wyt's Profile

We got a Dyson DC-14 a couple of years ago because with a new child in an old house we wanted something better than the Hoover we'd been using - which was a workhorse, but put dust back into the air. The DC-14 repeatedly lost suction, requiring disassembly to clean out all the filters and other places dust can clot up in the poorly-engineered insides. While we could empty the dust cup outside the house - so that the dust spreading from that wasn't back in the house - cleaning the filters and parts was necessarily a messy inside operation, negating part of the reason for buying the expensive vacuum. Finally, after a year or so, the vacuum stopped sucking at all. There's the full engine noise - as loud as a cheap Hoover - and everything inside's clean, but literally no suction. Dyson, the vacuum that doesn't suck.

Then we tried a cheap Bissell, which worked better than the Dyson, except for being made of a plastic that takes a static charge that ends up getting the body of the vacuum itself covered with dust with each use. Plus the interior filters require the same constant, messy cleaning the Dyson's did.

So we've gone to a Miele Callisto. The suction is far more effective than the Dyson's was even when brand new. Yes, it cost twice as much. Yes, the bags and filters will be a constant expense. But it's far more pleasant to use. Finishes the job more quickly too. And will actually do the main thing we bought it for: assuring our young child is minimally exposed to dust. It's quiet enough to use in his room while he sleeps.