Sebo Automatic X1 Bagged Upright Vacuum

The price of Sebo X machines are always high because of the quality of thinking it has gone into each product and because they are based on commerical designs which Sebo have sold internationally. Whilst Dyson may well offer 100% suction all the time, I find that my 14 year old Sebo X1 Automatic just keeps going, filling the bag with dust right to the top and with bags of 5.5 litres lasting on average between three to five months depending on what it is taking up from the carpet and mixed flooring, I don't have to worry about any dust coming into contact with my lungs or nose. Sebo paper bags always feel like heavy bricks when taken out the top of the bin door where they easily lock into when empty and I am amazed as their capacity belies their statistical full litre capabililty.

If you're looking for a vacuum cleaner designed to last, the Sebo X1 is the model to consider. One of the reedeeming factors I adore about the X1 isn't simply the fact that it is a full size vacuum cleaner or that it has a massive HEPA filter and carbon filter which actually catches carbon, but a simple reason that the drive belt fitted on the Sebo range is internally sealed and does not need to be replaced. It weighs around 9kg which is heavy but when pushed along the floor feels like it is half the weight because of its electronic sensor head.

Now for most buyers on EBay second hand Sebo machines can be abused and the drive belt fitted may not be an original one or may be on its way out due to the age of the machine. I just replaced my belt after 14 excellent years of service (a cost of £9). Not one day went by that the Sebo disappointed in 13 years and every year it still picks up with excellent strong suction by a motor which is three times quieter than any Dyson and has a super automatic sensor microcontrolled fascia which tells the owner what is going on. Whilst perhaps its height adjustment is slow to react at times due to thickness and flooring texture, the X1 will let you know what is going on simply by shining two lights for when the hydraulic assisted central wheel is rising or falling to meet the floor. Not only this but two further lights come on when the bag is full (gone are the days for cheap mechanical indicators which never really work) or when there is a blockage, and the last light indicating a problem with the brush roll.

Removing the brush is easy too - gone are the days to remove the floor plate with screws - on the Sebo X you'll find a small button on the left hand side of the floorhead which, when pushed reveals a side door which then allows me to pull out the brush to clear it of any hairs or threads which may have found themselves wrapped around. There is also an additional trapdoor which allows you to feel your way around the dirt channel incase anything else has been clogged. Unlike Dyson, on a Sebo X you only need to remove the entire hose assembly which includes the unlockable long plastic wand (it has a handle just like the main handle on the Sebo) and inspection is fairly simple.

Downsides are obvious; the bags are big and they can be costly to buy although EBay do offer cheaper copy alternatives and at times you may even get Sebo branded bags which have higher filtration. Filters also have to be replaced but this goes to show their proper S Class/HEPA allergy free policy. Another downside is that it doesn't have the best look in the world, but you don't buy a Sebo to show off - you buy a Sebo to clean and vacuum up dust.