Cleaning Tips

Find the Vacuum for You

Canister or upright?  Central vacuum system or not?  Is HEPA that important?  It can be difficult to navigate all of your options and find the perfect vacuum for you.  You really should give some thought to the following three considerations when buying a vacuum:

• Your Home
• Your Lifestyle
• Your Budget

Your Home

It's important to consider the layout and the types of surfaces in your space.

Layout: How many floors are in your home?  If it's multi-story, consider the weight of the vacuum.  If it's too heavy, you may have trouble maneuvering it up flights of stairs from one floor to another.  For a single-story home, uprights are a great choice.

Also, if you have stairs, consider a vacuum that has the flexibility and tools or attachments to give you the best clean for your steps.  For a multi-story home, look at light-weight canister vacuums or central vacuum systems. Both van be carried easily up and down stairs.  Their maneuverability and longer hoses are also best for cleaning steps.

Surfaces:  Are the surfaces in your home consistent or mixed?  For example, do you have mostly carpet or most hard floors, like hardwood or tile?  Understanding the types of surfaces in your home can help you choose a better fit when buying a vacuum.

For mixed surfaces or mostly hard surfaces, central vacuums offer a great way to clean both surfaces easily and without the weight of most uprights or canisters. Canisters are also great for mixed floors because of their attachments, which are made specifically for cleaning hard surfaces.

For homes with mostly carpet, consider uprights.  Uprights are built with high carpet-cleaning power.  Also know that there are some types of carpet that require special needs.  For example, if you have frieze (California Shag), look for a vacuum with height adjustment.  For long shag carpet, you may need to remove the brush roll to avoid jams.

 

Your Lifestyle

Once you've considered your home environment, it's time to think about the way you live in your home.

People:  Do any of your family members have allergies or other sensitivites that relate to air quality?  If so, consider vacuums for which HEPA filters are available.  Learn more about HEPA filters to find out how they help.

Also, consider a vacuum with a bag system, rather than bagless.  Bagless systems just don't have the same power to catch dust and particles as vacuums with bags.

Pets:  For homes with pets, like dogs and cats, look for a vacuum with exceptional brushing action and air flow. Brushing action helps lift hair and dander from surfaces, while air flow sucks it up and removes it for good.  Visit our article on pets and vacuums for more pet mess vacuuming tips.

Your Budget

Once you've found the type of vacuum you're looking for, think about how much you want to spend.  Keep in mind that a good quality vacuum, if cared for properly, should last 10 to 15 years.  Consider this:  a cheapie $150 vacuum has an average life of 18 months, therefore your annual purchase cost is $100 per year.  If you buy a good $600 vacuum with a bag, it's average life is 15 years; it's annual purchase cost is only $40 per year.  Which of these two vacuums is the least expensive?  Which one will deep clean your expensive carpeting best?  Which one will improve your indoor air quality?

While you don't need all the bells and whistles, don't be afraid to invest in a vacuum that has the tools, power, filtration and any other attributes you need to get your whole-home clean.