Vacuum Buying Guide

Upright or Cylinder?
Air Flow & Filtration
Bags or Bagless
Power & Performance
Brushes & Attachments
Additional types of Cleaners

Upright or Cylinder?

Upright vacuum cleaners are usually easier to use and ideal for cleaning large areas of carpeted flooring. They are easy to store and easy to control and they are particularly good for those who experience problems with lifting and bending.

Cylinder vacuums on the other hand tend to be more flexible and ideal for hard flooring. They tend to be lighter and take up less storage space. This type of vacuum cleaner is more compact therefore perfect for cleaning stairs, upholstery and all those hard to reach places.

Air Flow & Filtration

All vacuum cleaners have some form of filtration system but some are more effective than others depending on your requirements. Filtration determines how many dust particles will escape into your surroundings. Below are a list of the filters available:

Stage Filters:

These filter dust at a number of different stages. All differ considerably but the filtering usually takes place within 3 - 7 stages. For a typical 4 stage vacuum cleaner, this would take place at the bag, filters between dust bag and motor chambers and at a final filter.

Lifetime Filters:

Lasting the entire life-span of the vacuum cleaner without needing to be changed, lifetime filters will normally last between 7-10 years

HEPA Filters:

High Efficiency Particulate Air filters are most suitable for allergy sufferers retaining even the smallest of allergy causing particles.

Charcoal Filters:

Designed to filter out unpleasant smells, these are particularly useful for those with pets as the charcoal layer is designed to remove any related odours.

Bagged or Bagless

This function varies between models of vacuum cleaners.

Bagged cleaners are usually cheaper than bagless, however bagged vacuum cleaners require additional bag purchases during the life of the vacuum. Models with self- sealing bags make disposal easy and reduce risks for allergy sufferers.

Bagless vacuums do not require the use of a bag , They tend to be more expensive but easier to clean and empty. Bagless vacuums come with anti bacterial protection which aids allergy sufferers reducing house dust and pet hairs.

Power & Performance

How well your vacuum will perform at cleaning depends on a number of factors. Generally the higher the wattage of the motor, the better the performance should be, however airflow and the design of the vacuum help improve overall suction power too.

The wattage is more important on cylinder machines as the dust has further to travel so requires stronger suction. Upright cleaner’s performance can be more dependant on the types of brushes provided.

Brushes & Attachments

For different types of cleaning, different types of attachment are required. Most vacuum cleaners come with three attachments: crevice tool, upholstery and dusting brushes. An additional turbo-brush is useful if you have cut-pile carpets or pets. For wooden or tiled floors consider a horsehair or parquet brush. For all those hard to reach areas look out for extendable tubes.

Additional things to consider:

Capacity:

The higher the capacity the less time and cost spent changing bags and emptying the vacuum.

Full indicator:

A warning for when your machine is getting full can be very useful in keeping your vacuum fully effective.

Cable length & Function:

If you have a large area to vacuum, look out for the longer length cable. Auto cords usually found on cylinder cleaners are far more convenient than the standard cable and great for storage.

Weight:

The weight of the overall vacuum cleaner should be considered for those less mobile and those looking to use on stairs around the home.

Additional types of Cleaners

Carpet Washers Carpet washers release a mixture of carpet solution and water through the brushes into the carpet fibres to break down embedded dirt and debris. They have relatively large capacities and can be either bagged or bagless. Carpet washers come with a range of tools and attachments suitable for use on curtains, upholstery, and stairs and hard to reach areas. In addition to health and hygiene advantages, carpet washing can improve and prolong the life and quality of your carpet.

Steam Cleaners Steam cleaners use steam to powerfully remove dirt and debris. They do not require detergents, but they do require time to 'steam' - this limits the amount of cleaning time available in one session. Steam cleaners offer variable steam control and come with a range of tools and attachments suitable for use on carpets, ovens, windows, clothes and upholstery.

Handhelds Handheld vacuum cleaners are small, light and have the benefit of being very portable. They are easy to store, operate and clean without the need for a bag. Although not as powerful as most uprights or cylinders, the handhelds are perfectly suitable for stairs, furniture, car cleaning and all those hard to reach areas.

Manual Sweepers A manual sweeper is the perfect eco friendly alternative to the traditional vacuum cleaner. Carpet sweepers are considerably less costly than those powered by electricity and do not require additional bag costs. Most manual sweepers are able to clean on all types of surfaces, look out for those with easy emptying facilities to quickly and efficiently empty dust and dirt.