The GoVacuum Blog

Some people like to vacuum the house, some people don’t.  But the inevitable truth is that vacuuming is really the only way to get the dust and dirt cleaned up without having to revert to the broom and dustpan, which has never been ideal.

For people like me who can’t always find the time to keep my home as clean as I like, a remote control vacuum can really become a woman’s or man’s best friend.

In my mind, a remote control vacuum is a gift from the cleaning gods.  It automatically maps and navigates a room, sweeps it and cleans it, and automatically turns off when it is finished.  It has an input jack that allows it to recharge a sensor detector to mine the fields where stairs and drop offs are concerned, a bagless dust box, an excellent filter system, and wheels that stay in contact with the floor, no matter what the surface. Additionally, most will shut down automatically if they stall or become jammed. And oh, I forgot to mention, remote vacuum cleaners are wireless.  Who could ask for more?

One of the best remote control vacuum cleaners I’ve come across is the CleanMate 365 QQ-2, which runs for 60 minutes on a single charge and then returns to home base for recharging.  After the charge is complete, there it goes, back to cleaning until the job is done.  The CleanMate is made in a very manageable compact size.  It comes with bristles and a flexible blade with beater bars that allows it to be used on almost any surface, including hard wood, tile, and ceramic floors as well as long pile or loop pile carpeting.  It also includes an ultraviolet light accessory that both deodorizes and kills household bacteria, which is especially great if you have pets or kids, or both.   And if this isn’t enough, it costs no more than a high-end conventional vacuum cleaner.

When you don’t have the time to vacuum your home, when you feel lazy but still want the house to be spotless, a remote vacuum cleaner will become your saving grace, your favorite appliance, and a purchase you will never regret.  Take it from me… I’m hooked!

As many of you can tell from our GoVacuum Review Series, we are dedicated to providing the most honest reviews and opinions about vacuums, with the ultimate goal being that you are always completely satisfied with your purchase.

In trying to provide our customers with as much relevant information for their vacuum research, we are also opening our website’s doors and inviting GoVacuum visitors and customers to leave their feedback and review of our products. Since we are a small team here at GoVacuum, it took us some time to get this feature developed without significant glitches. But, now, we are proud to announce that the customer product review feature can be found on every product page.

For a quick example of a product page, let’s take a look at the Sebo Air Belt C-Series Canister. If you look below the large, red “Add to Cart” button, you will see a green section titled “Product Reviews.” This is where the magic happens.

In order to submit your review, you must first click on the stars below the sentence “Click to Rate This Product.” When you click the number of stars you want to give the product, you will be prompted by a new window to leave the title of your review, your name and the actual review itself. We invite you to leave a review of any product you desire, whether the review is positive or negative.

Once your review is submitted, it may take up to 3-4 business days to be posted, so don’t be shocked if it doesn’t appear immediately. Because of the possibility of spammers taking advantage of this feature, we must have a GoVacuum editor review all the customer reviews before they are published on the site. GoVacuum’s policies about editing customer reviews are as follows: we will only edit a customer review for common spelling and grammar mistakes and will never change the content or opinion of the review.

We hope you enjoy this feature! Feel free to send us any feedback by leaving a comment in the blog!

Yes, David Oreck, founder of the Oreck company, will be remembered as one of the finest salesman of our times, there is no question about it. You see this guy everywhere!

Through his superior sales skills, and an extraordinary marketing team, the Oreck vacuum, specifically the Oreck XL, became a household name across the United States. Many people fondly remember the lightweight vacuum picking up the bowling ball in his TV commercials. The Oreck XL became one of the most popular machines on the market. The machine itself, however, has left a lot to be desired in terms of its ability to actually do what vacuums are supposed to do: clean.

The Oreck XL sells for nearly $500. Especially with way things are going in the economy, $500 is a lot of money to be spending. What you need to be sure of when making a decision to buy a high quality vacuum, however, is the machine’s quality. The old adage that “Quantity does not mean quality” makes sense in this case. One would suspect that a $500 vacuum would be quality.

