My vacuum and I have had a rocky relationship for over 10 years. We have had fights, disagreements and flat out assaults. My vacuum could do 2-5 years if ever brought to trial. I am also not the only one who doesn’t like it, my dog hates my vacuum and he has always been a pretty good judge of character. If he is home when I vacuum, he barks and bites at it thinking that he will win the battle. Unfortunately, neither my dog nor I have ever won the battle or for that matter the war with the vacuum.
Every year after Christmas, it goes on strike after the multitude of needles from the tree have clogged it up. We go through the same routine where I have to turn it over exposing its dusty underbelly and take it apart. The vacuum doesn’t seem to appreciate the invasion of privacy and usually retaliates with pinching my finger in some manner. The expandable hose that allows me to clean the corners and crannies is a major source of conflict. The problem is that it doesn’t expand. When I pull it out and reach to get the dirt in question, it pulls the vacuum onto my head leaving me with a nice bump and usually some sharp words. It is heavy and a bit like lugging around a packed piece of luggage over your carpet.
I once owned this vacuum in part with a roommate. When we moved into our own places we had to divide the things we bought together, which wasn’t much. When it came to the vacuum, there was not a lot of debate. My roommate said, “You take the vacuum.” To which I asked, “What do you want in exchange?” They replied, “Nothing, you can have it.” In my opinion, this was one of the smartest decisions my roommate ever made.
Every year at Christmas, especially during our post Christmas fight and cleaning, I promise myself to get a new vacuum but I have yet to do it. I have checked out Consumer Reports on vacuums, looked at them at the store and tried out various vacuums at my friend’s house. I have oogled and admired many a vacuum at Costco. If someone is talking about a vacuum, my ears perk up and sometimes out of the blue I will ask my friends, what do you think of your vacuum, do you like it? Once they hear my story, the understand my plight.
Maybe this will be the year of the new vacuum. Just writing this makes me want to once again check Consumer Reports and see what’s new in the vacuum world. The moral of this story is to have good tools at your disposal. You have heard the saying, if all you have is a hammer, everything becomese a nail. Well if you don’t have the right tools, chores become more of a chore. You also waste money on something that is not ideal and someday you will spend more money to replace it or will suffer with it to get what you paid for out of it. From my experience, whether it be a vacuum, a rake, a garbage can, a mop, a printer or a watering can finding something that is easy to use and durable will make you happier when having to do household chores.