Thread Number: 42113  /  Tag: Recent Vacuum Cleaners from past 20 years
Upright hose useability
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Post# 443893   7/16/2021 at 22:06 (986 days old) by fan-of-fans (USA)        

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What upright vacuums do you find to have the most useable tools... and least useable?

I always thought the older uprights with the front, rear or pan converters had the most useable setup, as far as easiest to work with hoses and best attachment sets.

Many of the modern tool on board uprights I find the hoses to be practically useless. There is too much suction so the hose collapses.

My mom had a Kenmore Quick Clean bagless upright (Panasonic). It had the stretch hose that draped over the handle in a U shape. Sometimes I'd use the attachments on it but we rarely did (my mom would usually get mad if I tried to use them and tell me not to waste the time). But when I did, usually the machine would fall over on me whenever I put the crevice tool or dusting brush on and touched it to a surface. Very aggravating!

My grandma had a Hoover Elite and I don't remember it having this problem.

Also I've used a cheapo Bissell Powerforce bagless and it didn't do that either. It had a more rigid hose that wasn't as springy...

I also have a Kenmore Progressive upright and while its hose is pretty short, I find it to be fairly useable. There's a clip on the back that lowers the center of gravity so it doesn't tip as easily, or you can unclip if you need more hose. Also the other good thing is it has a 3 speed motor so you can slow the suction down, as well as a suction valve on the wand. I find the tools not all that great though, it has a tiny dusting brush with short scratchy bristles that slide off to make an upholstery tool with sharp edges.

My mom now has a newer Hoover Windtunnel 2 bagless upright, and I do find the hose useable on that. It also has a decent dusting brush that has fairly soft bristles.

I've never used a Sebo or Miele upright, but I bet they have great hoses and tools with them. And of course Kirbys I've noticed have a great hose setup. I believe they even have soft horsehair brushes too.

It just seems even if manufacturers had good tools on their canisters, they almost always skimped on the uprights - cheaper tools or less selection to use.
Also for some reason tool on board uprights tended to use proprietary tools so you can't just swap out 1 1/4" ones to use. Although many older ones did.


Post# 443894 , Reply# 1   7/16/2021 at 23:01 (986 days old) by human (Pines of Carolina)        
Electrolux

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My favorite uprights to use with tools are the twin-motor Electrolux vacuums (Discovery II/Genesis/Epic/etc.). You just open the rubber flap on top of the bag door, shove the hose into place and plug in the electrical pigtail if you're planning to use a SideKick and the machine in question has an electrical connection for it. My Genesis LXe and Epic 3500SR are factory equipped with an electrical connection and I retrofitted my Discovery II with an adapter kit so it now has one as well. They use all the same tools as the Electrolux canisters and have plenty of suction power through the hose. The only one of those I'm not fond of is the Discovery Plus, which has onboard tool storage. While it's handy to be able to store the tools together with the vacuum, it's impossibly awkward to use with tools stowed aboard, especially the hose. I have to jettison at least the hose to make it usable.

I also have a bunch of Kirbys and I love them as well and while it's kind of fun to convert those machines so many different ways, it's also a fairly cumbersome process so I mainly use them in the upright mode unless I'm just in the mood to play with one. I've had several years of practice and am reasonably good at it now but I don't think I'll ever be able to do it as quickly and seemingly effortlessly as the salesman I watched demonstrate a Classic Omega in our living room when I was about ten years old. I was enthralled with the demo and was a bit disappointed when we didn't buy one but hey, I've made up for it with interest in the past few years.


Post# 443904 , Reply# 2   7/17/2021 at 08:30 (986 days old) by Blackheart (North Dakota)        
Miele

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I like the tool system on the Miele S7/U1 the low mounted hose means the machine is more likely to follow you rather than tip over. The handle, though kind of bulky, is comfortable in the hand. The hose also has a pretty good reach and with the variable speed system and vents in the upholstery tool the pullback from the hose can be minimized.

As for least favorite I'm having a hard time picking one which really stands out. I know it would be a top mounted hose like a Sebo or certain lindhauses though I think Sebo's slightly better due to their longer hose.


Post# 443908 , Reply# 3   7/17/2021 at 12:23 (985 days old) by electromatik (Taylorsville, North Carolina, U.S.A.)        

I never liked any of them. The "falling over" problem happened on EVERY upright my mother owned or myself ever owned. In addition, the hose almost never reached far enough to suit me, even with the wands.

