I AMA Vacuum Repair Technician and it's Spring Cleaning time again. There's some new stuff going on in the vacuum world. AMA!
Spring is coming right up on us again, and it's time for muddy floors and carpets, get the hair out of your furniture, and some of y'all are gonna fuck up your vacuums. I'm here to make that go easier this year. Proof
First, I want to apologize to so many redditors who reached out to me and didn't get a reply. It's been a very difficult last several months for me. I hope you'll forgive me and that I can still be of use to you.
So, there are some interesting new developments in the premium vacuum world. Riccar and Miele have both introduced new BAGLESS vacuums and I'm not sure how I feel about it. The robotic vacuums are getting better. And, there are FINALLY full sized CORDLESS vacuums coming onto the market.
Let's get into this!
So, on to business...here's the copypasta.
YouTube Channel Here's some basics to get you started:
Dollar for dollar, a bagged vacuum, when compared to a bagless, will almost always:
Perform better (Actual quality of cleaning).
Be in service for much longer.
Cost less to repair and maintain (Often including consumables).
Filter your air better.
Virtually every vacuum professional in the business chooses a bagged vacuum for their homes, because we know what quality is. Things you should do to maintain your vac, regularly:
Clear your brush roller/agitator of hair and fibers. Clear the bearing caps as well, if possible. (monthly)
Change your belts before they break. This is important to maintain proper tension against the agitator. (~ yearly for "stretch" belts)
Never use soap when washing any parts of your vacuum, including the outer bag, duct system, agitator, filters, etc. Soap attracts dirt, and is difficult to rinse away thoroughly.
Types of vacs:
Generally, canister vacs are quieter and more versatile than uprights are. They offer better filtration, long lifespans, and ease of use. They handle bare floors best, and work with rugs and carpets, as well.
Upright vacuums are used mostly for homes that are entirely carpeted. Many have very powerful motors, great accessories, and are available in a couple of different motor styles. Nothing cleans shag carpeting like the right upright.
Bagless vacs are available in a few different styles. They rely on filters and a variety of aerodynamic methods to separate the dirt from the air. In general, these machines do not clean or filter as well as bagged vacuums. They suffer from a loss of suction, and tend to clog repeatedly, if the filters are not cleaned or replaced often.
Bagged vacuums use a disposable bag to collect debris, which acts as your primary filter, before the air reaches the motor, and is replaced when you fill it. Because this first filter is changed, regularly, bagged vacuums tend to provide stronger, more consistent suction.
My last, best piece of advice is to approach a vacuum, like any appliance; Budget for the best one you can get. Buy one with idea you will maintain it, and use it for many years. And, for the love of Dog, do not buy from late-night infomercials or door-to-door salesmen! Stay out of the big-box stores, and visit your local professional who actually knows what they're talking about.
5 more replies
You said you really don't like Rainbows because of the water filtration, but how do you feel about steam vacs for cleaning carpets? What's the difference?
Let me hit you with some copypasta from an expert in the field:
from /u/lolzergrush:
I did carpet cleaning work to put myself through college and grad school, it was great money because people use cheap vacuums and their carpets get filthy. Buying a good vacuum is absolutely true and you have no idea how much money you save yourself in the long run.
We used to charge $0.35 per square foot, that worked out to about $1000 per average-sized house to do good carpet cleaning because all of our competitors did shit work.
The number one problem was that most people didn't vacuum properly, so they had to get their carpets cleaned every few years and they were always filthy.
Never ever buy a bagless vacuum. Just don't. Buy a good one with HEPA filtration (or S-class if you're in Europe). Buy one that is warrantied for commercial work. That means it is made of quality parts. Even brands on the cheaper side like Sanitaire and Eureka will work fine if they are the true commercial line. Just don't buy ones that say "professional" but are actually marketed towards residential: they will break down in a year if you use it more than once per week.
(I do not, personally, recommend using a commercial vacuum in your home, but rather, a premium residential vacuum.)
