Vacuums & Other Appliances

[PsychoCat]

Ok I need your opinions!! I went to the store and planned on buying a vacuum just like my old one (Hoover Wind Tunnel, which I had for years and loved) only to find out stores are only carrying the bagless models of all brands........they are ALL bagless......are they really that great they are doing away with the bagged models......does anyone have a bagless vacuum......and if so doesnt the dirt/dust fly all over when you empty it :?

http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/3/3_13_1.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZSxdm040)

[Jeff Craddock]

I used to have a Hoover Wind Tunnel, but it finally croaked, so I went and bought a bagless Hoover. I hated the thing almost from the get-go, so I took it back.

We now have an Oreck--it's way overpriced and over-hyped--there are undoubtedly units out there that do a better job--but it is so simple to use and suits our needs perfectly. Since our house has three levels and because I'm bordering on geezerhood, I wanted something light to haul up and down stairs. That "eight-pound" Oreck is just the ticket. We have two Golden Retrievers, so daily cleaning is a must, just to keep up with the doghair.

If getting the best cleaning available is what you want, stay away from the Oreck. But if "good enough" is good enough, go for it. ;)

And the Oreck uses bags that are ridiculously easy to install and remove.

[capcat]

I use a Dirt Devil Featherlite (disposable bag)for rugs and a"quickbroom" (also Dirt Devil) for wood floors and tile, but I don't knowhow these compare to others on the market. I can roll the rugs up and take them to be cleaned periodically, so "good enough is good enough" for now, as Jeff said.

[BigBlueAngus]

Our Vacuum Sucks.

[WildcatGirl]

I have the wind tunnel bagless model...The biggest thing that I don't like about it is not so much the mess of emptying it but that there are two seperate replaceable filters that I have a hard time remembering to change as often as I should...but other than that I'm pretty satisfied with it...at least as satisfied as I ever am with any appliance that means I have to do more work http://www.websmileys.com/sm/happy/849.gif

[PsychoCat]

Well we are now the proud owners of a brand new.....deluxe Hoover Wind Tunnel......the bagged model which we found at good ole Sears for the price of $279 + tax ...ouch ......consumer reports rated this model as their first choice .......it works awesome and if one can actually get excited about a vacuum..... this is it....... so if you are dreaming of that special vacuum to be added to your xmas wish lists ....this is the one:Dit really sucks ;)

[BigBlueAngus]

PsychoCat wrote: Well we are now the proud owners of a brand new.....deluxe Hoover Wind Tunnel......the bagged model which we found at good ole Sears for the price of $279 + tax ...ouch ......consumer reports rated this model as their first choice .......it works awesome and if one can actually get excited about a vacuum..... this is it....... so if you are dreaming of that special vacuum to be added to your xmas wish lists ....this is the one:Dit really sucks ;)
Nothing could land me in the deepest darkest recesses of the doghouse quicker than getting my sweetie a vacuum cleaner for christmas...Thats clearly an anniversary gift.:shock:

[WildcatGirl]

BigBlueAngus wrote: PsychoCat wrote: Well we are now the proud owners of a brand new.....deluxe Hoover Wind Tunnel......the bagged model which we found at good ole Sears for the price of $279 + tax ...ouch ......consumer reports rated this model as their first choice .......it works awesome and if one can actually get excited about a vacuum..... this is it....... so if you are dreaming of that special vacuum to be added to your xmas wish lists ....this is the one:Dit really sucks ;)
Nothing could land me in the deepest darkest recesses of the doghouse quicker than getting my sweetie a vacuum cleaner for christmas...Thats clearly an anniversary gift.:shock:
LOL Angus...I'm thinking that as an anniversary gift would be ten times worse! ;)

[catfeverintennessee]

WildcatGirl wrote: BigBlueAngus wrote: PsychoCat wrote: Well we are now the proud owners of a brand new.....deluxe Hoover Wind Tunnel......the bagged model which we found at good ole Sears for the price of $279 + tax ...ouch ......consumer reports rated this model as their first choice .......it works awesome and if one can actually get excited about a vacuum..... this is it....... so if you are dreaming of that special vacuum to be added to your xmas wish lists ....this is the one:Dit really sucks ;)
Nothing could land me in the deepest darkest recesses of the doghouse quicker than getting my sweetie a vacuum cleaner for christmas...Thats clearly an anniversary gift.:shock:
LOL Angus...I'm thinking that as an anniversary gift would be ten times worse! ;)
Most definitely worse! Rules for gifts from hubby--- No electrical appliance for ANY occasion unless specifically asked for (and giver should reask before final purchase just to make sure). By doing so, you run therisk of having the cord wrapped around your neck!:DAlso, a jewelry box HAS to have a piece of jewelry in it and a handbag or wallet HAS to have money according to my grandmom. I like her way of thinking!;)

