When the Dork Lord and I were discussing wedding registries, we agreed pretty quickly that a honeymoon registry made the most sense. Time away together to share some madcap adventures was something we just wouldn’t be able pull off on our own, and when it came to things – appliances, dishes, linens – we were all set. By the time we met, we were squarely in our thirties and had been running our own households (and ill-advised love affairs with consumerism) for years. The one household thing we would have considered registering for, we agreed, was a vacuum. A good one. A burly, five-year-warrantied mechanical match for our German Shepherd mix who walks around the apartment in a haze of fur, not unlike Pig Pen and his filth. My three-year-old Hoover wasn’t exactly cutting it (insert the obvious vacuum/sucking puns here).
And then, yesterday, it died. If you felt the earth rumble a little bit, that was me voicing my displeasure at the Universe. Not now, not now, NOT NOW! And then I shook my fist at the sky. Real hard. Yeah, I should have figured it was coming, you know, since the plastic attachment braces had begun falling off. Not breaking, really, just… disintegrating and falling off. The Hoover, cleverly, had a lifespan that outlived its warranty by six months to the very day. But compared to not having a vacuum at all, the Hoover was pretty dreamy, even if you did have to empty the canister two or three times per floor just to maintain suction.
We’re talking about saving our pennies for a Dyson (in the meantime, the Dork Lord will be in charge of cleaning the apartment with a lint brush, a roll of masking tape and a pair of tweezers) because everyone I know who owns one says they are the best and they would do it all over again. But that’s an awful lot of pennies, so if you have have a very compelling experience which has led you to believe that the Dyson is not worth those pennies and that XYZ Brand is, I would love to hear it. Especially if you have a very big dog with lots of crazy coarse hair and a cat who may very well have some feline version of Pica. Because you know. That’s a special kind of hell.
I’m sure a Dyson is great… but the thought of spending THAT MUCH money on a vacuum had me waking up in cold sweats. Enter the Eureka Pet Lover Plus. Less than $100 and does a magnificant job cleaning up after my two cats that shed like it’s their job. Only downside is the fan in front tends to blow dust around, so if you’re using it on hardwood floors I recommend sweeping first.
You know, when I just had a cat, I would have thought it was ludicrous to spent upwards of $300 on a vacuum. But this dog… I think that unless you have one you can’t comprehend just how much hair there is and how it STICKS to everything. I spend 30-45 minutes in the living room alone just vacuuming and re-vacuuming everything. Will a couple hundred bucks save me some of that? It’d be worth it if it did.
get the dyson. i have seen it suck up serious pet hair. it was beautiful.
I have lived in two homes with 3+ dogs. Get the dyson! First roommate had one and I swore that if it took my last breath, I would get one should I ever have to leave. Two golden retrievers, one long haired shedding machine mut, and a cat resulted in hairballs the size of tumbleweeds rolling across the floor if it was not vacuumed every other day.
Fast forward, new roommate came with POS vaccum that holds the dog hair smell, With three rescue dogs that love to play in the rain. Let’s just say that there is not a wall flower strong enough!
It’s totally worth it and I have been saving my pennies for one, because it is worth it!
Get an Oreck. We spent $500 bones but it comes with a 10 year warranty and 10 free cleanings. I think of it as a $50/year vacuum. I’ve heard it nearly impossible to find local places that will service/clean a Dyson. That’s my 2 cents.
Oh hell. Timing is everything, the Universe so enjoys reminding us. I recommend a refurbished Electrolux canister vacuum. You can probably find them at one of those little shops that just says “Vacuums” on the sign.
The timing part? My dad used to own one of those little shops not so long ago but is now retired. I coulda hooked you up.
But honestly, if you can find one, consider it. Good product and probably far less than a Dyson. And you can save up to buy the Dyson at a later date.
Sorry, but I can’t recommend anything other than the Dyson. We got ours from Costco, so if you’re already members, their price is better than other places. We got the one with the animal attachments, making cleaning the couch of cat hair soooo much easier. Our old vacuum just didn’t work well enough for my 2 dogs. You could always check Craigslist or something. Maybe someone else is looking to upgrade for a better color or newer model & you could benefit.
