Which vacuum for my mum
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Discussion

Arrivalist

Original Poster:

3,445 posts

28 months

Friday 24th July
quotequote all
What’s the best option for a cordless vacuum for my mum’s very small bungalow?

Her existing Hoover one is going back as it’s faulty and pretty rubbish suction. Doesn’t need to be something expensive like a Dyson it needs to suck properly and not be too cumbersome.

Ideas appreciated.

sherman

15,195 posts

244 months

Friday 24th July
quotequote all
Shark vacumn ms are decent and not heavy.

Shark PowerPro Pet Cordless Stick Vacuum, with Anti Hair Wrap & Floor Detect IZ380UKFDB - SharkNinja UK https://share.google/kkzj4coh8xiOZzn5g

ziggy328

1,399 posts

243 months

Friday 24th July
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We just got an AirRam Platninum.....it's great, and very light.

Mr Pointy

13,318 posts

188 months

Friday 24th July
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Threads like this are never as helpful as you would hope: you are going to get votes for Shark, GTech, Dyson & Henry. There never seems to be a definitive winner.

Voldemort

7,539 posts

307 months

Friday 24th July
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Nobody owns half a dozen different brands of vacuum cleaner, and thus nobody is in a position to tell you which is best. They can only give their opinion on how their vac has worked.

This was why 'Which?' magazine existed.

Arrivalist

Original Poster:

3,445 posts

28 months

Friday 24th July
quotequote all
Well it’s given me a few names and I’ll now go and do some background research.

Arrivalist

Original Poster:

3,445 posts

28 months

Friday 24th July
quotequote all
sherman said:
Shark vacumn ms are decent and not heavy.

Shark PowerPro Pet Cordless Stick Vacuum, with Anti Hair Wrap & Floor Detect IZ380UKFDB - SharkNinja UK https://share.google/kkzj4coh8xiOZzn5g
That’s on offer at a great price!

TUS373

5,137 posts

310 months

Friday 24th July
quotequote all
I just got a Shark 2 weeks ago to replace an ageing 17 year old Dyson.

The Shark sucks harder than Bonnie Blue and really has cleaned carpets up extracting dirt that the Dyson could not. However, it is NOT as easy to use as the Dyson.

The Dyson has a huge reach when the wand is pulled out. The Dyson comes with lots of tools. Just pull the wand out, pop a tool on and you are away.

The Shark's bin pulls off and is powered, but you have to hold it one hand. The machine falls over. The dirt sensor is overly sensitive and cuts out. I had to buy an extra tool, and storing that on the back, it fouls taking the bin off.

So...if I was recommending one or the other to someone of advancing years, I think the Dyson is more user friendly, uncomplicated and works well.

The Shark is more modern, does not clogged by hair, really pulls the dirt out, but is more fiddly to use. The electrical flex on it is horrible too...not rubber but still and pkastiky.


Oberheim

779 posts

20 months

Friday 24th July
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Mr Pointy said:
Threads like this are never as helpful as you would hope: you are going to get votes for Shark, GTech, Dyson & Henry. There never seems to be a definitive winner.
Or Bosch. I have the Bosch Unlimited 9 cordless vacuum cleaner and it's very well-built, easy to put into different configurations, has great suction for a cordless and is easy to maintain. Bosch gives a 10-year warranty on the motor, so confident are they in its reliability.

E-bmw

13,308 posts

181 months

Friday 24th July
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Got a Bosch series 6 cordless a few years ago now & it is excellent, it has a powered brush head, does a full house (4 bed/3 reception) in one go & has a boost function which makes a noticeable difference.

Arrivalist

Original Poster:

3,445 posts

28 months

Friday 24th July
quotequote all
Oberheim said:
Mr Pointy said:
Threads like this are never as helpful as you would hope: you are going to get votes for Shark, GTech, Dyson & Henry. There never seems to be a definitive winner.
Or Bosch. I have the Bosch Unlimited 9 cordless vacuum cleaner and it's very well-built, easy to put into different configurations, has great suction for a cordless and is easy to maintain. Bosch gives a 10-year warranty on the motor, so confident are they in its reliability.
I’ve got the Bosch and love it but it’s too heavy for mum.

hidetheelephants

35,687 posts

222 months

Friday 24th July
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Voldemort said:
Nobody owns half a dozen different brands of vacuum cleaner, and thus nobody is in a position to tell you which is best. They can only give their opinion on how their vac has worked.

This was why 'Which?' magazine existed.
It still does as a website.

