I'm with you. When I pull that canister out to empty it, I swear more dust flies into the air than what I just vacuumed up. And now it's all over the furniture, not just in the carpet. LOL

I think it's a matter of personal preference. I love my bagless vacuum cleaner - no more buying, storing and changing bags. When I used to change bags, I had the same problem mentioned above with dust flying out. With the bagless, I just take the vacuum cleaner outside to empty the canister so any debris stays outside and doesn't come in the house. Thinking this through as I type, I could have changed the bag outside too, I guess, but I didn't. I can't explain why.

I love my bagless vacuum cleaner. No more running out of bags, and removing the old one and attaching a fresh one which I always had trouble with. I just take the canister out to my trash bin which is just outside the back door in the attached garage. I don’t clean my filter every time. I wouldn’t want to have to bring the whole vacuum outside to empty a bag.

When I still had a bagged vacuum, the bags were so expensive (about $3.50-4 each; lasting 2-3 vacuums with dog hair) that I would end up pulling the bag's contents out of the hole to get more usage out of them. That was a lot messier than just emptying the bagless canister! lol My filters only need to be cleaned every 5 months or so, and since I have a spare (thanks Costco), it is no big deal to wash and switch them out.

I don't like bagless vacuums either, but that's what I have. I hate the dust cloud when I empty it. As someone mentioned, bags have gotten expensive! With dogs and birds, I go through vacuums frequently. The only one I have never bought is a dyson. WIth my hard use, I have found no brand that is great. I have begun to write in marker on my vacuum the purchase date, cause I swear they don't last long. Grrr.

I hate the bagless vacuums too. After I figured out the filters could be washed in water, that helped some; instead of beating them out outside and dust going everywhere which is what I hated so much. Who wants to drag a heavy vacuum outside to clean them...well not me! My bags are pretty cheap and last a while. My dog doesn't really shed a lot though.

Rather than bagless, I wish they would come up with a vacuum that was good and strong like a regular vacuum, but was cordless. I don't understand how they can create weed wackers and leaf blowers that are cordless and work but yet they can't invent a decent cordless vacuum? I just feel that the cord, while vacuuming, is the bane of my existence!

I loved my shark that I lost in the flood. It's bagless and I never had a dust cloud. I take the sealed canister to the trash can, insert canister down into the can, pull the release to drop open the hinged door at the bottom of the canister, debris drops straight out of the canister into the can I shut the hinged lid put lid on trash can, done, no dust anywhere. The filter rarely needs cleaning but it is a simple process too. I think it depends on how the bagless canister is made and empties. It is one of the things I loved about the shark. I am extremely allergic to dust, it was the best method I ever had with any vacuum cleaner. I hated bags those were always a dust cloud.

Miele canister with bag and HEPA filter. Just as good as our worn out Riccar. No dust clouds and great performance. Each disposable bag comes with a new filter, or you can wash the filters, dry and return to service. Easy. Dust free. High performance.

I "had" a Kirby bagless, donated it to the thrift store and got a Dyson. It's got more power, light weight, easy to empty. I just hold the canister over the trash can...hit the button to release....it all falls out. I don't clean anything my DH does. lol The Dyson has 2 filters. I've never seen them.

Moni....I "had" a Rainbow, it was a canister. ?

Sort is, Nicole. Can post a pic when I get back home. this is very similar to my model:

Back when I had carpet in the house (other house of course... ) I would vacuum all the carpet, then all the hard surface. Only one change of attachments. Now, luckily I don't have any carpet. ;)

Moni

I don't drag my vacuum outside. I simply wheel it out onto the deck where I empty the canister into a garbage can. Then I wheel it back into the house. Easy peasy.

I have a bagless cordless upright. I only empty it outdoors. Would never do that in the house. My corded canister has a bag.

Central vac, anyone?

I guess, retrofitting being some expensive, something of a problem, that would be simpler if you were about to build a house.

What's that you say - that they have containers, too?

Oh, yes, I guess so - but emptying that'd be hubbie's problem, no?

ole joyfuelled ... who has an old bagged Electrolux ... and opened the opening, re closing it with ... another use for duct tape!

Brushworks, I'm thinking about a Miele canister. My Progressive is almost 20 years old and the wand keeps breaking. I'm not replacing it anymore. Need to visit a vacuum store to figure out which Miele is the best fit. I have hardwoods and area rugs. Really don't want to have to change the floor tool for each surface.