I have two cats (Maine Coons) and two dogs (Doberman/Shepard Mix and Black Lab). The only way I can sum this up is that my Dyson saved my sanity and helped me with my allergies. Now, I know I am supposed to provide a compelling arguement AGAINST buying a Dyson, but I just can’t. I have gone through 3 $100 vacuum cleaners in 3 years and finally I broke down and bought a Dyson. So I’ve had my Dyson 3 years now, it works just as amazingly well as it did the first day I used it, it works great on any surface and it kicks dog hair’s ass, as well as the cat hair. The canister is large so you don’t have to empty it every 10 minutes and it’s lightweight. There are all kinds of models of Dysons out there, and some have become quite affordable, though I suggest getting the “Animal” version if you do decide to buy one. Just my two cents.
I’m so sorry, I’m another Dyson believer. We bought ours off of ebay 6 years ago, and it’s still going strong, even with 2 kids and a dog that sheds year-round.
Have you looked on ebay? Or maybe at Costco?
I have three labrador mixes and 1 cat, the hairballs drift like tumbleweeds through the living room, and I also considered a Dyson when my last cheap Eureka burnt out. Then I came to my senses, used my online Consumer Reports membership, and found that I could get a decent bagless Kenmore model for $200 less than the Dyson. Since I was burning through vacuums at a rate of 1 per year, and the Kenmore has lasted approximately 2.5 years, I’d say I made the right move. That said, everyone I know who has a Dyson loves them. And when I upgrade, I’ll probably get one myself.
Sorry girl, but the Dyson is the best. It is worth every penny. We have plush carpet, hardwoods and tile and use it everywhere. I love how it empties too, taking away all the giant black dog hair and toddler mess. Save up and use the 20% off coupon for Bed Bath & Beyond!
I’ve got a German Shepherd too, and I’ve got to say it’s really a great vacuum cleaner for pet hair. My tip would be to stalk target and maybe woot.com for one. Target sometimes clearances out last years models or special colors etc., and woot.com has dyson models on good deals if you can catch one.
Overstock.com!! I got a refurbished Dyson for around $240 and it rocks. I have spent way more on the assorted Hoovers/Eurekas/etc that have gone in the trash.
Okay, so I saw one on Overstock that was refurbished but I don’t think it comes with the same warranty, does it? If it does, that seems really smart.
Do not drink the Dyson Kool-Aid! I’m a consumer news reporter, and I looked into it, and Dyson’s a ripoff. They convinced people their vacuums were good by charging a lot. If you’re really going to spend money on a quality vacuum, go to a good local dealer. They should carry brands like Miele (mmmmm …. dreamy). Simplicity is a good bargain, but quality, machine, too.
I know this sounds super lame, but seriously. Tons of consumer-reports-type studies have found that dyson rips up your floors. They basically bought their way into a good reputation, because they advertised like crazy and people figured if they cost a lot, they MUST be good.
Also: Don’t be afraid of the canister. They’re really good if you have multiple surfaces, like wood and carpet.
I have seventeen cats and a velvet couch. Trust me on this: buy the Dyson.
I can’t tell you how I have seen them — it was for work — but I have seen the test data for the machine you are referring to, and I would say, “no.” They have a slick marketing campaign, and fun colors, but … it isn’t the best.
I’d recommend a Miele. Not sold at Target and WalMart, but worth the hunt. It’s what I have and I l o v e it. I have 2-3 friends who had one before me, and the quality is amazing. It’s quiet. It’s sleek. And it has great accessories.
I have one medium-sized dog, two cats, two kids, and a husband – all with no respect for the carpeting.
I had a Kenmore Progressive, which was ranked HIGHER than the Dyson in Consumer Reports. It might be ranked higher, but it was heavy, hard to maneuver, and ugly. Also, you had to buy bags. Boo! My husband sent it to its death after using it like a Shop Vac for years.
I bought a Shark Navigator, it advertises the same features as a Dyson but was HALF the price. The canister is small, so it must be emptied after every vacuum session, but other than that it is FAB. It is light and easy to move around and half the price of the Dyson. I’m not sure it’ll last as long – it might, it might not. But the initial investment was much more manageable.
I just had a hard time swallowing the price of the Dyson – do you know how much they spend on advertising alone? I figured at least half the price tag went towards marketing, and I didn’t want to pay it.
That said, everyone I know with a Dyson swears by it.
I have the bissell pet hair eraser and it’s the bomb. Seriously, it’s like three years old and I have to empty the canister like three times vacuuming our little condo. It’s so freaking strong, it sucked up a pair of dress pants (halfway up, not completely into the canister….) one time.
I cannot recommend it enough.
