Hi all,
Hoping for some advice on hoovers,to be honest,im so fed up i could scream.Come to the conclusion today that i need to invest in a proper good hoover,my hoovers seem to last less that a year(most are half price on the sale at around 60 quid)and even if i get a year out of them,i end up buying lots of belts.So,i want a cylinder hoover,i have had loads of uprights and the belts keep going.I have had lots of cheaper makes,such as samsung,electrolex,and vax,my last vax lasted 2 weeks before belt went,argos refused to take it back,so called vax,they said it was my fault,belts are not covered by anything,i must have gone over something.I curtly replied,yes,i have gone over CARPET,aint that what a vacume is for.So,anyways,i want any advice you can give me or recomendations,personally it has to be a cylinder and not a vax or any of the above.I like the look of the dyson animal,but i also like the look of the miele cat and dog,the only thing is with the miele is that its bagged,the bags are expensive(although you can get cheaper brands of bags)and i am not sure how long a bag will last,i have a small house with carpet,2 messy kids,a smelly pug and a huge hairy newfoundland.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Any advice asap would be fab,as at the mo,the other half is hoovering the house by hand and by the nozel on the vax and it takes him hours :)
jo

Been through all that, each one lasted 6 months max including the dreadfully expensive Dyson Animal which broke within a fortnight and would not even suck up human hair. And yes manufacturers won't honour the guarantee if you have more than 2 pets because they class you as commercial premises. Then somebody on here said Henry and since getting Henry and Hetty (we have two, one is for the cattery) they've never broken at all, and I've had them years.They're not expensive either, about £100. Hetty didn't even break when I accidentally sucked up a HUGE bowl full of water, she just took some time to dry out (weeks granted, but even so). BTW The Miele Cat and Dog is terrible as well and they were the first manufacturers to tell me they will not honour the guarantee. Now if you consider the number of animals I have (pretty certain nobody else on here even comes close in numbers) the fact that Hetty is still going strong is amazing.

I have 3 hairy Bernese and have a dyson DC33. I have had it about 6 years and have changed the brushes once. I do tip it up about once a month and remove all the hair wound round the brushes but I think thats acceptable with 3 huge hairy dogs. It has eaten all sorts of things hoovers are NOT designed to eat but it keeps going and as long as you clean the filters regularly and wash them it has not lost any suck ! I like it and it has done me well. It's the second dyson I have had and the first lasted over 8 years. I have carpet in the lounge and rugs in the hallways and kitchen. Wooden floors in the dinning room/hall Lino in the kitchen and tiles in the conservatory with rugs over. The strechy hose is a bit hard to handle but I get it to go up the stairs without too much trouble. I also like the fact that you can take lots of bits off the hoover  to clean out blockages without too much trouble.
Hope that helps. Aileen

We have a Dyson cylinder hoover that has been brillant.5yr guarantee had this for 4yrs now trouble free.We do have wooden flooring and tiles throughout but the attachments do the job.Hoover very easy to clean and stays fresh.Has been used almost daily for years its been a great buy.

I've never had a problem with Dysons - I've had two (I like having an upstairs vacuum and one downstairs :) ) My 'newest' vacuum is the Dyson Animal which we got shortly after we got Tara and she is 9 1/2. We've not had any problems apart from the filters clogging up (but we live in a building site so the dust is horrendous) and cleaning them/replacing the filters plus maintenance, as Aileen describes, has been enough to keep them going.

I had a Mieli for 10 years before I swapped it for a Dyson, the mieli was great but nowhere near as good as the dyson, I also got fed up with the expense of the bags, the price went up and up and the amount of bags went down, tbh the alternative bags never fitted very well and were a waste of money. I've also heard good things about Henry's but never used one.

I think the type of hair (it's length) is what makes the difference with uprights that all have a rotating head and belts.

I have loads and loads of dog hair with 5 - 6 medium size double coated Spitz breed.

But the hair is never long enough to wrap around the brush bar (used to be a problem occasionally with daughters long hair), so in 20 dog owning years I have only had 3 Dyson uprights and the last is still going strong after well over 5 years.

My first dog was a BSD Groenenedael (long feathering and semi long coat) and my first Dyson (original DC01) did have to have the brush bar dehaired and the belt changed a few times.

I would say your best bet would be a Henry, according to my Dad they are very good and seem virtually indestructible.  All the builders and plasterers I know use them without the bags.