We had a water one years ago. I don't know what brand it was. I never wanted to mess with the icky water lol. I have no idea what ever happened to it.

Like brushworks, I'm another happy Miele canister owner here. The thing is a tank, it's 15 years old and still works great. Changing bags involves no cloud of dust. I appreciate the filter for the air exit path, too many vacuums suck up dust and then blow it out again.

Another Shark fan here. Bagless, never any dust when emptying it. It replaced a Hoover upright that used a bag. I hated that thing! Changing bags was a nightmare. Hard to do, and dust everywhere.

Rusty

One more Miele fan- I had the Dyson bagless for a long time because I worried about the canister banging into walls and furniture- but then my husband convinced me I was being silly to sacrifice the better filtration and cleanliness of the bagged system - so we've had the Miele for 10 years now and are very happy campers- I would not go back to bagless.

I find changing bags to be relatively easy. A trick I learned the hard way is to not let the bag get too full. Not good for the motor. Had to replace mine.

I have a bagged upright Ricoh, a canister upright Shark and a bagged Eureka canister. I don’t care about a little dust with the Shark, it’s easy enough to open the door and step out into the garage to empty it. For me, it’s about what works best where. There is no comparison when it comes to using a Shark on throw rugs and runners. It cleans them nicely without sucking them up which is a real PIA, it also does a good job on our rug in the living room. For our wood floors, we use a little Eureka bagged canister, for a cheap Amazon special, this thing is a work horse with super strong suction. Then we use the Ricoh on the carpet upstairs, it was not a cheap vacuum but it has been the most disappointing and not worth what I paid for it. I can’t wait for that thing to die so I can find something new.

CindyMac,

The Alize is a fine piece of equipment. The cleaning head is foot pedal adjustable from carpet, to hardwood, to area rugs.

I would never have one with bags again, bagless is so much easier, I hated struggling to get the bag off and put the new bag on, plus having to find the right bags at the store, then look for them at another store, then find out I can only get them online now, then find out nobody sells the right bag anymore. Bagless is the way to go. Easy peasy.

You won't struggle with a Miele. It's engineered for convenience and performance.

Joyful, we have central vac. Love it! We empty the receptacle that hangs on the wall in the basement maybe 4 times a year, and a couple of times a year clean the filter. So easy! We also have a Dyson, and except for the filters, much prefer bagless to bags.

Brushworks, thanks! Hope to visit a vacuum store on Friday.

Bagless Kenmore direct drive, beltless. Its a great upright but I hate cleaning the filters. I do take it outside but I have to use the air compressor on the filters. Only one of them are washable.

Thanks everyone. It seems everyone has a legitimate reason for liking one or the other. In case you are wondering, I have one of each.

I prefer bags. I currently own a Sears upright with bag, a Dyson Animal bagless and a little Bissel canister which I use the mose since we have little carpet left to deal with (soon to be none).

But we are going with a central vacuum in the next year or so. That will be bagless but will only have to be emptied a few times a year.

I have central vacuum in the motorhome. I have had lots of the big names including Kirby, but hands down the shark lift away navigator pro is the best performing vacuum I have ever used.

We have both, I prefer the Rainbow as the dirt goes in to water and you empty it outside. My husband does it.

Our central vacuum is 16 years old. Installation and all parts were about $1K. I replaced the two motors two years ago ($200). Bags are 8 gallon/$3 ea. We use about four per year.

No push vac ever had this suction power. I have no need for power-assist attachments. There's only a hose to contend with. I'm not pushing or pulling a motor and housing around the house. Since the motor is in the basement, I'm not deafened or tired out by the noise.

AFAIK it is physically impossible to completely clean carpeting of dirt and residue. Our house is hardwood and tile. Wool orientals go out to be washed and rinsed clean of residue and soap.

I'm spoiled. I love the central vac...and the hot water recirculating pump.

I had an upright with bags for 20 years and decided to switch to a canister without bags when the upright died. A canister is better suited to the type of back problems I have, and I was sick of buying bags. At the same time, a friend was also vacuum shopping and going from a bagless canister to a bagged upright! He had his own laundry list of issues why he wanted the change.

I just pop the collection bin off of mine, no dust cloud from that, and walk it out to the trashcan where I empty it the rest of the way in the big can. I've got it down to where I avoid any dust clouds.

