Just a side note here: We have had the technology for many years to be able to make much quieter vacuums. Unfortunately, people have come to equate the level of sucking power with the level of noise and so an "acceptable" amount of racket is engineered into them.

Bobert, do as someone mentioned above and besides getting whatever electric marvel you want, get a Bissel, non-electric push & pull model. They are great for getting the odd bits from the floor without your having to do a full vacuuming.

Just think, not so very many years ago it was all done with brooms - hence the now seldom-used moniker, "electric carpet sweeper" as the new fangled electric things were called.