I have a "remanufactured" Electrolux canister that is fabulous. Does hard surfaces as well as furniture and carpet.

If you go to their web site you can look around. The remanufactured are like brand new. Everything is new actually.

They take trade ins from their customers, fix them up and resell them. It's a great program to keep them out of the landfill and great for people like me who doesn't want to spend $400 for a brand new vacum cleaner.

I just posted an ad that was on my local Craig's list of an Electrolux that looks to be about 50 years old. It's on the funny CL thread. That's a testament to their reliability. LOL

My grandmother gave me an Electrolux as a wedding gift in the 60s. I used it for years until a better widget came along, but it too was Electrolux and we continued in that direction and then one day we bought a Rainbow (traded in our Electrolux for nothing) and wished a week later we had the Electrolux back. I have 6 vacuum cleaners now, from Orek to Rainbow and Robot, and I still like my old Electrolux better. I only have one room with carpet and i swear it takes all of them to do what one Electrolux used to do.

Wow! Thanks for the info!!
Amy

My Mom had an Elerolux for years and loved it. It cleaned very well.

If you are looking for something small, try the Eureka Optima. I don't have wall to wall, only rugs. My old vac worked, but was so heavy that I couldn't manage it. This one is light and powerful with no decrease in sucking that happens to so many vacs over time.

It might be a great option if you have smaller areas.

I too am an Electrolux fan. I have a canister that is probably at least 10 years old and I used to have an upright as well. I now have a Dyson Animal (purple) also. I think the Dyson works well but I prefer the Electrolux (cleaning lady prefers the Dyson). I am pretty much a creature of habit.

The electrolux canister allows me to get under furniture (low profile powerhead) and it is lighter and easier to work with in my opinion. Maybe it is just a preference of canister to upright.

Kenmore Progressive. It's very highly rated by consumer reports (consistently) and we have had one for about 7-8 years. It's great for hardwoods and carpets and doesn't cost a wad either.

I have a Dyson now and think they're overhyped, especially given the utterly insane prices, so don't bother with them. The Dirt Devil I had prior to it worked just as well at a third of the price - we got rid of it because it was too heavy for me and my arthritis, but had that not been the case we'd undoubtedly still be using it.

For less-expensive vacuum cleaners, check your phone book for vacuum repair shops. There are almost always vacuums that weren't picked up after repairs or were traded in toward a new one being repaired/spiffed up and sold at a discount.

Yes! I asked that question here a while back and everyone said Dyson. So I got a Dyson Slimline DC18. I love it far more than any vacuum I've ever owned, and I've owned a lot of them. It only weighs 16 lbs, so it's easy even for this old lady with a bad back to sling around, lift, carry. It only takes up a little room in the closet. The ball makes steering incredible.

Clog in the hose? Pinch the little clip at the bottom of the hose, pull the hose off, pull out the clog, click the hose back in and it's that fast and easy, even for old hands.

My hair is LONG and it gets all wound around beater bars. I *hated* removing the beater bar from my Kirby. It's been pretty much a PIB in every vacuum I've had. Easy with this one. Getting hair off the BB is easy because there are grooves in it so you can slide scissors or knife right under the hair and cut it. Ingenius!

No bags or belts to buy and change, no smell of burning rubber. I empty the chamber after every vacuuming so it doesn't get stinky and smell like barf when you turn it on like bag vacuums can. The chamber is clear so you can see what's in there. To empty it, you just push a button and hold it over a large waste basket.

Changing from hose to vacuum, and from hard floors to carpet is the easiest with this vacuum of any vacuum I've ever had.

Best of all, I've never seen anything clean so well. The first time you go over your carpet with a Dyson you will be shocked at what comes up that your old vacuum left.

Another huge Dyson fan here. Best I've ever had at picking up dog hair ... and best I've had for my allergies, too.

I too loved the looks of the dyson ball but couldn't see paying over 400 bucks for a vaccuum cleaner...anyone else see the ads on TV for the discount store Big Lots selling them for 259 bucks?

Not sure if you get those commercials or have that store where you live...but MUCH cheaper than buying them retail.

Dyson Ball here, from Costco a few years back. Love it, was great when we had a lot of carpet and is still great now that we have travertine. I have had a lot of brands and this is my favorite. Our dog's best trick is to throw hair and his next best trick is to grow it back....he keeps that vacuum busy.

My mother who is in her mid 70s also has one. We were all shocked she would spend that kind of $ on a vacuum but she tried a friend's. She really, really liked it.

I've always been an Oreck lover until recently when I bought a Dyson Animal. I love it more than any Oreck I've ever had. But it is expensive. I figure it lasts for many years and it has a tough job (2 dogs, 2 long-haired cats, 4 people) so it is worth the investment. Dyson does have cheaper models though I don't know how good they are although some of the other models are described in other posts above.

I bought a Dyson at Sam's right after we got our black lab, Homer. I love that machine! When our second floor vacuum bit the dust I purchased the slimline model. As others have said in their posts, you won't believe how much junk it picks up.

Dyson Animal DC 17!! Love it, love it, love it! Be smart and get one from Bed, Bath & Beyond and use a 20% off coupon.

I can also attest for the Kenmore Progressive canister. I was in your shoes about a year ago. I wanted a nice vacuum but not one that cost so much I'd feel like I had to will it to my kids. I have mostly hardwood, with a little bit of tile and one bedroom in carpet. The vacuum works great for me!

