Kenmore 31912 Progressive Direct Drive Bagged Upright Vacuum

Pros: It sucks well and does it relatively quietly.
Cons: So many for a $300 vacuum...it should do more than just suck.

I killed my last vacuum, the one that I had a long affair with. It was perfect and I was sad to see it go. It died just before we left on vacation and for some reason my husband INSISTED on replacing it that very day. Who knows how some minds...

Pros: Lots of features, cleans outstandingly, and No. 1 in consumer magazines
Cons: "Turbo tool" not all that useful. Hose detaches at floor level.

Updated July 13, 2004; September 20, 2004; February 2, 2005; and March 7, 2006 -- see below Our trusty 9-year-old Eureka upright went to dust-bunny heaven last week, and since we have two long-haired cats (one of whom is actually named Dustbunny) and ...

Pros: Great suction on upholstery, carpets, and hardwood floors; easy to push and pull.
Cons: Wish it had a lower profile; Handi-Mate Jr. attachment not useful on fabric or carpet.

I once owned a bagless vacuum that frustrated me so much that I finally got rid of it. After careful research and user reports from friends and relatives, I decided to try this Kenmore model. I went to Sears and bought it on sale.

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Pros: Quiet, works well, easy to use.
Cons: Easy to tip when using extension hose.

My wife hated our previous vacuum. It was so noisy I actually wore ear plugs and was always trippin ...

Pros: Price, suction, quiet, soft wheels, good on carpet and hard floors, attachments, long hose.
Cons: A little heavy, brush housing keeps you from getting under some furniture, a little wide.

The Setting: A 3500 square foot house with hardwood floors, vinyl flooring, berber carpet, plush carpet, and two flights of carpeted steps. Three kids (9, 7, and 3) who are constantly in and out, eating where they're not supposed to be, and ...

Pros: excellent suction, solid feel, well designed
Cons: high, wide front prevents it from getting under pieces of furniture, light not very bright

I was so disgusted with my Miele S175i upright and its terrible suction I donated it to a charity. After doing some research and comparing the suction power of over 20 vacuums I bought the Kenmore Progressive. I couldn't be happier. Suction Power: The ...

Pros: Very good cleaning efficiency, relatively quiet, wide head, stoppable beater brush.
Cons: Tools inadequate, short hose, stiff cord, wide head prevents vacuum from getting in between furniture.

I purchased this Kenmore as a replacement for a Hoover WindTunnel. The WindTunnel was a fantastic vacuum that suffered from only 2 glaring problems - 1)way too noisy, and 2)continuously broken on-off switches. My brother-in-law had a new Kenmore, and ...

Pros: Effortless with Direct Drive. CLICK THE PEDAL ONE MORE TIME AND HANDLE REACHES THE FLOOR.
Cons: This vacuum cleaner is an investment ($$) - but I think it is worth it.

I really needed to get a vacuum cleaner, and I like to check things out before I buy. I read the opinions of several others here and also checked out Consumer Reports before I decided to go to Sears and check out their selection of vacuum cleaners. I woul ...

Pros: One of the best I have used.
Cons: On the heavy side, hard to get under shallow openings.

*** UPDATED - end of review *** Moving into our new home last fall required us to buy a new vacuum cleaner. I did alot of research on getting an upright model, and wanted a direct-drive (beltless) model. I saw that consumer reports rated this as a ...

Pros: HEPA filter
Cons: Doesn't clean very well. Hard surfaces and edges are a real problem.

I bought one of these a year ago and I've grown to hate it. The HEPA filter works well but that's about all that does. This machine does not have edge suction. The onboard hose is too short to be truly useful and the extra hose is so stiff that ...

Pros: Good Suction and design.
Cons: Hose assembly not very long and too stiff.

After trying many vacuums including Hoover and Dyson this was the best vacuum. Living in Albuquerque we have a lot of sand. With two kids and a dog in and out all day that sand ends up in the carpeting. After using this for the first time I vacuumed...

Pros: Pretty purple, light to scare the cat with, a little better than average
Cons: Cost. Pet hair clogs fairly often. When it finally dies... it dies.

My wife and I have gone through many vacuums; of many brands. Including this one. Kirby, Hoover, Bissell, etc. seem to last about 9 months, by which time the warranty people get really hard to get a hold of, and it's just not worth the time to get an ...

Pros: It picks up everything that isn't nailed down or squished deep into the carpet
Cons: it is a bit heavy, also the bags are a bit pricey.

I purchased this vacuum used on Craigslist for $90, for me, that is a LOT to spend for a vacuum cleaner, always had the cheap dirt devils but I was sick of blowing them up so I tried to bargain this one down to $75 and they wouldn't take it, said I had ...

Pros: Great suction on carpet, good on hard surfaces, easy to use
Cons: Heavy, expensive, bag sometimes catches

I really love this vacuum. I was deterred by the weight of it at first, but when in use, it pulls itself along. Though not a true self-propelled vacuum, this one is almost as easy. The roller brush is HUGE and I can actually go from hard wood to an area...

Pros: Good cleaner.
Cons: Breaks down. Design flaw.

I purchased this model based on Consumer Reports' ratings form 2001. That was two years and two break downs ago. What is totally aggravating is that it is the exact same problem. Last year the dirt sensor came on and never came off. Unfortunately, ...