Choosing The Right Vacuum For Your Home: Part 2

Now that you’re familiar with the two types of vacuum cleaners available (If you missed it, see Part 1 here), it’s time to discuss a few other important factors to consider before choosing the right vacuum for your home.

Type of Flooring:

Assessing which type of flooring is more prevalent in your home will go a long way towards determining which type of vacuum is right for you. For homes that are primarily carpeted, the deep-cleaning bristles and strong suction of an upright vacuum are ideal. On the other hand, if your home is full of beautiful hardwoods or tiles, a canister vacuum could be your best choice. That’s because canister vacuums rely solely on powerful suction to pick up dust and dirt, opposed to a rotating brush which can spread debris around a hard surface and scuff floors. That said, uprights can be used on hard floors, just be sure to select a model that allows you to turn the brushes off.

Room Size:

If you have a lot of square footage to keep clean, an upright may be what you’re looking for: uprights typically have a larger cleaning head, allowing you to cover more ground in less time. For smaller rooms and tighter spaces, the increased maneuverability of a canister can be a great help.Also, if you have large rooms, or an inadequate number of electrical outlets, cord length becomes a particularly important feature. While lengths vary, uprights can generally accommodate longer cords.

Attachments:

Vacuum cleaners aren’t just great on floors. In fact, with the right tools and attachments, your vacuum can also be used to clean everything from drapes and furniture to ceiling fans and mattresses. So, before buying, assess the quality and versatility of each model’s included attachments in light of your home’s cleaning needs.

Allegens:

As you’ve probably figured out, vacuums work by drawing air in (along with dirt and dust), filtering it, and then returning the exhaust air to the environment. In order to keep allergens from being recycled back into your home, it’s important to find a vacuum with an excellent filter and air-tight rubber gasket seals. Look for a model with a HEPA (High Proficiency Particulate Air) filter, which traps over 99.5% of allergens in your machine.Allergy sufferers may also want to consider whether a vacuum has a bagged or bagless dust receptacle. That’s because a bagless system, while more convenient, has the potential to give you a face full of debris each time you empty it. A sealed bagged system, while more costly given the need to purchase replacement bags, will more effectively limit your exposure to dust, dander, and pollen.Hopefully, our two-part guide has given you a great introduction to vacuum cleaners and their features. Just remember: Whichever model you ultimately select, being well-informed will ensure you choose a machine that will keep your home looking its best. Happy shopping!