Hoover's done it again: WindTunnel Pet Rewind.

• Position: T-Series WindTunnel Pet Rewind vacuum cleaner - What new?

We confess: Dec. 21 is our favorite day of the year ... by a landslide (or should we say avalanche). Yes, we realize that it is the first day of winter and know all about the snow and slush, treacherously icy sidewalks, windchill factor, freezing mud, relentless winds, etc. Sorry, all of that sure beats suffocating in the heat and humidity of summertime. Yet, every silver lining does have a cloud hovering somewhere nearby. In this case, it's the mess of winter making its way from the outside to the inside, especially if your home--like ours--is bereft of a garage or mud room but chock-full of kids and forever-dropping-by friends and relatives (and don't even think about asking about the pets). It's enough to make even the heartiest admirer of Old Man Winter cry a frozen river.

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Helping us devise a new plan of attack this season is Hoover; its T-Series WindTunnel Pet Rewind ($159.99) bagless upright is lightweight and easy to use, yet offers thorough cleaning power with its 12-amp motor. At just under 18 pounds, we're able to manage unruly pet hair and other debris no matter where they lurk. The easy-to-clean Air-Powered Pet Hand Tool features rubber blades that collect hair and uses powerful suction to carry it away, reducing the need to clean blades, while the Pet Upholstery Tool pulls stubborn pet...