The debate rages on about which type of vacuum is better the bagged or bag-less. It has only been the last few years that the latter type was available to the average consumer. Dyson changed all of that when they introduced their bag-less cyclonic machine that has become a sensation with consumers. This has led to many manufacturers releasing their own versions of the machine; however, a few like the Oreck Company stand behind the bagged vacuum and insist this is a temporary phase. The question is who is right?
Bagged Vacuums
For generations this was the only kind of vacuum you could purchase. There was a wide range of products from high end Kirby’s to the more reasonably priced Hoover. To this day, you can still find a wide range of bagged vacuums.
Pros
Bagged vacuums have some advantages:
• Bags are cleaner because there is no release of dust into the room when changing them.
• No filters to wash or change
• Better filtration of dust particles
Bagged vacuums also have some unique disadvantages:
• Cost of replacement bags
• Loss of suction as bag fills up
• Bags can sometime become obsolete which will result in the need for a new vacuum
As you can see, there are some compelling arguments on both sides of this issue. Now let’s look at the bag-less and see if the pros outweigh the cons.
Bag-less
Pros:
• No replacement bags to buy
• Seldom required to purchase replacement filters
• HEPA filtration is pretty much standard
• Sustainable suction even with a nearly full collection cup
• Easier to fish out “accidental” victims of the machine. IE… Car keys or money
Cons:
• Should you destroy a filter they can be cost prohibitive
• Some particles can get through the filtration process
• Emptying the collection chamber can be messy and release dust and or allergens back into the room.
• Washing of filters and cup can be tedious
Overall, it appears that with the bag-less unit the cons are generally minor irritations instead of serious issues. This gives them a leg up on the bagged variety. Choosing the right machine for your home is likely more a question of your preferences than performance.
Conclusion
Each type of machine has several pros and cons. Take for instance the Dyson DC07 bag-less vacuum. Consumers are quite happy with performance but the price and weight of the machine are a major drawback. While the unit is great at picking up pet hair and allergens it is cumbersome and expensive.
The Hoover wind tunnel is an excellent bag-less with customers raving about the indicator light that tells you the machine is still picking up dirt and debris. Again, the biggest complaint was the mess of emptying the cup.
It would stand to reason after reading the reviews that easily the best performers were the bag-less vacuums and you can imagine that the simple inconvenience of emptying the collection chamber will be addressed soon.
Dyson has in fact begun to address this issue with their lightweight DC18; this collection cup is easily emptied at the push of a button. No more dust flying in your face or around the room you just cleaned.
