Looking for a powerful vacuum cleaner (mains or 12v) for getting leaves and grit out of my car.

This almost certainly isn't the best forum or even website, although it is full of practical people, so can anyone suggest a better forum or website where I could get some honest, down-to-earth advice or objective, impartial comparative data please?

A 'Henry' works well for me and they are used commercially so they should last.

 

Might need to be quick if you want a powerful vacuum cleaner as I heard something about the EU looking ban devices over a certain power to save energy.

A 'Henry' works well for me and they are used commercially so they should last.

 

Might need to be quick if you want a powerful vacuum cleaner as I heard something about the EU looking ban devices over a certain power to save energy.

 

I've just bought a JCB Hoover, same as a Henry one, and it's a wet or dry vac.  No bag and very powerful

 

£99ish off amazon

 

 

And it's Yellow

I get the wife to use the Dyson on ours. It's effortless...

Another Henry fan here.

I have 3 of them including a 110v one that I can use on site for things like sucking

up small bits of rubble and plaster dust etc.

As long as you keep the white mesh filter thingy regularly brushed then you

can't really fault them and that's only really necessary if like me you take the mick

and use the work one for very heavy and dusty debris.

I do recommend using the bags though, they are also pretty quiet.  

And unlike much these days they are made in England.  In Chard, Somerset.

+1 for Henry

A 'Henry' works well for me and they are used commercially so they should last.

 

Might need to be quick if you want a powerful vacuum cleaner as I heard something about the EU looking ban devices over a certain power to save energy.

I wish the EU would just fork right off.

A 'Henry' works well for me and they are used commercially so they should last.

 

Might need to be quick if you want a powerful vacuum cleaner as I heard something about the EU looking ban devices over a certain power to save energy.

We bought a new Henry at work recently and I notice they are now designed to default to a reduced power setting when first switched on, but will go back up to max power if you push a second button on the top. I wonder if this is a way of trying to circumvent these proposed (very stupid) regs?

Probably, I just tape the switch down onto FULL POWER!!!

AKA Clarkson mode.

If Brussells don't like it they can suck off

 

(it's actually there so you can hoover curtains without them

shooting up the pipe.)

I've just bought a Makita 18v cordless vacuum which is excellent, and decent value if you already have their 18v system for power tools.

Unfortunately it's now been adopted by the entire family for those god-the-house-is-a-mess-but-I-can't-be-bothered-to-get-the-Vax-out moments.

Good suction but need to keep the filters clean.

Thanks - Henry was indeed eaxctly what I first thought of, and you see them in every workshop.  However

- they are expensive because they are so robust.  I don't need such industrial durability - mine isn't going to get used very often because I rarely clean my car, which is why, when I do, there is always so much crap to extract

- there seem to be various differing models of Henry adverised on the internet, which is confusing

- despite its main virtue being its suction power, no one seems to state what this is in 'air watts' which is apparently an objective measure of actual suction power as distinct from motor power

- Henries are certainly widespread and very popular, but that does not automatically mean that they are the only choice, or the best (in terms of power) or the best value.  Like VW cars ...  

I just wondered if there was anything less expensive (albeit less robust or durable) but with the same or more suction power.

I had been looking at a VAX one:

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/4066686.htm

which is just £100 and claims a suction power of 380 air watts, which is far greater than most other vacumm cleaners, or at this Karcher one:

http://www.viking-direct.co.uk/a/pb/Karcher-WD2200-Wet-and-Dry-Vacuum-Cleaner/pr=Q26&id=6343605/;jsessionid=0000YBOYuzw_gWQQwueqb40INAI:130mjq8ku#tabdescclass

which is only £45  but doesn't quote a suction power and apparently rends to topple over.  Or if there were even any 12v ones which weren't a complete waste of time, like these, which are incredibly cheap yet get good reviews:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/12V-Wet-Dry-Vacuum-Camping/dp/B008HQ9FT6/ref=sr_1_2?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1372862450&sr=1-2&keywords=vacuum+cleaner+for+car

and

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Brookstone-Vacuum-Cleaner-Built-In-Inflater/dp/B006A20LOW/ref=sr_1_3?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1372862492&sr=1-3&keywords=vacuum+cleaner+for+car

although they look like this one which gets a terrible review:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Vacuum-Cleaner-Hoover-Attachment-Heads/dp/B0086G5IHK/ref=sr_1_32?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1372862575&sr=1-32&keywords=vacuum+cleaner+for+car

