My 9 year old Dirt Devil upright died a couple of weeks ago. I had hoped when this one bit the dust that I would get a Dyson, but it just seems like an unecessary extra expense right now with all the costs of moving. So I bought another Dirt Devil (since I liked my old one), basically a newer version of the one I had.

It's bagless with just a canister that you emtpy. Keep in mind, this is my first experience with bagless since mine was so old. Anyway, it's a pain to empty! At this point, I'm thinking bags are a good idea. I have to empty it after each full house sweeping (which is fine if it's not time consuming), but it's a bit of a pain.

You empty the canister fine, but the filters inside (one is a foam washable one, the other is recommended to be replaced 1x/yr) get really dirty. I've used it 3x. The foam one is just nasty (we have 2 dogs), and unless I wash it under the faucet each time (which is a pain), then shaking it off into the trash is messy and most of it I have to pick off anyway. Dirt/dust just ends up flying around.

So is this what it's like to have a bagless? How easy is it to empty a Dyson, or other bagless vacuums you might have? Also, when it stops swirling, I worry that it's not sucking anything up anymore. Is that true? It seems like once it gets a good amount of dog hair sucked up to the top (by no means filling the canister at all!) it doesn't swirl anymore and then I wonder if it's sucking as well.

I'm totally ignorant on the bagless thing! Right now, I'm not liking it too much.

By Karen~admin on Tuesday, August 5, 2008 - 11:21 am:

Deanna, I've had a Bissell bagless for a few years, and I LOVE the bagless feature - however, you are absolutely right about the filters. UGH! The foam/washable one, I usually take outside and beat it against the bricks to get most of the *stuff* out of it, then wash it. It's nasty - I don't want all that dust and stuff flying around inside the house - the reason I got a bagless to begin with was to keep that stuff from flying around when changing the bag. LOL

I want to get a newer vacuum cleaner and have looked at Dysons and Kenmores - the Kenmores actually seem to get better ratings. And all issues aside, I definitely want another bagless.

By Debbie on Tuesday, August 5, 2008 - 11:30 am:

I think the Dyson is very easy to empty. You push a lever to remove the compartment from the vacuum, push a lever, and the bottom drops, and everything falls out. I just do it over the trash can. Then, I just close the bottom and attach back to the vacuum. I have found that if I empty each time I vacuum, nothing gets stuck inside, and it is easy to clean. There is one filter that I wash every 6 months. It doesn't look too terrible when I wash it. Nothing gets stuck inside or anything. It is definitely the best vacuum I have ever owned. Now that we are getting a kitten, I just wish I had the pet one.

By Kaye on Tuesday, August 5, 2008 - 11:31 am:

Deanna, I bought a bagless a couple of years ago, also debated on the whole dyson thing. After reading consumer reports decided that it wasn't the best deal for the money. I bought a bissell. I HATE it. I hate having to empty the bin and the filters. So hoover was having a demo day somewhere. I spent a long time talking to a rep. They were toting their bagless, better than a dyson etc. I explained that half of my issue was the dust, the other being dog hair is just gross. He said well, actually if you have a dog, a bagged vacuum is the best and most efficient. It is a big deal to not lose suction in a bagless because they do clog easily. UGH. Anyway, short story, last week I bought a new vacuum, I bought the CR best value (a dirt devil I believe), but with a bag and I love it...it is so much better for me than the stupid empty the bin thing!

By Reds9298 on Tuesday, August 5, 2008 - 11:51 am:

I'm thinking the same thing Kaye! For dog hair, just only after 3 uses, I'm thinking it sure does get clogged quickly. I didn't see ANY at Meijer and Walmart that DID have bags though, unless they were really cheapo. No Dirt Devil with a bag, but I also didn't get to look around for too long since I needed one quickly when ours died unexpectedly.

The Dirt Devil that I got empties easily - the canister itself. Sounds just like you describe Debbie. It's just the filter(s) that seem so dirty. Like you said Karen, I'm thinking I'm going to have to wash the filter about every 3x or so, which is more work. (I was trying to eliminate work!)So much dust and yuck when cleaning it. I used to sweep forever before having to change the bag. I wonder if Walmart will take it back since it's been used and it's gross now?

I think I'm a bag girl, too Kaye! Now I'm not sure what to do. I really don't have the time to be looking around for a sweeper right now, but I do need one. Maybe I'll keep this one for one floor of the house and get another one for the second floor?? DH was given a gift card from work, so we actually didn't have to pay much for it anyway after using that.
Kaye- What did you mean by "CR best value"?

I thought the whole bagless thing was going to be great, since that's I always hear, but I disagree!

By Tklinreston on Tuesday, August 5, 2008 - 01:07 pm:

I also have a Dyson like Debbie. I have to agree with everything Debbie has said. I usually take the compartment outside and stick it in a plastic shopping bag and then empty it. I do this because me and my boys are allergic to dust and so I just want to make sure nothing escapes into the house. But as Debbie says you could just empty it into a trash can and you should be fine. I've had my Dyson for many years and I really love it.

By Ginny~moderator on Tuesday, August 5, 2008 - 01:09 pm:

I have an older Dirt Devil with a bag - got it when my mom brought 7 cats to live with us. And I like it a lot. I do cheat - I often shake the bag inside my trash bin to empty it, and re-use it.

CR is Consumer Reports. They rate products on a number of factors, and a CR Best Buy is one that is a combination of high (not necessarily highest) marks in essential features and price.

I once bought my mom a light-weight upright electric "floor vac" for the second floor, and she really loved not having to haul the regular vacuum cleaner up and down the stairs.

By Paulas on Tuesday, August 5, 2008 - 02:22 pm:

This is all an interesting read as we are about ready to buy a bew vacuum and were thinking we should get a Dyson. Maybe not?

By Jodes on Tuesday, August 5, 2008 - 03:25 pm:

I will just add that I have tried a bagless vacuum once and hated it! It was a terrible mess to empty, dust everywhere, no matter how hard I tried to keep the canister contained inside a trash bag, and it constantly needed emptying too. I bought an Oreck about 4 years ago and I love it. It's light weight, has a unique way to remove the bag that keeps it closed so no dust goes anywhere, and it came with a free portable canister vacuum with attachments that I can use easily on my bare floors.

By Crystal915 on Tuesday, August 5, 2008 - 03:29 pm:

I love my Dyson Animal, it's a breeze to empty, it just pops out and has a trigger that opens the bottom right into the trash, like Debbie said. I really can't say enough about the Dyson, it's so much better than the other bagless vacs I've had, in so many ways.

By Vicki on Tuesday, August 5, 2008 - 03:52 pm:

I also have the Dyson Animal and love it. I would replace it with another if it were to die! I have never had anything hard about. I usually empty the bin in the trash can that is in the garage just to keep the dust from getting back into the air, but I have never washed a gross filter or anything. There is a foamy filter that I have washed, but it is just dust I guess that is in that, no hair or anything that makes it a pain to do. And I only do that about every 6 months.

By Reds9298 on Tuesday, August 5, 2008 - 06:25 pm:

For the Dyson people - it sounds as if this one works the same. You just flip the button and the bottom opens up and you empty into the trash. But the dust? And when you say the filter doesn't have much on it, do you have pets? How often do you empty the canister?

I don't want to empty the canister every time, or wash the filter every time - maybe because I'm lazy? The bag seemed so much more contained and much less hassle to me. You just dump it and pop a new one on, and I changed it every couple of months or more, not every single time!

Also, when I do wash the filter, do I have to let it air dry before putting it back in?

Ginny- I never thought of re-using the bags, LOL! Great idea.

Right now, I'm certain that I would not spend the money on a Dyson or any other bagless! I don't like the work.

By Paulas on Tuesday, August 5, 2008 - 06:47 pm:

For all the Dyson people....What model do you have? We've been looking at the D17 which are running around $549US or $649CAD

By Karen~admin on Tuesday, August 5, 2008 - 07:21 pm:

Deanna, I empty my canister 2 or 3 times when vacuuming. LOL I have a long haired dog. :-0

By Reds9298 on Tuesday, August 5, 2008 - 08:05 pm:

Yikes Karen!

Kaye- Which Hoover model do you have? I think I'll check it out.

By Bobbie~moderatr on Tuesday, August 5, 2008 - 08:43 pm:

I have the Dyson Animal, DC17. I love it, I have had it for two years and it works just like brand new. I have no issues with dumping it. Like Karen I dump mine several times when I run it, we have a shedding Shar pei, and it cleans the hair right up.
It has a power head that attaches to the hose and it cleans all the loose hairs off of my furniture. Stewart doesn't get on the couch but the kids lay on the floor and transfer his hair to the couch. It also adjust itself to the pile of the floor. Oh and the cord is extra long, 35 feet, I can plug it in and sweep darn near my whole house if I use the plug in my hallway.

I ran my old vacuum, it is a newer bag less Eureka, the day I bought my Dyson. It had a nasty filter I had to pick dog hair off of, and wash every couple of vacuums, it lost power once the dust bin was half full, etc.. When I brought my Dyson home, I had to play with it.... I ran it on the floor I had just vacuumed and the canister filled up with dog hair and dust.. Dust so dark and thick, it looked like I had vacuumed a sand box...

Dumping it is the least of my concerns.. I remember having bags that would not even be full and the vacuum having a loss in suction. I remember bumping the wall with the vacuum and seeing the dust come off of the bag.. I also remember straining my back to push most of the other vacuums I have owned, I don't have that issue with my Dyson. The vacuum I was using before the Dyson was clearly not doing its job, the proof was in the canister.. I step out the back door with a grocery bag, put it over my canister and push the button, the dust is now in the bag and out of my house. It gets dropped straight into the outside can.

To me it was worth the money, I will buy a new one if the one I have ever goes out, and I have told DH I plan to get one for each of my kids..

By Bobbie~moderatr on Tuesday, August 5, 2008 - 08:47 pm:

Oh and there are no filters that come into contact with the pet hair, you are just rinsing out dust, I do mine every 6 months too..

By Amecmom on Wednesday, August 6, 2008 - 09:28 am:

It all sounds like way too much work to me. I'm with Ginny. I have a Miele that is about 8 years old and works very well. I also cheat a little and reuse the bag sometimes. I always think of bagless as trying to empty a giant dustbuster that I've used to clean the whole house ... not for me.
As far as getting dust in the air when I change the bag, the Miele has a little tab that you pull and the bag shuts before you pull it out of the machine so no dust escapes.
I really like the Miele. I wouldd buy one again, but the new house has central vac ...
Ame

By Karen~admin on Wednesday, August 6, 2008 - 10:41 am:

Ditto Bobbie - emptying the canister is no big deal to me. With a vacuum that uses bags, I used to have to change the bag every couple of times I vacuumed.

By Crystal915 on Wednesday, August 6, 2008 - 03:30 pm:

Mine is the Animals DC17, I think, and I have 2 cats and a dog, I don't have a problem with it at all!!! The dust goes right in the trash since it drops out the bottoms. I empty the canister after every room, if it needs it or not, just so I see how bad the room was. I'm OCD like that.

By Vicki on Wednesday, August 6, 2008 - 04:00 pm:

I believe I have the Animal DC14.... I have had it a couple of years now and don't remember the exact number. When we had our 3 cats, I emptied it after sweeping the whole house. Now that it is just 2 dogs that don't shed, I empty it maybe once a month! Compared to the bagged cleaners I had in the past, I would say my Dyson holds about half as much. So I would have to empty it two times to one bag change. Not too much work for how much more suction it has and how much better it cleans!!

By Debbie on Wednesday, August 6, 2008 - 05:15 pm:

My Dyson cleans so much better then any other vacuum I have owned, which is the main reason why I love it. The first time I vacuumed, I could not believe how much stuff came up. I had just vacuumed a few days before, so it really grossed me out. I find it is very easy to empty, and I don't find the dust to be a problem. Also, the canister doesn't have a filter to clean. The only filter you clean, is in another compartment, and it is a foam filter type thing. It is dusty when I clean it, but that is it. I clean it every 6 months.

So, for me, the Dyson is definitley worth it. I don't see it as a big hassle.