'Tis Maroon Hoover Day!

For the first time in months, I got a vacuum for the Goodwill!

I am quite lucky as there is a Goodwill on the street we drive home from school on, so about twice I check in there and see if there is anything worth buying. Sadly the Goodwill sets a high price of $15 on all their vacuums, so I can't get much. But today was different. I was welcomed into the store by a vintage record player playing. So I walked to the back to find a maroon Hoover Dimension-style DirtFinder machine. I had never seen one of these in person, so I knew that unless I want to regret anything, I had to get it.

Sadly we did not have to time to buy it, but this worked out for the better. I came back later this evening to find yet another maroon Hoover. This time it was a Hoover Steamvac. This thing is so clean for a used deep cleaner! Although I don't really need another deep cleaner(I'm already covered by my wonderful Rubbermaid) I got it anyway. Most Steamvacs are filled with pet hair, but this was just too clean to pass up.

So I got them both, and I am one happy Hoover man! What is funny is that the last time I bought two vacuums from the Goodwill, they were also Hoovers. I haven't test them both greatly, but the Dirtfinder does not seem to be working. Could anyone tell me how to fix this?

For you that want to know, the Dirtfinder was manufactured in December 1995 and the Steamvac July 2004.


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Post# 169026 2/9/2012 at 20:40 (4,453 days old) by bagintheback (Flagstaff, Arizona)
Checkrate/Likes For the first time in months, I got a vacuum for the Goodwill! I am quite lucky as there is a Goodwill on the street we drive home from school on, so about twice I check in there and see if there is anything worth buying. Sadly the Goodwill sets a high price of $15 on all their vacuums, so I can't get much. But today was different. I was welcomed into the store by a vintage record player playing. So I walked to the back to find a maroon Hoover Dimension-style DirtFinder machine. I had never seen one of these in person, so I knew that unless I want to regret anything, I had to get it. Sadly we did not have to time to buy it, but this worked out for the better. I came back later this evening to find yet another maroon Hoover. This time it was a Hoover Steamvac. This thing is so clean for a used deep cleaner! Although I don't really need another deep cleaner(I'm already covered by my wonderful Rubbermaid) I got it anyway. Most Steamvacs are filled with pet hair, but this was just too clean to pass up. So I got them both, and I am one happy Hoover man! What is funny is that the last time I bought two vacuums from the Goodwill, they were also Hoovers. I haven't test them both greatly, but the Dirtfinder does not seem to be working. Could anyone tell me how to fix this? For you that want to know, the Dirtfinder was manufactured in December 1995 and the Steamvac July 2004.

Post# 169027 , Reply# 1 2/9/2012 at 20:47 (4,453 days old) by bagintheback (Flagstaff, Arizona)
Checkrate/Likes I found this while looking through my vacuum archive. This is basically the same Hoover.

Post# 169033 , Reply# 2 2/9/2012 at 21:15 (4,453 days old) by vacman117 (Chicago, IL)
Checkrate/Likes I have that same Dirt Finder and they are really neat! There is a battery that activates the dirt finder. If I remember right, it is in the bag compartment.

Post# 169048 , Reply# 3 2/9/2012 at 23:21 (4,453 days old) by kirbyvertibles (Independence, KS)
Checkrate/Likes It does have a battery. I have the same model and I want to say it's a 9 volt?

Post# 169082 , Reply# 4 2/10/2012 at 09:03 (4,452 days old) by bagintheback (Flagstaff, Arizona)
Checkrate/Likes I put a new 9V battery in and the lights still do not come on. How do I activate the dirtfinder?

Post# 169085 , Reply# 5 2/10/2012 at 10:28 (4,452 days old) by kloveland (Tulsa)
Checkrate/Likes *Cool finds!* How do you like the Dimension? I'm thinking about getting one. My fear is that is going to be loud.

Post# 169086 , Reply# 6 2/10/2012 at 10:41 (4,452 days old) by bagintheback (Flagstaff, Arizona)
Checkrate/Likes Well the Dimension series use all the same parts as the Hoover Elites, including the motor, so they are a little loud. I used to hear these motors all the time, so it doesn't bother me much, but to those who use quieter vintage machines, they will find it loud. But they are excellent cleaners and if you can find one cheap, you will enjoy it!

Post# 169243 , Reply# 7 2/11/2012 at 18:35 (4,451 days old) by director12 ()
Checkrate/Likes Since you prefer a Steamvac, I think you prefer a Bissell extractor made before the late 2000's, along with a Dirt Devil made from mid 2000's and under.

Post# 169252 , Reply# 8 2/11/2012 at 20:18 (4,451 days old) by bagintheback (Flagstaff, Arizona)
Checkrate/Likes *director12* I don't prefer my Steamvac over the Rubbermaid, but they both do an excellent job. The Rubbermaid certainly has more suction and larger tanks, and the Steamvac is nice because it has brushes and is much quieter. Using both of these machines, I am very surprised how clean you can get a carpet with just suction. I clean my hallway today with the Steamvac with before and after pictures. I'll post those tomorrow to show the difference. Also, I still would like to know how to fix the dirtfinder. It still does not light up, and I installed a new battery.

Post# 169374 , Reply# 10 2/12/2012 at 20:24 (4,450 days old) by floor-a-matic (somewhere)
Checkrate/Likes *Embedded Dirt Finder (EDF)* The Dirt Finder (EDF) mechanism might need replacement? I don't think it's that easy repairing one?

Post# 259186 , Reply# 12 12/11/2013 at 01:13 (3,783 days old) by vacuumman206 ()
Checkrate/Likes *That was my guess* When the title said maroon Hoover, I had a hunch it was the Dirt finder, because to my recollection it is one of if not the only maroon Hoover in a while. I just garbage picked one the other day, only needed a cleaning and a belt. Can't get the dirt finder to work yet though. In the same day I also got a Hoover v2 carpet cleaner that some creative individual tried rewiring. Once I found and fixed that it works great

Post# 169307 , Reply# 9 2/12/2012 at 07:38 (4,450 days old) by director12 ()
Checkrate/Likes That, and would you get a portable extractor for steaming the couches? The best ones would go froom Hoover, with the older Bissell Spotlifter and Little Greens.

Post# 259150 , Reply# 11 12/10/2013 at 14:02 (3,783 days old) by director12 ()
Checkrate/Likes IKR?

Post# 259206 , Reply# 13 12/11/2013 at 05:21 (3,783 days old) by director12 ()
Checkrate/Likes The V2, what is the history behind that?