Need a new vacuum

[Stickerbunny]

My rabbits love to do hay explosions. No matter what I put their hay in, it has to be dragged out, spread around and the choice bits taken out once it’s all separated. Litter boxes, hay racks, boxes, you name it I have tried it. About 50% of hay, no matter what kind I buy, is “bad” to them so they dig through it finding the good bits and it ends up all over the place. I have tried orchard, timothy, oxbow, local, etc etc and it all is the same. I have decided they are just picky and I have to deal with it.

 But…. that means hay gets EVERYWHERE. In the carpets, on the wood floors, just everywhere. On the wood, I just use a broom. On the carpets, I sweep up the big bits but the small scraps I can’t get up so they end up going into my vacuum. Only issue is, my vacuum has a tiny clear vacuum hose that all material has to go through to get to the main tube. It’s so small and thin that dust, hair and hay clog it up constantly. Then I have to take the entire vacuum apart, take the hose out, clear it and put everything back together. 

 So, anyone able to recommend a vacuum that doesn’t cost over $100 that maybe has a larger hose ? Or is easier to get to the hoses to clean than having to unscrew everything, take it all apart and then put it back together? It takes me like an hour to clean the stupid thing and it has to be cleaned out every_single_time I vacuum if there is even a tiny bit of hay in the floor.

Suggestions?

[Emmie]

I don’t know if you have these in the states but the Henry/Hetty hoovers over here in Ireland are fantastic. I’ve had mine for 3yrs now and have only had to change the bag 3/4 times. That’s hoovering every single day with a shedding, hay-tossing bun too.

http://www.henryvacs.co.uk/

[Stickerbunny]

We have them, but it’s a tad bit out of my price range at $400 :s

[Monkeybun]

Honestly, we bought a carpet sweeper from target for the hay issue. It isn’t a vacuum, but it picks up hay like you wouldn’t believe. $40. Can’t beat it! http://www.target.com/p/shark-folding-handle-floor-carpet-sweeper-aqua-vx1/-/A-10836250#prodSlot=medium_1_2&term=carpet+sweeper

You’ll still need a regular vacuum, but this definitely saves our Dyson from the evil hay, prolonging it’s poor life

[jerseygirl]

Or is easier to get to the hoses to clean

I am so bleary-eyed I read that as “Get the horses in to clean”. Lol

Unconventional, but I’m sure they would help clear up the remaining hay. ; )

I’m using an attachment called a turbo dust filter for this problem. It diverts most of the debris into a receptacle before can reach the hose section. So if your vac hasn’t died, one of those might be an option provided it fits your cleaner.

[Stickerbunny]

Posted By jerseygirl on 04/11/2013 05:47 PM

Or is easier to get to the hoses to clean

I am so bleary-eyed I read that as “Get the horses in to clean”. Lol

Unconventional, but I’m sure they would help clear up the remaining hay. ; )

I’m using an attachment called a turbo dust filter for this problem. It diverts most of the debris into a receptacle before can reach the hose section. So if your vac hasn’t died, one of those might be an option provided it fits your cleaner.

Don’t think one of those would work on ours. The issue isn’t the long hose that attaches to the brushes and such, that doesn’t clog cause it’s wide enough. There is a small S shaped one that the vacuum throws the debris into from the bottom brush and it has to suck in through that before it hits the main hose – it’s so thin even dust can clog it, so hay and fur kill it. :s Attaching anything to that hose would make it hit the brushes.

 

Monkey – i’ll take a look at those They’re only allowed in one room of our house that has carpet (my room) but atm I have strands of hay about the floor and I am just looking at the vacuum going “ugh, I don’t feel like cutting my hands up taking you apart today” Bah! 

[Emmie]

WHAAAAAAT? Wow, how on earth are they that expensive?

[kamdynandsunshinesmom]

This is the kind of vacuum I use to clean up poop/hay messes http://www.walmart.com/ip/Eureka-Optima-Compact-Bagless-Upright-Vacuum-431DX/3656750 the hay sometimes does get stuck in it I take a broom and push it in the hose and it comes right out. I normally try to pick up the bigger pieces before vacuuming. I clean the filter by using the sprayer hose on my sink to clean the filter often and let it out to dry. Hope this helps

[Stickerbunny]

Posted By kamdynandsunshinesmom on 04/12/2013 09:42 AM

This is the kind of vacuum I use to clean up poop/hay messes http://www.walmart.com/ip/Eureka-Optima-Compact-Bagless-Upright-Vacuum-431DX/3656750 the hay sometimes does get stuck in it I take a broom and push it in the hose and it comes right out. I normally try to pick up the bigger pieces before vacuuming. I clean the filter by using the sprayer hose on my sink to clean the filter often and let it out to dry. Hope this helps

Does that vacuum not have one of these ? http://www.repairclinic.com/PartDetail/Vacuum-Hose/2031110/1617798 … that clear white one does an S shape in mine and it’s what gets clogged up so easily. And since it’s 90% covered by the stupid brush/belt area, I have to take everything off to get to it. One without that would be awesome.

 

And they are that expensive Emmie cause well… convert the price of them in the UK and they come out about the same. Pounds are a lot more valuable than dollars. lol Which, if you’re in the UK and making 8 pounds an hour doesn’t seem like a lot, but if you were to shop in the U.S. for everything it’d seem like a pretty well paying job. Of course, customs doesn’t let you get cheap stuff by buying it over here, so not much help. Just makes everything seem pricey in comparison.

[mia]

I use a very similar vacuum to the Eureka one posted. Longer strands can definitely get caught but it’s easy to clean.
I’d think a shop vac would be better since they are designed to suck up lots of debris.

[xnovalentine]

I purchased a heavy duty shop vac for $80 at walmart. this thing does wonders for all my bunny messes! i dont even use regular vacuum anymore!!

[Author]

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