I'm currently using both types of vacuums in my condo. While there are advantages and disadvantages to each type, if I'm forced to select one, I would prefer a bagless model. Of course, it's the most popular choice available in the market. A bagless vacuum is very cost effective. It costs around $250 only. The bagless vacuum cleaners equipped with HEPA filters offer numerous benefits including the removal of bacteria and microorganisms. It's suited for wood and carpet floors and works very well in homes with pets. It's not essential to replace the filter regularly and thus it saves a lot of time, money and energy. My wife Annie on the other hand, prefers a bagged vacuum as it greatly reduces the risk of the bag being clogged with dirt and reducing the suction power of the equipment.

i prefer a bagged vac. i hated going outside in the winter to empty it, wipe it down, dirt gets "held up" in the container.,, dust cloud. even if u empty it into a bag when u close the trash bag, you get that puff of dirt. more trouble then it was worth IMO.

i have a commercial electrolux. long cord, great suction, doesn't suck up throw rugs., and just drop in bags and close lid .

I prefer bagged. I have a Dyson but it's getting rehomed soon. I find myself using a little canister vac by Bissell most often with my Sears, bagged upright for larger jobs.

Next year we'll be putting in a central vac with the hide-a hose feature. The kitchen is getting a mini unit connected to the central one that will reside under the sink. The bathrooms will get a toe kick pans so the hair and stuff that tends to accumulate there can be swept away with dragging a hose in the smaller spaces. Retrofitting is not difficult with a single story home with a raise foundation. We will install most of it it ourselves except for hiring a younger more agile friend to crawl under the house. Our electrician will bring power to where we need it.

watchme -- I have not needed power-assist with my central vac -- but I have no carpeting. The suction power is amazing. (Too bad there was no hide-a-hose when we built!) I thought I'd regret not doing any toe-kicks, but I have not. By the time those areas need cleaning, the whole floor needs it, at least at my house. You raise dust and get a broom dirty if you're sweeping.

Chisue - that is why I only want the VacPans in the bathrooms or at least in the main bath in the hall. For some reason dog hair gravitates to the bathrooms on a daily basis even though she isn't in them. I will just keep a little broom under the sink to deal with it instead of letting it build up. The VacPans are inexpensive enough. I don't want one in my kitchen because I hate to sweep but because it is the room that needs more frequent upkeep I am putting the Vroom in under the sink instead of a VacPan.

Actually all the research I've done recommends bagless for the canister if you go with hide a hose.

Any type of cannister will work with Hide-A-Hose, provided it has sufficient suction and the filtration system (bags, filters, screens) are maintained per manufacturer recommendation.

No Advertising is allowed on these boards.

The only bagless vacuum I have is my roomba. I have a 20 yr old hoover with a bag and a small canister with bag. My experience with bagless is with friends and family who have them, along with dogs, and they stink when running to me. I assume they are just use to the dog smell but I can't stand it. No dogs at my house.

sjerin Sorry, new to this gig. Is there a distinction between offering information and advertising? I was responding to watchmelol's previous comment about power units for hide a hose. Honest question. Not sure what the limitations are here.

^^^

Reported

CindyMac- I don't think they really screwed up though. Chisue and watchme both mentioned the product, they were just answering/clarifying what can be used.

Hide-A-Hose- while I don't think you were violating any rules necessarily, it is generally considered bad form to resurrect an old thread. This is a very active board and prior to your comment, no one had commented since February.

By all means, feel free to stick around but this particular board (the kitchen table) is more for chit chat.

Others in the building a house forum or maybe cleaning forum?? (I don't know if it exists but surely it does) would be more likely to want more information about your product. :)

Texas_Gem, if you look at his/her profile page it's a full page ad. Did they pay Houzz to do that?

I don't know if I'm seeing something different than you are but it looks like any other Pro profile page. Brushworks, Anglo and Joseph Corlett have similar profile pages.

I have an old Generation 3 Kirby. I never found much trouble for changing bags, The biggest problem is finding bags. It still works but si showing its age. The thing is heavy, but has a full complement of accessories.

I decided to try a bag-less style, and influenced by conversations on this forum, I bought a Shark Navigator. It cleans as well as the Kirby, is easy to navigate and lift, but is shy of accessories. I do like how it comes apart to allow the business end to glide under furniture. I learned very quickly to stand downwind when emptying the canister. My minor disappointment was discovering that the volume of the dust canister was much smaller than first perceived when I viewed it on the store shelf. It needs to be emptied much more often than bag changes on the Kirby.

His/her screen name is the same as the product s/he is selling.