I previously had an expensive “specialty vacuum store” vacuum which was fine for many years, at least I thought it was. I got the Stratos and cannot believe the suction and the amount of dust coming from my carpet and floors. I have a small home and considered it to be pretty clean until I got this vacuum. I had to empty it 3 times because of how much it pulled up out of the area rugs and wood floors. Extremely happy with this purchase!