What type of vacuum do you use?

[Tullysmom]

Okay guys, I need some help. I'm in the market for a new vacuum cleaner. The old one is about to die. Now I need to know what works best for picking up seeds and pellets. Actually I need to know which one works best for picking up seeds, dog hair, kid debris, and mud chunks off of everyone's boots (even though shoes are not allowed in the house). I have all tile and wood flooring but HATE to sweep. I'd much rather run a vacuum over the top. Does anyone have one of those purple dyson's? I hear those are good. But I would like to know if they really work well before I shell out $500. The vacuum that I have now, it's filter gets "hopelessly clogged", but won't they all if they are picking up seed and pellets? Any ideas? What do you all use to clean the floors in the bird areas? Thanks for any and all input here!

[karen774]

Last month I bought the purple animal dyson. It is great with dog hair and seeds. I got it from Bed, bath and beyond with a 20% off coupon and on a sale. It cost under $400. The vaccum is great and the attachments are even better, I can get around the trees and around and under the cages. It also works great on hard wood floors. I use to have an old kirby and found I was going over and over the same spots, but not anymore. It picks up pieces of broken toys, everything. I love it!

[MiddleEye]

We have an Oreck. It was great for a while, but if you have a lot of mess I would not recommend it. Ours is six or more years old, so they might be better now. But we had a lot of dog hair, cat hair and so on and it completely overwhelmed the poor thing.
The thing about vacuums is that they're all going to be amazing for the first six months or so. I really want a Dyson, but they're too expensive. Everyone I've talked to who has one got it recently. I am waiting until I meet someone who has had theirs for a year and a half or so to ask them how they like it.

[Doyle'sMommy]

I also have a purple Dyson- The Animal. I LOVE it! Seriously I never thought I would love a vaccuum but this thing rocks! Picks up everything! And I have 3 dogs and 4 (well almost 4) birds- so I know mess, lol! Also the attachments are really great and easy to use!

Oh and I have had mine for about a year and a half- still works great and I use it all the time!

[tournant]

I have a Dyson and I LOVE IT!!! I had bagless vacs before but the filters would get all clogged up and you were supposed to use this dinky brush to clean them, I would wind up taking it outside and banging it against a brick and would get a PILE of yuckky grey talcum-like dust. The Dyson does not clog, you're supposed to rinse the filter twice a year. Emptying it is awesome, just hold the cannister over a trashcan and push a button. I have mostly hard flooring with a few throw rugs and am thrilled with the job it does. (Two German Shepherds!) Consumer reports did not give it a great rating, but I've heard that their reviews are skewed against higher ticket items.
There are basically two models: the DC9 and the DC14, the only difference between all the colors are the attachments they comes with. The DC9 is less expensive but in order to use the hand tools you must deattach and flip the hose. I have the DC14, you just push a button and the hose and wand extends easily. Also you CAN attach the hand tools to the soft part of the hose by unclipping the rigid wand part, hope that makes sense to folks, it's much easier to vaccum stairs and upholstery that way.

[jimpierce7]

Sanitare commercial vacuum cleaner. It meets all the same stats as the Dyson purple animal, just cheaper and I hope more durable. I use it for work as well.

[MiddleEye]

I have never heard of the Sanitare before. I'll have to look into that. We are going to need a new one soon too.

[jimpierce7]

I get them from Home Depot supply, which once upon a time was called maintenance warehouse. Its catalog ordering for what I do. Apartment maintenance. I haven't looked to see if they are available at Home Depot stores or not. but then I have them delivered to my door. lol

http://www.hdsupply.com/webapp/wcs/s...e=&searchTerm=

[irlgirl]

dyson as well

[Eliza]

Friends of mine with birds, small mammals and dogs SWEAR by simple shop vacs. You can find small ones at Sears and home improvement stores. One friend prefers shop vacs to the Dyson.

I still want the Dyson, though ;)

-e-