We used to have a regular vacuum cleaner and a rechargeable shaft vacuum cleaner (both Electrolux). The regular one (what are they called, those ones that you pull along the floor?) was used for the big weekly clean and the shaft one was for every other day, to deal with cat hair and small crumbs.
We needed to replace both of them, and my husband decided to bite the bullet and invest in a Dyson. They are expensive, but wow does this thing work like a charm!
It is not big or noisy, not too heavy, and it sucked things out of our carpets that must have been there for years. There are many attachments for different fabrics, so we can do our bedhead, our curtains, our sofa. There are no cables to drag behind you and it is so easy to clean.
I can really really recommend it. Ours came with a free holder, and we keep it in our little storage room.
James Dyson is a very interesting man, and he talks about how he invented the cyclonic vacuum cleaner in his book Invention: A Life. One reason he failed to find backers for his idea is that all established vacuum cleaner companies thought people would be grossed out by seeing what came out of their carpets. I LOVE that clear canister. It’s great to see it fill up!