Properly adjust the brush roller so that the bristles sweep the carpet, not dig into it. The tips of the bristles should just barely touch the bottom of the pile and it should offer no resistance.
Change the bag regularly. Just buy them in bulk for a year, you should get them for about a dollar per bag.
(This depends greatly upon vacuum type chosen, and bag capacities of various vacuums. This can vary greatly, but remain cost effective)
Never wear shoes in your house, and if you have pets vacuum at least twice as often. Also vacuum after every event.
If liquid is spilled on carpets clean it up immediately. Keep putting dry towels down and stand on them, then put a fan on the damp spot.
If you must clean them, hire a professional (not Stanley Steamer) to clean them using extraction. Shampooing is a last resort for very heavy soil, and should always be followed by extraction. Never hire coupon cleaners, or anyone that doesn't have a license & insurance.
If you insist on cleaning your own carpets, never use a Rug Doctor or any carpet cleaning machine that is rented out by chain retail stores, you might as well use a shop vac and a water hose. Go to a janitorial supplier and rent a professional extractor, RTFM, and vacuum your carpets completely before you extract. You can rent an air mover or just buy some cheap box fans but either way you need to dry your carpets completely after extraction.
Listen to everything /u/touchmyfuckingcoffee [+10] says about selecting and caring for your vacuum. He knows his stuff.
Do all that and your carpets will never need cleaning, you'll save yourself a crapload of money and your house will be healthier too.
5 more replies
I didn't get to Costco yesterday for my 2 pound bag, so I'm drinking 7-11's Brazilian Dark since it's cheap and isn't fucking burnt like everything at Starfucks.
Your copy pasta has suffered over the last several AMAs.. here's a formatted version, feel free to steal and use in the future.
So, on to business...here's the copypasta.
Here's some basics to get you started:
Dollar for dollar, a bagged vacuum, when compared to a bagless, will almost always:
Perform better (Actual quality of cleaning).
Be in service for much longer.
Cost less to repair and maintain (Often including consumables).
Filter your air better.
Virtually every vacuum professional in the business chooses a bagged vacuum for their homes, because we know what quality is.
Things you should do to maintain your vac, regularly:
Clear your brush roller/agitator of hair and fibers. Clear the bearing caps as well, if possible. (monthly)
Change your belts before they break. This is important to maintain proper tension against the agitator. (~ yearly for "stretch" belts)
Never use soap when washing any parts of your vacuum, including the outer bag, duct system, agitator, filters, etc. Soap attracts dirt, and is difficult to rinse away thoroughly.
Types of vacs:
Generally, canister vacs are quieter and more versatile than uprights are. They offer better filtration, long lifespans, and ease of use. They handle bare floors best, and work with rugs and carpets, as well.
Upright vacuums are used mostly for homes that are entirely carpeted. Many have very powerful motors, great accessories, and are available in a couple of different motor styles. Nothing cleans shag carpeting like the right upright.
Bagless vacs are available in a few different styles. They rely on filters and a variety of aerodynamic methods to separate the dirt from the air. In general, these machines do not clean or filter as well as bagged vacuums. They suffer from a loss of suction, and tend to clog repeatedly, if the filters are not cleaned or replaced often.
Bagged vacuums use a disposable bag to collect debris, which acts as your primary filter, before the air reaches the motor, and is replaced when you fill it. Because this first filter is changed, regularly, bagged vacuums tend to provide stronger, more consistent suction. My last, best piece of advice is to approach a vacuum, like any appliance; Budget for the best one you can get. Buy one with idea you will maintain it, and use it for many years.
And, for the love of Dog, do not buy from late-night infomercials or door-to-door salesmen! Stay out of the big-box stores, and visit your local professional who actually knows what they're talking about.
I appreciate that. I grabbed the last shitty copypasta and rushed to get the AMA out as close to 9am as possible. I'll incorporate yours with my best previous draft.
3 more replies
Don't worry; Quiet vacuums do exist. Miele and Sebo are some of the quietest vacs on the market.
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