Choosing the right vacuum cleaner for your home is important to make sure you keep your home fresh and clean in the quickest way possible.
From cleaning up dirt to removing pet hair and sucking up dust, this guide will help you find the ideal model for your needs.
TYPES
Before making the purchase, you’ll need to choose whether you want a cylinder, an Upright or a stick vacuum cleaner. This will depend on the type of cleaning you do and how much coverage you’ll need.
Cylinders
The traditional vacuum design, ideal for cleaning hard floors, stairs and upholstery. Cylinder cleaners consist of a main tank and long suction hose. They are neat and compact for navigating smaller rooms and don’t need much storage space.
Upright
Upright models are a great option for larger homes because of their bigger cleaning capacities and powerful suction power. This type of vacuum is perfect if you live in a home with large areas of carpet or if you have pet because it provides a much deeper clean.
Stick
Stick models are usually lightweight and can convert into handheld cleaners. These usually come cordless but corded models are also available. They offer excellent convenience because of their canisters that can be regularly emptied. This type is ideal if you need to quickly clean up a mess and picking up pet hair.
CORDED OR CORDLESS
The second choice you have to make is whether you want a corded or cordless vacuum cleaner. This will depend on the size of your home and the type of cleaning you’ll be frequently doing.
The primary difference between the two is that cordless models run on battery, meaning your cleaning time is limited between 15 minutes to one hour depending on which model you buy.
Corded
Corded vacuums tend to be more powerful which means they are better for picking up dust and have a much greater dust capacity, so you won’t have to empty the bag as regularly.
Cordless
Cordless models are designed to be much lighter than corded vacuums. This makes it convenient to navigate around the home without having to switch plugs when moving into a different room.
BAGGED OR BAGLESS
Once you decide the best type, you’ll also have to think about choosing between a bagged or bagless cleaner. This will depend if your household suffers with any allergies and the amount of cleaning you’ll taking on.
Bagged
Bagged vacuum cleaners are ideal if you have allergies or asthma as this reduces the amount of dust and allergens you’re exposed to. They also have a much higher capacity, however bagged cleaners do have an extra added cost of having to buy replacement bags once it’s full.
Bagless
Bagless models are an ideal choice if you want convenience. The dust and dirt are collected into a container, which can be simply removed and empty once it’s full. They are much better for tackling pet hair and there’s also no need to purchase additional bags.
TYPES OF FILTERS
Another feature to consider is the type of filter that suits your needs. Choosing the right filter is important because vacuum cleaners sucks up the air containing dust particles which are then filtered to be expelled back into the room. The better the filter the cleaner the air in your home will be.
Stage Filters
These vary between 3 and 7 stages of filtration. The higher the number of stages the cleaner the air will be during cleaning.
High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA)
Also known as S-Class these are ideal if you or your household suffer with asthma or allergies as they are able to collect even the smallest of allergy-causing particles. Some models are even approved by the British Allergy Foundation.
Charcoal
Charcoal filters remove any horrid smells that are lingering. This type of filter is excellent if you have pets at home.
Liftime Filter
For the perfect convenience, these filters don’t need to be changed during the lifetime of the machine which is normally between 7 – 10 years, but will still need maintenance and washing occasionally.
ATTACHMENTS
Before making a decision on purchasing vacuum cleaners, you need to make sure you’re choosing the best cleaning tools for your home. Most models come with basic cleaning tools that works across most floor types and others come with a range of attachments for a more specialised type of cleaning.
Crevice Tool
A handy skinny tool with an angled grip that is great for vacuuming tight spots, skirting boards, radiators and in between sofa cushions.
Upholstery Brush
Made with a wide tool with a lint strip this attachment is ideal for cleaning sofas, curtains and cushions.
Dusting Brush
Designed with a soft bristle brush this tool is great for cleaning window sills, lampshades, keyboards and shelving.
Extendable Tube
This attachment provides you with an extra lenght to tackle hard to reach areas around your home and high ceilings.
Turbo Brush
Perfect for sucking up pet hair, lint and fibres from sofa this tool offers extra cleaning power with its rotating brush to lift and beat your carpet or fabric as you vacuum.
Parquet Brush
This tool is a must have if you have many hard floors in your home such as parquet, laminate, polished stone and high quality tiles.
FAQs
Vacuum cleaners designs are constantly changing and with a wide variety models in the market to choose from it can get very confusing and you might have some questions. Here are just a few of the most common questions you might have answered.
Which are the lightest Vacuums?
Typically, the most light weight vacuum type is cordless because it does not have a heavy motor like traditional vacuums. However, you will find uprights and cylinders also weighing under 5kg.
How do I empty my vacuum cleaner?
This can vary on whether you have a bagged or bagless vacuum cleaner. Bagged models keep all debris contained inside the bag and need to be disposed of and replaced when full. Bagless models can usually be emptied hygienically with a simple touch of a button.
Which vacuums are best if you suffer with allergies?
If you suffer with allergies then vacuums fitted with HEPA filter will remove 99.97% of particles from the air including pollens and mould spores.
How do I take care my vacuum cleaner?
There are various way to keep your vacuum cleaner in good shape and here our top recommendations:
- Clean filters regularly; blocked filters and blocked brush heads will affect the appliance performance, as will over-full bag or containers.
- Be careful of what type of materials you’re vacuuming; liquid, sticky materials and small sharp objects can jam your cleaner’s motor.
- Make sure the bag is properly attached before you do your cleaning as it could end up filling the inside of your vacuum instead of the bag.
- Empty bagless models regularly by looking at the marker or indicator when its full, don’t let dirt settle within the unit.
