• Posts Tagged ‘vacuum cleaner’

    Top tools

    by  • November 9, 2012 • Appliances • 0 Comments

    I don’t know about  you but there are certain things I do and don’t like when it comes to housework. Or perhaps I should say ‘prefer’ – after all, there aren’t many of us out there who actually like housework (are there?). For example, I hate cleaning the oven and I detest emptying the bins… but I don’t mind vacuuming. I think it’s a lot to do with my vacuum cleaner though. I’ve got an old yet trustworthy Dyson that makes the job a lot easier.

     

     

    When I was asked to test the Dyson DC44 (above), I wondered (rather naively) what it could offer that my old vacuum couldn’t. It’s been out since September and is called the Digital Slim. It’s a genius piece of kit –  here are my reasons for loving it:

    1. It’s lightweight – no more lugging a heavy vacuum  up and down stairs. Plus it mounts onto the wall, so it’s easily accessible.

    2. It’s cordless – not  having to step over an annoying plug cord makes you feel so much more free to actually vacuum.

    3. It’s slim head makes it easy to get under my low sofa and it wangled its way around my kitchen quickly and effectively, getting to all the hard-to-reach places that my old model can’t.

    4. The suction power is fantastic –  you can choose from two different settings and it seems to make mincemeat out of all those tiny bits that I’d usually have to go over a few times.

    There’s also a new Tangle-free Turbine tool on the market, which uses two counter-rotating heads to remove hair and dirt. As a female whose hair tends to mult, the thought of not having to untangle handfuls of hair at the end of the process (ugh) is an attractive one.

    Dyson is also set to launch another compact model and it will be interesting to see how this one compares…

    The DC50 Animal (above) is a compact vacuum with the performance of a full-sized upright model. On carpets, its stiff nylon bristles remove dirt, while on hard floors, carbon fibre filaments remove fine dust. Out on 5 November priced at £349.

    Happy hoovering!

    Laurie

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    Totally floored

    by  • January 29, 2012 • Appliances, Flooring, Surfaces • 0 Comments

    Despite my kitchen being old and in HUGE need of an update, I do still care about the state of the ancient black-and-white floor tiling. Slightly chipped and not particularly pristine, they lead onto my dining room, where I have solid wood flooring in a beautiful dark chocolate brown colour. What, you may ask, has this got to do with the price of salt?

    Well, it has come to my attention that my beloved has been hoovering the areas (when nagged) rather than sweeping and cleaning, which has resulted in many scratch marks, scrapes and dents. Not ideal.

    With that in mind, I’m loving the idea of a Floor Polisher from Hoover. Specially designed for wood flooring, this lightweight chrome appliance does everything you need, without you having to spend hours on your hands and knees. It vacuums, polishes and you can even apply a conditioning wax. Genius!

    You can use it on a range of hard floors, from clay, marble and granite tiles to PVC flooring – ideal for the looming spring clean. From £179.99, available at Hoover, Amazon, Currys and Co-Op.

    See more on kitchen flooring by visiting Housetohome

    Laurie

     

     

     

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    Vacuum cleaner with a twist

    by  • November 7, 2010 • Appliances, Favourite things, Gadgets • 0 Comments

    Ever wondered where all the waste plastic you see floating in the ocean ends up, bottles, crisp packets and the like? Usually it remains in the sea, unfortunately, which is why Electrolux has decided to put it to good use and create five unique vacuum cleaners while hopefully raising awareness about the problem of plastic waste affecting our oceans and encouraging industry and  humble consumers like you and I to do our bit.

    Electrolux vacuum cleaners made from recycled plastic from our seas

    Collected from the North Sea, Baltic Sea, Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean and Mediterranean Sea, these unique vacuum cleaners will make you realise just how much rubbish is floating in the sea, yet they’re strangely beautiful and you could spend an age trying to work out exactly what has gone in to making them – yes, that is the sole of a training shoe in the middle one! Emily

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    New AEG-Electrolux vacuum cleaners!

    by  • April 8, 2010 • Appliances, Flooring, Kitchen news, New designs • 0 Comments

    I’ve just returned from AEG-Electrolux‘s press launch and have some news hot off the press regarding its new range of vacuum cleaners – the Ultra range.

    First up we have the UltraOne. It has been rated best in independent tests for its cleaning performance – even on hard surfaces such as wood and carpet, making it perfect for the kitchen. Its compact, rounded design with soft wheels and bumpers makes it easy to manoeuvre around furniture, yet the huge 12 metre cleaning radius allows you to clean a bigger area in one go. At just 72dB it’s also extremely quiet, so you can still hear the TV while you’re vacuuming. Available in Copper, Deep Blue (below) and Diamond Sand. Around £299.

    BK - AEG-Electrolux UltraOne

     

    Next is the UltraSilencer. AEG-Electrolux has carried out extensive research with consumers to find out what bugs them the most when vacuuming, and it found that one of the things that consumers find most annoying about their vacuum cleaner is the noise it generates. If this sounds like you then here is the answer to all your problems. Operating at just 68dB, the UltraSilencer is the quietest vacuum cleaner ever. Fact! I’ve tested it and can certainly vouch for this claim. If you think of a humming, faint whirring noise (much like a hair dryer on it’s lowest speed setting), then you’ll get a good idea of what it sounds like. Available in Deep Blue and Pastel Blue (below). From £199.

    BK - AEG-Electrolux UltraSilencer

     

    The UltraActive does everything that the UltraOne does but in a smaller package – perfect if you’ve got very limited storage space. Choose from Copper and Cyan. About £199.

    BK – AEG-Electrolux UltraActive

     

    Finally, the ErgoRapido is a cordless, upright vacuum that’s ideal for quickly cleaning up spills and mess. LEDs allow you to see into every nook and cranny so you can be sure you’ve sucked up every last bit of dust. The main body of the vacuum can also be removed and used as a hand-held machine. Operated by a rechargeable 12V battery, it can run for 20 minutes and comes in four colours: Antique Steel, Cassis, Fresh Yellow (shown) and Pale Green. Around £129.99 Emily

     

     

    BK- AEG-Electrolux ErgoRapido

     

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