Vacuum cleaner just died - Update

[Nina, Phil, Harlow & Lacey]

And with 3 dogs and 2 cats we have a definite need of a new vacuum cleaner ASAP!  What brand do you have and what do you like/dislike about it?  

Update: Thanks everyone for their recommendations/comments on vacuum cleaners.  We decided to go with the Dyson.  Ordered it through QVC.com (they had it on sale, free S&H and 6 easy payments made too good to pass).  It arrived today (2 days sooner than promised).  OMD does it pick up dust, dirt, dog and cat hair!  The carpet looks a shade lighter where I took it on a test drive.  And it is so quiet to boot.

[Lonnie & Libby Lu]

I just have a plain old Hoover Upright, but it does the job!  Wish I could help more, but do not know much about vacuums!

[Bonnie and Kona]

I have a Kirby. It cost an arm and a leg but our son was selling them door to door in college. It's 16 years old and cleans incredibly well.

[Jennifer and Jack]

Love Kirby's

[Nina, Phil, Harlow & Lacey]

My parents had a Kirby.  I didn't realize they still made them.

[Christine & Shelby]

Dyson Animal.... it's amazing and picks up everything.    Before I invested the money - I vacuumed my carpet with my regular vac thinking it did a good job and then my friend brought over her Dyson and the amount of stuff that was left behind was crazy!  The Dyson is amazing.   I like that is is a canister vac, and also that you can wash the reuseable filter.    I know they are expensive... but it has been going strong for over 3 years now!

[Ginny Nightingale]

I agree with Christine--vacuuming is FUN with my Dyson Animal--it gets everything, is lightweight and the whole filter can be washed out--the swivel on the end makes it easy to get into tight places.

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

I have the Shark Navigator and I love to vacuum with it.  It is so easy to handle and steer.  I got the liftaway one because I used it on the stairs.  

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Shark-Navigator-Lift-Away-Bagless-Upright...

[Star and Goldie]

I'm obsessed with my Shark Navigator. I have the Shark Navigator Professional Rotator. It's incredible. Less than half the price of a Dyson and just as powerful. Even some Dyson owners wrote reviews of the Sharks and say they prefer Shark over Dyson!

[Judy, Meg & Polly Wolly Doodle]

Have a Kirby (had it for many years and it still goes strong) that I no longer use...love it to pieces and it did an incredible job but too heavy for my troubled back.  In the Kirby's defense I had two separate house keepers that wanted to prove to me that the Rainbow water vacs were better than Kirby...both were amazed at how clean the water was when they emptied it and had to give credit to the Kirby.  Went from that to a Dyson Ball (previous to getting Meg) and it is much easier to maneuver and does an incredible job as well.  I love that I do not have to change bags and since Meg is a serious shedder that is a real bonus.  Seeing what this picks up off my carpets if I was to buy one right now I would probably buy the Dyson Animal.  I am really impressed with their vacuums.

[Diane, Baker & Oskar]

We have a Dyson.  When my husband bought it, I wondered why he spent so much...it's been great!  We've had it several years now, he bought it at Costco.

[Wendy and Myla]

I have had two Electrolux' and loved them both.  They both lasted 16 years.  Last year, the hose on my second one broke where we couldn't duct-tape it (lol) and the cost to replace was high so we decided to buy a new vacuum cleaner.  Because it is only my DH and I now and we have all hardwood floors, except for the living room, we decided not to spend as much money as the Electrolux was.  I bought a Miele.  I do like it - it does a great job and it's very light compared to the Electrolux.  I also like the length of the cord (very long) and it' quiet.  I don't think it does as great a job as my Electrolux did BUT it was a lot cheaper also!  It definitely picks up everything - Myla doesn't shed much - just a few dust bunnies.  I think if my kids were still home I would definitely miss my Electrolux but for my lifestyle now, the Miele is great!

[Adina P]

I don't have a lot of carpet, so don't need anything really heavy duty as much as reliable and long lasting.  Also easy to maneuver and...

As much as I like the idea of bagless, the emptying of the canister is always such a dreaded event for me.  Shaking that thing out in the outdoor trash can while trying not to inhale and then shaking out the filter (which is worse) is so MESSY.  Are there vacuums that make you feel a little less like you are in the middle of a dust bomb?