I always hated uprights, so I admit I am biased. Canisters just always seemed more portable, more usable, lighter, and with better tools.


Post# 443909 , Reply# 4   7/17/2021 at 12:59 (985 days old) by Vinvac (Dubuque IA)        

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Most of the modern uprights I would not give you two cents. Dyson, Bissell, Panasonic, Hoover, Eureka all have those darn stretch hoses that are useless. None of them have tools that are worth using.

I never liked the Hoover Convertible set up. The rear hook ups had no air flow. (designed for light dusting) Early Eureka's with the front top mount were the same. However when they went to the bottom fit it improve air flow and the tools were actually useable.

Panasonic in the early days had the flip lid where you could insert the hose directly and those were awesome. The Hoover Dial-a-matic was way ahead of it's time and worked well. (although I have never been a fan of Hoover tools)

I love any Kirby or Royal. Very useable tools and good air flow.

I have never used an Electrolux Discovery (upright) but would assume they would be good as well.

Just my two cents.


Post# 443928 , Reply# 5   7/17/2021 at 19:23 (985 days old) by Lesinutah (Utah)        
The

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Riccar or simplicity on board tools are very user friendly. I have a dark green old riccar that has on board tools. I like the port to attach a hose. I have a 12" riccar hose. It's great for doing the stairs.
The vacuum is 80-85 cfm. The hose is is pretty similar. The Kenmore progressive upright too short.
I don't use the riccar very much. I have a newer simplicity I just need the belt and bags. I seen a Titan upright today when I went to the vacuum service center. It looked well built. I didn't ask as I didn't want to hear a sales pitch.


Post# 443939 , Reply# 6   7/18/2021 at 05:37 (985 days old) by eurekaprince (Montreal, Canada)        

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I think the Miele S7/U1 Dynamic upright had the best set up because you had 3 separate normal attachments on board ( including an extra long crevice tool), and a switch on the upright's handle to turn off the brush roll. It also had a detachable telescopic wand.

The only other uprights that seemed to have decent above the floor cleaning set-ups were the two-motor Panasonic/Kenmore uprights and the Eureka SmartVac with it's three full-size World Vac tools on board.


Post# 443943 , Reply# 7   7/18/2021 at 08:59 (985 days old) by n0oxy (Saint Louis Missouri, United States)        
Sebo Felix

I only have one upright, the Sebo Felix. I'm definitely much more of a canister or central vacuum person. The Felix gives you a couple of options. You can remove the power nozzle or hard floor attachment and lay the main unit on the floor, then pull the hose out and clean that way. It will not follow you around this way. Alternatively, you can push the handle down and attach an accessory to the end of the machine itself.
This is one of the main reasons why I like canister or central vacuums so much better, all of this is avoided. Your hose is the primary way of cleaning. Use whatever tool you need and if you want to clean carpets, use an electric power nozzle. All of the cleaning power of an upright and the issues with the cleaner following you around or the inability to use the tool you need are completely eliminated.
Mike


Post# 443947 , Reply# 8   7/18/2021 at 10:23 (985 days old) by fan-of-fans (USA)        

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The Eureka Smart Vac was also nice in that it shut off the brush when using the hose, and you could get a horsehair dusting brush for it.

I figured the Riccar had good attachments I know it had a horsehair dusting brush too.

I wouldn't mind having a Miele S7 to try out either.

Yeah, this is one reason why if I could only have one vacuum, it would be a power nozzle canister. There are situations where a lightweight, fan first upright makes more sense (less hassle in setup and storage.) But to me a power nozzle canister is best of both worlds - powerful carpet cleaning that lets you get under and around tight areas. And also great hard floor, stair and above floor cleaning. There's no worry about tugging the hose too much and tipping it over - resulting in injury or damage.

The attachments on most good canisters many times are/were better than those on uprights also, but there are always exceptions.

Also for those with arthritis or trouble pushing heavy weight, most of the weight is on the floor behind you.

I know a lot of younger collectors only like uprights and some really dislike canisters. I don't understand this, but I'd guess it's because they were too young to experience many canisters being around. But we can all like or collect whatever we like, and there's nothing wrong with that.


Post# 443954 , Reply# 9   7/18/2021 at 11:26 (984 days old) by human (Pines of Carolina)        

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I agree about power nozzle canisters. The first one I ever used was a 1970s vintage Eureka Princess that had belonged to my grandmother. The only canisters I had used before that were straight suction and the addition of a power nozzle was a revelation. Truly the best of both worlds and definitely preferable to trying to use a hose and tools with just about any upright.

