All About Sebo Vacuum Cleaners

[MVOlga]

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SEBO (pronounced "see-bow" - that is "bow" as in "bow and arrow" [si bəʊ]) is the brand name of vacuum cleaners made by Stein & Co GmbH, a company based in Germany.

We call them "the best vacuum cleaner brand you have never heard of" (as they dont advertise very much anywhere - they seem to think you must "discover" them). You will only find them at John Lewis and independent vacuum dealers like us (and we are cheaper than John Lewis).

Sebo produce a range of upright and cylinder vacuum cleaners for domestic and commercial use. Sebo vacuum cleaners are endorsed by Allergy UK (the British Allergy Foundation), recommended by Which? Magazine, recommended by Axminster Carpets and the Good Housekeeping Institute among others.

Established in 1977 in Germany by two German engineers, Klaus Stein and Heinz Kaulig, Sebo produced their first commercial upright vacuum cleaners in 1978. Due to their user friendly design and superior reliability, they rapidly became top selling machines. Many features which are now common on vacuum cleaners were first introduced by Sebo, e.g. the integrated hose on uprights and electrostatic micro filters.

Sebo has successfully grown to become a major player in the UK commercial vacuum cleaner market despite their low profile in the household market. In 1991 Sebo started in the UK retail market with the Automatic X1 upright and later the X4 models. These machines introduced computer controlled brush height adjustment for optimum cleaning performance which remains unique to Sebo.

Sebo is the world's largest manufacturer of commercial upright vacuum cleaners (amazing but true!) and boasts a presence in over 20 countries. They even use them in the Whitehouse in the USA, Buckingham Palace and we have recently supplied some to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London.


The Sebo being used at the Whitehouse above is a USA commercial Windsor branded machine

All Sebo vacuum cleaners are of anti-allergy design, indeed a Sebo machine was the first vacuum cleaner to be endorsed by the British Allergy Foundation for its overall anti-allergy design as opposed to just its filtration.

Sebo is still a family business with a real care for the design and manufacture of the products it makes. Sebo vacuum cleaners are all still made in Germany (not China or Malaysia like most) and the commitment to quality is as firm as ever, explaining why ever since first being included, Sebo has been the most reliable upright brand on the market according to WHICH? Magazine.


Sebo demonstrators in our Stockport shop

Bags or no Bags?

Dysons don't use bags. Sebos do. Bagless vacuum cleaners -v- machines with bags is an age old argument that every manufacturer has their own spin on. It is like wine -v- beer or BMW -v- Mercedes. There is no definitive answer. Both will do what you want them to do. The "Oh, you must buy bags with others, so ours are better" argument that Dyson use doesn't really hold water. Genuine Sebo bags are around £10 for a pack of 8. Will you use 8 in a year? If you do, that is 2p a day. A top of the range X4 Automatic Pet Boost is around £100 cheaper than a Dyson Big Ball "Animal" DC40/DC41/DC75/Cinetic. That £100 saving buys you over ten years of bags at 2p a day and no filters to wash. The argument is as broad as long.

Also, we doubt you would get ten trouble free years from a Dyson DC75 Big Ball Cinetic, people write on our Facebook page they have been running the same Sebo for 16 years and it still works like new! 

With a Sebo, the bag is the main filter so no filters to wash. Hospital grade HEPA filters make sure the expelled air is as clean as anything else on the market. The dust compacts solidly in the bag so they seldom need changing (most people use one box of bags a year), and when you throw the bag away there is no dust cloud as you get with a bagless machine when you empty it.

The Engineering Perspective.

As vacuum engineers ourselves, one reason we love Sebos is due to the sheer quality of the engineering. The motors are quiet, powerful and long-lasting. The drive belts are made of Kevlar so they dont snap, and are toothed so they dont slip. On the best-selling X1/X4 upright machines, the brushrolls are driven by a steel shaft with a thick cotter pin, not a flimsy plastic cog that wears out. The machines are modular so they can be split down to find blockages in moments. They recline totally flat to go under furniture. There are no filters to wash (the disposable bag is the main filter). If you jam them up or block them, the electronics shut the motor down to prevent damage so you can remove the obstruction. The hoses almost never split. If you ever break the power cable they have a removable handle/cable that can be swapped over in moments by anyone. They adjust their height automatically to different floor types during use. The brushroll pops out with one click for cleaning and hair removal. Ask any of our engineers why they like Sebo and your eyes will glaze over because they won't stop talking...........

Sebo or Dyson?

Due to the lack of longevity and robustness found in some Dyson machines that came after the DC33 (the DC33 and previous models are fine), many independent retailers have chosen to not sell new Dyson machines and have instead switched to Sebo for customers wanting a new machine. Also, Sebo vacuum cleaners generally cost a little less than comparable Dyson vacuum cleaners while still having a five year warranty.

On our forum here, we have a poll: Sebo -v- Dyson. Click the link and see the results for yourself.

For those who specifically want a new vacuum cleaner over a reconditioned one, we prefer to sell you a Sebo, because we are confident they are an excellent product that you will have no problems with. We dont stock Vax, Hoover, Electrolux, Shark, etc., because there is simply no need; we eschew mediocrity. Tesco can sell you a £50-£100 Vax or Hoover that will be in the bin within a year. We want to sell you a proper vacuum cleaner you will own for a decade or more. We want you to recommend us to your friends and relatives. That won't happen if we sold you a Hoover or a Vax.

