This is an awesome vacuum! When I bought it in August 2018, I also purchased the carrying bag (which I love), and a couple packs of disposable bags, as I thought it would be easier to just throw the bag away. While it was very easy to do that, the suction was less than stellar. It would not pick up the cat litter on the floor and drove me crazy. I stuck the whole thing in my closet to deal with at another time and went back to using my big canister vac. About 6 months later I got it out, determined to try and sell it and get it out of my closet. I took the paper bag out, put the fabric bag back in, took pictures and was about to list it, when I decided to try it one last time. It worked great!! I discovered that the fabric bag gave it so much better suction than the paper bags, for some reason and while I don't know why, I ditched all the paper bags and kept the vacuum. I've been using it ever since, ALL.THE.TIME. My sister had already sold hers because it wouldn't even pick up grains of rice off the floor (with paper bags). She was so bummed when she tried mine and it picked up rice - she wished she had known that sooner, as she loved the vacuum except for that. So if you're wondering if this is worth it - yes, yes, yes. Just don't get the disposable bags. To empty the fabric bag, I turn it inside out and beat it on the side of my outdoor trash can. I then use a rubber brush to brush all the lint and pet fur that builds up around the rubber seal and off the inside of the bag, before turning it back out. I have two cats and one large, hairy dog, so I empty the filter and use the rubber brush at least every other time I vacuum. I will get another vacuum like this, if and when this one ever wears out.