What most customer’s don’t realize, however, is that the $500 spent on an Oreck XL isn’t going towards the quality of the machine but instead the quality of the machine’s advertisements. And the advertisements are good, we admit that. What lacks is truth in advertising, i.e. a good vacuum. Through the power of advertising, David Oreck has taken what should be $150 vacuum, and turned it into a $500 vacuum. Oreck isn’t alone in the industry, we find the same to be true about Dyson vacuums. Case studies will be written in business schools across the world about Dyson and Oreck and their genius in advertising, but unfortunately customers, not the CEOs, will be left with the hefty price tag.

Most other residential upright vacuums have a 12 AMP motor in them, it’s almost standard in the industry now. Whereas Amps don’t necessarily explain how much suction a vacuum has, you can usually get get a good estimate of suction from this measure. Oreck XL uprights have a 4 amp motor in them. Better yet, the top of the line Oreck XL21, the $700 Oreck, has a 3.5 amp motor in it!

We find that a lot of customers come in asking for this machine simply because it is light. But, honestly, a machine that’s 8lbs will be somewhat limited in its cleaning ability. So unless you are over 65, or physically unable to push a full size machine around, consider a full size upright or canister. They can do a better job, and many are still comparatively lightweight. You don’t need a 100lb vacuum to do a thorough cleaning.

If light weight is still the way you want to go, the Riccar RSL-4 (also 8lbs) was tested against the Oreck by a leading consumer magazine, and the Riccar Supra-lite, had 40% better suction then Oreck, and it sells for about 1/2 the price.

The Oreck XL vacuum was created for hotels, as evidence by their slogan “The Hotel Vacuum for your Home”. I think the idea being that a hotel vacuum must be strong and versatile so it would do well in your home. But the slogan is a bit misleading. Carpets in hotels are usually a low pile commercial grade which don’t require a lot of suction to get most dirt and debris out, hence the use of a low suction vacuum like the Oreck. But deeper carpets in your home, for example, require more suction and a much more aggressive vacuum to properly clean your carpets and rid them of the dirt, dust mites, pet dander, and allergens that infest your carpets.

One funny thing about the Oreck is that they created a place for an extra belt to be stored on the machine. While this is a very handy feature for when your belt breaks, it makes me nervous that a company is so unsure of its own product that they build in a replacement mechanism into the machine. It’s like buying a new bicycle with a extra compartment to place a replacement chain.

Overall, my impression of the Oreck XL’s performance is low. If I were to spend that kind of money on a vacuum (which I have, I own a Miele), I’d make sure that it could do more in my house than just pick up a bowling ball.

- Chris Jones

The Bissell Digipro Canister (manufactered by Samsung of Korea) has numerous repair problems. We are starting to see these machines in for repair, more and more frequently. The main issues are with the electrical hose, electrical wands, and the circuit boards. We tend to see this happen on Korean made vacuums, the circuit boards seem to overheat, and a lot of them even melt! With these sorts of electrical problems, we do not imagine that the machine would last more than 3 years.

One way you can prevent problems with the hose is to push the canister with your foot instead of pulling the canister around by the hose. This will prevent any unnecessary stress from being put on the hose and subsequently breaking it.

One other common problem that can be avoided is by picking up all big items off the floor before vacuuming. This may seem like common sense but because of the Bissell DigiPro’s small opening in the power-nozzle, relatively small pieces can become stuck and prevent the machine from doing its job.

- Chris Jones

Sanyo SC – S700P Vacuum Review

We were very impressed with the cleaning ability of the Sanyo SC-S700P vacuum, especially for a canister with a powerhead and a price tag below $200. If you are looking for a budget vacuum canister, ideal for in between cleanings and for smaller spaces, this machine can serve your needs.

The Sanyo SC-S700P is a light weight canister that comes with an electric power nozzle for cleaning rugs and carpets. The machine also includes a variable speed motor control, which allows you to adjust how much suction power you want to clean with. This is ideal when cleaning delicate oriental rugs or your drapes!

With a full 12 amp motor, this machine provides plenty of suction power for cleaning even the most embedded dirt and dust. The internal wiring of the power nozzle makes removing the hose to clean upholstery and stairs, or using the attachments a breeze! There are no wires to unplug.

When changing from carpet to bare surface floors, you simply have to step on a switch on the power nozzle, that turns the roller brushes off. There is no switching of attachments to go from bare floor to carpets, saving you a lot of time.

