topic Re: Vacuum Cleaner in Among Friends

Vacuum Cleaner

avid shopper — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 11:08:52 GMT

Am I the only person who has become sick of the baggless vacuums?

have used one for many years since I tried my first, it was the original Shark baggless. I have come to feel they are not for me anymore. It always seems in need of cleaning and it is too much work. I take it apart, including the hose and then to be sure everything has dried properly I can't use the vac for a couple of days. There are limited choices for a BAGGED upright vacuum these days. Any recommendation if anyone has a bagged vac they are happy with.

Re: Vacuum Cleaner

Mombo1 — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 11:27:25 GMT

@avid shopper I still have my original Oreck upright vacuum. It is a least 10 or more years old...and I Just bought more replacement bags yesterday. For me, it is a cleaner option to the bagless ones. As you said...I don't want to clean out the unit. My local Ace hardware store carries the bags and replacement parts...so I am sticking with what I have.

Re: Vacuum Cleaner

Carolina925 — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 11:38:06 GMT

I originally liked the idea of a bagless vacuum because it seemed fewer and fewer stores were selling the bags. After using my bagless Dyson for a few years, I realized I do not like them. It's so much easier to toss a bag than to clean out the canisters. I still have a decades old Hoover that I use in my garage. It may not pick up everything, but I can toss the bag when full. So far, I've been able to find the bags online, none of my local stores offer them. I don't want a cordless one, either. I need power!

Re: Vacuum Cleaner

Still Raining — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 12:15:18 GMT

I too conceded and went bagless. So messy! I take mine outside to empty into the trash bag.

Hate it!

Re: Vacuum Cleaner

Blondie59 — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 12:16:55 GMT

I have an Oreck as well. It has to be at least a dozen years old. I like that it has a hepa-bag, and only weighs about 8 lbs. I have always been tempted by the bagless models, but don't want to deal with cleaning the dust and debris out of the canister. The power of the Oreck is good, and I think it should last me a long time. The Oreck I had before my current one lasted at least fifteen years, hair on the roller finally did it in. Good luck with your search.

Re: Vacuum Cleaner

CalminHeart — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 12:36:40 GMT

I won't buy a vacuum that needs bags.

I have a dog that sheds and would go through bags like I drink water.

Recepticles are fairly small so I carry a small reusable grocery bag I keep just for this and empty into it as needed. It's a 5 second job and I don't have to run back and forth to the garbage can. The bag can easily be washed.

After I'm done, I wipe out the recepticle and filter. A damp rag does the trick for me and takes all of 10 seconds and I don't have parts lying around drying.

Re: Vacuum Cleaner

RetRN — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 12:37:59 GMT

Love my Oreck, would never get a bagless or a cordless. They do not perform nearly as well as my old Oreck. That is the only brand I have used for over 30 years.

Re: Vacuum Cleaner

pigletsmom2 — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 13:12:57 GMT

I had a vacuum with a bag for a long time but went bagless because it became hard to find the right bags easily and the worst was going to vacuum and realizing I didn't have a new bag. I don't find there's a ton of mess with the bagless at all.

Re: Vacuum Cleaner

Sunshine Kate — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 13:22:27 GMT

I prefer a vacuum with a BAG!

So sorry I went bagless. I'm going back to bags for sure!

Re: Vacuum Cleaner

JeanLouiseFinch — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 13:35:37 GMT

I'm still content with our Shark Navigator Upright.

Re: Vacuum Cleaner

Janey2 — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 14:05:16 GMT

I have used an oreck for many years. I like the fact there is no mess when changing the bag, which by the way holds a lot. It takes a second to change the bag and there is no mess with cleaning anything. Bags are easily purchased on Amazon, among other places. My latest Oreck is at least 25 years old and is still working perfectly.

Re: Vacuum Cleaner

Shelbelle — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 14:59:08 GMT

I still use a vac with a bag, I buy Sanitaire, love them had a few. We have a small independently owned vac store in my area, and the owner literally hates all bagless vacs, and does not sell them. Says he makes a fortune on repairing them.

Re: Vacuum Cleaner

nascarfan — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 15:08:42 GMT

I have a Shark bagless vac and an Oreck upright that requires a bag. To be honest, I reach for the Shark more often because I have carpeted stairs BUT I hate emptying the vac because of the dust.

Re: Vacuum Cleaner

Janey2 — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 15:11:59 GMT

@nascarfan Do you have the Oreck canister for the stairs? I wouldn't use anything else

Re: Vacuum Cleaner

Caffeina — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 15:54:55 GMT

I use a Kenmore canister that uses bags. Don't like upright or bagless vacuums.

Re: Vacuum Cleaner

Carmie — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 16:12:38 GMT

I own a few vacuum cleaners. I have them at home, my summer place and in our RV.

I have four bagless vacuums. I prefer them to the ones with bags. I vacuum a lot....have two dog who shed and I have waist length hair. I don't wash my vacuums...I just empty the canister and use a cloth to wipe it out. One vacuum has a filter that I replace about once a year. The other three have washable filters, but I only have ever washed one filter. I just use my hair dryer to blow out the dust about twice a year.

I hate buying bags. They are expensive, sometimes hard to find and wasteful. And, if I accidentally vacuum up something, I hate cutting up the bag and fishing through the dust and hair. Yuck!

Re: Vacuum Cleaner

Imaoldhippie — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 16:13:05 GMT

No I have not. I have a fairly new bagless and even though I have to make a few trips to empty it, I like it very much.

Re: Vacuum Cleaner

PinkyPetunia — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 17:20:11 GMT

I have transitioned to bagless vacs and they are fine. I just emptied out one yesterday. Yes it's a little bit dusty but now that it's not freezing cold I do it outside.

The bags were ok since that's all there was years ago but every time I got a new vac it needed a different style of paper bag. I keep several vacs around since my home has 3 levels. The paper bags got hard to find locally, then had to be ordered online. Too much fuss. I guess I prefer the bagless after all.

Re: Vacuum Cleaner

hkrgrl — Sun, 05 Apr 2026 13:53:52 GMT

i went bagless about 8 years ago, Shark Navigator.

no regrets, empties easily & with a long haired dog, its a must.

Overwintering insects and other creatures are still emerging in your garden, delay spring cleanup until temperatures consistently reach 50°F at night for at least a week!!!

give nature a chance!!!!!!

Re: Vacuum Cleaner

wagirl — Sun, 05 Apr 2026 13:58:32 GMT

I've had both--a Kirby that had bags and a few others without--and altho it is convienent to be able to just dump out the dirt--my Shark Rotator now, is an awful mess. Need to take it for a good cleaning. And believe it or not--there is a vacuum shop just a few blocks away too!! Maybe I will take my vacuum for a walk to have a spa day!!😁