Way OT... vacuum cleaners

[Irulan]

Dyson slim here. Not too bad if you get it at bed bath and beyond with the 20% off, plus I had some other discount at the time.
I like the bagless as well, I just empty if far down in the trash and don't get a cloud. I have an older oreck too, and it's fantastic on carpets and very lightweight, but not so good on bare floors, it just throws stuff around (I think all vacuums with the brush throw things around on bare floors, but the oreck seems worse than the others I've used).
Mostly bare floors with some throw rugs, four short haired dogs, and two short haired guys (one's 5, the other's 48)
vickie

We pulled up about 1800 square feet of carpet and have hardwood laminate now. I picked up a little "pronto" rechargeable vac at Costco. It works great on the hardwood. That, combined with a microfiber dust mop for the fines, is how I keep my hardwood clean. (OMG, i LOVE not having carpet anymore)

[sundial]

Jeannie, I highly recommend a canister vac since you have stairs. My vote would be a Kenmore.

I don't really care to go by CR because the last few purchases that were highly rated by CR turned out to be a bust with our household. Instead, read the reviews by actual customers. They offer the best, and most objective, opinions.

Personally, I have a Dyson Animal that I purchased in '04. I use it almost daily since I have 2 german shedders. So far I've replaced the hose and a drapery tool. I will need to replace the beater brush soon as it's not picking up things as well. Other than that, I really have no complaints about the vacuum.

[7rider]

We just joined the Dyson cult, having picked one (the DC-14 slim) up cheaply at Tuesday Morning. We sold a Hoover bagged upright on Craigslist and are trying to sell a Dirt Devil bagless currently. (Anyone in the D.C. area wanna buy a vacuum...cheap??) Both were okay, but I found them both to be stinky.
The best thing about the Dyson is that DH thinks the engineering is soooo nifty and has soooo many well thought out details, that HE is doing the vacuuming!!! Yay!!!! Sure, hon...Have at it. Use that Dyson for all it's worth! Have fun, too.

[DebTX]

The best thing about the Dyson is that DH thinks the engineering is soooo nifty and has soooo many well thought out details, that HE is doing the vacuuming!!!

There are many different reasons to buy a device- but this is my favorite thus far!

[jeannierides]

There are many different reasons to buy a device- but this is my favorite thus far!

I would have to agree, but since that isn't an option in my house (I live alone!), I have to count on being able to use it myself!

I don't think, at this time, I'm willing to spend in excess of $400 on a vacuum! A canister seems to be the ticket, now to just figure out which one! I have no pets (other than my grand-cat, Junior, who visits sometimes), just the carpet and stairs.

[xeney]

The best thing about the Dyson is that DH thinks the engineering is soooo nifty and has soooo many well thought out details, that HE is doing the vacuuming!!!

Yep, I had the same thing happen. Of course there are now all these rules about when it needs to be cleaned, the proper way to use it, etc., so I mostly stay out of the vacuuming.

But if I had stairs and did not have 42 pets and a pile of dust in my basement, I would buy a Kenmore canister. And I never trust Consumer Reports anymore, I'm sorry to say.