Vacumming the Vacuum

      That's it! I've had it! No longer can I bear the convenience of "bagless" vacuum cleaners. No fuss, no muss... Who are they kidding?? That is a true statement until the first time you have to empty the container that replaced the bag. Then it's nothing but fuss and muss with a little bit of swearing thrown in for good measure. After several attempts of emptying it, I finally learned that it's best to empty it BEFORE I vacuum. Inevitably, dust, dirt and whatever else is going to escape its confines and land on the floor. If that's going to happen I would prefer it not be on a clean carpet. And then there's the part above the container, I'm not sure what it is called or what it is good for other than trapping pet hair and making a giant dust bunny. Cleaning it is neither fuss or muss free. I've gone so far as to hold a plastic Kroger bag under it before taking it apart. Still some of the dust bunny and it's gritty bits escape. Now the inside of the vacuum is dirty. I need a vacuum to vacuum my vacuum or a dust buster at the least. Don't even get me started on the way it cleans the hard floors. Even though it is supposed to do a great job, I could vacuum the kitchen for an hour and it still won't be clean. So I purchased a second string of tools to step in where the vacuum failed. The list includes a broom that vacuums while it sweeps - not bad except for really heavy things like pieces of cat litter. And the mini vacuum which actually does fairly decent on most jobs. And rounded out by the Swiffer. This one I've tried before and was hoping it would have improved over the years. But it's only really good for dust and cat hair. I did discover that it's awesome for getting rid of cobwebs and dust on the walls. Because of that it won't be going to the trash can. So I've resorted to the old broom and dust pan. Simpler can be better. I've always thought upright vacuums were better than their canister counterparts but all this dirt drama has me longing for simpler times and my mom's canister vacuum that I used to lug around from room to room. It had all kinds of attachments and did an awesome job on the linoleum, carpet, stairs and baseboards. It even reached clear under the bed and furniture. And best of all it had that neat little feature...bags! Sweet little dirt and dust trapping inventions that made emptying the vacuum a breeze instead of another cleaning project. I'm beginning to realize why Mom ignored my teen aged pleas for an upright vacuum cleaner. I think I'm going to Sears and pick my up a sweet little Kenmore canister, with it's shiny, silver tubes, retractable cord that seems never ending, the multitude of accessories that are good for just about anything, that kinky hose that makes that funny sound when you pull it around the corner of the wall and the best part - bags! And when I get that beauty home I'm sending that upright out to the man cave annex (aka our enclosed patio) so the hubs can enjoy it until its final days. Incidentally, that may be sooner than later depending on when he empties it for the first time. You'll know when it happens because there will be a lot of swearing and it will be put out with the trash the following Sunday night!