See here for a full range:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=vacuum+cleaner+for+car&tag=googhydr-21&index=automotive&hvadid=13606015434&hvpos=1t1&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=15551351191263130302&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=b&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_5xsfalvhm9_b#/ref=sr_st?keywords=vacuum+cleaner+for+car&qid=1372795149&rh=n%3A248877031%2Ck%3Avacuum+cleaner+for+car&sort=reviewrank_authority
 

Edited 3 July, 201312 yr by Stuarted

I have one of these Miele hoovers:

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Miele-Bagged-Cylinder-Cleaner-Tayberry/dp/B002ANCC1A/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1372865354&sr=8-2&keywords=miele+cat+and+dog+premium+5000

 

The best hoover I have ever owned (including a couple of dysons) by far. 

 

Perhaps a bit above budget, but you get what you pay for. 

I use the house Dyson DC07, with the Dyson car attachment kit. Works really well.

 

You can pick up refurbed Dysons cheaply from eBay and there are several good business sellers offering them, dependant on location as they're easier to go and collect! DC07/14 are internally identical, so that's another way of getting a good deal.

 

I do like Henrys, but they're a bit overkill for normal domestic use (IMHO). No disrespect to those who use them though!

Love our Henry. Must be the best part of 8 years old now and still going strong. The previous Hoover lasted less than a year with 2 engineer visits during that time.

 

My mum owns a cleaning firm - says Dysons are rubbish (which, if there are large numbers of refurb'd ones on eBay might confirm that). Her company uses Henrys,

 

I'd just get a Henry. They'll be left with the cockroaches when armageddon has hit.

+1 for the Henry, or in our case 'Hetty' (pink and girlie version!). Had a Dyson previously that we found to be overrated and unreliable.

Thanks for all this.

However I wasn't seeking a super-tough, durable (and expensive) vacuum cleaner.  I'd never get the use out of it.

I just want the cheapest powerful one - or the most powerful cheap one.  I am annoyed that manufactuers seldom seem to want to publish the actual suction power - why not?  It's the most important feature of a vacuum cleaner!  

My mum owns a cleaning firm - says Dysons are rubbish (which, if there are large numbers of refurb'd ones on eBay might confirm that). Her company uses Henrys,

 

 

All depends on people's experiences of course, but I'd disagree strongly with that. Never had any problems with Dyson kit.

 

Refurb on eBay shows me that they're still easily usable and reliable once serviced! I bought a refurbed (fresh filters and belts) DC07 two years ago from a local guy who deals with them. £50 spent and zero problems. No regrets here

Dare I say it but Henry is only £93.50 including delivery on Amazon thats the HVR200A Version.

We've had a cheapy Vax hoover and 2 x Dysons now.  All 3 have been crap TBH and I'm looking for to get something a bit more durable this time.

 

Henry/Hetti seems to fit the bill.

Ancient Aquavac that is a bit like a utilitarian looking Henry. Don't even know if they are around any more but they sure can suck up rubbish and it you sip the lid filter out they will vacuum up liquid.

No one here who owns a henry has mentioned how they seem to want to be upside down, the slightest excuse such as pulling by the hose abruptly or trying to pull it across its own power cord seems to result in it turning over like a wimpy rat dog with its legs in the air.

So frustrating.

Have to admit they do suck well even upside down, (when I say they suck well I don't mean the slang use of suck)

 

Might even buy one myself as a lot of electricians recommend them.

They do like rolling on their side... but they seem to enjoy it. Just look at their big smiley faces...

Worth a punt for the garage for £33?

http://www.ebuyer.com/412515-bissell-83x3e-zing-1400w-bagless-cylinder-vacuum-83x3e

I have a 12v black and decker Hoover thing, doesn't compare to a mains powered 1 but is far better than the rubbish ones at the patrol station and was like £40c has cyclone technology too

Cheap and cheerful for under a score

 

http://direct.asda.com/Smart-Price-1200W-Bagless-Cylinder-Vacuum-Cleaner/001576482,default,pd.html