The latest and best Vacuum Cleaners

 Tested and Reviewed by Fred-in-the-shed

Updated 22nd May 2010

I have tested the following  machines.

Ryobi CHV 182M

New Makita BCL180 18v Li-ion!

All Black and Decker Dustbusters

including 7.2v Cyclonic and 14.4v Dustbuster Pivot

Gtech floor sweeper, SV01 & HV01 Vacuums

DYSON DC01, DCO4, DC07, DC16

Kirby G4 and G5

Makita 12v cordless vacuum

Exakt Dust Extraction vacuum for Powertools

DeWalt 18v Cordless Vacuum cleaner

Earlex Combi Powervac

Is this the best cordless vacuum ever?

This is the new Makita BCL180 using the fantastic 18v Li-ion battery that powers the huge range of professional tools. It is also available in a 14.4v version and replaces my old 12v version that I loved and used for years.

I am currently using it every day and testing and comparing it against the 21v Dyson DC30 -

mail me for latest test results!

 Click here for more details and best price on new Makita Cordless Vacuums

 

Latest test Gtech SV01 New "V- HEAD" design Following on from the HV01 handheld vacuum Gtech have now made a larger mains powered version with a respectable 1300w motor. The SV01 is a lightweight vacuum  ( 4.7kg) suitable for all floor types but especially good on hard floors. The cleverly designed, pivoting ,  V shaped head cleans right to the edges and accelerates dust into the centre for increased efficiency. The head is relatively flat so fits well under furniture too At about £70 this is a good value vacuum and a pleasure to use. It also has a pull out hose (which is a bit short) and a clear plastic bin that is very easy to empty. The easy access filter can be washed so running costs are low. Build  quality of the plastic parts looks good and it is not too noisy. I have been using this machine instead of my beloved Dyson for a while and for the hard floors it is clearly better. I love it ! Latest news! Ella my Polish Cleaning Lady has developed a strong bond with the new Gtech and had a strop when she had to to use the Dyson again!

The V shaped head speeds the dust into the extraction holes. Pivoting head and light weight makes this a joy to use. British design.

 KARCHER WV50 ELECTRIC WINDOW VAC

 

A Totally New Way To Clean Windows KARCHER WV50 ELECTRIC WINDOW VAC This excellent new invention from Karcher of Germany is a sort of cross between a wet -n-dry dustbuster and a window squeegee. Firstly you soap up the window using a sponge (or  the spray gun and sheepskin supplied) and then swipe down the window with the vac and in seconds you will have a perfectly clean window with no smears or mess. All the dirty water is sucked into the integral tank and kept away from the window. The Karcher WV50 window vacuum is great on tiles and cars too. I now use the Karcher every time I wash my car to dry it off quickly after rinsing. This stops those annoying water spots appearing.

I am a pretty hard person to please when it comes to new gadgets but this one beat my expectations and also impressed my window cleaning friend Chris and Polish cleaning lady (who calls me MacGyver) You can see a short video of it being used at my house by clicking here. The Karcher WV50 comes with a spray bottle with a built in cleaning head and can be used with just a drop of washing up liquid or you can buy special Karcher window cleaning fluid , designed for this gadget. Come back after and use the link on this page if you want to buy one. This will help my site and I am sure you will love this product!

use link below to check price at another retailer click here for price and more details

The Latest and Best Cordless Vacuum Cleaners tested by Fred

( I am on a mission to find the overall winner)

 