[Missy]

BigBlueAngus wrote: PsychoCat wrote: Well we are now the proud owners of a brand new.....deluxe Hoover Wind Tunnel......the bagged model which we found at good ole Sears for the price of $279 + tax ...ouch ......consumer reports rated this model as their first choice .......it works awesome and if one can actually get excited about a vacuum..... this is it....... so if you are dreaming of that special vacuum to be added to your xmas wish lists ....this is the one:Dit really sucks ;)
Nothing could land me in the deepest darkest recesses of the doghouse quicker than getting my sweetie a vacuum cleaner for christmas...Thats clearly an anniversary gift.:shock:

Angus to this day even when told to get an household appliance as a gift my husband does not get it for me. He says it not right and maybe it fear even if I say to get it so I never get anything like as gift from him . :)

[WildcatGirl]

catfeverintennessee wrote: WildcatGirl wrote: BigBlueAngus wrote: PsychoCat wrote: Well we are now the proud owners of a brand new.....deluxe Hoover Wind Tunnel......the bagged model which we found at good ole Sears for the price of $279 + tax ...ouch ......consumer reports rated this model as their first choice .......it works awesome and if one can actually get excited about a vacuum..... this is it....... so if you are dreaming of that special vacuum to be added to your xmas wish lists ....this is the one:Dit really sucks ;)
Nothing could land me in the deepest darkest recesses of the doghouse quicker than getting my sweetie a vacuum cleaner for christmas...Thats clearly an anniversary gift.:shock:
LOL Angus...I'm thinking that as an anniversary gift would be ten times worse! ;)
Most definitely worse! Rules for gifts from hubby--- No electrical appliance for ANY occasion unless specifically asked for (and giver should reask before final purchase just to make sure). By doing so, you run therisk of having the cord wrapped around your neck!:DAlso, a jewelry box HAS to have a piece of jewelry in it and a handbag or wallet HAS to have money according to my grandmom. I like her way of thinking!;)





Judy...I like your grandmothers way of thinking also;)

[TrueblueCATfan]

PsychoCat wrote: Ok I need your opinions!! I went to the store and planned on buying a vacuum just like my old one (Hoover Wind Tunnel, which I had for years and loved) only to find out stores are only carrying the bagless models of all brands........they are ALL bagless......are they really that great they are doing away with the bagged models......does anyone have a bagless vacuum......and if so doesnt the dirt/dust fly all over when you empty it :?

http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/3/3_13_1.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZSxdm040)
Once you own a bagless you will never go back....I have a nre Bissell Bagless that I bought at Target ..it is awesome....makes you want to vaccum everyday..LOL

[fanaticfan]

I just went bagless this year!I also had a Hoover wind tunnel. I just purchased a Dirt Devil, the one with the removable portable vac......it is great for taking out to vac the car.......snaps right back on to vacum the floor.......you do have to remember to change the filters and there is no mess when cleaning.

[Calsegs]

Call me old fashioned, but my vacuum has a bag.

It's a Eureka the Boss Smart Vac has the HEPA filtration feature, I like it so far, it's pretty new.
I had the 8 lb . Oreck that Jeff described, mine was a piece of crap, and lasted under 3 years. Maybe it was abused a little, I think not though.

[Jeff Craddock]

Didn't like your Oreck? I certainly understand--it hasn't got the greatest suction going and doesn't do much other than floors. The little canister-vac that comes with it isn't great shakes either. But I do like the lightness and have found that it works well as long as I, 1) reverse the brush when needed, and 2) change the belt regularly. I also took it in for it's free annual "tune-up", where they cleaned it, replaced the belt and brush, and spiffied it up.

But I'm only 18 or so months in with it, so it may go down hill fast. Is your Eureka fairly light, or is it a load like the Hoover? I vacuum a lot, and do three levels at a time.

[Coldstream]

My mother-in-law got us a Dyson DC-15 (the ball) and its the best vacuum I've ever used including my mother's vacuum which she said was at the time of purchase, the best on the market. I am not sure what brand/model she has but these Dyson vacs are too good to ignore.

[Calsegs]

Resonding to Jeff C:).-- probably the fact that my Oreck never had a tune-up led to its early demise.

The Boss weighs 19 lbs, the weight of a smallish one year old human, though the Boss is less cuddly.
I vacuum a couple of times /week, and use the attachments for mid-range operations. Mainly, I'm dealing with Persian rugs, cat and dog hair, plus dust from living "out in the country." (not really, but we have a breezy location)
I am curious about the Dyson notion. I'll observe it for a few years.