Post# 443959 , Reply# 10   7/18/2021 at 15:07 (984 days old) by Thevacomaticiec (Bathurst New Brunswick Canada )        

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The only uprighti like is my Electrolux Discovery 2 the hose is right on the top . Talk about a nice place for it .Altho ido wish it had more suction and air flow but for palcement you cančt beat it .

Post# 443963 , Reply# 11   7/18/2021 at 18:28 (984 days old) by Lesinutah (Utah)        
I

lesinutah's profile picture
Had a royal straight suction cannister. It was the last straight suction they made. I no longer own it shows how much I liked it. The hose was long but the auction was nothing special.
I prefer my compact c9 and it's power nozzle. If you catch a runner on a rug the power nozzle is slot lighter than a Kirby or other uprights.


Post# 443967 , Reply# 12   7/18/2021 at 23:44 (984 days old) by cam2s (Nebraska)        

Maybe a controversial opinion but one of the few things the Hoover Z had going for it was it’s great hose set up. Easy to use and the hose attached at the base of the machine so it wouldn’t upset. The weight of the thing helped keep in place too. Of course the Z was backwards from most vacuums in that using it as an upright was awkward but it had a great hose setup.

I think a lot of uprights could be faulted for Their poor hose setups but I’ll pick on the Regina Housekeeper. It was before stretch hoses where a thing and it just wasn’t long enough to be useful


Post# 443968 , Reply# 13   7/19/2021 at 00:48 (984 days old) by Lesinutah (Utah)        
The

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Hoover does have a good setup. IMO the upright floor nozzle is just average.

Post# 443991 , Reply# 14   7/19/2021 at 14:49 (983 days old) by kloveland (Tulsa)        

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I agree. I enjoy using the later convertibles and Eureka uprights with the pan converter. They have long hoses. The suction is low but enough to get most jobs done.

Kirby also converts to a decent tank cleaner. Most hoses on modern uprights are too short and causes the upright to tip over. As others have said above.


Post# 444083 , Reply# 15   7/22/2021 at 21:16 (980 days old) by fan-of-fans (USA)        

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Some vacuums I completely missed were Fantoms. How are the tools to use on these? I always thought it was nifty how the handle became the extension wand/hose like Dyson.

It's also a little unusual that the Fantoms had a floor brush that stored onboard and an actual horsehair dusting brush. Those two features are often lacking with uprights.


Post# 444092 , Reply# 16   7/23/2021 at 10:25 (980 days old) by suckolux (Yuba City, CA)        

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My older Hoover Dimension, which I just got back has a very useable hose, dirty fan so not strong suction, easier to handle. My newer Hoover wind tunnel, and Dyson it's too strong, when you go to use the end of the hose the vacuum comes flying at you usually right into your head no thank you. If I need a hose that's strong I will pull out a canister.

Post# 444094 , Reply# 17   7/23/2021 at 11:45 (979 days old) by cam2s (Nebraska)        

The Dyson/Fantom intergrated handle/hose is a clever idea but can be awkward depending on how you use it. When you pull it out you have the whole thing at full extension. If you need the whole thing to reach a tall spot then it’s great. If you don’t need the wand, then you either have to fight using it or pull the assembly out of the hose and then put it back together. My two Fantoms anyways don’t really have enough suction through the hose to make it snap back.

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Post# 444095 , Reply# 18   7/23/2021 at 14:03 (979 days old) by Blackheart (North Dakota)        
Fantom

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Oh ya know all this talk of Fantom reminds me. I found the Dyson DC-07 pretty good for tool use too. Since you could attach the hose to either end of the handle/wand assembly you could clip it to the top to give you a more comfortable grip. Though if that length wasn't needed you could just attach the tools to the hose.

Post# 444115 , Reply# 19   7/23/2021 at 19:18 (979 days old) by suckolux (Yuba City, CA)        

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My DC-18 the suction is low enough to be still usable on the hose and a nice long hose, but the DC-33? Yeah that sucker will come flying at you.

Post# 445163 , Reply# 20   8/26/2021 at 09:08 (946 days old) by BrianNC (Long Island NY, living in NC)        

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The Hoover Dial-A-Matic has a nice set up and suction is adequate/okay. I have a model 1118 and for the time, think it was a great set up. The Windtunnel I have has great suction but experience the same thing the hose shrinks and the machine wants to tip over. I rarely if ever use an upright vacuum.