The machine, however, does not have the greatest quality of electrical parts. The motor is a very loud motor and should not be expected to last more then 5-7 years. The filtration on the Sanyo SC-S700P is also very poor. With no HEPA Filtration option, this machine should be avoided by any house with allergies or breathing issues. Also the cord is only 17ft long, making you unplug the vacuum frequently during a clean around your house.

This machine is great if you are looking to spend under $200 for a canister vacuum with a power nozzle, there is nothing close in the same price range. But we will tell you, you will get what you pay for. Don’t expect this machine to last forever or perform any cleaning miracles. Knowing these things, the Sanyo could be the right machine for you.

- Chris Jones

Sebo X4 Vacuum Review -

We are proud to say that we have been in the business of selling and servicing vacuum cleaners for over 30 years; first through our local stores and more recently through our online store at GoVacuum.com. We began selling Sebo’s both in retail stores and online about 7 years ago, when the German vacuums were first introduced to the US market.

In terms of uprights, the Sebo X is the best vacuum we sell. Interestingly enough, it is NOT the most expensive vacuum we sell either. But in terms of an upright’s durability, cleaning ability, filtration, and ease of use – it’s the best.

To prove this point, I will tell you this interesting fact about the Sebo and its durability and functionality. In our seventh year of Sebo sales now, we have sold hundreds of their machines but are still waiting for our first warranty repair to pass through our doors. I won’t say that this machine has super status and never breaks, but I will say that it experiences significantly less issues than any other upright around. Further, the machine is truly designed for the average consumer, meaning that the machine can be repaired without the use of any tools. On the rare occasion that the machine experiences an issue, most people can repair the machine themselves.

The Germans have always excelled at engineering, as evidenced by their high end automobiles. Similarly, this knack for engineering has also spilled over into their manufacturing of vacuums. While some of their competitors (Dirt Devil, Bissel) aim for the cheapest price tag in Big Box stores, Sebo aims to provide a high quality machine, and leaves the sales of it only to those qualified to do it (i.e. independent vacuum cleaners).

Another impressive aspect of Sebo’s design and durability is that the fact that they are the only vacuum dealer in the world to give the customer a “Lifetime Belt Warranty”. They are able to offer this because the actual head of the vacuum has a feature that shuts off the motor as soon as it detects an obstruction in the brush roll, preventing any undue stress or breakage of the belt.

The Bosch 2100UC is a very nice compact canister. The machine has a tremendous amount of suction for a small compact canister. It is both lightweight (9.5 pounds) and quiet – a savior for those who are tired of dragging their loud, heavy canisters up and down stairs. This German made vacuum is designed for bare floors, stairs, and quick easy pick ups. With the use of the machine’s variable speed motor, you can easily clean between your bare floors and your delicates like curtains and drapes. Similarly, you can also clean oriental rugs with the variable speed motor, preventing the need to straddle and fight the rug when vacuuming.

In terms of filtration, the Bosch 2100UC comes with a micro scan filter that stops microscopic dust particles that cause allergy suffers, and asthmatics to have problems breathing. HEPA filtration is also available as an upgrade. The Bosch genuine type G bag is of excellent quality, keeping vacuumed up dust in the bag, preventing it from passing through the motor and causing irreparable damage. But speaking of the motor, Bosch does provide a 5 year warranty on the motor itself.

There are some downfalls to this machine, however. The 2100UC only comes with a combination tool, which doesn’t do well at all on wall to wall carpeting. It is really only designed to clean bare floors, or just a few oriental rugs, with no pet hair. The cord is rather short at only 17 feet, causing you to have to switch outlets for larger areas. The vacuum only comes with a crevice tool, and upholstery brush, with no dusting brush.

Overall, the Bosch 2100UC is good for bare floors with limited pet hair, and for general easy pick ups around the house.

The Rug Doctor Mighty Pro is the way customers can bring professional steam cleaning into their own homes. While there are many options for cheaper residential machines, the superior quality of the Rug Doctor Mighty Pro easily makes up for any difference in price.

I have had my Rug Doctor now for over 2 years and am yet to have a single problem with it. As a point of comparison, I barely had my Hoover V2 Steam Cleaner for a little over 1 year before I had to replace the solution tank. I was tired of replacing the cheaper units every 2-3 years (I have a very big dog, and active household, I use the machine weekly) and decided to get the best.