We have a Dyson ball vacuum (not sure of the actual model), but we’ve had mixed results. Works great on our new, thick carpet but didn’t work so well on older apartment carpet. We’re planning to get a puppy in the spring and will buy the Bissell Pet Hair Eraser at that time. Good luck!
Owning a Dyson is one of my bucket list items. It’s a short list because I’m not too adventurous. That said, I have a 20 year old Hoover upstairs and a 14 year old Electrolux downstairs and have no real complaints (1 dog; 4 cats). I also have no carpets, so they don’t see a lot of action. Now it’s all about the Swiffer or a broom if I’m feeling old school. Regarding the furniture, slipcovers!
Dyson…and check overstock.com A friend got a good deal on a refurbished one.
Two labs, one little dog…Dyson all the way.
As someone who works in a vacuum store, DO NOT BUY THE DYSON!!! Very much not worth your money. I would check into Riccar. They’re American made, completely servicable (which Dyson in many ways is not), and much more affordable. Also, depending on which model you buy it will come with free services. From one pet owner to another, that’s a great feature.
Since you’ve probably never heard of Riccar, they’re also sold under the name Simplicity, but if you buy the Riccar version you’ll save a few dollars because Riccar doesn’t advertise the way Simplicity does.
Another Dyson fan – I’ve had the original ‘Animal’ version for about 5 years now (yes, we jumped on it as soon as they were majorly advertised) and I have had not one single problem with it, and I have 3 cats – 2 with very long hair! It works great – sucks up a TON of stuff, and it so simple to empty. I love it and yes, it was super expensive, but I would do it again. It has never messed up any of my floors and I vacuum about once a week or more…so for the last 5 years about…250-300 times, I’d say. And I still love it.
Another Dyson-loving dog owner here. I also got mine refurbished on Overstock.com. I have had it repaired before (I somehow managed to suck up a pencil and couldn’t figure out what the problem was). You won’t regret spending the money.
Keep saving those pennies, the Dyson is TOTALLY worth it. Something to check out though, I got mine at a significant discount by buying a reconditioned one via Amazon – it doesn’t carry the warranty, but 7 years, 2 kids, 2 cats, and 1 dog later it still runs great!
A FURminator might be good in the meantime – remove the hair directly from the dog before it sheds all over the place.
SECOND ALLYSSA ON THE FURMINATOR
Iit’s amazing. Totally cuts down on fur.
We have one. And we spend as long fuminating as we do vacuuming. Seriously. This dog has magical powers of hair mischief.
I too, have struggled with vacuum issues for years. I have 2 dogs and a cat. In the last three years, I have purchased 3 vacuums ($150 – $300) each, and none of them could touch the hair on my area rug in the living room. I looked at Dysons, and visited the Oreck store. I thought the Oreck might have something going for it with the “old-fashioned” use of using bags. I was totally againsts bags, but started thinking about the bagless vacuums, all the filters that come with them, and how they always get clogged up. Fast forward a couple weeks, at the peak of my frustration, I bought a Dirt Devil bag-model vacuum for $37 at my local Target. I thought it might be a good short term solution while I research a bigger investment.
It is the most effective vacuum I have used in years.
It is loud, and the bells and whistles are not there. But, for $37 I’d be happy if it lasted 6 months. The area rug in the living room has never looked better, and the carpet in the rest of my house is finally hair free.
I could not be happier.
Give it a shot; $37 is not a lot of money. I think it’s fabulous.
Oh my god, Erin. I hardly ever comment (but I’m a big fan, Fish!) and I came on specifically to post about the same Dirt Devil (mine was $45 at Target in Houston). I had one that lasted 8 YEARS – through a pup, and then once I moved in with my husband, a chow, a long haired mutt, and a coarse haired mutt. It vacuumed hardwoods, apartment carpet, area rugs. It does have bags, which for some people is a dealbreaker, but seriously – I will NEVER use another vacuum as long as this one is available to me, for less than $50. Even factoring in the cost of bags, they are something like 4 for $8. EIGHT YEARS people. THREE DOGS. IN HOUSTON’S HUMIDITY AND HEAT.
Also, yes, its loud. My cleaning tasks do not include vacuuming, and I”ve had to ask my husband to wait until I’m outside or running errands. But my goodness, does it look good afterward.
I have no input for your vacuum hunt (but am very curious of the final decision because I have one of those hair farm dogs too!). But I do want to say cease and desist on the furminator. It actually breaks off their hair while it’s pulling out all the loose stuff. And while I do understand the desire to have less hair by whatever means (!), it can’t be a good thing for their coat.
