The Singapore Forum

Recommend me a good hand held vac, please.

Due to shortage of storage space and having to get inventive, I find it a real faff to get out the vac just to clean up the odd bit of stray cat food, lizard tail, etc., so I've been thinking one of these would be a top idea. Just never had one, so not sure what to get.

Ta.
x

http://www.choice.com.au/viewArticle.as ... um+cleaner

Actually, being based in Oz, I recommend subscribe to Choice Magazine. Whether it's the paper based or just web based. Every time I've followed their recommendations I've been very happy with the results.

Good god that looks complicated!

Thanks, baloo - I do read reviews but still prefer a personal recommendation. I trust you people. Fool...

I have no idea if the Dyson is any good. I know it just looks sexy, well, as sexy as a handheld vac can look i guess.

I'd get a dirt devil, light, cheap does what you want, a wide range to choose from, and have owned a small household one, never a problem

Thanks canucky - just realised it's a holiday weekend there so might have to make do with your 2 reviews.

Had an upright Dyson in the UK; TBH I found it more style over substance.

not for me I have work tomorrow (bleh)

but if you are just looking for quick picker upper I would also go cordless

we have a Black&Decker Dustbuster 7.2V, which is quite ok, but actually a bit too light for my taste/use. I would recommend having a look at the ones on the 'Heavy Use' page.

oh, and i second baloo's suggestion wrt Choice. quite handy.

Ask Santa for a maid.

I have the black and decker thingy as well and after two years it's still going strong.

Can you get Karcher over there? They are good.

I've got a Philips 12 W car dustbuster. Sorry cant seem to find the exact model number as it's not listed on the item. Anyway, very handy. Make sure it is at least 12W to be effective.

If you want a serious vac, this one really sucks! It has a 12V SLA battery (MUCH more oomph than NiCd as used in the majority of this type of gadget, and the battery is easy + inexpensive to replace when it eventually dies), and it can do wet spills too. We've had one for years. Highly recommended. There's a 6 volt version too, but for the extra $10 I'd go for the 12 volt. You should be able to get 15-20% off RRP in the sales.

If you want a seriously cool vac, this one, designed by Karim Rashid, doesn't look like a vacuum cleaner at all. The white version lights up while charging. It's not as mega-gutsy as the first one, but we picked one up at Target for $25 a few months ago and it's fine for keeping the bathroom floor free of hair and fluff. You can buy this one as a 'Dirt Devil' brand (not common in Oz, but sometimes seen at Kmart) also. Recommended, and possibly a future collectable, if you can get it for a good price.

But wait... There's more! This 2 in 1 device is another possibility, but it costs aboout twice what the first one does. A friend has one and reckons it's great. I've noticed that a few local restaurants and clubs use them too. My local Good Guy, Monica, gives the 12 volt ones her seal of approval and can be talked down to about $165 for it.

Then of course there's the Dyson mentioned earlier. I've seen it, don't know anyone that has one, and I reckon it's a bit more expensive than I'd pay for a handheld vac, even though it apparently works well. When the battery needs replacing it's likely to be expensive too. The clear plastic dust receptacle on Dysons, which looks so good when the appliance is new, soon looks crappy as it gets scratched and abraded by the dirt and crud that spins around inside it. We have a Dyson floor vac which has worked fine for 10+ years, but if it buggers up I'd most likely replace it with a Miele.

Choice magazine? I keep an eye on it and would say it's worth reading. But rather than subscribe, I'd check it out at the local library and photocopy the bits you want or take notes. Don't take everything in Choice as gospel, as some of the things Choice puts a higher weighting on when rating products are not necessarily those that matter to you.

Wow, thank you! Must have been a lazy Sunday afternoon.

Had a look at the Dyson (2 models), Breville, and the 2-in-1 Electrolux (interesting idea) earlier. Couldn't find a B&D or Dirt Devil so thought we should wait and try Good Guys next week for more choice, after a bit more research.

Kooky wrote:lazy Sunday afternoon

No. I wish.
All part of the service ma'am. [smilie=smile.gif]

We had a dustbuster for years in the UK and transported it to Singapore. Unfortunately it clapped out in Sing - but it was really good for several years. Does anything electric last in the Tropics?

Our old Aussie version Dustbuster is still going strong here in sing...although I have tempted fate now haven't I?

Kooky, you need a rhoomba. The cats are also guaranteed to interact with it.

I've got Baloo's old duster buster:) it sat about for around 2yrs cause it was little low on suction after I'd used it a couple times. Then in a flash of inspiration I pulled it all apart and completely cleaned out anything that looked like a filter, and miraculously it suddenly had some good power back. Thing is I decided that they actually aren't that great for cleaning up light dust because it clogs up really quickly. Personally think maybe your best off with the smallest most powerful real vaccie you can afford.

I've got the Black and Decker 12V jobby. It's fine apart from being a faff to get all the bits out.
As it is to hand in the kitchen, always fully powered up, I do use it immediately when I wouldn't if I had to get the big one out.

Tack wrote:I've got the Black and Decker 12V jobby. It's fine apart from being a faff to get all the bits out.
As it is to hand in the kitchen, always fully powered up, I do use it immediately when I wouldn't if I had to get the big one out.

Yes that's my issue - the area around the cats' bowls would be a lot cleaner if I had one.

20 posts on a hand-held vacuum cleaner.

Deary, deary me...

There're only 16 wake-ups to go, you'd better get a wiggle on!!!!

Yes make sure it has the biggest engine that little thing can take otherwise as my father put it they have less suck than a retired hooker

BFG wrote:There're only 16 wake-ups to go, you'd better get a wiggle on!!!!

I always have a wiggle on.

BFG wrote:20 posts on a hand-held vacuum cleaner.

Deary, deary me...

There're only 16 wake-ups to go, you'd better get a wiggle on!!!!

Couldn't quite believe the response myself, Biggy, but I'm very grateful for it.

16? Really? Shit.