I’m slow to change what other people have done. Accordingly, I end up living with thing I don’t like for years. Such was the case with the Shark vacuum cleaner at Treasure Island—a clunker I hated as much as any appliance I have ever used. Last week it died, and hate has quickly turned into love for its replacement (see photo).
The Shark was a model NV22L. It was low quality, overly complicated, hard to use, noisy, and weighed a ton. Even the cord was awkward to wind. Bagless, it took someone more mechanically minded than me to empty the canister when full even though I saved the owner’s manual for reference. The various hose extensions were stored separately so you never had them nearby when needed. Despite its complexity, the real reason I replaced it was that it no longer had suction although the motor ran as strongly (and as loudly) as ever. So while the Shark sucked big time as a useful appliance, I replaced it because it stopped sucking.
K bought the Shark about 15 years ago when the place was recarpeted. I wonder if she ever tried it out. I did—many times—but each time I vacuumed with it, an annoying learning curve would restart. Most of the time the Shark was stored in the closet taking up valuable floor space because it was such torture to use.
Yesterday a nice man at Quality Sewing & Vacuum in Silverdale pointed out several reasons why the Shark was unfixable. That wasn’t just so he could sell me a new vacuum cleaner; it was demonstrably beyond repair. I was overjoyed to get the news.
After listening to my vacuuming requirements, the sales rep showed me several possible models. Once I tried out a Simplicity Upright (model S20EZM), the choice was, well, simple. It really is aptly named. From changing the filter and bag to its auto adjustment for carpet height to the rest of its features, everything is easy to do. There’s a front light for dark areas and the hose extensions are stored onboard. It’s perfect for a mechanical dunce like me. Because its mission is to help clean a small vacation place, I didn’t look for a similarly priced model that was designed to vacuum a larger house.
The clincher came when the sales rep agreed to recycle the Shark, saving me a trip to the landfill or wherever you take broken boat anchors. He also included a free box of vacuum cleaner bags. Sold!
I don’t know what’s next on my list of redoing what others have done. But after such a pleasant experience with the Simplicity, it might be something with more risk and more gain. Like replacing the master bedroom carpet.
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