Well, I’m not exactly worried about him not winning any awards for his shiny coat. He lives inside, he’s 13 and if the furminator breaks his hair, that’s probably a-okay by him. It surely doesn’t hurt – he LOVES to be furminated.
For $179 at Target you can by the Bissell Lift-Off Multi Cyclonic Pet Bagless Upright (phew! say that 5 times fast!) I’ve had mine for almost three years and it is the best vacuum ever! Plus the cannister is detachable, so it’s kinda like two vacuums in one. I have two cats (one with very long fur) and a messy toddler and this vacuum does an amazing job of keeping my floors and furniture spotless. We almost bought the super expensive Dyson but I’m so glad we saved our money and bought the Bissell instead.
My mom purchased a Dyson about a year ago and loves it. She had a canister vacuum before, and the only thing she misses about it is the ease of vacuuming underneath furniture. But it sucks well (you’ll be amazed at what comes up after your first vacuum) and is easy to empty. Dirt does not fly up everywhere like my Hoover. I have 2 friends who have also purchased a Dyson and love it as well.
Actually I know one source that says not to get the Dyson: Consumer Reports. I used to have a subscription to their website and I looked up their ratings for the Dyson when it first came out. Mid-range in performance all the way.
Now that was several years ago and things might have changed. But when I’m planning on making a big purchase I spend the $20 or so it takes to get a subscription and be a member of their website. Then I can look up reports to my heart’s desire.
My mom has a Miele. It’s a dream. It’s pretty much the same as a Dyson, but 50 bazillion times quieter. Now that I live on my own, I plan on saving up for one. They’re spendy, but SO quiet. She has vacuumed while I slept. I’m sold.
Also, to add to that. We have a lab (who is pretty much 90% indoor only because she’s a princess. AND has allergies. Lotsa fur) and two furball cats. Also, she got a previous year’s model online for like $150 less than the new one w/free shipping.
Sorry, no vacuum info but I had to laugh at the “feline Pica” comment – my mom swears on a daily basis that my cat has the same!
I have a large dog that sheds a TON! Soo, I bought a Dyson (refurbished off Overstock) and it was about 1/2 the price and included an 8 yr warranty. I love this thing!
We did a lot of research(and were talked out of the Dyson by those reviews) before buying a vacuum and as long as you’re not a teeny little thing, a Bissell is a beast to be reckoned with. I’m certain that my dog’s shedding can take your dog’s shedding toe to toe; we’d furminate the crap out of her and it kept on coming. We’ve had ours for 3 years now and it’s never failed us. Super easy to push and pull on tile and wood but not so easy to maneuver on carpet for tiny women. I’m not one of those, so it’s great for me. 312 reviews at 4/5 stars.
http://www.amazon.com/Bissell-5770-Healthy-Bagless-Upright/dp/B000HS28AK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1206929170&sr=1-1
I have two cats and a dog, but I can’t afford a Dyson. I have a Bissel Pet Hair Eraser, and have used it for the last 3 years with good results, and it was only $140.
I have always bought my vacuums from Big Lots. They have the best deals at this place. You won’t find a dyson there, but you can get a perfectly nice vacuum for not a lot of money (like $40) to hold you over until you can afford the dyson.
I think my husband sometimes think I love our Dyson more than I love him. It is awesome. We got a refurbished one on bestbuy.com that has had NO problems and was more than half off.
I’d like to add my vote for the Bissell Lift-Off Revolution Pet Bagless Upright. It worked like a charm in my last place (fully carpeted) and now on my hardwood floors. The attachments, especially the hand held “Turbo Brush” is magic on furniture or hard to reach spots. I admit to using the turbo brush on my cat’s favorite spot on the bed at least weekly (it cleans the fur off on the duvet cover which also helps my washer/dryer from being overloaded with fur).
When I got the Bissell I had both a cat and a dog with magical shedding properties (how was that dog not BALD?!). Sadly, I now have just my cat, but the vacuum worked well in both scenarios.
Also – your local public library probably has a subscription to Consumer Reports (in print and/or online).
The people at the vacuum place I go to for repairs and filters and such swear that the Miele is the best thing since, well vacuums were invented. I am saving up for one as we speak since the prognosis from the last repair was that the old Eureka we’ve got isn’t going to make it much longer.