98elise

32,480 posts

190 months

Friday 24th July
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We've had a Dyson and now a Shark, and my mother has had 2 G-Techs

The Dyson was clever and well engineered but made of cheap toy plastic, and was expensive to repair. The batteries died and it was cheaper to buy a different brand than fix the Dyson

The G-techs are trying to emulate Dyson but in reality are badly engineered. The first one had a metal to plastic gearbox that would eat cogs. Initially you couldn't buy replacement cogs but soon you could get third party replacements as they failed so often. I bought a second hand gearbox so I could keep a replacement built ready to change over. There was nothing clever about the design. It was just a basic vac and not a good one.

My mother bought a newer model. That one has a badly designed pull out bin. Its so difficult to remove she can't do it. I have to empty it for her every week.

The shark looks basic and cheap, but works very well. We've had it years and had no issues with it or the batteries. As a bonus it actually came with 2 batteries so you always have a charged battery ready to drop in.

If the shark ever dies we will buy another.

Edited by 98elise on Friday 24th July 17:55

Slow.Patrol

5,383 posts

43 months

Friday 24th July
quotequote all
Just at done this exercise for an elderly relative.

Definitely the Gtec

Many have the motor up near the handle which makes it difficult to manoeuvre and top heavy.

The Airam3 also has a self cleaning filter and enough charge for 30 minutes.

It's good for a quick pick up of bits, but you will probably need a proper corded job once a month.

Edit. Just seen the post above, our relative doesn't have an issue with the pull out bin.

Arrivalist

Original Poster:

3,445 posts

28 months

Friday 24th July
quotequote all
@98elise Which Shark do you have?

E-bmw

13,308 posts

181 months

Friday 24th July
quotequote all
Slow.Patrol said:
Definitely the Gtec

Many have the motor up near the handle which makes it difficult to manoeuvre and top heavy.

The Airam3 also has a self cleaning filter and enough charge for 30 minutes.

It's good for a quick pick up of bits, but you will probably need a proper corded job once a month.
I think (IMHO) you may have missed a trick by bypassing the Bosch I mentioned above then.

It too does 30 min plus without an issue, even if some of that is on boost.

It too has the motor & battery at the top & that is what makes it easy to manoevre as there is no additional inertia to overcome as the weight is in your hand.

It doesn't have a self-cleaning filter, although I have no idea if that is a negative as a self-cleaning filter surely has to dump its contents somewhere I am guessing.

It is the only vacuum we have used in the 3 years since getting it and doesn't need a corded one every now & again & trust me Mrs E is seriously OCD about cleaning! Ask me how I know? wink

Arrivalist

Original Poster:

3,445 posts

28 months

Friday 24th July
quotequote all
E-bmw said:
Got a Bosch series 6 cordless a few years ago now & it is excellent, it has a powered brush head, does a full house (4 bed/3 reception) in one go & has a boost function which makes a noticeable difference.
The 6 needs a different head for carpet and hard floor I believe but the 7 is definitely a contender. I’ve got the 10 and am very happy with it so a lighter version should be good.

98elise

32,480 posts

190 months

Friday 24th July
quotequote all
Slow.Patrol said:
Just at done this exercise for an elderly relative.

Definitely the Gtec

Many have the motor up near the handle which makes it difficult to manoeuvre and top heavy.

The Airam3 also has a self cleaning filter and enough charge for 30 minutes.

It's good for a quick pick up of bits, but you will probably need a proper corded job once a month.

Edit. Just seen the post above, our relative doesn't have an issue with the pull out bin.
It might be different on the Airam 3. My mothers is the Airam 2 and to remove the bin you have to pull it upwards. The problem is the handles are small and central, but the bin is asymmetrical so it wants pull out at an angle.

My mother (in her 80's) Simply can't get the purchase on it to pull it out. Even I find it awkward.



Slow.Patrol

5,383 posts

43 months

Friday 24th July
quotequote all
98elise said:
It might be different on the Airam 3. My mothers is the Airam 2 and to remove the bin you have to pull it upwards. The problem is the handles are small and central, but the bin is asymmetrical so it wants pull out at an angle.

My mother (in her 80's) Simply can't get the purchase on it to pull it out. Even I find it awkward.
Does sound different.

There is a cartridge in the base. Easily removed and replaced. Then the end flips open to eject the crap

98elise

32,480 posts

190 months

Friday 24th July
quotequote all
Arrivalist said:
@98elise Which Shark do you have?
Its a duoclean but from looking at current models its a discounted model. It looks very much like one of these