The Best 3 Cordless Hand Held Vacuum Cleaners Over the last 20 years I have owned and used dozens of these machines and have seen them evolve into powerful and effective cleaning tools. I have had most of the ubiquitous Black & Decker Dustbusters and currently have the latest 14.4v model with pivoting head. Until January 2009 I would have said this was the best cordless vacuum but now a new contender in the shape of the Gtech 9.6v has arrived. There is also the heavyweight Dyson DC16 with its 21v battery and the 18v Makita BCL180. Black & Decker Dustbuster Great suction and the filter system works well, easy to store on charger. Expelled air and dust is not blown into your face like the old dustbusters. The niggly bits..The extending nose can be hard to push back or just goes back when you don't want it too. I would advise B&D to improve the mouldings. Likewise the lid to the dustbox sometimes has not locked in and the dust fallen out. The storage for the little brush is pants so you can easily lose it. I tested the 14.4v version in the UK but there is now a more powerful 18v version which has the same design and filters and is highly rated by reviewers on Amazon and popular mechanics. update - I have used this for 3 years now and it still works well. Overall it is my favourite cordless vacuum.   New Gtech HV01 9.6 volt ( Jan 2009) The first cordless vacuum from the UK based company has a patented V shaped nozzle that is very effective at cleaning larger areas and also along edges and into the corners. The V shaped head can be taken off and replaced with a long thin nozzle and other good features are the washable filters and east to use on/off switch I am VERY impressed with this vacuum and will carry out direct tests against the larger B&D model and report the findings here.   Dyson DC16 Handheld (21volt) and New Dyson DC31 I used the original DC16 for a year, Unfortunately testing had to be postponed as the charger failed, a  problem that was not uncommon.. This is the "big daddy" of the cordless vacuum cleaners as it has the most power at 21volts and a Lithium ion battery that recharges in 3.5 hours. Whilst I have no doubt that it has the best and most consistent suction,  it is large, and the battery duration is very short at around 6 minutes. This is because a big motor (and hence a big battery) is needed to power the dual cyclone that is unique to Dyson. A breakthrough in technology with looks to match. This hand vac is ideal for small clean-ups and use in caravans, boats etc but is not designed as a substitute for your main vacuum cleaner. I am liking this "gun like" cordless vac for quick clean ups as it is very powerful and I like the filtration and emptying features. The brush attachment is too soft for my liking and the trigger has to he held in and cannot be locked on. Otherwise it is good, but I still prefer the Black & Decker for cleaning the cars. Dyson attempt to resolve the problem by bringing out new model with 2 speeds and new motor. However it has the same sort of battery and charger so I am not getting too excited about it. The Ergonomics are improved and it is lighter.  (DC30 is the single speed digital motor and DC31 is 2 speed)

14.4 volt Black & Decker Dustbuster & the Gtech HV01  9.6v cordless vacuum Dyson DC16 Handheld (21volt)  click here for the new DC31 model with digital motor!

New Power take off Vacuum cleaners for saws and sanders  If you use a power tool that creates dust like this laminate cutting saw or a sander then a vacuum cleaner that includes a power take off socket will make the job much easier. It does this  by saving you time not having to switch both of them on and off. When you switch on the saw or sander the vac switches on too! When you switch off your saw or sander the vac runs for a few more seconds to collect all the dust and then automatically turns off too! As the vac has its own extra power socket   you can use it like an extension lead as well, even if you don't need the vac facility. This type of vacuum is usually an expensive product for professional users but this British made vacuum costs around £80 and will also suck up liquids too! On top of this is can also be used as a blower and I even used it outside to suck up small leaves and debris from my lawn and decking.

The British made Earlex Combi Powervac is the perfect workshop vacuum as it has a power take off socket and does wet and dry!   see details on power take off vacuum cleaner

 

The Abranet sanding system connected to a vacuum.	Exakt PV600 power take off vacuum out of stock - awaiting new model

If you found my site helpful or want to purchase other  products online please return and use the searchbox or links below as any purchases will create a small commission that helps fund my site and work. Thank you.

 

Gtech SWO2 Floor Sweeper Sometimes the simplest machines are the best and this little battery powered floor sweeper fits that description. The Gtech SW02 is so light and efficient, you can wizz round the room in seconds without the noise and effort of plugging in a heavy vacuum cleaner. I was amazed how much it picks up and it is so easy to empty thanks to its nifty dirtbox that just slides out. This machine can be used with one hand and is perfect for all sorts of people including wheelchair users like me!   Ibot Roomba - Robot Vacuum Cleaners Two of my friends have these excellent little bots and love them. I have spent some time studying them and am looking forward to further developments that will make them more suitable for my house. Several models have already evolved ( including the i-Scooba robot mop)  and most seem to be highly regarded by their users. They are best suited to uncluttered rooms . Most reports and reviews are positive but with any hi tech rechargeable product problems can arise.  The I Scooba is more complex and as an older product is due for redesign. As new batteries become more powerful  and cheaper these machines will be more affordable and effective - just like the Robot mowers I have been using for 9 years.  watch this space!  click here for Ibot Roomba and spares