I think there should be more recommendations for the Dork Lord with his lint brush, masking tape and tweezers
don’t get a dyson!!!! it’s so not worth it. we invest in the dyson animal and it died after only 3 years of use.
we now have a shark…love it! it sucks up more hair than the dyson ever did. at half the price and weight…we love it twice as much.
I have a long-haired cat who sometimes I think sheds his entire coat in a day. I am allergic to him, but I keep him anyway
We have, and highly reccommend, a Bissel Healthy Home vacuum. I think I empty the canister twice when cleaning just our small apartment – it sucks up so much dirt and hair! We have had it about a year and it is still going strong. No bags to buy, which is a plus. We got it at Target for around $200. Best one I’ve ever had! We just couldn’t spend more than $300 on a vacuum.
we have two Dysons, a big ‘un, and a little ‘un, 4 and 3 years old respectively … they have survived very old beach house carpet (I’m sure I was vacuuming sand up through the floorboards!), a blue heeler (Australian cattle dog) who sheds approximately 5kg’s in hair in October every year (I’m serious, we’ve weighed him before and after!), building (dust, sawdust, plaster dust, the odd nail I missed picking up etc), and now hardwood floors and carpet (the dog lives outside THIS house!) and they are FABULOUS!
Don’t know about servicing ’cause I clean them myself (though I should probably look into it) but have had not one single problem with them in the entire time I”ve had them.
Forget the Dyson. The ‘Henry’ by Numatic is the best vacuum cleaner I have ever beheld. I did not know love until I looked into his cute little face. My sincerest apologies if he is not available in the US, but in the UK Henrys (and his friends Hetty, James, Charles, George et al) are the vacuum cleaner of choice for construction sites, schools, hospitals etc. Because they WORK, and they’re indestructible, and cheaper than a Dyson. We have a long-haired cat and Henry is more than a match for her prodigious shedding. I can’t recommend him highly enough.
At least one other commenter already mentioned this and it’s not a replacement for an upright vacuum, but I have the Bissell Pet Hair eraser and it’s A-mazing! It’s only about $25 and it gets all of the cat hair that sticks to my white furniture up no problem. It’s a lifesaver. You should definitely look into it as an option to accompany an upright, then you won’t have to do a big vacuuming job so often.
Not to detract from your vacuum … um, vacuum, but I wanted to suggest that you at least choose one pattern of dishes and stainless (they can be good enough for special and still used for everyday) together that is your “wedding” or “together” set. Otherwise, you have yours and his, and the inner two year old that lives in all of us could throw a serious tantrum if something happens to one or the other – not because the thing itself was particularly special, but for some other reason. And then the dishes or the cutlery will just be the thing that takes the physical place of whatever is really going on.
Also, I have a friend who swears that the Dyson pet vac is worth every penny, however painfully scrimped/saved. I, however, have a Sears Kenmore cannister that has lasted for over 15 years. I finally broke down and replaced it last year (or was it the year before?) with another Sears Kenmore cannister vac. Even at $175, it was about … $1 a year when it all worked out. But that’s me.
You know, neither of us cares about that stuff. I gave my sister my dishes when he and I moved in together (We inherited some nice Pfaltzgraff dishes from his mother and that’s what we use). One day, when we have a house, we’ll buy something new. In the meantime, I just don’t even think about it.
I have a labrador retriever that regularly blankets the house in fur. Get the Dyson. You won’t regret it. You will more likely want to buy it dinner and gifts.
Just wondering – if the Dyson’s are so great – why are there so many refurbished ones for sale?
Just wondering, if the Dyson’s are so great, why are there so many refurbished ones for sale?
After we got a dog, it became immediately apparent that we needed a better vacuum. We spent hours researching consumer reports, customer reviews, etc. and still concluded that the Dyson Animal was the way to go. However, we found a refurbished one on Overstock for about half of the regular price. It looks like they have them on there all the time. We have had ours for nearly six months, and it has been a dream. It really would have been worth full price (though would have taken us much longer to save for it). The refurbished version still comes with a warranty, so it made sense to us to go for it. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.
You can get a refurbished DC25 (the animal ball Dyson) on Overstock for $350… we have one for our TWO German Shepherds and it works great! I love it!
