skip to main content

good hand vac out there?

16 years ago

Hi all. I need a hand held vacuum to do a quick job on the stairs and to clean here and there. It would be nice if it were cordless, but it's not a neccessity. I've had black & deckers in the past and I can't remember the other brand, but they always seem to lose power quick or they don't have great sucking power, etc. Is there a good one out there that works well and will last?

thanks in advance!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (7)

User
16 years ago
A friend of mine has a corded 'dirt devil'- I think it's a 'scorpion' model- and it's really powerful. They make several dozen different models including cordless, it's mind boggling.
olympiceagle
16 years ago
We have a Black and Decker Dustbuster that has been super. Strong suction; HEPA filter. It's so good that we use it a lot more than our regular canister. They come in many different voltages. Generally, the higher the better. Some Dustbusters are as low as 7 volts. Ours is 15.6 volts. B&D has an 18 volt model that sells for a bit under $50 at WalMart.
Related Discussions
Good hand vac for sucking up whiteflies?
Q
Comments (2)
Here's what I am thinking about doing this year. I have a handheld cordless vac that can be used to suck up wet spills. After I hopefully vacuum up lots of those @#$%, then I'll suck up some soapy water into the holding cup. That ought to drown them. Don't know if it will work, but I'll give it a try.
...See More
central vac - is an air power as good as electric powered brush
Q
Comments (13)
i'm researching now. you may have come across my thread in your search... anyway, HAH option is only available with air power, so if you must have it forget electric. i got a quote from vacuflow which i think is a total rip off. some felt the price i got was fair, but i also rec'd a quote from an online seller for an imperial w/ HAH and all the bells and whistles for a fraction of the price. it seems vacuflow is sold only through IRL dealers so that may account for the vast difference in price although the quote DID include install. if we purchase online i will need to get my MBA-JD-electrical engineer-jack-of-all-trades dh to install or use my GCs installer. good luck to you and please let us know what you go with.
...See More
I really want a Kenmore Intuition canister vac. Is it good?
Q
Comments (8)
I had an old used Electrolux canister that I absolutely loved. The pros were-it was great,it picked up everything in its path,the attachments worked very well. . The cons-it was somewhat heavy to drag around, and the hose kept getting clogged. I finally got sick of the clogs and replaced it with-in order, a Hoover upright bagless, a Eureka upright rated a "BestBuy" by Consumer Reports, and my current Bissell Grab and Go convertible. I have hated every one of the replacements, they "suck" or rather, don't suck at cleaning. I have considered both a Dyson and another Electrolux/Aerus . Someone else must have the answer. What is the best vacuum?
...See More
Need a strong hand-held vac
Q
Comments (1)
yikes! mine picked up everything - just about! loved it. it was attacked by mice recently and died. I went to the oreck store and bought another one. (demo one) i most often use mine w/o any attachments tho - just the hose. does it need serviced? is there a hole in the bag?
...See More
igloochic
16 years ago
I just purchased the hand held dyson (cordless) I have to say, it works as well as a regular vacumm does :) It's REALLY Powerful and works wonders on the cat hair on carpeted stairs.
nicole93089
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks all. Good to know there are some good ones out there. it's been years since I've had one, and I'm sure they're all better now. Think I'll head to Linens & Things and see what they have.

And Olympiceagle, I never thought to look at the volts, thank you! maybe I had a really low voltage Black & Decker. Good to know.
fandlil
16 years ago
Make sure you get one with a HEPA filter, and replace the filter on schedule. Otherwise, you'll just be recirculating some of the dust the thing picks up.
geguymw
16 years ago
My suggestion to you is to look at corded handvacs. They will have quite a bit of power. Cordless handvacs will give you a short amount of time before running down. After a few years, the battery will not charge up like it did when you first purchased it.

Find a good corded handvac that has a revolving brush. This will make cleaning carpeted stairs easy. Dirt Devil has the Ultra Hand Vac, Power Reach, Purpose for Pets hand vac or the Classic. If you want to, you could even purchase an extension cord, for vacuum cleaners, and vacuum further/longer without moving the plug.

If you want to go with a cordless hand vac, look at one with a revolving brush like the ones from Euro Pro. They clean quite well and hold a charge a bit longer than the dyson. They are alot cheaper than the dyson also.
lucky51
16 years ago
The best cordless hand dustbuster type vac we've found is the DirtTamer Ultima V2510 by Filterstream . It's the only one that holds a charge for any length of time. An added bonus is it is also a WET/DRY vac! Great for those Kitchen "accidents".

Related Stories

HOMES AROUND THE WORLD Houzz Tour: Rustic and Modern Go Hand in Hand

Floor-to-ceiling windows and simple interiors make this bright and airy Wiltshire home rustic chic without the chintz

ARCHITECTURE 4 Things a Hurricane Teaches You About Good Design

When the power goes out, a home's design can be as important as packaged food and a hand-crank radio. See how from a firsthand account

LIFE Stressed Out? Try Hitting the Woodshop

By Mitchell Parker

Building things with your hands just might boost your mood while giving you personal new pieces for your home

BEFORE AND AFTERS My Houzz: A 1950s Bungalow Grows Up and Greens Out

By Mary Prince Photography

Beauty and energy efficiency go hand in hand in this expanded and renovated Massachusetts forest home

PETS 15 Doggone-Good Tips for a Pet Washing Station

By Becky Harris

Turn a dreaded chore into an easier task with a handheld sprayer, an elevated sink or even a dedicated doggie tub

HOUSEKEEPING Dishwasher vs. Hand-Washing Debate Finally Solved — Sort Of

By Mitchell Parker

Readers in 8 countries weigh in on whether an appliance saves time, water and sanity or if washing by hand is the only saving grace

DECORATING GUIDES Stroke of DIY Design Genius: 14 Crazy Cool Hand-Painted Walls

See how these homeowners used paintbrushes and permanent markers to create custom wallpaper

GARDENING GUIDES Edible Gardening Essentials: Tips for Traditional Hand Watering

By Marianne Lipanovich

Save the expense and hassle of a complicated garden system with a simple watering can or inexpensive hose add-ons

DECORATING PROJECTS Get a Wallpaper Look With a Hand-Painted Touch

By No. 29 Design

Stencil a pattern for all the beauty of your favorite wallpaper at a fraction of the cost

ENTERTAINING Got Hand-Me-Down Dinnerware? Make a Memorable Meal

By The Yellow Cape Cod

They might be mismatched and not your style, but those inherited plates and forks can help bring meaning to your table

Sponsored

More Discussions

Does anyone have a range with a griddle or a grill that they like?

7

freestanding wine fridge or built in?

6

New Viking Gas Range Help

1

36" counter depth FD no door dispenser

3

Wolf/Sub Zero 2024 Price Increases?

0