Vacuum Cleaners Reviews

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Vacuum Cleaners Reviews Reviewed
Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Vacuum Cleaners Ratings Comments on Reviews
1. Consumer Reports >> Details/Subscribe	Vacuums: When smaller isn't better Editors of Consumer Reports Mar. 2008		Editors at Consumer Reports test 70 upright and canister vacuums for cleaning ability on carpet, bare floors and with tools, as well as for noise, emissions, ease of use and its ability to pick up pet hair from carpet. Consumer Reports' methodology is consistent and extremely thorough, making this the most valuable review we found. Editors also test far more vacuum cleaners than other reviewers. Online videos also offer buying advice with topics including light cleaning, canister vs. upright and more. Also included are the results of an annual reader survey judging brand reliability.
2. Which.co.uk >> Details/Subscribe	Vacuum Cleaners Editors of Which.co.uk Feb. 2008		This British equivalent of Consumer Reports tests vacuums regularly. We like that editors specifically test performance on different floor types. In its latest roundup, editors thoroughly test 67 models from 22 different brands (canister and upright). In the past, editors have excluded Dyson vacuums from their top picks based on poor reliability. However, editors note that the latest Dyson vacuums appear to be better built, and Dyson now includes a five-year warranty for new purchases. (This new warranty also applies to U.S. purchases.) Editors award Best Buy nods to the Dyson DC14, Dyson DC15, Dyson DC18 and SEBO Felix 1 Premium. About half of the tested vacuum cleaners are not available in the United States.
3. Choice.com.au >> Details/Subscribe	Buying Guide: Vacuum Cleaners Editors of Choice.com.au Updated Aug. 2007		Choice magazine is an Australian contemporary of Consumer Reports. Editors divide vacuum ratings into three price categories: Cheap, mid-price and expensive. Vacuums are tested using 100 grams of sand that is vacuumed up in 16 strokes. The sand is then removed from the vacuum cleaner and weighed to determine the vacuum's efficiency. Choice tests a total of 36 upright and canister vacuums, many of which are not available in the United States. Editors recommend 19 models altogether in their "What to buy" listings. Interestingly, editors of Choice do not recommend the Dyson DC14, one of Which? Online's top picks, calling it "fairly high and difficult to use under low furniture" with "an irritating, high-pitched sound."

Vacuum Cleaners Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Vacuum Cleaners Ratings Comments on Reviews

4. Amazon.com	Upright Vacuums Contributors to Amazon.com As of Feb. 2008		After the above consumer organizations, we found the best reporting on vacuum cleaners at Amazon.com, where owner-contributors are especially prolific on the subject of Dyson uprights, evidenced by well over a thousand postings. Sprinkled among the raves are several complaints about the pet-hair tool and the awkward hose and attachment arrangement of all the Dyson models. Some owners of the Dyson DC17 compare it to the DC14, saying the DC17 is quieter, more powerful and easier to push. The Eureka 4870GZ also merits nearly 1000 mostly positive reviews, and the iRobot Roomba receives a lot of evaluations. The Hoover U5140-900 Tempo Widepath is also a favorite here, averaging near-perfect scores.

Vacuum Cleaners Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Vacuum Cleaners Ratings Comments on Reviews

5. The Wall Street Journal >> Details/Subscribe	Vacuum Cleaners Sara Schaefer Muñoz Nov. 2006		Sara Schaefer Muñoz tests three bagless upright vacuum cleaners: the Shark Infinity, Hoover WindTunnel 2 and the Dyson Absolute DC17. Unfortunately, this review isn't very detailed, and the author doesn't tell us anything about performance, beyond her opinion that all three "did a good job of sucking up spilled food and dirt." Muñoz says the more expensive Dyson Absolute DC17 was the easiest to maneuver. While this informal test is interesting, it is now outdated.
6. The Green Guide	Ventilating, Vacuuming, & Filtering Out Allergens Emily Main May/June 2006		This brief article discusses High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters and allergen source control. Author Emily Main recommends the Eureka Boss, Boss 4D and Boss SmartVac vacuums, along with the SEBO X4 and X5 uprights, and the Dyson brand in general. However, it does not appear that any specific testing of these models was performed, and no product comparisons are provided.
7. WZZM 13 News (Grand Rapids, MI)	Dyson Vacuum Put to the Test Lauren Stanton Jan. 26, 2005		News anchor Kim Covington of WZZM 13 in Grand Rapids, Michigan hosts a "Try it before you buy it" series, and in this episode, Dyson is the product on test. The specific model number isn't mentioned in the article, but the Dyson was tested against the bagging Hoover WindTunnel and an unspecified bagless Hoover. Although the Dyson's dirt chamber was easiest to empty, it didn't perform remarkably better or worse than the cheaper Hoover vacuums. This article is now out of date, however.
8. About.com	Vacuum Cleaner Reviews Sarah Aguirre As of Feb. 2008		About.com is a network of sites run by expert or enthusiast guides on a variety of subjects. Housekeeping Guide Sarah Aguirre reviews eight vacuums including the Dyson DC15 and the Oreck XL 21. The author goes into a reasonable amount of detail and includes one or two negatives for each vacuum cleaner. Aguirre also makes a few comparisons to other vacuums and appears to have casually tested most of the models. Aguirre never chooses any particular model as best, however.

Vacuum Cleaners Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Vacuum Cleaners Ratings Comments on Reviews

9. Good Housekeeping.com >> Details/Subscribe	Best Vacuums Nathaniel Benforado Oct. 2007		This short article describes four vacuum cleaners: the Electrolux Intensity EL5020, Dyson Slim DC18, Halo UVX and iRobot Roomba 560. While Nathaniel Benforado mostly lists features and positives, the author does include two negatives -- the Electrolux's lack of attachments and the Roomba's inability to deep clean. There's no information given about how or even whether vacuums were tested before being included.
10. The Independent	The Ten Best Vacuum Cleaners David Phelan Apr. 11, 2007		The Independent, a newspaper based in the UK, has an article listing the author's picks for the top ten vacuum cleaners. While it's useful that the models are ranked, there's no discussion of any negatives and no explanation of how models were chosen and assessed. The Electrolux Intensity and the Dyson DC18 Slim are the only two vacuums here that are consistent with top reviewers' picks.
11. The Wall Street Journal >> Details/Subscribe	Stealthier Sweeping Sara Schaefer Muñoz Jan. 24, 2008		Sara Schaefer Muñoz tests four vacuum cleaners: Electrolux Oxygen3 Ultra with Quiet Clean powerhead and Miele Callisto (both canister vacs), along with the upright Healthy Home Vacuum and the Oreck XL21 Titanium Upright with IntellaShield Technology. Testing is based on how well they live up to claims of being quieter than other vacuum cleaners. While the testing methodology here is very basic -- vacuums are run while the tester attempts to make a phone call -- the vacuums are ranked, and negative results are included. Bissell's Healthy Home Vacuum, and the Oreck uprights are noisier. Cleaning performance is not evaluated.
12. The Sunday Times (U.K.)	I should never have bought….DC07 cleaner Mark Anstead Feb. 2007		This short commentary is an interview with actor Ali Bastian. Bastian complains that the Dyson DC07 Full Gear is heavy, has poor suction and leaks clouds of dust when emptying the cylinder. She also says the model is "a nightmare" to take apart and reassemble, as well as too heavy for use on stairs. Neither Bastian nor author Mark Anstead claims any expertise on vacuums.
13. Maclean's >> Details/Subscribe	It really sucks Meg Floyd Feb. 2007		This article from the print version of Maclean's Magazine includes a brief but positive review of the Electrolux Intensity. Author Meg Floyd reports the Electrolux Intensity is "compact, sturdy and stylish, with a folding handle that makes storage simple." It also offers strong suction and performance. Testing methods are not discussed, nor are any comparisons with competing vacuum cleaners offered.
14. Ristenbatt Vacuum Cleaner Service, Inc.	Risenbatt Vacuum's Preferred Models David E. Ristenbatt As of Feb. 2008		This retailer sells over 75 different models of cleaners and publishes comprehensive product summaries, features and specifications on a limited number of models. Preferred picks include the SEBO Automatic X4/X5, Lindhaus RX 380, Sanitaire SC888J/S677D and Miele S184 uprights. There's great information here about types of cleaners, filter differences and agitator types. Since there's no independent testing information, and models recommended here are also sold here, this site has limited scope.
15. Allergy Buyers Club.com	Vacuum Cleaners: For Rugs, Carpets and Bare Floor Editors of Allergy Buyers Club As of Feb. 2008		This retail site, which includes many comparison charts and articles, focuses on the needs of allergy sufferers. Vacuum cleaners with HEPA filters are recommended for people who need maximum removal of allergens. While this is a good, specialized site for health information and articles for allergy sufferers, the recommendations must be taken with a grain of salt, and it's interesting that the highest ratings go to the most expensive machines.
16. Consumer Guide.com	Upright Vacuum Cleaners Reviews and Prices Editors of ConsumerGuide.com As of Feb. 2008		Consumer Guide reviews a number of vacuums, but write-ups for the models featured here are entirely based on features and specifications. No product testing appears to have been performed at all, which makes this source less valuable. Best Buy awards are given to 20 vacuums, but it's difficult to tell exactly why editors chose these over others.
17. ThatHome Site.com	Appliance Forums Contributors to ThatHomeSite.com As of Feb. 2008		While it is challenging to dig through all of the threaded messages posted on this message board, there's a lot of good advice and comments from consumers who have actually purchased and used vacuum cleaners. Since this is a consumer forum, no specific testing methods or expert reviews are provided. Searching the site is the only way to find what you're looking for.
18. Epinions	Upright Vacuum Cleaners Contributors to Epinions As of Feb. 2008		Most vacuum ratings on this consumer opinion website are positive, so it's difficult to get any idea of which models might be better than others. There are more comments here for Dyson vacuums than others, and the mainly positive postings are peppered with a few who say the pet-hair brush does not work as advertised. The Eureka 4870 gets a more mixed response here than at Amazon.com.

Vacuum Cleaners Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Vacuum Cleaners Ratings Comments on Reviews

19. Appliance.com	Vacuum Cleaners & Floor Care Appliances -- The Latest New Products Editors of Appliance.com As of Feb. 2008		Although Appliance.com does not offer reviews or testing of upright vacuums, they do describe new models in extensive detail -- interesting if you're really into vacuums. There's no comparison information here, however. Helpful buying guides and articles with general information about the different types of vacuums and features are also available on this website.