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Viva la Vacuum!

Is kitty leaving too much for you to remember him by? Are your wellies tracking dirt? Whatever the mess, these vacuums will help you suck it up. 

Suck it up: It’s time for a new vacuum cleaner.
vacuums expert guido clark laura

Vacuum cleaners promise order and cleanliness, but they can also be infuriating. Like most appliances designed to expedite chores and ameliorate messes, their malfunctioning can have an adverse effect. Rage. Despair. Bitterness toward an errant paper clip or that hairball/quarter combo that undid your Dirt Devil. Broken or poorly made domestic appliances are nuisance compounded, which is why, when you’re serious about simplifying your life, it’s a good idea to invest in a quality product. While there is no such thing as a perfect vacuum, at least in physics, there are a number of near-perfect models designed to obliterate the plenum of filth in your home.

Finding the right machine has a lot to do with your personal needs. First and foremost you must decide between a canister and an upright. Canister vacuums are lighter and less cumbersome, making them easier to maneuver up stairs and around tight areas, and their low profile and multifaceted attachments allow them to get around and clean furniture easily. However, some people find dragging the unit behind them to be awkward, and prefer uprights. Uprights generally have larger bags, and the more enlightened ones, like Dysons, have incredible power and suction, but canister vacuums with HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filtration systems tend to leak less dusty air back into the environment.

However, most important, canister vacuums are the preferred choice of Laura Guido-Clark, creative director of InterfaceFLOR and an industry expert on “skin”—the manufactured variety. We asked Guido-Clark to help us discover which canister vacuums would do the best job sucking up the amalgam of fibers and threads that litter her studio. While she can’t help but linger bemusedly on the look and finish of each vacuum, she certainly knows that at the end of the day, it’s about performance. Luckily, the two aren’t always mutually exclusive.

  • vacuums miele red velvet

    Miele Red Velvet

    Expert Opinion: It’s just so seamless; it has a sense of self-containment. The color is really beautiful and has what is called a soft-touch finish—this is a higher-end machine. It’s interesting to me how the more expensive the machine is, the more intimate it becomes—you relate to it, as much as one would relate to a vacuum. It looks like it will endure. It’s not as loud as the Electrolux, and the attachments are nicer, but it’s not as accessible as the Electrolux and it’s a little difficult to adjust.

    What We Think: This is as close to perfect a vacuum as any. The quality of each of the attachments, the material, and overall usability are impressive. The one drawback is the price, which is more than most people will want to pay. However, as with any high-quality piece of machinery, you are paying for endurance and reliability. But we think the Electrolux can do everything the Miele can, at less than half the price.

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  • vacuums sanyo sc x1000p

    Sanyo SC-X1000P Bagless Canister Vacuum

    Expert Opinion: I think the connotation they wanted for this one was more industrial, sort of like a maintenance machine. I don’t relate to it for the home because it just feels a little cold and slick. It’s a little cumbersome and there aren’t any alternate lifting options. The turning radius isn’t as good on this one, but you can’t really complain about the suction.

    What We Think: Well, we couldn’t complain about the suction—until something got stuck. The design of this machine connotes power, but it’s largely aesthetic and insubstantial. This machine has fewer attachments and is unwieldy, which suggests that cleaning with it will be a more involved and laborious process than most people would like. For those who don’t want to deal with a bag, this could be an affordable option—but really, if it’s not a Dyson, you ought to be using a bag.

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  • vacuums bosch formula electro duo plus hepa

    Bosch Formula Electro Duo Plus HEPA

    Expert Opinion: This has a Mini Cooper–esque cute bulbous thing going on—very ladybuglike. It feels really light and simple; and the attachments are accessible, which I like. It’s easy to push, and the [pivoting] handle is center-based so you have choices. It’s quite small, so I bet you could get in and around corners. The suction gauge is nice and very quiet, and you can control the suction in the floor attachment from the handle. Its gloss finish will show scratches, though.

    What We Think: Not to throw the c-bomb around too much, but this machine is dang cute. The design is simple and straightforward; there aren’t too many buttons or settings to overwhelm, and the performance and ease of use are enviable. This probably isn’t the best machine for a heavily carpeted area, as the suction and carpet brush don’t seem to be as strong as those of the other high-end models, but it’s ideal for a smaller apartment or loft. This is the perfect choice for a female, mid-20s, magazine-writer type, who works, perhaps, for a modern design and architecture publication, and is possibly named Amber.

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  • vacuums hoover wind tunnel canister s3639

    Hoover WindTunnel Canister S3639

    Expert Opinion: It’s harder to get behind this because of the way it looks. The materials are connoting an older trend, but they don’t work well. I don’t really want to see stuff going in my bag, and if I did, I’d want it clear, not tinted blue. I don’t get this attachment [on top] at all. The suction is amazing; it’s way better than the Sanyo. It is a high-powered suction machine. In terms of the way it works, it really picks stuff up. In terms of tools, it’s great; they’re just not cased well.

    What We Think: This isn’t the best-looking machine on the market, but it certainly remains true to the Hoover name as far as suction goes. It’s unfortunate that such a powerful, well-made mechanical system is housed in such a shoddy body. It’s true that it’s what’s inside that counts, but the extraneous cords and overall plastickyness make this the least desirable of the group. While we’re always for Britishisms, we’re going to have to do our hoovering elsewhere.

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  • vacuums electrolux oxygen 3 ultra

    Electrolux Oxygen3 Ultra

    Expert Opinion: The Electrolux seems a bit more cumbersome [than the Bosch], but the finish is really beautiful. The way they did the material on the filter system, it almost looks like a speaker system. The handle is quite ergonomic and you can actually get to the brushes that you use the most. That’s a nice feature. This thing has turbo suction—it’s like it has got a life of its own.

    What We Think: Like the Bosch, the Electrolux is an agile and effective machine. The difference is that the Electrolux seems more thought out in both material and functionality. The attention to detail, finish, and use makes this a desirable machine. The vacuum brush is powerful and the easy-to-reach attachments are a real perk. The floor attachment is powerful and quickly sucks up anything you throw in its path. While the Bosch seems more maneuverable, thanks to the castor wheels, the Electrolux boasts all of the compact efficiency but in a more luxurious package.

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