Hoover VHC 381 XT

Advantages: Quiet, low energy consumption
Disadvantages: Unusable, as door latch disintegrates after a few hours.

...I bought one of these on November 9, attracted by the large capacity and good energy rating. At first I was very impressed - it looks smart, the condensing bottle is at the top so convenient to empty, and it's very quiet. It easily handled the volume of laundry my three children produce and I thought I'd bought a good quality, durable workhorse. However, after four days the fitting on the machine into which the door latches simply disintegrated, falling back into the body of the tumble dryer and making it unusable, as if the door isn't latched shut, the machine won't operate. The shop replaced the machine six days later. The same fitting on the replacement machine collapsed after four hour, making the new machine unsable. Hoover sent out a repairman, who said the component hadn't been fitted properly when the machine... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Quiet, Excellent hardfloor cleaning, easy to use.
Disadvantages: Not so great on pet hair, eats bags!!

...To cut to the chase me & vacuum cleaners don't get on! I break them or they are just not right for me! I recently purchased a Dyson dco7 upright It's a superb vacuum but i think they have used the decommisioned concorde engines in them as the noise was horrendusly loud & it was too big & bulky so i needed a different model. I prefer a cylinder type cleaner & had heard great things about the Miele range & i have not been dissapointed. The above disadvantages refer more to my choice of model than Miele as a brand.The model in question is the Miele S381. It has an 1800 watt motor & is refered to on Miele's website as being bahama blue in colour. It seems to be the most basic cleaner in the Miele line up & cost £99 from Currys. I have looked in several other stores & have not seen this particular model anywhere elese. TOOLS & SET UP... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Great cleaning quality for such a small compact machine
Disadvantages: Couple of design flaws that just irritate

...A Hoover is a Hoover, is a Hoover - Unless it's a vacuum cleaner of course! Well how many of us incorrectly talk about using a Hoover? When in fact we're just using another Vacuum cleaner - Just one of those idiosyncrasies of life today how a manufacturers name is somehow more associated with the task or appliance being used, rather than its accurate use. However, in this instance I do have a Hoover! A genuine one. A bright blue one! So, how about a little about the company: Hoover began in America, in Ohio. Eventually it established itself in the United Kingdom, and was a major player in the early and mid 1900's dominating the Vacuum cleaning industry. As I've already hinted at, the Hoover became synonymous for vacuum cleaners here in the UK. Although the company is no longer the major seller of Vacuums in the country... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful