Hoover Hits & Misses: A HomeThyme Review
Not all hoovers are created equal.
And with decades of cleaning experience behind the HomeThyme team, we like to believe we're rather well-versed in knowing what makes a great – or perhaps, a not so great – hoover.
As a key piece of cleaning equipment (that certainly doesn't come cheap!), we think it’s important to know exactly what you’re getting yourself into before investing in this bit of kit. If you’re in the market for a new hoover, we’ve ranked some of the most common from worst to best. Take a look below:
The Nuisance: Cordless Dyson
We'll begin with our least favorite in the lineup: The Cordless Dyson. Frankly, you'd be wasting your money with this one, unless you happen to live alone…with no animals or friends and are naturally a clean freak… oh and also live in a tiny new-build flat. Enough said.
Neutral Ground: Cordless Shark Stratos
Next up in the ranking is another cordless option (there’s a theme here!), although our feelings toward this one are neutral. In our opinion, the Cordless Shark Stratos does an okay job, but it isn't exactly a hoover we’d rave about if you want professional results. It might be fine if you live in a new build home with light traffic and want something to nip around the house with inbetween deeper cleans. However we find the battery doesn’t last longer than a couple of rooms, so you always need a spare one charged up. We’ve noticed after a year or two of regular use they tend to not work as well as they should (even if you follow the maintenance steps religiously), so we'd advise against this purchase unless you like to replace your hoover regularly.
Above Average: Bissell Smart Clean and Plug-in Dyson with Ball
The Plug-in Bissell Smart Clean and the Dyson (with the ball) are solid vacuum options. Both are robust and do a reasonable job at picking up in medium traffic homes. They also last a good few years with minimal issues. The Bissell is a touch more temperamental, although it’s more powerful. And its emptying system can be fiddly leading to potential spills. The Dyson doesn’t come with a power head which means it isn’t great at picking up hair and fluff from carpets, so you would need to purchase that separately. While there are indeed superior choices on the market, we've also encountered far worse alternatives. We'd classify these as above-average.
The Good: Henry Hoover and Plug-in Shark
Now, onto the good stuff! The classic Henry Hoover. This is a reliable favorite that has stood the test of time. Henry Hoovers are powerful, durable, and overall a great choice for high traffic country homes, especially if you're more budget-conscious and want something that lasts. If you have a bit more leeway in your budget, we'd also suggest considering the Plug-in Shark. The option to take the main body off the stem makes doing the stairs easier than with the Henry. Although you do have to empty the dust compartment a few times during a clean of a four or more bed home. The major drawback of both is that they’re quite heavy. On balance these are two options that get a big thumbs up from us.
The Holy Grail of Hoovers: Miele
Miele hoovers rank among some of the most expensive options available in the domestic market. HOWEVER, you do get what you pay for. If it's within your means, we'd recommend these hoovers 100 times over. Renowned for their power and durability, Miele also provides a five-year warranty (three years more than Dyson’s offering!!). We particularly like that the attachments live in the body of the hoover, which means they’re easily accessible and less likely to get lost. Just be sure to get a rotating head if you have carpets and pets.