The warranty on the Rug Doctor Mighty Pro is a comprehensive 5 year warranty.

After buying the machine, I was lucky enough to accidentally spill red wine on my carpet. Although frustrated with my general clumsiness, I was excited by the fact that I could test out my Rug Doctor. I at first only used the Rug Doctor on the part of the carpet covered in red wine. I was amazed by the result; the section of the carpet that was previously covered in red wine ended up cleaner than the rest of the carpet after a thorough cleaning from the Rug Doctor.

The only real complaint about the machine is that it is very heavy, but you can’t expect such a powerful and effective machine to be as light as a broom. Carrying the Rug Doctor up and down the stairs is indeed a work out. I would recommend this product to anyone with an active household (kids and pets).

If you don’t have a very active household, and only use a steamer cleaner 2-3 times a year, then it’s probably a better idea to rent this machine at Safeway. But if you are considering purchasing a steam cleaner for your home or business, I would look no further than the Rug Doctor Mighty Pro

While we regard Sebo Uprights as some of the best uprights in the world, Sebo also offers an impressive Canister lineup.

The Sebo K3 9681AM Canister vacuum cleaner is the lightest weight canister with a power nozzle on the market.

Weighing in at only 12 lbs., carrying this vacuum up and down stairs is a breeze. I’m a bit surprised about the quality of the wheels on the machine, but have yet to hear a complaint from any customers about this, so I will assume it has not been a significant issue for any customers thus far.

The only thing you will want to be careful about is vacuuming up the cord with the power nozzle. The brushes spin very fast, and will damage the cord quickly. This vacuum is VERY highly rated by our customers. With proper maintenance and care, you can expect a 25 year life span from the Sebo K3 9681AM Canister

The Eureka 4870 Upright Vacuum comes in a few different forms but I will do my best to explain the upright in general and give specific examples of where the differences are between the series

The Eureka 4870 is consistently rated very highly by Consumer Reports. I am still scratching my head trying to understand why. Some vacuums are so predictable in terms of what always goes wrong with them that when they come into our stores for repair, I can guess what is wrong with them before the customer even tells me. The Eureka 4870 upright vacuum is an example of one of these vacuums.

In our vacuum retail stores in northern Virginia, this vacuum cleaner is our number 1 repair customer.

The only reason I even am discussing this machine, as opposed to letting it die among other junk vacuums, is because when this vacuum is working, it cleans pretty well. The likelihood of this machine consistently performing well, however, is close to zero. The amount of time and money you waste repairing this machine is better spent purchasing a higher quality vacuum. If you have any questions about what vacuum would be better, you can either ask us or search around this blog, there is plenty of information waiting for your mind to devour.

Before I completely thrash this machine, let me first tell you about the Pros for the Eureka 4870.

Pros:
The Eureka 4870 motor actually is a very high output motor and creates a decent amount of suction power. The motor is the only metal component to the vacuum, however. As a result, this is the only part of the machine that I have had not come in for a repair.

The vacuum has a nice selection of on-board attachments. Included is a nice on board hose, an extra wand for above the floor cleaning, a nice long crevice tool for those hard to reach nooks and crannies, a dusting brush, as well as an upholstery tool. The “power paw” (as standard attachment on the 4870HZ) attachment leaves a lot to be desired, as most of the time the rotating brush driven by suction stops as soon as you put it on upholstery, or stairs.

The electrical cord on this vacuum is a nice long 30 foot cord, allowing you to be able to clean more square footage without having to go and unplug the machine from room to room. This feature will actually save you substantial time on vacuuming.

The vacuum bag is a “top fill” bag. This means that the hole where the dirt goes into fills from the very top of the bag, allowing you to really jam pack the dirt in the bag, and filling the entire bag before there is any suction loss. A lot of other vacuums have the hold on the side of the bag, which is really pointless, as you have to throw away the bag before it’s completely full.

The price is probably the best feature on this vacuum. For right around $150, the machine is very affordable, and feature packed for this price. You do get what you pay for in terms of quality.

Cons:
Now comes my long list of gripes for this machine.