My oldest appliances are: Maytag washer and dryer that are 22 yrs old.I have a daggone refrigerator is 16 ( a GE) and I have one(GE) out in the workshop that is 23 (party fridge).Sucking up juice no doubt, but keeping the dog's green tripe frozen and the family's beer/ale & surplus milk and Lactaid cold.

My appliance question for all of you all, (and it could be a thread, but how many appliance threads do we really want) IS-- who has a blender he /she can recommend??

My Braun has died , after a mere 5 years, and it's time to buy something worth talking about.
Any suggestions? Thanks in advance:D

[surveyor]

We've got a KitchenAid we've had for about 8 or 9 years. We bought one in `94 when we moved into our house. In about a year it quit working. Kitchenaid replaced it free of charge and even paid for the shipping.

http://store1.yimg.com/I/mendingshed_1863_5885084

[Coldstream]

We got an KitchenAid blender as a wedding gift. Well-built, sturdy and does what you need out of a blender. Plus, like Surveyor says, its backed by KitchenAid. We also have the KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer which is awesome for those big meals when we have company over.



surveyor wrote: We've got a KitchenAid we've had for about 8 or 9 years. We bought one in `94 when we moved into our house. In about a year it quit working. Kitchenaid replaced it free of charge and even paid for the shipping.

http://store1.yimg.com/I/mendingshed_1863_5885084

[Calsegs]

Good to know, S-veyor. Thanks.

My antique(30?) wall oven is Kitchen Aid .Yhough my appliance repair guy says Kitchen Aid is newly owned for a decade now.


I like a warranty being honored efficiently. !!

Here's another mini -thread within a thread ,if anyone cares to join my bitching .

How annoying are the rebate routines that are presented by companies like Dell and HP even Apple? The things you have to perform in order to collect your $50.!@!@

this is a side complaint and probably could be ignored. I really am interested in BLENDER DATA!

[PsychoCat]

My blender is worthless and now after researching all this Im ready to get a new one lol.....the following are blender reviews

Money magazine
The Oster Contemporary Classic Beehive Blender is the budget pick. The KitchenAid 5-Speed UltraPower Blender is liked for its gradually increasing speed to prevent splatters. The Cuisinart SmartPower Premier is highlighted for its 600-watt motor and fifty-ounce carafe.


Reviews from The Vegetarian Times, Real Simple magazine and The Wall Street Journal point to the Cuisinart SmartPower ($60) as the best all-around blender for lighter tasks like smoothies and pureeing soup. The heavy base won't "walk" on your counter, and its seven speeds offer more than enough versatility for normal use. If you want to use your blender for heavier-duty tasks like mashing beans and nuts, you'll want to look at the Vita-Mix review. If you are looking for more of a bar-style blender, check out the Waring and Oster models listed below.

Most blenders, such as the Cuisinart Smart Power, can handle routine tasks, but when it comes to heavy- duty jobs like crushing ice, reviews from Cooking.com and Good Housekeeping agree this machine performs. The Waring Pro MBB/PBB Series ($120) has a retro look that appeals to owners, who say it looks equally at home on a countertop or behind a bar and even comes in RED. You get two speeds with the Waring Pro (reviews say that’s all you’ll need), and while some owners say it’s loud on high speed, this comes with the territory when crushing ice.

The Oster Contemporary Beehive Blender ($ 50) isn’t quite as stylish as the Waring, but it’s a near clone, with a heavy, industrial-looking base, two-speed operation and a heavy, forty-ounce glass jar. Reviewers at Money magazine say the Oster makes a fine frozen margarita, and owners posting to Amazon.com and Epinions are also fans. If you can live without the Waring’s high style and professional build quality, the Oster is a good alternative at a lower price.

Black & Decker Bl600B ($30) - Those that try this blender love it, and not just because of the price. Amazon.com reviewers say it works well for most kitchen tasks, producing the exact texture desired for soups and beverages. Some users say that it isn’t as solid as the Cuisinart, but add that the Black & Decker performs far better than other inexpensive blenders. This appears to be the best of the inexpensive blenders

If price is no object, the Vita-Mix 4500 ($400) is the most souped-up model you can find, second only to its big brother, Vita-Mix 5000. The 4500 is a two-speed, blender that boasts a 2+ horsepower motor, a blade tip speed of 249 mph, and a five-year warranty. More than your average blender, it blends frozen fruits and vegetables in seconds sans leftover frozen chunks. It can also make peanut butter from peanuts and flour from wheat berries.

[Calsegs]

Thank you K., I would like a RED blender...

Any thoughts on the L'Equip RPM blender, 900 w? Has a tachometer built into the base!

I thnk it's metal , I could spray paint it that color I like.:shock: