Have you noticed lately all the 'new improved' commercials there are on TV toting the acclaims of the newest vacuum cleaner designs on the market?

Turbo motors, twin designs, hepa filters, cordless, even robotic models that claim to vacuum your room with no hands on interference from the housekeeper! Yet the biggest debate out there seems to be if a bag style vacuum is obsolete or if the new bag-less versions really are the best way to go. In the market for a new vacuum cleaner? Which should you choose to get the job done, bag or bag- less? Let's take a look at a few things to consider before putting down your hard earned money.

First and foremost consider the job you expect your new vacuum cleaner to handle. Are you a single apartment dweller with Berber carpeting at work all day and little traffic? Then you may not even need much more than a simple non-motorized carpet sweeper. However most of us have at least a moderate amount of traffic, ground in sand and maybe even pet hairs to contend with.

How often do you vacuum and how much dust dirt and grime actually gets collected with each use?

If you only use your vacuum cleaner occasionally, say once a month or less, than a bag-less vacuum cleaner may be a good option as the amount of use as well as the quantity of messes you need to clean up is probably not a large issue. You probably would only need to empty the canister once per use and clean the filter as directed replacing it every 6 months (or less).

Do you suffer from allergies, have numerous pets or a pet that sheds heavily? Are you finding yourself reaching for the vacuum at least weekly or maybe even several times a week?

If so, consider sticking with the tried and true bag type vacuum cleaner. The newer bags are made nearly dust free and will hold a larger amount of debris between changes. Bag-less vacuums often leak dust when in use and there is no way around handling the dust and being exposed to the contents when emptying the canister. Most allergy specialist recommend the use of a bag-style vacuum with triple lined bags and a hepa filter for use several times per week to reduce expose to known allergies to dust and dust mites.

Once you have decided which type vacuum cleaner you are in the market for, shop around! All vacuum cleaners are not created equal! Not long ago some friends of our decided on a vacuum cleaner that used triple layer bags. and got a good price for it. They got home, inserted the bag that came with it and happily put it to use cleaning an over abundance of pet hairs, sand and sawdust from some construction, out of their carpets. They filled the first bag and replace it with the second free bag that was included with their purchase. When it came time to replace that bag they went back to the store to obtain a new supply of replacement bags only to find the store didn't carry the bags because they had obtained a limited number of that style vacuum cleaner at a 'one time only' purchase. They have a slightly used vacuum cleaner sitting in the closet next to another new vacuum cleaner that they are able to find bags for! Buyer beware! You get what you pay for.

When it comes to 'solving' the debate between which vacuum cleaner is best to buy, a bag type vacuum cleaner or a bag-less vacuum cleaner, consider your personal needs, they types of carpet and cleaning you will be dealing with and shop around for the best options.

When it comes to a vacuum cleaner purchase, bag or bag-less, the choice is yours to make!

Resource:
The Vintage Vacuum Cleaner Museum.
May 14, 2007
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My husband and I decided to take advantage of the after Christmas sales and purchase a vacuum. We went down to the local big box retailer with a budget of one hundred dollars for a new vacuum. We were not sure we could purchase a quality vacuum for that amount of money.

The Eureka model 8806 Pet Lover Bagless vacuum rang up at $107.97 after tax. We were anxious to get it home and fire it up to see if we got a good deal. The Eureka model 8806 comes with instructions (thank goodness!), extra belt, power paw, dusting brush, crevice tool, extension wand, self cleaning duster and stair hose.

The set up looked elementary on the instruction sheet but did take a little longer than expected. The handle and attachments were somewhat awkward to screw in but all in all we were ready to roll within twenty minutes. All attachments, screws etc were included in the box. The only additional item needed to assemble was a phillips head screwdriver.