I always found uprights cumbersome to use, especially with tools, my mom had a Concept One in the 80's with the converter up front, it was easy to hook up but very poor suction. We had a separate straight suction Spirit canister to do stairs and above floor cleaning. I constantly reminded her that she should have never gotten rid of the 1975 Best Kenmore Powermate canister, now we had to store 2 vacuums and the Concept was HEAVY...self-propelled but heavy...lugging that up and down stairs was ridiculous.

My aunt had a Kenmore twin fan upright with the front tools and you had to lower the cleaner handle back to turn it on, talk about awkward to use tools...suction was okay but it was just a hassle to use tools with the handle lowered...


Post# 445251 , Reply# 21   8/27/2021 at 23:25 (944 days old) by Jo (Dallas,TX)        
I like

The tools in my Shark Rocket. I wonder if this qualifies as an upright though. It is more of the modern stick vac where the motor and dirt bin is at the handle and then a wand is attached to it then a power nozzle at the end forming an upright design. Converting is simple, unlatch the wand and add the flex hose with whatever attachment you want and suction is good too. I even use a 5 or 6 foot dog leash looped through the handle and then hang the main unit over my shoulder and am able to walk around and clean holding the hose end.

I’m a clean freak admittedly…I enjoy a clean home and enjoy having a tool that will thoroughly assist me in my desire to achieve the cleanliness level I desire as easily as possible, I find vacuuming to be far more thorough with a good quality well sealing vacuum than any other type of cleaning such as using a dust mop or swifter, etc. to clean off dust and dirt capture it so as not to be airborne. Try sweeping in a sunbeam coming in your home and you’ll see the clouds of dust a broom churns up! I rarely use a broom…only time I use a broom is if I’m in a hurry because I dumped or spilled something dry and want it picked up quick. Never for any type of regular indoor cleaning.

I also wonder on uprights with tools…if the suction is so poor when using the tools which many are…does that mean the suction of the machine without the tools is just as poor? After all usually the tools are just inserted into the suction channel in some way. I get that many don’t seal well when inserted but to have such a major loss of suction really perplexes me and makes me think such machines just flat out have poor suction to begin with and are relying on the brush roll to do the picking up action and the suction just to be enough to suck the propelled dirt into the bag or bin rather than disperse it back onto the floor.

I notice people mentioning here that their Aerus/Electrolux uprights have good suction with the tools…the system has a decent sealing off design when the hose is inserted blocking off the suction completely from sucking through the floor nozzle and directly through the hose only allowing full and complete suction through the hose. The hose itself has a sealing gasket built right into it by design. Converting an Electrolux upright is far easier than converting a Kirby and with the Electrolux’s combination dusting brush upholstery tool…using the tools is easier.

Growing up my next door neighbors had a Hoover convertible….they had the tools and hose that attached to the bottom of the floor nozzle but never used them because it was too annoying to attach them and when attached, the suction was poor. So they had a small Hoover straight suction canister as well.

I notice Oreck has this two vacuum machine system for a complete cleaner. Personally, I don’t like this because when I’m cleaning If I suddenly see something that needs to be cleaned using the hose and an attachment I don’t want to have to come back to it later with another vac or a vac I’ve had to stop to convert, instead Id rather pull the wand off from the hose, add the attachment if needed and clean the spot that needs attention then resume the main floor cleaning. Hence, I choose to use either a canister type or the new stick vac type with my Shark rocket.

Jon


Post# 445264 , Reply# 22   8/28/2021 at 08:46 (944 days old) by fan-of-fans (USA)        

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Jon, with direct air vacuums like Hoover Convertibles, Eureka F&G, and Hoover Elite, Eureka Bravo, etc, I think it really had to do with airflow vs suction.

With these vacuums' shorter dirt path from brushroll to bag, they didn't need a lot of suction to do a good job cleaning the carpet. But they usually had larger fans which gives higher airflow.

Adding a hose of course extended the path of the airflow so you really wouldn't have much suction with tools. Clean air uprights have more suction necessary to get the dirt from the longer path from floor nozzle into the bag or dust bin which translates to more tool suction.

I'm guessing in a lot of cases like your neighbor that people with uprights would have a separate canister or handheld vacuum for above the floor cleaning.



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