 Pro. They have around 60 minutes battery life, automatic flooring detection so it adapts to your hard floor in terms of brush bar power, the Pro comes with two batteries which is probably a bit overkill for a small flat, whereas the pet comes with a motorised brush bar pet tool, which the pet tool I can’t say wether it’s good or not because I don’t have that. I just know Miele do some very good quality and long lasting vacuums that everyone raves about.
From Dyson, considering you’re in a small flat, you’d probably be best with the V12 Detect™ Slim, it has a smaller dust bin but would be fine in a smaller space, it also has 60 minutes run time, adaptive cleaning which changes suction according to how dirty an area is, the green light is brilliant and so much better than just a white headlight (as gimmicky as it sounds) it really does light up the dust, and the pet-like tool (it’s called the hair screw) has not once had hair around it on mine (and we have 2 long haired people and 3 cats), it’s always hair free because it’s cone like design the hair works its way down the cone and gets sucked up, I love the hair screw tool.
And also I wouldn’t worry about changing from corded to cordless despite what people say, it’s the difference between a good and a bad one, the bad ones only last about 20 minutes, my Dyson boasts 60 but I can get a good 90 mins out of it, and if you’re in a small space then it will be ample anyways, I live in a 3 bed rather large flat with hard floor and carpet (and the carpet uses more power for suction and brush bar speed) but I can get everywhere done and still have battery left.
It’s certainly not a bifl product, but I’ve been using the triflex hx2 consistently for two years. It’s really good at bare floors, rugs, and quick carpet jobs. There are more reasonable alternatives but I haven’t regretted the purchase at all. Solid and convenient little vacuum.
We all love the small-format battery-op vacuums because they make vacuuming seem much less daunting. But I have reservations.
A Miele battery operated one eg Triflex HX2 cat and dog will serve you well. But battery life over 45 mins is mostly a dream with any cordless vac. Miele claims to have 1-hour battery. Typically with any of the cordless vacs, the max battery life happens only when you use the vacuum at a lower power and with the brush roller turned off.
Cordless vacs have rather severe maintenance requirements including filter cleaning, washing, and replacement. With a furry dog, most cordless vacs won't hold a lot of hair - you'll be emptying the dirt cup frequently, which is a potential strain on the hardware. Also, battery vacuums have smaller nozzles and floor brushes, meaning more frequent clogs.
You will want an extra battery whatever brand of cordless you buy, just to save your sanity. Of course Miele isn't cheap, and you will pay over $1200 with tax, tip and an extra battery, for most of their cordless models. I used to love Miele's electric stick vac, but it's long discontinued.
Hopefully others will tell you about robo-vacs as I have no experience with them. Research this sub thoroughly and read reviews on other sites.
Sharks are everywhere so you will find people who like theirs. But for most of these people, Shark is the only vacuum they've ever known. I've had a couple. My impressions are that they have good suction, but small brushheads that get clogged easily. Most models aren't easy to remove the brush head. Shark models have lots of filters - the last one I owned had 4 filters somehow. Shark likes to change up the hoses and accessories' diameters and designs on their vacuums frequently to discourage less expensive aftermarket accessories sellers. Most of the time if your Shark dies, you won't be able to obtain parts or service to fix it.
They are lightweight, which is good in a way, but when using the hose with attachments, it's easy to send the entire vacuum flying across the room (or crashing to the floor) because the hoses are too springy and the machine is too light.
Your best choice is an electric canister vacuum, and many here will recommend Sebo or Miele. You have limitless run time, sturdy design, attachments for many types of cleaning, and bags (with most models) so you don't have to empty a dust cup repeatedly. These vacuums will have longer warranties and access to parts and service as well, meaning you can use it for a decade or longer.
Top Vacuum Cleaners on Reddit
1
SEBO
AIRBELT E3 Premium
88% positive of 202 users
Ultra-durable, 10-year warranty, but expensive with short cord.
AllKnobsonKill
