apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

We have a Dirt Devil D2 Reaction.
We bought it because we couldn't afford a Dyson, and then later realized that this is actually better reviewed than the dysons are.

I use the Bissell Healthy Home Vac and does it perform!!

The first time I used it, I had vacuumed the night before with a different vacuum (which is also considered a v. good vacuum), it picked up this fine gray powdery stuff that my other vacuum had left behind. And a lot of it!

Using it is such a great satisfying feeling everytime because I know it is getting all that gross gray stuff that I was leaving behind before.

Here's a second question: Why do people think a bagless vacuum is better than one with a cloth bag? Clean up is easy and I'm not putting the dust I just vacuumed up back into the air.
That being said, we just bought the Kenmore Progressive canister (from Sears). Does a great job on the shag.

Any Oreck -- w/ 2 dogs, a cat, a preschooler and a crawler -- I don't know where I'd b w/o it.

Hoover Windtunnel. We got that AFTER we took our Dyson back to the store, because I ***hated*** it. The Dyson did not work at all. The Hoover works wonders, and we have a cat and dog who both shed a ton, and three kids under five who are NOT neat. ;)

cweingar--my theory is that because people can see the dust and dirt in a bagless vacuum, they believe that it must work better. Add that in with a British accent and some cheeky copywriting and you have some brilliant marketing.

I have a Eureka "the Boss" Smartvac. It was a Consumer Reports Best Buy (I think it was rated in their top 5) and while it is heavy and cumbersome, it was inexpensive and it picks up SO MUCH DIRT. I go through a lot of bags, and that to me is a good sign. It also has a HEPA filter. I have a bad dust mite allergy, and am planning to order some super-anti-dust mite bags for it - you can get them through an allergy product web site.

Personally I think the Dysons are overrated and all marketing mumbo jumbo. And because of my allergy I would never go bagless. Good luck!

Definitely checkout the Oreck. I've had one for a few years. Bagged vacuums have kind of gone out of vogue, but I swear by them because I know that I'm not putting the dirt I just vacuumed up back in to the air. Plus they are super lightweight and easy to carry upstairs...which was ALWAYS a drag with our previous vacuums. They are the only vacuum that I know that includes yearly tune ups at your local Oreck store (an absolute must...who knew?). Yes, they are pricey, but they are worth the investment.

I'd give a look to the Halo UVX. I am actaully the Web Content Manager for them, and I'd look at www.gethalo.com. I don't get any commission or anything...I just have a Halo and I love it. I have terrible allergies, and a dog tha sheds like crazy. The difference between a Halo and the rest of the vacs out there is that the Halo has an ultraviolet light on the bottom...to kill germs, dust mites, mold, bacteria you name it. It uses the same technology that cleans our drinking water and hospitals. With no harmful chemicals for your children.

Just give us a look. I just do the website...but I love my Halo.

If you have any questions - anyone out there...give us a shout! amchenry@halocompany.com.

Our son fears the vacuum and screams and cries when we use it. Eventually we got a Roomba on the theory that it would vacuum while we were out to reduce his trauma (it has a scheduler) and it turned out after we accidentally stayed home late once that he loves, loves, loves the Roomba, pats it affectionately and calls it by name, waves goodbye to it every night, is fascinated by seeing it go, will grab a pillow and watch it for a half hour in fascination, etc. It does not do a fantastic job on any single mission, in my opinion, but now that we are using it twice a day every day just for entertainment value, our floors have never been cleaner. It runs $200 at Costco, and was worth every penny.