Sebo X 1.1

I was fed up buying new vacuum cleaners almost every 18 months. I tried both Hoover and Exlectrolux and am not impressed by either! I have used a Dyson and whilst it seemed good at the time, after using my Sebo, a Dyson seems mediocre!

The Sebo x1.1 is sort of flat packed when delivered and must be assembled before use. There are only 4 major parts and with concise instruction supplied, is very easy to put together. Once done, just pop in a bag and you are good to go. Yes, this cleaner uses bags and thank goodness I say. The bagless cleaners I have used have been very poor - what dust they expel! I would say it probably takes me about three months to fill a bag and even when almost full, there is very little difference in suction power.

The microfilter was already in place and having had my Sebo for nearly a year now, it still looks very clean. Having just rechecked my manual, you are advised to change the microfilter when dirty, or with every 20 bags. Let's see - one bag every three months means 60 months to use 20 bags, which means only change the filter every 5 years, unless it gets dirty. Wow, my cleaner is even better that I first thought! The bags are so easy to change - squeeze the little green clips at the top together and slide off, there are little covers to put over the opening so nothing spills out whilst you are carrying it to the rubbish bin. Then just slide a new bag on - all done in a minute. The bags are made from three separate layers and very little will escape through the bag - if it does, the microfilter and exhaust filter will stop it getting any further.

When using the exension hose, to get into corners, clean the stairs, etc, the suction power is excellent. My only complaint with this vacuum is that the hose could do with being a bit longer. Although on saying that, there are various attchment kits available to buy. The cleaner comes with an upholstry nozzle and a crevice nozzle as standard, and you can add optional extras such as "straight tube" (hard plastic tube), "extension hose" (flexible hose), "dusting brush", "special upholstry nozzle", "wall and floor brush" "radiator brush" (four small attachment nozzles) and a "combination nozzle" (which looks like a cylinder type vacuum cleaner head). I have not bought any of the optional attachments so cannot comment on them, but manage to get by even with the slightly short extension hose. The cable is stored neatly on the back and is plenty long enought to enable me to plug it in at the top of the stairs and work my way down without having to unplug it in one room to replug it in another.

This is a practical looking cleaner - no fancy degisns or unnecessary decoration. It looks like it is built to last and I believe it will. It is an expensive cleaner, compared to some on the market, but for this particular make, I totally believe you are getting your money's worth. My cleaner comes with a 2 year warranty and an additional 5 year parts guarentee as standard, no additional warranty purchase required. It cost me £203 for my Sebo x1.1, including delivery and three packs of 10 bags (didn't realise just how long they would last me!!).I am convinced it is one of the best household appliance investments I have made. It made a spectcacular job of cleaning out my car too.

Although on the expensive side, I would not hesitate to recomment this vacuum cleaner to anyone.