Vacuum Cleaner Reviews

Updated October 2011

Dyson vacuums seem to grab all the press, but are they really the best vacuums you can buy? We put that notion to the test, scrutinizing both expert testing and user ratings for vacuum cleaners in all price ranges. The big takeaway? Dyson vacuums are good, but maybe not $400 better than some competing models. Durability weighs heavily in our recommendations; a snazzy vacuum that breaks in six months won't do you any good.

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Budget bagging upright vacuum

Hoover Tempo Widepath U5140-900

*Est. $80 Compare Prices

We found excellent ratings for the 16-pound Hoover Tempo Widepath from both experts and from satisfied owners who say you get a lot of vacuum for your money. Although this bagging model lacks a HEPA filter, reviews say it… expandnonetheless controls emissions well. The Hoover Tempo is easier to push and pull than others, and it does a very good job on carpet and rugs. The brushroll doesn't turn off, so it can stir up dust if used on bare floors. This vacuum is also noisy, and some owners find the hose awkward to use. Still, most users consider it a great value for the price. A relatively short power cord is a possible drawback. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

ConsumerReports.org: ConsumerReports.org includes the Hoover Tempo Widepath U5140-900 in its comparison evaluation of more than 80 upright models.

Amazon.com: More than 2,000 owners have posted their experiences with the budget-priced Hoover Tempo Widepath U5140-900.

Walmart.com: In about 250 reviews at Walmart.com, the Hoover Tempo Widepath U5140-900 earns an average rating of 4.5 stars out of 5, and 96 percent of users say they would recommend it.

BestBuy.com: The Hoover Tempo Widepath U5140-900 receives about 75 reviews at BestBuy.com, with an overall rating of 4.3 stars out of 5.

ConsumerGuide.com: The Hoover Tempo Widepath U5140-900 gets a Budget Buy designation and a perfect score at ConsumerGuide.com.

Epinions.com: Although there are only about 35 user reviews for the Hoover Tempo Widepath U5140-900 on Epinions.com, those reviews are generally positive.

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Buy from Amazon for $75.77
Shoplet.com for $140.41	Sears for $99.99	VCDiscounte- r for $79.95

Lightweight vacuum cleaner

Hoover Platinum Bagged Upright with Canister UH30010COM

*Est. $250 Compare Prices

If your home has several floors, a heavy vacuum cleaner can be a pain to carry up and down the stairs. This Hoover upright, however, weighs just 12.5 pounds without sacrificing excellent cleaning scores on both carpeting… expandand bare floors. One of the reasons it's so light is that it doesn't include onboard tools; rather, a separate canister vacuum is included for vacuuming upholstery, stairs and floorboards. The Hoover upright is otherwise a simple bagging vacuum cleaner, though its 35-foot power cord is longer than most. The $80 Hoover Tempo Widepath gets similar reviews for performance, but it includes a hose and tools on the upright vacuum itself, adding four pounds to its weight. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

ConsumerReports.org: ConsumerReports.org tests the Hoover Platinum Bagged Upright UH30010COM in its comparison evaluation of 82 upright models.

Good Housekeeping: Staffers at Good Housekeeping award the Hoover Platinum Bagged Upright UH30010COM a rating of B+ in their vacuum cleaner tests.

Amazon.com: The Hoover Platinum Bagged Upright with Canister UH30010COM gets an average score of 4.5 out of 5 stars in more than 600 owner reviews at Amazon.com.

BestBuy.com: About 70 users rate the Hoover Platinum Bagged Upright with Canister UH30010COM, giving it an overall rating of 4.7 stars out of 5.

Target.com: The Hoover Platinum Bagged Upright with Canister UH30010COM has only about a dozen reviews at Target.com, but they are very positive.

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Buy from Amazon for $212.28
BuyDig.com for $299.00	Overstock.c- om for $299.99	Amazon for $212.28

Best bagging upright vacuum

Miele S7580 Bolero

*Est. $800 Compare Prices

The Miele S7580 Bolero is expensive, and at 22 pounds it's heavier than most uprights, but reviewers wax poetic when writing about its ultra-smooth maneuverability, low noise (for a vacuum cleaner), superior build quality… expandand ease of use, including a simple-to-change bag and extra-long 39-foot power cord. A swiveling body adds flexibility; emissions are controlled with two-stage HEPA filtration. The Bolero vacuum has adjustable suction, automatic height adjustment and separate motors for the suction and the spinning brushroll. In professional tests it performs well on all floor surfaces. Owners love this vacuum's power and handling, though a few complain about its weight. The Miele S7580 is also available in red as the S7580 Tango and in silver as the S7580 Swing. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

ConsumerReports.org: ConsumerReports.org evaluates more than 80 upright vacuums, including the Miele S7580 Bolero, by testing them on carpet and bare floor.