Thanks so much everyone!!!
Amy

I own the Kenmore Progressive as well. I have a runner on my steps and the mini vacuum attachment handles the job well. I have 2 cats and 1 dog so I vacuum at least twice a week and it picks up hair pretty well. Also have hardwood floors for which it provides an attachment and it does equally as well as it does on carpet. I recommend it. I think it ran around $300.

I also have a 5 year old Kenmore progressive upright and really think it cleans well .The first time I used it on my upstairs I filled two bags. I guess my old vacuum wasn't working very well.LOL
The tool attachements have better suction than the suction on my Miele cannister

I recently bought a Hoover canister vacuum (highly rated by Consumer reports). I went with a canister for our first floor because we have porcelain tile in the kitchen, hardwood in the dining room, and carpet in the family room. It does an excellent jobs on all of the floors.

Another Dyson fan here! I've had two Elecrtrolux in the past, both upright and cannister, and even they couldn't compare to the Dyson. It's amazing what this vac will pick up that the others left behind. Easy to use, quick to empty, no bags to buy and lightweight as well. Best investment in a cleaning product I ever made, purchased at BB&B using a lower price match from Best Buy with a BB&B 20% off coupon - saving me over $200.

Very satisfied Dyson Animal owner here. In a home with two large dogs that shed enough hair daily to stuff another dog, as well as 4 cats, the Animal does the trick!

I've had all kinds of vacuums over the years, and the Animal is by far the best at getting all of the hair. The worst was the Oreck. That was traded in soon after purchase as it really did nothing to pick up the animal hair. I know lots of people love them because they are so light to use, however, they don't have a roller/beater, ergo, it only picks up surface stuff.

As soon as I started using the Animal, I loved it. I could see not only the pet hair, but everything that vacuum pulls off the floor! Vacuum also has a setting for hardwood or other flat surface. The Animal works well on all surfaces. DH even loves using the vacuum because he can see what he's vacuuming up. I know it sounds crazy, but I can actually get him to run the vacuum for me once in awhile. LOL

While Dyson's products are not inexpensive, there are no bags, no odor, just a great purchase. A true workhorse. Worth every penny!

dyson hands down. When I was little Mom had an Electrolux canister. That's all I remember. When I was old enough to care what kind she had (translate to helped with house work)she had commercial vacuums. Hoover and Eureka. Both were great vacuums. I used the old Hoover when we first were married. Later got a dirt devil. Always said I should have known by the name that it was no good. Then had a Windtunnel by Eureka. Poor thing wore out before we had it a year. Luckily I had an extended warranty through Best Buy. Turned it in for a dyson. That was almost five and half years ago. Just short of five years and the end of the warranty the belt gave out. Sent it in (it's impossible to change on your own) they not only change it, but put in a new motor and new brushes. I'm betting I'll get an other five years or so out of it.
Oh and I have four cats. Lots of fur to suck up and my dyson really sucks! Even those hairs that get woven, yes woven, into the sofa fabric.

I have the Dyson Animal Ball (purple). I will probably be the only one to say that I don't think it's dramatically superior to other vacuums.

Don't get me wrong - I like the thing. However, I don't think it's head and shoulders above the other major brands.

Honestly, the salespeople at Sears (at least at my Sears) are very knowledgeable and are willing to let you play with all the models. At my Sears, they didn't try to steer me in any direction, just explained the options, put junk on the carpets, and let me play.

See if they'll do the same for you.

I have tried and tried different vacuums now I think I am going to treat myself to a Dyson Animal Ball. Question? Does it use bags, I'm guessing NO.

I going against the tide also. I hate Dyson. I have two and have had many different brands over the years. We have one in our office at work and one at home. I have Electrolux (2 old ones), Hoovers, Roomba, - can't remember the others. I have a large house with stairs. I find the Dysons heavy, clumsy, attachments are difficult to use and the wands are stupid.

I have wood, tile and carpet. Dyson ball is difficult to manuever around furniture, very uncomfortable to use. It is not worth the money. I have a Dyson space saver (can't remember the exact name) which is anything but. You have to contend with a long hose with the wand which doesn't detach. Takes up more space than any canister or upright I've every had.

I plan to sell them both on Craigs List. Cannot understand how anyone can recommend Dyson.

Jane

If I recall correctly, the Progressive from Sears was rated #1 with Consumers Reports and I think Eureka Boss was #2.

We have the Kenmore Progressive, and I agree it is excellent on pet hair. The area rugs look like new (or after Stanley Steemer cleans) after I run the vacuum. The only negative about it is that it is heavy, and I'm pretty strong! But the cleaning capability is excellent. The Dirt Devil DH had before was horrible. I broke the bottom of an old Hoover I loved because I tore the belt too many times. No belt on the Progressive.

FYI, I wrote an email to Dyson because it becomes impossible to push once it's on an area rug and they wrote back that there are two seals that can be opened to make that stop.

They told me to call them and they'd walk me through it. That takes away from the problems I had with mine.

Don't get me wrong...it's a nice vacuum, but I don't think it's vastly superior to other top of the line vacuums.

I bought my Dyson at Bed Bath & Beyond on their big 20% off coupon, which really brought the price down. When I first got it I took it back there when I had a question and they helped me on the spot with a smile. I love my Dyson!