Recommend a vacuum for small studio?

Submitted by Wolf-Strong t3_10cuomh in BuyItForLife

I'm kinda at a loss right now.

We live in a small studio with concrete floors and a few area high-pile area rugs, with 2 small long hair dogs. The space is small and relatively easy to clean, however being small means storage space is at an extreme premium. Currently, I have a SEBO E3 premium vacuum that works great, however finds it frustrating to use, and we simply do not have enough space to easily store it. The anti-jam feature simply infuriates both of us in real-world use on the high-pile carpet against the concrete, and the hard-floor adapter has a ton of bristles that just fill up with fur/hair very quickly.

I looked into the new wet/dry vacuums, but those seem to have a ton of 'smart' features that we would not enjoy, and the idea of cleaning them after each use just seems annoying; we would rather just wipe away pet messes with paper towels. Corded is also preferred because the closet we have to store the vacuum has no outlets.

We also had a Dyson cordless, but that was beyond annoying with how top heavy it was. It simply didn't seem to work well, and was very awkward to use to the point that we gave it away out of frustration, and the people that took it also gave it away.

Simply put, we want a very simple corded vacuum that is powerful, good for long fur/hair, can do some light cleaning on area rugs, and can fit in a floor space of about 10" x 12". I appreciate things that are very well built, last a lifetime, and are easily serviceable. Bag or bagless doesn't matter.

EDIT: the whole reason I’m looking to trade is the footprint for storing the canister style SEBO is too large. Corded upright with a small footprint is what I’m looking for, NOT another canister.

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Then-Adeptness7873 t1_j4i268s wrote

BIFL so far: We’ve had a Shark Rotator Lift-away model NV501 for about 8 years and have had zero problems. With humans with long hair and a dog, this is the first vacuum that is both effective and durable. It comes with lots of attachments, and the lift-away allows for converting to a canister vac on wheels. One of the filters is washable, and replacements are available online along with additional attachments. My sister-in-law also has the same model and has had a good experience as well!

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Sufficient-Weird t1_j4i3g4y wrote

Jill vacuum by Simplicity is corded, bagged, and does a great job. It’s also quieter than average!

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FuriousBubbles t1_j4ird6f wrote

I started out living on my own like you - my studio's floor was polished concrete and we had some rugs. Invested in a Miele vacuum ... cleans well (better than any dyson on the market) but the mobility is a little bit annoying.

I believe I got one of the cheaper models (C1 at 300+) but if I had do to do this again I would have purchased of the more feature rich models (1000+). I think I'll have this vacuum far into the future. The build quality is impeccable across the board.

If you see professional maids/cleaners that clean peoples' apartments, they all have vacuums that have the same design as the Miele because they are the best at cleaning.

Hope this helps. Do some research and you'll find that Miele is the best.

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Wolf-Strong OP t1_j4isrht wrote

Replying to FuriousBubbles (#1,372,183)

Well I have a SEBO E3 Premium, which I would say is on the same level as the Miele. The biggest issue my wife and I have is simply that it’s a pain to deal with storing a canister vacuum like it or Miele canisters. The small studio just doesn’t have any more storage space, so something smaller has a great appeal to us.

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FuriousBubbles t1_j4iuofi wrote

Replying to Wolf-Strong (#1,372,243)

Wow it is definitely priced "premium". Didn't have the same issues as you though. TIL about the Sebo brand.

If a canister vacuum is not going to fit in you apartment, I think you'll have to find an intermediary solution, not something BIFL.. unless you plan to live in a small studio for the long term. I stuck my vacuum in my clothing closet while I lived in that studio.

Perhaps just get something cheap and fits the form-factor you are looking for? I doubt youll get the same cleaning power as a canister vacuum in any other form factor. When you have more space then you can reuse your Sebo or look into Miele if the Sebo's features/design are annoying you.

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Quail-a-lot t1_j4jprbm wrote

Like another commenter, we also use a Shark and frankly, for this use-case, it's more than enough. Plus it is easy to cut hair out of the brush and it unscrews very easily for access. Plus it is super light, which makes it less awkward. The more expensive vacuums are just too awkward for me to use (plus our place is small, but has a loft and ugh, so annoying lugging a heaier vac)

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trojankiller t1_j4jxz9a wrote

Try for a SEBO Auto X7 instead, since it’s a lot more compact and can work on plush carpets. If you’re looking for an immediate fix for your Airbelt E3, you can try this.

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pan567 t1_j4m5iw1 wrote

Have you looked at the Oreck commercial line? The XL is a very simple design that has a very good reputation of reliability. For someone not worried about bagged vs. bagless and simply looking for a good vacuum that is designed to vacuum carpets and doesn't add on a lot of mumbo jumbo that can break, these might be ones to consider. My friend's mother has had her Oreck for at least several decades.

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Wolf-Strong OP t1_j4nwhyt wrote

Replying to mrjackm124 (#1,381,222)

Miele and SEBO are both German brands that make great vacuums. I have a SEBO E3 premium, and it’s simply a wonderful vacuum. It cleans well, easy to service, and could easily see it lasting a long time. Incredibly well built.

Canisters are handy because it allows the part you move to actually vacuum with to be very small, lightweight, maneuverable, and easily cleaned. Getting into hard to reach areas are a non-issue, and swapping attachments is easy. Stairs have never been easier. Under the bed is now easy. The cord easily retracts so you never have to think about winding it up. The bags are easy to replace, last a LONG time, and keep the whole experience…clean. No dust when emptying. One bag can last months depending. It’s really a great experience.

My issue though is that with a canister, you have to think about where to store it. With an upright, you just put it in a corner and it’s done. With a canister, you put the canister in the corner, but now you also have a long bulky hose and vacuum head that needs a home next to it. The floor real estate it takes up when storing it is a real problem when every inch of storage space is vital; my current situation of being in a studio with my wife reflects this.

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