Good Housekeeping: Staffers at the Good Housekeeping Research Institute award the Miele S7580 Bolero an A rating in their detailed tests of vacuum cleaners.

Amazon.com: We found about 10 reviews for the Miele S7580 Bolero at Amazon.com, plus another 15 or so (on separate pages) for the Tango and Swing models.

AllergyBuyersClub.com: The Miele S7580 Tango (the red version of the Bolero) is named the best upright HEPA vacuum at this retail site.

Ristenbatt Vacuum Cleaner Service, Inc.: David Ristenbatt, the proprietor of Ristenbatt Vacuum Cleaner Service, includes the Miele S7580 Tango in his list of preferred upright vacuums.

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Buy from Amazon for $799.00
AllergyBuye- rsClub.com for $799.00	GoVacuum for $799.00	Zadoozy for $799.00

Budget bagless vacuum cleaner

Hoover WindTunnel T-Series Rewind Plus Bagless UH70120

*Est. $120 Compare Prices

Bagless vacuums collect dust in a removable bin, which saves you from buying replacement bags (though it can expose you to dust during emptying). In professional tests the Hoover WindTunnel Rewind Plus outperforms bagless… expandvacuums many times its cost, with good results on all floor surfaces and excellent pet-hair pickup. On the downside, you can't turn the brushroll off, so it may spit out debris when vacuuming bare floors. Owners say it has great suction and convenient features, such as a retracting cord and a HEPA filter. It's also fairly lightweight at 16.5 pounds. However, we did see some complaints about this vacuum's durability. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

ConsumerReports.org: ConsumerReports.org evaluates more than 80 upright vacuums, including the Hoover WindTunnel T-Series Rewind Plus Bagless UH70120, by testing them on carpet and bare floor.

Good Housekeeping: Staffers at the Good Housekeeping Research Institute award the Hoover WindTunnel T-Series Rewind Plus Bagless UH70120 a rating of B+ in their tests of upright and canister vacuums.

Amazon.com: More than 500 users review the Hoover WindTunnel T-Series Rewind Plus Bagless UH70120 at Amazon.com, giving it an overall rating of 4 stars out of 5.

BestBuy.com: In roughly 85 reviews, the Hoover WindTunnel T-Series Rewind Plus Bagless UH70120 earns an overall rating of 4.1 stars out of a possible 5.

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Buy from Amazon for $128.54
Amazon for $93.54	TotalVac.co- m for $129.95	AJ Madison for $129.00

Best bagless upright vacuum

Dyson DC28 Animal

*Est. $530 Compare Prices

Although it's expensive, many owners say the Dyson DC28 Animal is worth the money. This 21-pound bagless upright features a motorized hand-tool attachment for removing pet hair, along with automatic height adjustment, a… expandlifetime HEPA filter and a telescopic wand for hard-to-reach areas. In professional tests it performs well on both carpet and bare floors, though it takes several passes to remove pet hair. Users love its great suction and its specially designed dirt cup, which empties from the bottom to minimize the user's exposure to dust. The DC28 Animal, like all Dyson vacuums, comes with a five-year warranty. However, some users warn that getting repairs under warranty can be a time-consuming process. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

ConsumerReports.org: ConsumerReports.org evaluates more than 80 upright vacuums, including the Dyson DC28 Animal, by testing them on carpet and bare floor.

Good Housekeeping: Staffers at the Good Housekeeping Research Institute award the Dyson DC28 Animal a rating of B+ in their tests of upright and canister vacuums.

Wired: The editors of Wired name the Dyson DC28 Animal an Editors' Pick among vacuums, awarding it an overall score of 8 out of 10 ("Excellent, with room to kvetch"). In this brief review, they say the vacuum offers great power and lots of bells and whistles, but a couple of its features could be better designed.

ConsumerReports.org: This entry from the ConsumerReports.org Home & Garden blog is available without a subscription.

Walmart.com: The Dyson DC28 Animal receives more than 850 reviews at Walmart.com, with ratings averaging 4.5 stars out of 5.

Viewpoints.com: The Dyson DC28 Animal earns an overall score of 4.53 stars out of 5 from over 100 reviewers at Viewpoints.com, and 91 percent say they would recommend it.

BestBuy.com: In about 100 reviews, users at BestBuy.com award the Dyson DC28 Animal an overall score of 4.5 stars out of 5, and 9 out of 10 users recommend it.

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Buy from Amazon for $635.00
Best Vacuum for $649.00	Sears for $649.99	JCPenney for $650.00

Dyson DC25 Animal *Est. $540

4 picks including: Target.com, Walmart.com…

Miele S7280 Jazz *Est. $550

3 picks including: Amazon.com, Ristenbatt Vacuum Cleaner Service, Inc.…

Eureka AirSpeed AS1000A *Est. $120

2 picks including: Walmart.com, Viewpoints.com…


	Eureka AirSpeed Bagless Upright In Stock. Average Customer Review: