Household appliances!

penfactor

Hello lovely peeps!
I hope LWA is the right place for this this topic. if it's not please do move to another place!
I'd like to ask advice on a really arthur friendly vacuum cleaner, please. Our one is now proving so difficult for me to shunt around. It one of those heavy red round red ones with a human name & a sweet little smiley face! I is so confused about all the options out there - I like to use the extra corner reaching additions too & also have heard there is one can wet clean laminate flooring too. We have both carpet & laminate in our flat.
I have had THR & have probs with other hip & both knees & back.
Thank you for your attention!
Pennie

speedalong

Hi Pennie,

when my last hoover gave up the ghost and died I chose my new one by looking at the weight, attachments and suction power descriptions online. I have an upright, with a very long hose so can do the stairs with the hoover at the top or bottom. Mine doesn't do hard floors it says in the notes ...

You wouldn't think of paying someone to hoover for you?

Speedy

livinglegend

Ahhh, a Henry.

I don't think any cleaners are really arthur friendly. but I may be able to give you a few ideas.

Go for a bagless one as you can see whether it needs emptying or not and they tend not to lose suction which you can get with one with a bag.

There are the upright ones which are efficient, but you have to push them around, thus you are moving their weight every time that you run it across the floor. The other type, cylinder or whatever, means that you are just pulling a hose around until you periodically need to move the unit. Consider a super length hose so that you can leave the unit in the middle of the room and just pull the hose about behind you.

Before you choose a particular one, go to a shop and look at as many as you can and don't be afraid to ask if you can drag a few about. That is what demonstration models are for, to play with!!! Ones with bigger wheels are more likely to run across carpets easier. Make sure that they will turn corners easily and that the wheels follow your route properly.

Do you really need a wet and dry cleaner as they are often heavier and may not be suitable for laminate flooring. I clean my laminate floor every 2 weeks with a laminate spray after dry vacuuming it. Spreading the spray out evenly with an old towel on the end of a mop After it has dried, polish with a long handled fluffy mop to a shine. Otherwise it gets a rub over with a damp cloth twice a year.

Good luck with your search.

Joseph 8)

lululu

Hi there I had a problem using an ordinary upright too heavy and I could not easily turn corners. I have just bought an Electrolux AEG Ergorapido. It it is super! can be used as an upright and also a hand held and it really works, picks up well If you go to Com** you will be able to try one it is rechargeable so no wires to trail and the head swivells - so easy.

lavenderlady

I would highly recomend a dyson ball I have arther in wrists and hands not to mention elbows and back but my dyson is so easy to move along the ball means its a flowing moment no need to lug it around its brilliant, plus you get a 5 year guarentee I wont let anyone else use my dyson

penfactor

Thank you so much, Speedy, Joseph, Lulu & Lavender!
You've all got some excellent suggestions & I am quite excited now about shopping for one! I never thought the sad day would come when I'd get excited over household cleaning!! I hate going into a shop knowing nothing at all before hand as then you are easy prey for sales peeps who want to lead you into certain direction. I will not be afraid to ask to try out now either.
Thank you, folks so much
pennie x

lavenderlady

had to use an old hoover today as my dyson has a lose wire hes coming Tuesday to fix it, it took me double the time my back was throbbing and I felt i'd run a marathon after using it and i live in a bungalow phew I miss my dyson

tkachev

I am reliably informed we have a Dyson DC19. I find it reasonably lightweight and easy to pull around the house. OH does the stairs as that is too dangerous for me.

I am happy with it but it depends on how bad your arthritis is.

Best wishes
Elizabeth

cythna

How about an Oreck? They only weigh about 7 poundsm and they have pretty good reviews on Amazon. Pricey though. There are similar machines on the market which are cheaper, but I don't know how they compare on efficiency.

I have a Sebo cylinder, which is light and easy to use according to my cleaning lady!

penfactor

Wow, some more great suggestions there, guys - thank you so much!
Have to get googling now.
Elizabeth, I love the way you said 'I'm reliably informed...' Lol! I'm hopeless at remembering makes & models of things too even though I keep all the booklets & guarantees!
This dyson is sounding good at the mo, lavender But I would also highly rate the opinion of a professional like your cleaner, cythna!
Right off I go to look them all up...
pennie x

livinglegend

Hi Pennie

Let us know what you finally decide and why, please.

Joseph 8)

woodbon

Hi, My sister has arthur in her hip and she finds the Dyson with the ball really good and shes a VERY fussy person!!! :shock: I have a Mele (sp?) and although its a great cleaner, it is so heavy! I've had it for ages and its still good, but, reluctantlly, unless they do a lighter model, I'd not buy it again! :? Love Sue

lindalegs

Hi Pennie,

I've just changed from a Miele cylinder to an Oreck (recommended to me by Lynn [Collywobble] as she has one too).

I used to think having a cylinder was a better idea because you're not pushing a motor but I got very frustrated with it always getting stuck behind furiture, parking it and changing the bag was an impossibility for me. Even standing on one leg to switch it on and off was a trial.

The new Oreck I have is lightweight (4kg). The handle is made so that it's less strain on arthritic wrists and hands. I can use it two handed or one. You switch it on at the top on the handle. It's a zip for changing the bag which is very easy. You carry no tools they come as a separate small cleaner which is excellent for cleaning stairs. I can boast that for the first time in 20 years I've cleaned the stairs myself :shock:

It cost £320 and you do have to buy the bags which are expensive but are industrial sized). I prefer a vacuum with a bag as I feel it filters the dust particles better. It adjusts itself for laminate floor and carpets.

I did go to John Lewis and try out all their vacuum cleaners before I bought. The Oreck is perfect for me and would suggest that, if it's possible, try before you buy as we all have different needs.

Hope this helps.

Luv Legs

tkachev

penfactor wrote:

Wow, some more great suggestions there, guys - thank you so much!
Have to get googling now.
Elizabeth, I love the way you said 'I'm reliably informed...' Lol! I'm hopeless at remembering makes & models of things too even though I keep all the booklets & guarantees!
This dyson is sounding good at the mo, lavender But I would also highly rate the opinion of a professional like your cleaner, cythna!
Right off I go to look them all up...
pennie x

That is my autistic son Pennie. He knows every make and model and year produced! I thought long and hard and tested out a few before buying it and it is very light in my opinion. The oreck is also renowned for its light weight.
Decisions Decisions Pennie!

Elizabeth

lindalegs

collywobble wrote:

Hi Pennie

Just butting in here to say I'm so pleased Legs is finding the Oreck works for her

Legs, I know you vacuumed Mr Lewis' whole floor, trying them out, but it is worth it - our garage looks like a graveyard for discarded vacuum cleaners :roll: :roll: Don't think I'll be chuckin' this one out in a hurry tho'

Love, Lynn xxx

Funny you should say that Lynn, I asked hubby to take the Miele upstairs, the theory being I would use it up there - no chance, I find the Oreck so easy I don't want to use the Miele anymore :shock:

Luv Legs