Vacuum Cleaner

Vacuum Cleaners – What To Look For

The vacuum cleaner is one of the most important domestic appliances in homes around the world. First introduced in the 19th century, the technology behind these devices has advanced over the years to make cleaning the home as simple and as efficient as possible. The following explains some of the things you should look for when choosing your next vacuum cleaner.

With or without a bag?

Perhaps the biggest decision facing those looking for a new vacuum cleaner, is whether or not you should go for a vacuum which comes with, or without a bag. Whilst new vacuum cleaners with bags are generally cheaper, this can sometimes be false economy, as the cost of replacing bags over the lifetime of the cleaner can mount up. Bagless vacuum cleaners, therefore, are seen by many as a better long-term investment.

Upright vs. cylinder?

The first thing to decide when choosing a new vacuum cleaner is whether you require an upright vacuum, or a cylinder cleaner. There are advantages to both types of cleaner, however, upright vacuum cleaners are generally more popular due to the fact that they are easier to use than cylinders. Cylinder vacuum cleaners, however, are usually cheaper than uprights and take up less space in storage.

Handheld vacuum cleaners

In addition to uprights and cylinders, consumers also have the option of handheld vacuum cleaners. These can help you to clean up spillages quickly and easily and can get into all of those hard to reach places, making them ideal for use in the home or the car.

Filtration

Before buying a vacuum cleaner, it is important to make sure that it meets up to your requirements in the level of filtration it provides. This is particularly relevant for those with pets or those who suffer from asthma and allergies.

Generally speaking, the more expensive a vacuum cleaner is, the greater the amount of filtration it will provide, so if you are asthmatic or react badly to allergens, then it may be worth the extra investment.

There are several different types of filtration. These are as follows:

Stage Filters – Filtering out dust in stages, stage filter vacuum cleaners can vary between manufacturers. However, they mostly contain the following elements, a double skinned bag, filter between motor and bag and the final filter. In more advanced cleaners, this filter can have anything up to 7 stages.

HEPA or S-Class Filters – Particularly suitable for those with allergies, HEPA and S-Class filters protect you by eliminating the smallest allergy-causing particles for ultimate protection.

Lifetime filter – As the name suggests, lifetime filters offer exceptional durability and do not need to be replaced for the entire lifespan of the vacuum cleaner.

Charcoal filters – If you are concerned about odour, charcoal filters are particularly suitable as they help to eliminate bad smells. This makes them particularly suitable for those with pets.

Vacuum cleaner attachments

Depending on your requirements, there are a host of brushes and attachments you can choose from to make your vacuum cleaner more effective. Some vacuum cleaners come complete with an extendable tube which helps to get into those hard to reach places. For those with pets, look for an extra-powerful turbo brush to catch all of those stray hairs.