I can't say I enjoy vacuuming and especially dislike the noise so I was pleased that the Eureka model 8806 was not nearly as loud as our previous vacuum. Sporting twelve amps of power which is the most power household vacuums have the Eureka model 8806 went to work. With a cleaning path that is fifteen inches wide my living room carpet was done in no time. Using the included crevice tool I vacuumed out my couch and recliner (I don't know how they get that dirty!) I was amazed at the sheer brute force that the vacuum sucked all the dust and icky stuff out. The extra long cord makes it easier and quicker to vacuum the house as I don't have to stop and unplug it to find another closer outlet as I make my way through the rooms. The crevice tool and extension wand worked quite well on my stairs. There is also a dusting brush included but I have not used that yet. What I have used and absolutely love is the self cleaning duster. Attached to the side of the vacuum ready to pull out at any time is a dusting wand that telescopes. This wand is superb at eliminating cobwebs, dusting door frames and moldings. Having it attached to the vacuum is one less thing I have to haul around while cleaning and shortens my cleaning time which is another plus for me.

The Eureka model 8806 is named the Pet Lovers Bagless because it comes with a trademarked Power Paw and charcoal built into the filter which helps combat two of the drawbacks of pet ownership: the smell and the hair. The Power Paw is terrific at sucking up the pet hair (along with anything else) leaving your home clean and smelling fresher.

There are only two minor drawbacks to the Eureka model 8806. The first is it is recommended to empty the canister after each use. I would like to note though that the canister is very simple to empty so this doesn't make it too much of an inconvenience. The second drawback is a design flaw which makes the stair hose difficult to reattach to the vacuum after using. Given how often I vacuum my stairs, this isn't that big of a deal.

To sum up I would definitely recommend the Eureka 8806 Pet Lovers Bagless whether one has a pet or not. The power, the suction, ease of use and variety of attachments paired with the wider cleaning path and longer power cord makes this a well thought out and very useful product.

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Miele Vacuum Cleaners in general are very well made vacuum cleaners. They are engineered in Germany by the Miele company. Since their founding in 1899, they have always manufactured top of the line products.

All Miele vacuum cleaners are great quality that besides for picking up dirt on carpet and wooden floors, also eliminate dust and air pollutants. Their vacuum cleaners are one of the best HEPA vacuums, which is great for people with allergies and asthma.

All of the Miele vacuum cleaners are very well designed and maneuvers very easily. They don't weigh much and are quite easy to lug around the house. They are priced a little higher than other vacuum cleaners out there, but they're definitely worth every penny. They last for a long time. I have my Miele vacuum cleaner for more than 10 years, I basically use it once or twice a week and it has never had a service call. I call that quality and well built.

Miele vacuum cleaners come in both versions; canisters and uprights. Whatever the style or model, all Miele vacuums cleaners share some key features:

1. Miele vacuum cleaners have one the best HEPA filters available that traps even the tiniest particles of dust.

2. None of the Miele vacuum cleaners weigh more than 14 lbs.

3. All Miele vacuum cleaners have a sealed system construction. When something enters the vacuum bag, it has no way of escaping. This feature makes the Miele vacuums so good for people with dust and air allergies.

4. All Miele vacuum cleaners have self winded cords. You just press a button and the cord easily winds back into the vacuum cleaner.

5. All Miele vacuum cleaners come with a super powerful motor.

6. All Miele vacuums are very quiet. They are definitely quieter than other vacuums out there.

Miele vacuum cleaners – Canister models

The Miele canister vacuum cleaners are easy to move around and have very good suction. Miele vacuum cleaners come in a variety of models, colors and price ranges so you can choose one that fits your needs.

Basically there are Miele S4 models and the newer S5 models. Ranging in price from cheaper to more expensive the S4 models include: Miele Orion S4780, Miele Luna S4580, Miele Neptune S4212, and Miele Polaris S4212 vacuums.

The Miele S5 vacuum cleaner models are: Miele Pisces S5281, Miele Callisto S5281, Miele Earth S5481, and Miele Capricorn S5981.

Miele vacuum cleaners – Upright models

Miele also manufactures upright vacuum cleaners of exceptional quality. The S7 models of uprights are: Miele Twist S7210, Miele Jazz S7280, Miele Salsa S7280, Miele Calypso S7280, Miele Bolero S7580 and the Miele Tango S7580.