Maybe they'll forget how, eventually.

Even if they ever get that stupid they'll probably just split like amoebas.

About the same cognitive output.

Woe is me.  Had to open my wallet and found a colony of dead moths since the last largish household expenditure.

My trusty red Vacuum cleaner died today.  Particularly annoying as I was in the mood to give the place a damned good clean.  Carpet has been neglected for a couple of weeks.  Been pre-occupied with other stuff.  Lots of trodden-in broken-up dead leaves, and more grit than would normally accumulate.  Not ideal for my Grandaughter to practice her gymnastics upon.

Plugged the Red Beast in and it worked perfectly for a few minutes, then the beater bar stopped stopped spinning and it simultaneously emitted a high pitched whistle which usually indicates something stuck in the air hose.

Extracted a triangular bit of plastic bag from the air hose.  Stuff like that vibrates like hell in the airflow, like the reed in a woodwind instrument.

Spotted a huge hair tangle on the roller so made a cup of coffee and then sat down to untangle it.  Dirty but easy enough.  Except this time it wasn't...

Even after cleaning it all out the beater bar still wouldn't turn.  Pulled it out completely to check the bearings.  They all spin nicely, so it wasn't that particular old enemy.  Drive belt was intact.

Flashed up cold coffee in the microwave.  Drank it before it had a chance to go cold this time. 

Put bits back together.  Beater still won't spin.  Decided to investigate the price and quick availability of a replacement as the warranty is well out of date.

Found another of the same make which can be delivered today.

Bit the bullet and it will arrive this evening, between six and ten.

Will tinker with the old one later, in the quest for knowledge.  Then if it stays dead I'll salvage any parts which may, seeing as it's the same make and very similar, also fit the new one.  Will extract the motor and possibly a couple of switches, but throw away all the plastic bits.

New cleaner is purple.  Not my favourite colour - although Daughter and Grandaughter will love it - but the price and the specs, HEPA filter etc, were acceptable.

Bought it without the optional pack of generally useless add-on tools.  (I have a duster on a stick for ceiling cobwebs, not worth firing up the cleaner for them.)

Idle thought.  I could custom paint it.  Black with a gold stripe like a classic motorbike.  And maybe a BSA tank transfer.  Love the idea, but it's never going to happen.  Some things aren't worth the effort.

I'll be very surprised, and launch into full-on 'attack mode' if the new one doesn't outlive its warranty as well.

Time for another coffee. And something to eat.

Gyppo 

I would have gone straight to "buy a new one" without all that other angst in the middle. And that is the story of my lazy life.

But I like to know why a thing has gone wrong.  It's just the way I'm wired.  A lot of the time I can fix it.

Looking forward to meeting my new toy now.

New toy has been delivered and assembled.  It's very much like the previous one apart from a few little cosmetic changes.

The owner's manual is crap.  The print is small, but I can live with that.  What is diabolical is apart from the headings everything else is in that feeble grey print.  It may be more readable in natural light, but I have my doubts.

I shall write and tell them this.  I doubt if they'll listen, but they'll still be told.

Gyppo

I have no idea what "artistic" bent causes people to use gray on white instead of the perfectly wonderful black print.

I'm told that in a large business, where the manuals etc are printed by the thousands, sometimes millions, the reduced amount of ink adds up to a worthwhile saving.

In terms of pissing off your customers though it's not a shrewd move.

I also see that the free warranty has been reduced from two years down to one.  The first one of this make I ever bought came with a six year warranty, which I must admit I saw as something of challenge.  It sailed past the date with a year or more to spare.

With two long haired people, self and mum, losing hair onto the floor we gave it a serious workout during its life.

I looked at a different make, with quick release rollers for easy untangling.  It looked good and came with some impressive reviews, but it cost nearly three times as much.

I must admit, despite my liking for tinkering with things to extend their life,  I see vacuum cleaners as a semi-disposable tool.  Two good working years is enough to earn their keep.  After that they become a bit of 'project'.

Gyppo

We have mostly tile or wood floors so we don't vacuum much here.

Wall to wall fitted carpet, except in kitchen and bathroom.  Over an otherwise cold and echoing poured concrete floor.  Nearly emptied by bank account at the time, but in nearly five years I've never regretted the decision.

Gyppo

When we lived in Ohio, only the kitchen, bathrooms, and parts of the basement were uncarpeted. Down here in the very sandy low country, we put in carpet, but it wore out quickly because you are always dragging sand in with you and sand is really just teeny tiny little knives.

Makes perfect sense.

Canister vacuums are not ideal if you have a dog...I got tired of expunging mutts hair on a routine basis

I have occasionally been caught out if the wind suddenly changes direction whilst emptying my cleaner.  Particularly if there's a lot of hair tangled up around the swirly vortex bit and I have to dismantle it a bit more fully than just opening the trap at the bottom and letting the dust fall out.

My 'shop vac, which has to deal with a lot of sawdust periodically, has a paper bag inside the 'tank' to collect it.  It can be used without, but in that particular case it makes a lot of sense to fit the bag.

Gyppo