Vacuum Cleaner Buying Guide

Buyers Guide

Posted on by interactivewebs

Vacuum Cleaner Buyers Guide

Stick Vacuums

Stick vacuums are compact, light and easy to manoeuvre around, making them perfect for vacuuming up crumbs, cobwebs and pet hair. They’re perfect for quick cleans before visitors arrive, and for homes with pets or kids. Some stick vacuums cleverly convert into a handheld vacuum for complete vacuuming convenience.

Key features to compare:

  • Battery life and recharge time—you don’t want a dead battery before you finish
  • How much dust it can hold—you don’t want to have to empty it mid clean
  • If any extra tools are included—a crevice tool makes cleaning corners easy
  • If it has a high voltage Lithium Ion battery—these stay charged for longer
  • Is it recommended for pet hair?

The best stick vacuum for your floor:

  • Want the best stick vacuum for carpet or the best stick vacuum for high pile carpet? Look for stick vacuums with a rotating brush in the head.
  • Want the best stick vacuum for hardwood floors, a stick vacuum for tile floors, or a stick vacuum for laminate floors? A rotating brush may scratch hard floors so go for one with hard floor tools such as a Vax and Dyson stick vacuum.

Also think about:

  • Does anyone in your home have asthma, allergies or dust sensitivity? Dyson and Black & Decker both make stick vacuums with a HEPA filter that traps tiny particles and pollutants in the filter.
  • Do you want a stick vacuum with a removable battery so you can remove and charge one battery while you vacuum using another battery? If yes check out the range of Dyson stick vacuums.

Barrel Vacuums

Barrel or cylinder vacuum cleaners are designed to be compact so they’re perfect for small homes or homes with limited storage space. These great all-rounders are suitable for hard floors, carpet, and stairs because they’re light enough to lift.

Advantages

  • Lighter and smaller than upright vacuum cleaners
  • Easy to manoeuvre around furniture and up and down stairs
  • Can have a small, medium or large capacity to suit different sized home

Barrel Vacuum vs. Stick Vacuum

Weighing up whether to get a barrel vacuum cleaner or a stick vacuum?

Keep in mind:

  • Cordless stick vacuums are easier to manoeuvre and lighter, but barrel vacuums are plugged into the wall so the battery won?t die mid-vacuum.
  • Stick vacuums are perfect for quick vacuums between full floor cleans with a barrel or upright vacuum (unless you live in a small apartment).
  • Cordless stick vacuum cleaners are great for cleaning cars and everyday messes, especially if they convert into an even smaller handheld vacuum.

Barrel Vacuum vs. Upright Vacuum

Weighing up whether to get a barrel vacuum cleaner or an upright vacuum?

  • You have to bend and also drag a barrel vacuum behind you, whereas an upright vacuum is easier on your back because you push it in front of you standing up straighter.
  • Barrel vacuums are quite light for cleaning stairs and carrying upstairs, whereas upright vacuums are heavier so are better suited to single-level homes.

How to clean a barrel vacuum cleaner

Always follow all the instructions in your user manual, but generally speaking:

  • Switch off your barrel vacuum and unplug it from the power
  • Empty the dust and dirt inside your barrel vacuum cleaner:
    • For bagged vacuums: remove the bag, put it in your compost if it?s biodegradable or in the bin if not, put in a new bag (make sure you get the exact one specified in the vacuum manual).
    • For bagless vacuums: empty the cylinder straight into your kitchen bin, or put a bag around the cylinder and tip upside down to contain the dust during emptying.
  • Clean or replace the vacuum filter in line with the manual instructions.
  • Clean the rotating brush that spins around in the vacuum head, using scissors to cut out any hairs that have become tangled around the brush.
  • If there?s an obstruction in the long suction tube, try using a broom handle to push it out.

How to maintain a barrel vacuum cleaner

Always follow all the instructions in your user manual, but generally speaking:

  • Regularly check how full the vacuum bag or cylinder is if it?s bagless. Replace the bag or empty the cylinder when it?s almost full or you start losing suction power.
  • Ensure the rotating brush in the head spins around freely. If it doesn?t, clean or lubricate the ball bearings, and if that doesn?t work you may need to get new ball bearings or a new vacuum head.
  • Replace the brush belt that powers the rotating brush every 6-12 months, or as often as outlined in your instruction manual.

Handheld Vacuums

A little vacuum that’s light enough to hold in one hand is perfect for spot cleaning floors and the furniture, and also for vacuuming the car, so these are great for families and people with pets.

Key features to compare:

  • How long the battery will last before it needs to be recharged
  • If it can vacuum up liquid spills as well as dry dirt and crumbs
  • If it has a boost function you can switch on for extra suction power
  • If has an angled head that can be adjusted for vacuuming dust on high shelves
  • Is it recommended for pet hair?

Robot Vacuums

These clever little bots automatically move themselves around the house and do the vacuuming for you—saving you so much time and effort. They’re an ideal second vacuum for busy households that want to do a proper vacuum less often and still have their floors look good between cleans. Some robot vacuums can even sense furniture, stairs and really dirty floors, while others automatically recharge and can be set to start cleaning at a certain time.

Key features to compare:

  • How long the battery lasts before it needs to be recharged
  • If it has a sensor so it doesn’t run into furniture or fall down stairs
  • How quietly it vacuums
  • How easy it is to empty
  • If an app can be used to control it from your compatible phone or tablet

Upright Vacuums

Vacuuming with an upright vacuum is easier than with a barrel vacuum because you don’t have to bend over, making them perfect for people with back problems and houses that take a bit of time to vacuum. Upright vacuums have powerful suction that lifts out trodden-in dirt and stubborn pet hairs, and are best for flat surfaces because they’re usually heavy, and they may not fit under low couches and beds.

Advantages

  • Pushed in front of you rather than dragged behind so easy to manoeuvre
  • Removes deep down dirt from carpets and rugs
  • The powerful motor, large dust capacity and wide head suits large homes