There is a reason hotels, hospitals, schools, cleaning companies, cruise ships, major PLCs, government departments, the Whitehouse and even Buckingham Palace often use Sebo machines: They work and they keep working. We are proud to be approved Sebo dealers.

[MVOlga]

The Sebo "X" range of machines have looked similar since the 70s. With only minor engineering tweaks through the years. Why fix it if it isn't broken? As the fundamental design is basically unchanged through the decades (bar the odd bit of electronic and engineering improvement under the skin), they are beginning to look almost retro in appearance.

We see similar thinking with many other well-known German electrical brands we think of as synonymous with quality, for example, Bosch, Siemens, Neff, Gaggenau, Blaupunkt and Miele.

The Sebo Automatic X1.1



In 1991, SEBO began to branch into the domestic market with an upright cleaner known as "Automatic X1" upright and built from commercial components and low energy release motor.

Featuring an 1150 watt motor, computer controlled height adjustment, a lifetime guaranteed drive belt system, S-Class filtration, easy access block-check doors and an easy access brush-roll with shut off mechanism to sense clogs or obstructions, the X1 Automatic is designed to be user/owner repairable.

As the hose is relatively short on these machines, we recommend them for people without stairs. We sell these >>here<<.

The Sebo X4 Automatic Extra Eco. (Our personal choice)



This is the mid level Sebo upright and one of the best-sellers. The extendable hose is long enough to go up stairs, so we recommend this machine for people who have stairs.

Also with the 1150 watt motor, computer controlled height adjustment, a lifetime guaranteed drive belt system, S-Class filtration, easy access block-check doors and an easy access brush-roll with shut off mechanism to sense clogs or obstructions, this one of Sebo's best selling machines. We sell these >>here<<.

The Sebo X4 Automatic Pet Boost.



This sleek looking black model is the top of the range and the one we recommend highly for those with pets.

Highly recommended for people with pets and/or allergies. The extendable hose is long enough to go up stairs, it comes with a mini turbine head.

The Computer Control System optimises performance, ensuring that the brush is always at the correct height for ease of use and long carpet life. However, for a deeper clean, for example with stubborn pet hair, just press the performance boost button for extra pile lifting power. The head will sink down further and the brushroll will pound the carpet removing pet hair very effectively.

Other innovative and practical features include cassette style brush roller removal, an integrated wand, an extra long hose system for stair cleaning, a Stair and Upholstery Turbo Brush and activated charcoal integrated into the filter to remove odour.

Look what owners write:

Since I've owned my SEBO (purchased from an independent) I've not looked back. I don't think I'd would ever own a Dyson again! As for bagless, so glad I went back to bags especially owning a pet! Once you've owned a SEBO you won't own anything else! They certainly are worth the money, easy to use, maintain and run too. Not only hand made and tested they are environmentally made too! SEBO are the way to go....

Verify that comment on our Facebook page >>here<<.

The SEBO automatic X Pet Boost is the top of the Sebo range. We sell these >>here<<.

Sebo Felix



In 2005, SEBO launched the world's first ever "swivel neck" upright (it is a common misconception that Dyson's "The Ball" was the first to do this). The SEBO Dart, aimed at the commercial market and its domestic equivalent, the "Felix" with additional features that domestic customers demand. From interchangeable floor heads or a power nozzle that are available for both machines to deal with a variety of floor types. The floorhead/powerhead can also be removed from the main body, and the handle folded down to convert the unit into a handheld cleaner.



The powerhead fitted to all Felix models is the ET-1 (premium) type which has a foot pedal recline similar to the X series. It features a manual 4 position height adjustment dial to suit different flooring types. LED control panel indicates brush roll monitoring at all times if height adjustment is set too high and automatic shut off of the motor if brushroll becomes obstructed, strained or jammed. The brush roll motor can be switched off manually for use on hard floors, and automatically shuts off when the machine is in the upright locked position. Like the X series, the brush roll can be easily removed for cleaning or replacement.

All models feature a 3.5 litre bag capacity and piston bag full indicator set into the lid of the bag housing.

A unique feature of the Felix is that the main exhaust filter also forms the covering of the bag compartment, and on the Felix, can be customised with different colour fabric designs. Sebo supply a 3 layer electrostatic fabric disposable bag for the Felix, which is an improvement on earlier paper bags. We sell these >>here<<.

Where to have a closer look, get a demonstration and buy?

If you are in Manchester, Stockport or Tameside, we are your local Sebo dealer. We are at the Bull's Head in Reddish, just four minutes from Denton Island (M60/M67 interchange) off the M60. Full location, opening times and map can be found >>here<<. You can come down, have a look at a Sebo vacuum and try one out on our shop floor before you buy. We keep all the models above in stock. If you have an old Dyson or Sebo you no longer want, dead or alive, don't throw it away, bring it along with you for a small discount.

If you just want to ask a question about Sebo, or want a cylinder machine, or anything else, you can email us >>here<<.

If you want to buy a Sebo from us online, you can do so >>here<< and compare models and specifications.

Do you live in Cheshire, Stockport, Manchester, Tameside or Glossop?

If you do, you can take advantage of our >>Premium Home Delivery service<<.