Vacuum Cleaner information to help make you're house cleaning
easier by getting the right vacuum to
Vacuum Cleaner information to help make you're house cleaning
easier by getting the right vacuum to meet your cleaning needs
Deep Cleaning Vacuums (or steam vacuums): Typical features on a
deep cleaning vacuum include rotating brushes that agitate the
carpet pile and loosen the dirt for a more thorough clean; on
hard floor surfaces the rotating brushes gently scrub the floor
clean. Some models have a handy automatic tool conversion button
or switch that you push/flip as you move from carpeted surfaces
to hard floor surfaces or vice versa. The most common use for a
deep cleaning vacuum is for the removal of carpet stains, hot
water and the cleaning solution are pushed deep into the carpet
to extract the stain. Special nozzles can be attached to make it
more effective. When the job is complete you just empty the
container, most models are equipped with a handy one hand tank
removal. Deep cleaning frequency: If you take a scheduled
approach to cleaning your carpets they will look cleaner longer.
Clean entrances every 4-6 weeks, bedrooms about every 8 weeks,
main traffic areas every 12 weeks, clean the entire house every
15 months.
Hand Held Vacuums: Hand held vacuums are light weight, can be
either corded or cordless and most can be mounted on a wall.
Cordless performance depends a lot on the charge of the battery,
as the battery power drops so does the suction power. Two styles
of hand held vacuums include; straight suction or suction with a
power brush to agitate the carpet or upholstery for a deeper
clean, this works very well on pet hair. Other available
attachments include: a brush for upholstery, crevice tool,
extension wand and a switch to lock the machine in the on
position. If you are considering a hand held vacuum determine
its primary purpose, will it be used occasionally on small jobs
or part of a regular cleaning schedule. Determining this will
better guide you to selecting the right model.
Broom Vacuums: Broom vacuums or stick vacuums are ideal for
small apartments, those quick clean ups in the kitchen, bathroom
or family room. The benefit of a broom vacuum is its light
weight, if you have trouble pushing your heavier standard
upright, this may come as welcome relief. You have the option of
getting your vacuum corded or cordless, allowing you the freedom
to roam around the house spot cleaning. The light weight,
usually just 2lbs.-7lbs, allows you to easily store the unit in
the closet taking up minimal space. For quick, convenient
disposal of dirt and debris most models are bagles. Broom/stick
vacuums work great on those small jobs but they just don't have
the power or capacity to clean larger homes, however they are a
great companion to your regular size vacuum cleaner. If you have
never owned a broom/stick vacuum you might be surprised at how
often and useful you find it.
Wet/Dry Vacuums: Wet/Dry vacuums may be the most versatile
vacuum cleaner on the market, with numerous attachments and
functions it is handy appliance to have around the house.
Canister sizes can vary greatly from the smaller 6 gallon to the
larger 22 gallon. Horsepower ranges from about 2 H.P. up to 10
H.P. Try to match the size of unit to the size of the job and
the frequency of use. Some beneficial features to look for in a
wet/dry vacuum include: Pleated Cartridge Filter: These filters
will save you time and money. Just pull it out when it's full of
dust and rinse it off with water. Wheel Base: Make sure your
machine has a wide wheel base, this will help stop it from
tipping over, and they generally pull easier. Drain Valve: To
make it easier to empty liquids some units have a drain valve or
nozzle located at the bottom of the canister. Auto shut-off:
This sensor has the ability to tell when your vacuum is full of
water and automatically turn off the motor. Some of the tools
you can add to a wet/dry vacuum cleaner include: a scrubbing
brush, crevice tool, water nozzle, combination nozzle (wet &
dry), extension wand, cleaning kits and some larger models have
the ability to attach a leaf blower.
Upright Vacuums: One of the most common features of an upright
model is the bagles system. In addition to increased
performance, there is no need to purchase any bags saving you
time and money. Emptying the bagles canister can be a little
dusty. Some bagged upright vacuums feature a full-bag alert
which will notify you when the bag is getting to full. Both
bagged and bagles styles may offer a dirt sensor that notifies
you when there is a certain level of particles in the air stream
indicating there is still some dirt not being sucked up into the
bag. An on/off switch for the power brush is good safety feature
to have in case the vacuum accidentally gets pulled over your
feet or cord as you focus on using the attachments. Most upright
models come with a standard set of attachments that may include
an upholstery tool, a crevice tool and an extension wand. A
retractable cord, manual or automatic pile-height adjustment are
two more handy features. Some vacuums allow the dirt to be
sucked through the bag initially before it reaches the fan,
other systems have the dirt goes through the fan first then to
the bag, this may damage the fan. A HEPA filter is another
common feature found on upright vacuum cleaners.
Canister Vacuums: Retractable cords are common on canister
vacuums and considering most cords are around 25 feet in length
this handy feature helps from having to drag the cord around and
possibly damaging furniture. A push of a button or slight tug on
the cord will retract it into the vacuums canister. The nozzle
is usually one of two types, a suction nozzle or a power nozzle.
To thoroughly clean the carpet it is recommended that you use
the power nozzle which will agitate the carpet and loosen up the
dirt for a deeper cleaning. Another feature to look for on a
canister vacuum is a suction-control switch; this allows you to
adjust the airflow for cleaning delicate material like drapery
and upholstery. Some handle grips also have an automatic shut
off should you loose your grip and let go of the handle.
Pile-height adjustment is another feature that may be offered on
a canister vacuum. Being able to match the height of the vacuum
to the height of the carpet will improve cleaning. Automatic
pile-height adjustment does not seem to work as effective as
manually adjusting the height of the vacuum cleaner.
I hope the previous information helped to narrow down your
search to the style of vacuum cleaner that is best suited for
your cleaning needs. Next you just need to compare the different
manufacturers' models and features in your price range.