> My first dog was a BSD Groenenedael (long feathering and semi long coat) and my first Dyson (original DC01) did have to have the brush bar dehaired and > the belt changed a few times

Tara is an Aussie - I've never had to change a belt, but I do regularly check the brush bar and remove most of the hair :)

Ive got dysons and have had them for 20 years I should think. only one has bee consigned because its an outdated model.
The thing I like about dyson is that for £35 they will do acomplete overhaul and replace any broken parts with new as many times as is needed and if the problem is the motor same overhaul and new motor for £75
You just ring their helpline
As for belts yes they do go but usually because I have hoovered the edge of something and sucked it up. Dyson ones arnt that expensive the cheaper replacemants are a pain to get on and snap easily

I have a longhaird gsd a flat coat and longhaird pomx and two hairy cats so plenty to hoover

Tara is an Aussie - I've never had to change a belt, but I do regularly check the brush bar and remove most of the hair :-)

It was my OWN hair that clogged my Dyson up! I washed the filter once a week, let alone once every 6 months as they recommended, but it still wouldn't suck.

This thread has just got me to wash the filter on my DC014 all floors, don't think I ahve doen ti for over a year. 

Took quite a it of rinsing before the ater ran clear!!!

My last Dyson animal only lasted 2 yrs, no one could get to the bottom of the problem, the hose still sucked but the suction never reached the base of the unit....so yes, we would have to hoover with just the hose.  Not ideal.  We got a 'Hoover' to replace it, half price from £200.  Lated a month, they wouldn't replace it.

Now had a Henry + (one meant for animals) and so far, touch wood, no problems.  We have 3 bedroomed house, 4 rooms carpeted, rest wood.  4 mid length coat dogs, 2 cats and 3 longharired humans.  Had it for 4 months and had to empty it once.  Picks up well and leaves carpets soft.  Only slight criticism is that I find it slightly temperamental in manouverability...but that could just be me :-)

> Only slight criticism is that I find it slightly temperamental in manouverability...but that could just be me :-)

That is why I won't have one just don't like pull along cleaners.

I buy a cheapy tesco bagless hoover about once every year or 2.  They only cost about £30 and are as good as anything else.  I don't think I would expect a hoover to last for years and years, especailly how often and for how much that us dog owners use it for! 

> So,i want a cylinder

We went for a cylinder in the end as I got fed up of having to replace uprights every year or so. I tried lots of different uprights including Dyson. They all needed replacing pretty soon.

I got a Sebo cylinder and I've had it for 10+ years. I don't think they make that one any more - it was called a C2. But there are newer models that would probably do the trick. I seem to remember it was a bit more expensive than some, but it's worked a treat all these years and still does. So I guess I can say it was worth it.

If you look on here there is all the info. They even seem to have a pet club these days!

Fisrt time I tried a Henry vacuum cleaner was in a holiday rental cottage. Was so impressed by how strong the suction was I came straight home and bought one.
Have a Dyson also but Henry gets used most. I didn't realise how important it was to wash the Dyson filter and hadn't done it so that was why we bought the Henry ( as Dyson was no longer sucking due to blocked filter). Then read on here about washing the Dyson filter which I did (although a pain waiting for it to dry) and it worked again!! Thank goodness for Champdogs!

Hmmm...I have given up on expecting much from vacuum cleaners, never mind the manufacturers. I get by only by getting on hands and knees once in a while with a little gadget which I think is called a CarPet--it's a hollow rectangular cylinder with little rubber studs all over it--before I attempt to use the Dyson, which blocks as soon as I use it, and of course the other big advantage is I know my mother isn't going to drop in on me since she is a few thousand miles away

I was given a SEBO Airbelt K1 Pet last Christmas, it's brilliant. I've got 6 double coated dogs so you can imagine what it's like when they moult!!
It comes with 2 turbo brushes, big and small, which pick up all the mess. The bags are expensive and so far I've had to buy them on-line but because they're made from a very thick material I cheat and empty them out and re-use. I can't recommend them enough.

> a little gadget which I think is called a CarPet--it's a hollow rectangular cylinder with little rubber studs all over it--before I attempt to use the Dyson,

A slicker brush works great with the undercoat and coat on my breed.  I find it quite handy to quickly go over the mats before/between vaccuuming.

I find rubber soled shoes very successful at getting stubborn hair out of the carpet, just use them in a pawing sort of motion to lift the hair - can't be doing with getting down on hands and knees :)

Big Henry fan here and have had so many other types, vax, dyson, Hoover , and none of them gave come any where near as good old Henry. Bags are really cheap just ordered 10 online for a fiver.

You can also talk to him when you are hoovering which helps with the task !