No bags, no cords, no filters- just picks up dirt the easy way -by brushing Surprisingly this little sweeper is ideal for DIY mess like plaster and concrete dust (small pieces). This because is does not have filters to block and just sweeps and collects. A smaller, cheaper version is also available - see below   Roomba 560 costs around £360

DysonVacuum cleaners Long term tests I have owned  many Dyson vacuum cleaners and overall am pleased with the performance and love the fact I don't have to buy bags. My original DC01has retired to the loft but served me well and represented a major breakthrough in domestic cleaner technology (and a boost for UK inventors). My long serving DC04 did develop a minor switch fault and I was a bit annoyed that Dyson would not provide diagrams or tell me how to take the machine apart to fix a simple problem. Dysons are designed to resist screwdrivers and only be opened by Dyson technicians. ( for safety reasons)  However Dyson do have a great website and customer service and offer long warranties now with all new machines.

Reasons for poor performance of Dyson Vacuums I have no doubt that the Dyson Dual Cyclone system is the best and that overall Dyson vacuum cleaners are very reliable and effective. If you hear someone moaning about the performance of a Dyson there are 2 likely reasons 1 They work for a rival manufacturer. 2 They sucked up a cat or failed to wash the filter. From my own experience and from what repairers and shops have told me the main reason Dyson vacuum cleaners may lose suction and fail to perform is due to blocked filters or dust bars being wrapped up in pet hair or carpet fibres. A vacuum cleaner needs to move air and dirt and breath. If the brush bar cannot move it cant beat the carpet and push the dust particles towards the filters and collection box. Most Dysons have 2 filters, one before the motor to trap fine dust and one after the motor to make sure the air it pushes out is a clean as possible. (Pre and post motor filters)

This poor Dyson DC07 was thrown away as the owner said it was rubbish and didn't suck anymore. If she had removed most of her cat from the brush bar it would have worked a treat. A word of warning! Dyson vacuums are extremely powerful and are capable of pulling apart really cheap or worn out carpets. Dyson vacuums also have a thermal cut out in case of overload. Many others just burn out. If your Dyson stops, just turn it off, let it cool a while and try again.

I own 2 Dyson DC07 vacuums, one I bought and one I repaired in 10 minutes after it was thrown away as it was dirty. Dyson now give long warranties and pay more attention to quality control ( as mentioned in their adverts) The latest models also use "high fibre" plastic that is tougher and the type used in police riot shields - (said the Dyson man) My current Dyson is a DCO7   and is even better as it has a HEPA filter and the easy empty mechanism reduces the amount of dust getting in your face when emptying the canister. My favorite Dyson is the DC07  as it is robust and effective and easy to sue. It has 2 filters, one under the bin (post motor) which cleans the exhausted air and the main "pre motor"  filter which is on the side and is made from washable foam. Keep this filter clean and your Dyson DC07 will suck like - "a sucking thing".   If you own a Dyson and use it a lot  I recommend having a spare foam filter and to wash and change them over  monthly to maintain 100% efficiency.

Other models of Dyson The range has been expanded to include handhelds, lightweights, and cylinder models to cater for every floor type, household or lifestyle. Although I am not able to test and review every model I am confident in the underlying patented technology of the dual cyclone that makes Dyson vacuums superior in suction and performance to most other makes. Not having a bag does save you money but emptying the dust box is not as clean as a Hepa sealed bag. In March 2008 Dyson released the new DC25 which has the motor in a ball to provide better manoeuvrability and balance. Also a slimline, lightweight version called the DC24, but this has considerably less power, which might not be so bad as I have heard reports that the DC25 is so powerful that it can pull apart cheap carpets!   These are the most popular models, the DC14 is my" no firlls"  favourite The new DC26 city has the highest power/weight ratio and fits on an A4 size piece of paper!

The Best Vacuum Cleaner - My 15 year old Kirby?

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