Choosing The Right Vacuum For Your Home: Part 1

Vacuum cleaners are one of the most important, and frequently used, tools in your cleaning arsenal. Given the amount of information available, however, choosing which type is best for you and your home can be overwhelming. In order to simplify the process, we’ve created a two-part guide outlining some of the things to consider before buying.In this installment, we’ll discuss the two primary types of vacuums and highlight some of the basic advantages and disadvantages of each.

Upright Vacuums

If someone asked you to picture a vacuum clearer, odds are your mind would conjure up an image of a traditional upright vacuum: a larger machine with a straight body that is pushed and pulled in front of its user. Uprights clean by using a bar of tough bristles that rotates at high speed, beating dirt and dust out of your carper before suctioning it up.Advantages:-With rotating brushes and strong suction, uprights are powerful, providing your carpet with a truly deep clean. -The rotating bristles not only clean your carpet, they groom it as well, giving it a lush, lustrous look. -Uprights often have a higher-capacity dust receptacle, enabling you to vacuum longer before having to empty it. -Given their typically larger cleaning heads, uprights can cover more area in less time, meaning quicker clean-up.Disadvantages:

• Uprights can be heavy; all that cleaning power comes with a trade off.
• Their strong bristles and suction power can be too much for certain delicate rugs.
• Given their shape, uprights can have difficulty accessing corners and other small spaces. To fully clean these areas, you’ll need to use an attachment.
• Taller users may find themselves having to lean forward while vacuuming, potentially irritating a sensitive back.
• Due to their bigger, more bulky design, uprights are not suitable for stairs.

Canister Vacuums

Canister vacuums are composed of a floor unit, which follows behind the user on wheels, that is connected to a hose and cleaning head. Canisters do not have rotating brush bars, relying on strong suction to do their cleaning.Advantages:

• High-quality canister vacuums are generally less expensive than their counterparts.
• With no brush bar scattering dirt and debris, canister vacs are ideal for hard surfaces like tile and wood.
• A canister’s design allows you to safely and easily clean stairs.
• Canister vacs are lighter and more maneuverable. Plus, they give you access to tough to reach spots, like corners and under furniture, without needing to use a separate attachment.

Disadvantages:

• With no rotating brush bar, canister vacuums are less effective at giving your carpet that deep clean. This also means that your carpet isn’t being groomed.
• With generally smaller dust receptacles, you’ll be interrupting your vacuuming more frequently to empty them.
• Although the individual components are typically more compact, the separation of the cleaning head and the motor can make canister vacs awkward to store.

Now that you’re familiar with the two types of vacuums available, you may already be leaning towards one model over another. In our next installment, we’ll discuss how to factor your home’s design and your personal preferences into your decision. Stay tuned!