My mum swears by her Sebo, she worked in a hotel as a housekeeper for a number of years and those were the vacuums of choice there.  She has had her current one for over 10 years, before I got a decent hoover I used to borrow it to give my rugs a good clean, it was great at picking up hair.

wow thanks everyone,to be honest,i never considered henry,thought he was a gimick,but after reading millions of reviews he comes out tops,so going for him,do i go for the normal henry,as they do A hetty,harrold etc etc,very confused
jo

Another vote for Henry-mine came with the grooming salon business I bought 9 years ago(and it was a few years old then) and its been picking up copious amounts of hair every day ever since.

WOHOOO WOHOO WOHOOO henry is in the building and he is fantastic,cant beleive how quiet he is,how easy to use and my caprets are soo clean that i cant wait for them to get hairy again,i got him in the tesco sale for 98 quid and used double vouchers to buy him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and there i was considering a 400 quid dyson,so thanks for all your advice,im chuffed xxxxx

I have got a Harry which is the Henry for pet hairs.It has a pet hair brush as well as the conventional one and so far I'm very pleased with the results.Like Joanne I have had several hoovers in a short space of time and was beginning to think none of them were much use so fingers crossed that the Harry lasts longer than a year.
My dogs have quite long silky hair and I do find that it gets wrapped around the brush head but try to remove it every day by snipping it with scissors.

Just a thing, I have a henry, but I HATE it!!!! there are certain carpets that itr will not pick up on!!!!
I now use it for cleaning up in the outhouse after clipping Beano!!!!!
I got a Dyson animal about 7 years ago and it still works. Used once a week to do the whole house, does the cars etc etc. and still working fine, with a country house of 2 dogs, 2 rabbits in a crate in the house (so constantly full of hay!!!!) 2 cats  etc etc
Will try henry in here but I have had him 9 yeaqrs and never found hin aqs good as everyone says!!!
Lea :)

Well done you won't regret getting him !

Have you started talking to him yet ? :-D

Lea have you got the Henry pet fur attachment as it is really good.

Also have you thought that a Henry that is 9 years old maybe getting past his sell by date and a upgrade may help :-)

I havnt got the pet hair attatchment, but I used it for about a year and then in the last 8 years I have hardly used it. but will try it again to see what it sucks up. I do bel;ieve it sucks up with the tube, but the wider attatchement doesnt :( :( :(
Lea :) :)
(Maybe I have a duff one, but the carpet it would not suck up on was 6 years ago and wouldnt even suck up with the tube :( :()
Lea :)

HEHEHEEH,yep talking to him and the kids are arguing over who uses him which is great as i struggle with my back to hoover,i love the way the hair is not blown around the house,i can hoover carpet with ease and also slate floor without scratching it,its lead is ridiculously long as well,the bags are so cheap,especially on ebay !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!i cant hoover the lead up which i do on an upright,there is no belt to go wrong like on an upright,its so good on newfie and pug hair,and i bought the air brush to go with it,that was brilliant as it whipps the carpet up in a frenzy.Tempted to buy some diffent eyes to jazz him up,so on some days he looks a bit drunk etc etc,and he is great for talking to,even heard other half say   come on henry lad     this morning,but dont tell him i said that !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
jo

> The bags are expensive and so far I've had to buy them on-line

Just a quick update on this thread in case it's helpful to biffsmum or anyone else. I get bags for my SEBO at a couple of shops locally. They were £9.99 today for a pack of 10. You can find shops that stock them near you here. I think the shops near us are independent but are all part of the Euronics group.

The guy in the shop today said he thought SEBO was a great make and can easily last for 20 years! I worked out that we've had ours for 12 years now.

I have always used uprights because everytime I get near a cylinder type Iget back ache within minutes , I dont have a bad back normally' and the seem to be knackered by the time I have done half the floor.
Have thought about henry for car and laminate floors but what am I doing wrong that using a cylinder is so exhausting you guys seem to love em ?

My old red Henry was never used with bags & worked fine, same with my Karcher. With my new Henry I've found the bags don't hold that much & are one time use so once I've run out will be going bagless.

> will be going bagless

Last time I had an upright it was a Dyson I absolutely hated emptying it - used to get dust & stuff everywhere and never remembered to put a coat on when emptying it outside in the winter. I clearly recall the salesman that sold it to me saying " and you might like to give it a wash out after you've emptied it" and I thought "yeah and I might not either!"

When the Dyson gave up the ghost after only a year or so, I was glad to go back to bags again. Maybe it was cause I never washed it!

http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/miele-allervac-sensor-comet-149-99-quidco-half-price-well-cheapest-net-1079517

£149 (half price) and 3% cashback by going through Quidco for a Miele allervac.

If I hadn't recently bought my Henry I would have been tempted by this.