Vacuums for clean freaks

Yesterday, I checked out an event for Hoover's new line of vacuums, their Platinum Collection. 

The marketing for the six new vacuums targets clean freaks — "for everyone who longs for floors so clean you could proudly serve dinner on them."

After going home to clean my own floors in shame, I was able to pull together a few thoughts on the new line!

Most impressive for me was their Carpet Cleaner (retails for about $500), shown, which certainly looks like it means business.

It has Hoover's patent-pending "dual-scrubbing SpinScrub brushes and Max Extract Technology", which certainly sounds fancy, but I was more impressed by watching it suck up cola from a beige carpet.

It also boasts what I'd consider an 'idiot-proof' cleaning method — it has pre-programmed cleaning modes for carpets and rugs and automatically rinses your carpet with fresh water. It's also got a spot clean option.

And, for the true neat freak, there's a clear tank where you can see all the gunk coming out of your floors.

While I thought this was a super cool cleaner, it's not very practical for my needs. I don't have carpets in my new home, and have yet to even purchase the necessary rugs, so, for my own purposes, I'm far more interested in their cordless Stick Vacuum ($230).

With a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, and about 12 minutes of suction per charge, this relatively light (about 7 pounds, I believe) unit seems worth a try for sucking up the spilled pet food and bunny hair that tend to cover my floors! It's also small enough to hide in my tiny closets.

Hoover's new line also includes a hand vac, bagless upright, lightweight bagged upright and bagless canister.