Vacuum Cleaner Buying Guide: Styles for Every Situation

Sometimes it is difficult to choose a vacuum cleaner. For every use there is a different choice. Many modern vacuum cleaners can be used for a variety of cleaning tasks besides simply removing dirt and dust from carpets and rugs. Choosing the appropriate vacuum cleaner for your specific needs enhances and prolongs the improved appearance of your flooring and makes cleaning much easier.

Uprights are the most common type of vacuum cleaner. If you need to clean large, clear surfaces these vacuums are excellent. They often come with a number of different features that help you do more than just vacuum. These features help you keep your hard flooring and upholstery looking great as well as help you clean your carpeting more thoroughly. One of the great debates when it comes to upright vacuum cleaners is whether to purchased one that uses bags or is bagless. Bagged uprights will require periodic bag changes. You will need to take not of the bag style to replace them in the future. Dust and debris collects in a receptacle instead of a bag on bagless units. This receptacle will need to be emptied regularly. Sometimes dirt and dust can be released back into the air when the receptacle is being emptied. Also, units that are bagless often utilize filters that will need to be replaced periodically. Uprights also usually include various attachments and features that provide a more complete cleaning experience such as crevice tools, dusting brushes, headlights and full bag indicators.

Another common type of vacuum cleaner is a canister vacuum cleaner. Canisters are often lighter than uprights so they offer greater maneuverability. This makes them useful for hard-to-reach areas such as underneath furniture and stairs. Hard surfaces are easier to clean with canister vacuums as well. Some canisters even have all surface designs that make them ideal for carpets and bare flooring. If you suffer from an allergy or respiratory disorder, it is also important to look at filtration methods. The best filter for these specific needs is a HEPA filter. HEPA filters use a sealed system and retain 99.97% of particulates at 0.3 microns. Canister vacuum cleaners also can have specialized tools to handle furniture or drapes and long cords and hoses for cleaning large living spaces.

It can be inconvenient to pull out a full-sized upright or canister vacuum cleaner when an unexpected spill occurs. For quick spills, car interiors and hard-to-reach areas, handheld vacuum cleaners are ideal because they are portable, lightweight and easy to maneuver. Handheld vacuum cleaners can have cords or be cordless, which is more versatile and convenient. There is no need to purchase and replace dust bags with most handheld vacuum cleaners because they are often bagless. The dirt cup simply needs to be emptied every so often. To make handheld vacuums clean as thoroughly as their full sized counterparts they often have special attachments and features included such as motorized brushes and HEPA filters.

Stick vacuum cleaners are useful for when regular sized vacuum cleaners are too heavy and ineffective for surfaces that aren't carpeted. These convenient and lightweight vacuum cleaners are best for vacuuming carpets and hard floors lightly. Dealing with quick cleanups in the kitchen, bathroom or family rooms is this vacuum's specialty. They can clean underneath beds, tables and furniture with their low profile bodies. Stick vacuum cleaners are versatile, inexpensive and include many of the same attachments as upright vacuums. Their long and lean construction makes them easy to store and they are great for smaller living quarters. They usually weight between 2 and 7 pounds and are often bagless.

One last category of vacuums is personal carpet shampooers. They are indispensable to pet owners because they easily kill stains and spills. Carpet shampooers clean deep seated dirt and embedded particles which eliminates any diseases and dangerous allergens that can be present in the carpeting. Also, shampooing at least twice a year extends your carpet's life.