If you have never heard of SEBO vacuum cleaners, you are not alone. They do not advertise, they do not make TV commercials, and they do not chase trends. They make bagged, mains-powered vacuum cleaners in Germany; they have been doing so since 1978, and they rely almost entirely on word of mouth. That is a bold business model, and it works because the machines are that good.
NB. Everything in this article refers to SEBO mains-powered machines. SEBO also produce a handheld cordless range, but these are a different product with a different design philosophy and are not something we cover here. We have other articles on those.
If you prefer to watch a video rather than read, our resident Sebo guru explains all about them in the video below.
The Sebo Story
SEBO was founded in 1977 by two German engineers, Klaus Stein and Heinz Kaulig, one of whom had previously been head of design at Vorwerk, the manufacturer behind the Kobold vacuum cleaner. From the outset, SEBO made commercial vacuum cleaners, machines built to work hard in hotels, hospitals, schools and offices day in and day out. The domestic range came later, almost by accident, when it became clear that what the cleaning trade was using was exactly what people wanted at home, too.
Today SEBO is the world’s largest manufacturer of commercial upright vacuum cleaners, present in over 20 countries, and their machines are used in Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, the Ritz hotel in London, and the White House in Washington, to name but a few. The BS360 is the best-selling commercial upright vacuum cleaner in the world.
Sebo: Made in Germany, Still
Every mains-powered SEBO is still handmade in Germany, the same as they were in the 1970s. In a world where almost everything has moved to China or Malaysia, that is worth saying twice. The commitment to quality manufacturing has never wavered, which is why SEBO has consistently been rated the most reliable upright vacuum cleaner brand by Which? Magazine, and is endorsed by Allergy UK, the Good Housekeeping Institute and recommended by Axminster Carpets.
Evolution, Not Obsolescence
One of the things that sets SEBO apart from most vacuum cleaner manufacturers is their philosophy of evolution rather than reinvention. They do not launch a completely new machine every couple of years, spend the next few years fixing it under warranty, and then replace it with something else. They take what works, refine it quietly over time, and end up with machines that are genuinely excellent because they have been developed over decades rather than rushed to market.
The X series is the best example of this. The X1 launched in 1991, originally conceived as a commercial machine, and the X4 became one of their best sellers (we still sell bespoke build new ones). The current X7 is the direct descendant of those machines. Thirty-odd years of incremental improvement is built into every one.
Designed to Be Repaired
SEBO machines are modular and designed to be taken apart. Blockages can be located and cleared in moments. The brushroll pops out with a single click. The drive belts are Kevlar toothed belts, not the cheap rubber bands that snap on lesser machines. The electronics shut the motor down automatically if something jams the brushroll, protecting the machine rather than burning it out. If you ever damage the power cable on an X series, the handle and cable assembly can be swapped over in moments. We even have a send-in cable repair service.
Spare parts are available for machines going back decades. We still stock parts for the X1. You can, as they say, do a Trigger’s broom with a SEBO – replace bits over the years until you wonder which parts of the original machine are still in there – and it will keep going regardless.
This matters because most vacuum cleaners today are essentially disposable. A well-known cordless manufacturer will sell you a machine for many hundreds of pounds that will last two or three years at best before the battery degrades or something breaks that cannot economically be fixed. With a SEBO, ten years is normal. Twenty is not unusual. Thirty is more common than you’d imagine. We have customers who have been running the same machine for over two decades, and it still works as it should.
Bags – Yes, Bags!
SEBO machines use bags. The better end of the vacuum market always has. This is sometimes the first question people ask, particularly those who have been using a bagless machine. The bags are not expensive – a box of eight genuine SEBO bags costs around £10, and most people use one box a year. At that rate, the running cost is negligible, and there are no filters to wash or routine servicing to pay for. The bag is the primary filter, and a hospital-grade HEPA exhaust filter takes care of the rest. When you come to change the bag, the dust stays in the bag – there is no cloud of fine dust as you get when emptying a bagless machine.
The Sebo Vacuum Range
The X7 is the current domestic upright range and comes in several versions to suit different needs. The X7 Pet is the best-selling domestic SEBO by a distance, and for most people, it is the one to go for. The Felix is SEBO’s swivel-neck upright – SEBO actually introduced this design before Dyson’s Ball, a fact that often surprises people – and is available in a range of colours. For the commercial market, the BS360 is the standard machine, used by cleaning companies, schools, hotels and institutions across the country.
We stock the full range at The Sebo Shop, with detailed video reviews on every model to help you choose the right one.
Why We Sell Sebo
We spent many years as Dyson specialists (we still are, by the way). The older Dysons, up to around the DC33, were well-built and reliable machines and we were happy selling them. When the quality and repairability of the newer models declined, we looked elsewhere. SEBO was the answer, and we have not looked back. We do not stock Vax, Shark, Hoover or any of the budget brands. There is no point. If you want a vacuum cleaner that will still be working in fifteen years, come to us and become part of the SEBO family.
Once you have owned one, you will not want anything else. That is not marketing. That is just what happens.
Where to Buy
You will find SEBO at John Lewis, but you will always find them cheaper at The Sebo Shop. We are approved SEBO dealers and we stock machines, accessories, and spare parts. We also have a free advice forum for anyone who wants to maintain or repair their own machine, and a full repair service if you need us.
Browse the full SEBO range by clicking the banner below.
Further reading: Our main Sebo website homepage is >here<. Our repair information page is >here< and our location and opening times are >here<.
The Sebo Shop at Manchester Vacs are approved Sebo dealers offering next-day UK delivery on all domestic and commercial Sebo vacuum cleaners and spare parts.
