Our vacuum really sucks. We’ve lived with it for the last few years, watching it barely suck anything, but still leaving the carpet with a semi-clean feeling. The most recent problem is the brush; I don’t know what happened to it, but we realized one of the things keeping it from working so well was that the brush was touching the floor and wasn’t rotating, so now, to get a semi-decent vacuum job, I have to stay bent over for the entire time push down on the handle so the front end stays up just enough to let the brush rotate. But, there’s also the simple problem of there being hardly any suction anyway (the attachment could probably hold a tennis ball, but nothing heavier)
We recently discovered a slight flea infestation on our dog, and knowing how fast they can spread, I’m assuming it won’t take long to spread to carpeting and furniture. I want to start work on DE-infesting immediately. I looked up a few good procedures online, but I don’t think our vacuum is good enough to catch fleas through our mmm…half-inch thick (?) carpeting.
But we’re on a tight budget and I’m expecting a baby in April. As much as I’d like to save up and buy a good vacuum in the future, I’d rather buy a semi-decent vacuum that can get THIS job done now so that the house is free of fleas when the baby gets here. Once we get rid of the fleas now, we can just start using flea repellants on our dog to prevent it in the future. Prevention is easier and cheaper than DE-infesting multiple times a year.
Are the vacuums under 0 any good? Atleast good enough to last a few months get this job done? Any recommendations on brands? Styles (ie. bags v. container)? Models?
Bored, I’m not sure if this is how ALL vacuums with attachments work or not…but the suction that comes through the main head of the vacum, actually comes through the "attachment hose"…the hose is plugged/screwed into the head of the vacuum at the bottom. And when I take out the hose to attach something to it, I feel the suction, and it’s not good there, which I assume can explain why the suction is poor at the head…I’m just not sure why it’s poor in the hose. I’ve checked for holes and never found any. But that’s far beyond the point. I’m looking for a new vacuum and I’m just looking for tips on good brands…I guess the story was unnecessary.
Cheaper vacuums might work fine but probably won’t last. If you can’t make your old one work, go to a place that sells and services vacuums and see what they have. I took my old Filter Queen in for repair last week and the guy had one just like mine for sale for $400. Mine went 30 years on its original motor and the replacement one was only $150 installed. Spending a bit more now will be far cheaper in the long run.
But don’t count on vacuuming to get rid of fleas. It can slow them down a bit but never eliminate them. Trust me, I’ve been through all this in the days before we had effective flea prevention available. If you saw them on the dog, they’re already in your house and so are the eggs. Go to the vet and get some good safe flea treatment for the dog. If you have the same kind of luck I had with it, you’ll be flea free very shortly, without vacuuming the entire house, laundering all the bedding, and washing the dog every week.
I have a $79 Eureka, and it’s great.
I have a dog, and I do not depend on a vacuum to control fleas. I treat the dog with Frontline. No problems!
The non-rotating brush is not your problem. Your vacuum does not suck. So either the hose leaks a lot or the motor is not running. If you can turn it on you obviously don’t have a problem with the motor. So how is the suction right near the machine? Then attach the hose and without the "rotating device" how is the suction at the end of the hose. It still should be as strong as the first non hose check. No suction=crappy hose. Or, the bag is full.
Now before that "rotator device" -the name escapes me- there are a bunch on non rotating fittings that could go on the end. If the suction is there, they will work just as well(except you will get more of a work out with your arms)pushing and pulling and no it won/t harm the baby(so don’t hand me that excuse) as women used to throw multiple 100lb bales of hay onto the farm wagons….because it had to be done. So using your arms more to vacuum the carpet is not anywhere near as hard.
First of all often problems with a vacuum are often a result of you not changing the bag often enough. You have probably already checked this but if not you should.
There are good cheap vacuum cleaners. Find a couple within your price range and search the internet for reviews of them. Eventually you will find one that is cheap and has good reviews.
I hope this helps you 🙂