No one has mentioned it yet so I thought I’d ask if you have considered buying a Kirby? My grandpa bought a Kirby at least 30 years ago. Everyone in the family has borrowed it SEVERAL times to first vacuum their carpets then shampoo. And even after 30 years, it still SUCKS great! My family swears by it, so much so that last summer my mom finally broke down and bought a new Kirby Sentria from one of their door to door salesmen. She got a pretty good deal too. Yes it is bulky and the attachments come in a box, but our carpets and FURniture have never looked better. We have 3 cats who shed year round, especially during the summer, and 3 dogs. Our Kirby was a great investment:)
Pro-Dyson
I just used to vacuum the German Shepard. He liked it, but it really didn’t help. When I brushed him, I could easily fill a Walmart bag with the hair. My story has a sad ending though…after we had a little girl, I panicked over the dog hair and the husband gave him to an old family friend. Currently, I like our Pet Hair Eraser from Bissel.
(Ironically, the dog was my boyfriend’s whom I met in Dallas and later married. Ah, parallel lives we have.)
I’ve had a Dyson for years, and although I like the bagless canister, other than that I think other vacuums are probably a better value. I think it’s marketing and then people have to say it’s awesome because they spent a fortune on it.
I got a Kenmore Progressive on the recommendation of 2 friends, both with multiple pets (I have none). It was almost $300 at Sears. There are 2 models – one with a bag, one with a canister. Works great, and has settings for carpet and bare floors. Plus the attachments are mostly stored on the vacuum itself.
The Dyson is the real deal. I have 3 dogs and it has saved my sanity. Check woot.com , they have new and refurbs regularly at substantial savings. But they just list one item each day, so you have to keep checking back until it is on. But it will save you lots of $s and give you time to save.
I have the Dyson DC-17, The Animal. It is very heavy and the accessories are awkward to use, in my opinion, because the hose/wand is not flexible. I also have hardwood floors throughout. Only two rugs in my home are able to be vacuumed by the Dyson- the rest are too thin for its powerful suction and the beater bar just stops working when I try to use it on those thinner rugs. If I had it to do over, I would probably try the lighter Dyson or a vacuum that is marketed for pet hair but runs about $200 less (like the Bissell). If you have wall to wall carpet, then the Dyson will probably work fine throughout your home, but so would the lesser-expensive vacuums that have the same suction technology. An added note: if you discover you also need a stick vac sometime, I cannot say enough good things about the Eureka QuickUp.
PS- I forgot to add that my advanced degrees in pet hair are the metaphorical equivalent of Harvard AND Stanford and are not for sissies. I see your Pigpen and raise you a case subject on Hoarders as far as mess equivalents.
We really like our Kenmore Canister Vac. It was about $250 and does a GREAT job. What I like about it is that it has a powered hand tool with spinning brushes for the couches. Great for pets. Whatever you get, make sure it has some hand tools. We also have an Oreck (a gift) and it can’t clean anything except for wide swaths of flooring, no corners, no nooks.
I went through this same dilemma a earlier this year. I live with an Alaskan Malamute that sheds like it’s nobody’s business. After a TON of research, including considering the purchase of a Dyson, I ended up with the Bissel Cleanview Helix Bagless Upright Vacuum. I read a lot of reviews of people that compared this to the special “animal fur” version and there really is very little difference – they seem to work just the same. For $65 (regular is $75, but I got it on sale at Target!), this baby has been my best friend since January. When I first ran it, I couldn’t believe how much it picked up. The dog fur was so embedded in the bedroom carpets, that I actually discovered the REAL color of the carpets! I’m very happy with my purchase and that I was able to not spend a fortune. It’s been a great investment for me so far and I highly recommend it. Good luck with your purchase!
I recently bought a Eureka Pet Expert for $100 at Best Buy. I was tempted by the Dyson, too, but this really does the trick for the dog (shepherd mix!) and cat (long hair coon). The attachments are pretty badass and the canister is easy to empty. It’s also purple- POINTS.
I recently bought a Eureka Pet Expert for $100 at Best Buy. I was tempted by the Dyson, too, but this really does the trick for the dog (shepherd mix!) and cat (long hair coon). The attachments are pretty badass and the canister is easy to empty. It’s also purple- POINTS.
I’ve had very good luck with my Bissell and know two other folks who agree!
So, thanks to your post, I did some research myself and I bought the Dyson DC25 Animal last night. We actually found it at Sears for $399. It was a mix up on their website, but they had to give it to us for the listed price! SCORE! Anyway, just wanted to let you know it is amazing! I vacuumed before we picked it up. Came home, put it together in 5 minutes and vacuumed again. It was like we never vacuumed in the first place. The canister was full in 5 minutes! Definitely well worth the investment!
