What vacuum works best for your home
The Perfect Vacuum cleaner?
There are so many vacuum cleaner makes and models available that it can be difficult to choose the right one. When buying, first choose the category of cleaner that best suits your needs. There are five basic categories:
UPRIGHT VACUUM. Uprights are a good choice for a home with lots of carpeted floors and for anyone who prefers to push the vacuum cleaner rather than pull it. Easy to carry and store, many uprights have an easy-to-use pile height-adjustment feature, which is important if you have carpets of varying thickness to clean.
CANISTER VACUUM. Generally a little heavier and pricier than an upright, but also quieter, the canister vacuum is a good choice for homes with lots of bare floors. It’s also ideal for vacuuming under beds and for cleaning a variety of surfaces, including carpeted and non-carpeted stairs, upholstered furniture and draperies, and automobile interiors. Backpack models can be comfortably carried around your home-even up a ladder for easier cleaning of pot shelves and tall furniture such as bookcases and armoire.
CORDLESS VACUUM. A cordless model may be either handheld or upright, but it is designed to be lightweight, portable, and easier to pull out when needed. The cordless handheld vacuum is the perfect choice for cleaning up after everyday messes. Keep one in high-traffic areas for spills, tracked kitty litter, animal hair, and quick touch-ups. Upright models are preferable for quick cleanup of larger areas.
SWEEPER/STICK VACUUM. This “electric broom” is most often used for quick cleanup of carpeted and non-carpeted floors in the kitchen, bath, and entryway but can be used anywhere to pick up debris. Smaller and lighter than a regular vacuum, it’s great for getting kids into the vacuuming routine because it’s lightweight and easy to use.
CENTRAL VACUUM SYSTEM. The most powerful and priciest choice, a central vacuum is a built-in system that consists of a motor, a dirt canister, PVC tubing in the walls, centrally located floor or wall receptacles, a vacuum hose, and cleaning attachments. There's no heavy unit to push or pull and no electrical cord; simply plug the hose into any central vacuum receptacle to turn it on. Because the motor is installed in your basement or garage, operation is quiet. Unlike portable vacuum cleaners, the central vacuum system carries dirt and debris away from your living area, which also makes for cleaner operation. And the dirt canister generally requires emptying only several times a year.
When choosing a vacuum, you are likely to gravitate toward the kind your mother used. There’s nothing wrong with that. If you like it, you’re more likely to use it. Once you know what type of cleaner you want, choose a brand and model based on other features such as warranty, ease of use, and quiet operation. Other factors to keep in mind include the following:
Allergy sufferers should look for a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtration system, which is designed to trap 99 percent of harmful allergens, including mold spores, pollen, and pet dander
Bag-less models eliminate the need to purchase, store, and change bags; when the collection cup is full, you simply empty it then put it back in the vacuum. Be aware however, that emptying the collection cup is a messy process that tends to spew dust into the air; If you are sensitive to dust, you’ll want to wear a dust mask. Also, bag-less models need emptying more often than models with bags.
Choose a vacuum cleaner that includes tools you can use: a telescoping wand and dusting brush for cleaning high up, a crevice tool to clean along carpet and floor edged, and an upholstery brush for cleaning furniture and heavy draperies.
If you suffer from arthritis, choose a model with an ergonomically designed handle to reduce hand and wrist stress. You might also consider a self-propelled upright if pushing or pulling a heavy vacuum cleaner is a problem.
A vacuum with a rotating brush or combination beater/brush bar is good for most carpets. A suction-only vacuum or one with adjustable brush lifted away from the carpet is better for wool or wool-blend carpets with thick loop pile construction, which may become fuzzy with too much brushing or rubbing.