How to Choose the Right Vacuum Cleaner For Your Home
If you’re in the market for a new vacuum cleaner, it can be a little tricky deciding which type, make and model will best suit your needs There are essentially three types of vacuums cleaners: upright, canister and handheld and each has its own advantages and disadvantages. Vacuum cleaner prices, brands and features have certainly evolved in modern times which only adds to the time investment determining which one will do the best job for your home. Whether you live in a large house, a small hours, an apartment, or a dorm room, you can find the right type of vacuum you’ll be happy with. In this article, we cover what we feel are the key topics to consider when choosing your new vacuum and we hope you find it useful.
Vacuum Cleaner Type Generally Depends Upon the Size of Your Home
The first step in choosing the right vacuum cleaner is to think about how much space you have to clean. For example, if you live in a small apartment, it’s quite obvious you don’t need a $1,000 vacuum with 10 attachments to do what you need to accomplish. For small homes, lightweight vacuums are best because they’re very simple to use, move around and store. If you have a large home, however, you may want to consider a more powerful vacuum with multiple attachments since larger homes tend to have many different types of surfaces such as wood floors, space rugs, wall to wall carpeting. Large homes generally have more occupants so not only is cleaning more frequent but also the surfaces areas to clean are much larger.
Other Considerations: Do you have pets or young children? How often do you have time to clean your home ?What kind of flooring do you have? Do you have any allergies (dust, pet dander, pet hair, etc.)? By asking yourself these questions, they will point you in the right direction in determining what type of vacuum cleaner will potentially do the best job for you.
Vacuum Cleaners Tailored for the Type of Flooring in Your Home
Different surfaces require different vacuum cleaners. Different materials, like wood and tile floors, require different types of vacuums. If you have carpeting in your home, be sure to consider models that perform well on carpeting. If you have wall to wall carpeting, you’re going to want to invest in a vacuum cleaner with a deep-cleaning power brush. Vacuum cleaners with this attachment will deep clean and remove stubborn dirt and grime embedded deep into the carpet fibers. Likewise, if you have hardwood floors, look for a vacuum cleaner that is designed for hard surfaces. If you have hardwood floors, you will want to make sure the vacuum has a microfiber pad or other soft material that won’t scratch the floor. For example, if you have hardwood floors in your home, you need a vacuum cleaner with a hard-floor attachment. This will prevent scratching and damaging your floors while cleaning.
Different Types of Vacuum Cleaners
Upright Vacuum Cleaners
Upright vacuum cleaners are the most common type of vacuum cleaner in North America. They use a bag to collect dirt that’s been picked up by the vacuum. The bags are easy to replace and can last up to two years with moderate use. However, they tend to be heavy, making them harder to push around than other types of vacuums. Also, they tend to be much noisier than other types of vacuums because the motor is fairly large to accommodate the fan and suction strength. Upright vacuums are designed for a “deep cleaning” so to speak and work best on deep/long length carpeting and large areas because they have strong suction power. Upright vacuums are also heavier than other models. If you have health problems like back or knee issues, or you’re elderly, an upright vacuum may be difficult to maneuver.
Cannister Vacuum Cleaners
If you’ve got hardwood floors, high-pile carpet, and a lot of stairs in your home, then a canister vacuum cleaner is an excellent choice. These vacuums are lighter than upright models and have a longer cord that make them ideal for homes with lots of obstacles. For example, canister vacuums are easier to carry up and down stairs. They also offer more versatility because many models can be converted into a hand held vacuum. Since cannister vacuums have the main tank, a long hose and the main unit they can be very awkward top store.
Stick Vacuums
Think of stick vacuums as mini uprights. These are slim and lightweight and use a rotating brush and light suction to whisk debris into an dustbin or bag. They have a low profile so they can move among furniture and other things very easily. They are designed for lighter cleaning or “quick jobs” and are available in corded or battery powered models.
Handheld Vacuums
Yes, handheld vacuums are operated using your hand. They are typically used for small spills on carpet of bare floor and do and exceptionally good job. Most models now are operated by electric chargers or batteries but there are still corded models available and there dozens and dozens f brands to choose from.
Vacuum Cleaner Storage
Prior to purchasing your new vacuum be sure to consider the size of the closet space where you intend to store your vacuum. There are hundreds or brands and models that come in a multitude of different sizes. Many models have multiple attachments that can take up more storage than you may have initially anticipated. Some stick vacuums do fold or telescope making them much smaller in size and ideal for smaller living spaces. Be sure to review the dimensions of the vacuum cleaner your considering prior to purchase and compare those numbers with the space you have available in your closet to ensure it will fit.
What is Your Budget?
Vacuum cleaner prices can vary greatly depending on what features you are looking for. If you are looking for something that is lightweight, portable and easy to use, then there are plenty of affordable options available ranging from $50-$100. If you want more power and better filtration, look for models in the $100-$200 price range. And if you really want something with lots of bells and whistles expect to be in the $300-$500 range and up. Don’t be afraid to go to some big box retailers and actually look at vacuum cleaners in person. By doing this you can take a lot of guesswork out purchase but there is certainly nothing wrong with purchasing a vacuum online.
Conclusion
Vacuuming is a necessary chore that all of us have to do if we wish to maintain a neat and orderly appearing home. But with so many models and brands on the market it can be hard to decide which one is right for you. By reflecting back upon the highlights and key points in this article you should be on you way to making a very good choice when you purchase your new vacuum.