I have not tried the Dyson, but I already got sucked into the very expensive vacuum deal and it was not pretty. I bought the Kirby ($1300). I had it for years, thought it worked ok but had to buy the bags from the vac shop, which were quite expensive. Then a couple months ago both of the vacuum shops in my area were out of bags, they were back-ordered. Great. So after trying over and over again for a couple weeks I snapped. I drove straight from the Vacuum guy to Walmart and bought a Bissell Powerforce Baggless. It was only $44 bucks and I thought of it as a back-up for when I couldn’t get bags for the Kirby.
That was until I used it. It found dirt that the Kirby didn’t even know existed. I have 3 dogs, 2 cats, and 3 parrots. I have not touched the Kirby since and never will again.
I recommend saving up for the Dyson, but in the mean time, invest in the Bissell. I just bought the Lift-Off with the pet grooming tool (http://www.target.com/Bissell-Lift-Off-Cyclonic-Shedaway-Grooming/dp/B002IB0WVQ/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&searchView=grid5&keywords=bissell&fromGsearch=true&sr=1-11&qid=1285967510&rh=&searchRank=target104545&id=Bissell%20Lift-Off%20Cyclonic%20Shedaway%20Grooming&node=1038576|1287991011&searchSize=30&searchPage=1&searchNodeID=1038576|1287991011&searchBinNameList=subjectbin,price,target_com_primary_color-bin,target_com_size-bin,target_com_brand-bin&frombrowse=0) at Target and it came with a $20 gift card. I’m not sure if the deal is still going on, but I just bought it two weekends ago and it works very well! I have four cats who are in shed mode, and I’ve vacuumed a bunch since then. It’s wonderful and inexpensive while you wait for your Dyson dreams to come true.
Bissell Pet Hair Eraser. Loved it so much I bought one for my mom (who does not own a pet) just because she needed a vacuum and I knew it would bre great. We got ours at Target and it came with a $20 gift card. It would have been nicer to just have $20 off the vacuum but oh well.
Siberian Husky who did not realize that shedding was a once a year event, German Shepherd/Chow/Lab mixed who was kind enough only to shed twice a year (a lot, but still thanks for those few weeks off dog), and a long haired feline who we do not speak of for fear she will find out and…well, she is a cat and somewhat evil. AND, a child – never underestimate the mess of a child.
I swear by my Eureka Boss and if it ever gives up the ghost I have no idea what I will do! I have had it for that last 6 1/2 years. I change my belt once, maybe twice a year. The only bad thing about it is that it has a bag and that is changed weekly (twice a week in the height of my St Louis spring/summer). The HEPA filter has worked miracles for the child’s asthma and no pets were banished (damn it) due to attacks.
Now, even though the dogs have passed on due to age (this past year) and only the evil one is left to shed and the child is 7 and less messy, I think I will still go with another Eureka even though the Dyson called out to me at one time. I get my carpets cleaned all the time and there is not very much pet hair picked up at all by them so my vacuum is working. Why spend that much when the Eureka is only $150ish?
Fish – I don’t know if you’re still looking for a vacuum, but I saw this article and thought of you:
http://consumerist.com/2010/10/putting-vacuum-cleaners-to-the-cat-hair-test.html
Our Bissell Pet Hair Erasern also practically sucks the fibers themselves right out of the carpet. We have 2 dogs, 3 cats, and a frequently used fire place. It takes care of it all.
I have had but two vacuums in 30 years–Riccar. I like to take my machine in every few years for a check-up to my (small) local dealer. Last visit I commented on all the Dyson’s lined up for sale (they were all trade-ins for other vacuums) the dealer/repairman said they were bunk. Next to impossible to repair AND their harsh bristles cut up the carpet fibers and void your carpet warrenty. Maybe drop into a carpet salesroom and ask about that? I LOVE dogs, but won’t get one, simply for the fact that I can’t handle the thought of dog hair. And vet bills. We have an inside cat and she is affectionate and lovely and uses a litter box and doesn’t need to be walked before bedtime. Or in the rain/snow/heat. She loves her Furminator too.
I got my dyson off woot.com, refurbished, for 200ish. They come up all the time. It comes with a warranty. Yes, it’s the best money I ever spent and seriously it grossed me out the first dozen times I used it. I got a small ball model. My sister got a larger model off a different website for a good price and was also very happy. Disgusted, but happy.