Vacuum cleaners are essential household appliances that aid in maintaining cleanliness and hygiene in our homes. However, with a plethora of options available in the market, selecting the right vacuum cleaner can be a daunting task. To make an informed decision, it’s crucial to consider various factors such as the type of flooring, presence of pets, power consumption, and of course, key features that make a vacuum cleaner shine.
In this guide, we’ll go through everything you need on how to choose a vacuum cleaner that best suits your needs and cover a range of considerations you should make before buying your very own vacuum cleaner.
How To Choose A Vacuum Cleaner? – 5 Questions To Ask Yourself
When you know why you need a vacuum cleaner, choosing the right fit becomes a piece of cake. Here are a few things to consider:
1. Why Do You Want To Buy A Vacuum Cleaner?
What do you need a vacuum cleaner for? Is it to clean the carpet? Or upholstery? Or do you need to remove pet hair from your furniture? Believe it or not, while some vacuum cleaners are reasonably good at everything, most specialize in certain types of cleaning. So, if you already know what you need to clean, you can buy a vacuum cleaner that might be the perfect fit for you.
How To Find A Good Vacuum Cleaner for Carpet and Floor Cleaning?
When selecting a vacuum cleaner, the type of flooring in your home plays a significant role. For homes with fully carpeted floors, it’s essential to opt for a vacuum cleaner specifically designed for this purpose. Look for models with adjustable height settings and strong suction power to effectively lift dirt and debris from the carpet fibers. Additionally, features like rotating brushes or beater bars that agitate the carpet to loosen the embedded dirt should be considered.
Ideally, you should choose the highest suction power your carpets can take without damage. Your average synthetic carpet can handle up to 2,000 – 2,200 watts of suction power. However, pure wool carpets might need a vacuum with moderate power or one that has modules to control the suction strength. Wool is a great fabric for carpets; proper care will make it last for decades, but it’s not built for powerful suction. In this case, the bristles must be flexible and forgiving to prevent fuzzballs.
For homes with hard flooring such as hardwood, tile, or laminate, a vacuum cleaner with specialized attachments for hard floors is preferable. These attachments typically include soft bristle brushes or mop-like features to gently clean without causing scratches or damage.
How To Find A Good Vacuum Cleaner For Pet Hair?
Pet owners understand the struggle of keeping their homes free from pet hair and dander. When selecting a vacuum cleaner, prioritize models equipped to handle pet hair effectively. Look for vacuums with specialized pet hair attachments such as motorized brushes or pet hair turbo brushes. These attachments are designed to efficiently lift and remove pet hair from upholstery, carpets, and other surfaces.
Moreover, consider vacuum cleaners with high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters to capture allergens and pet dander, ensuring cleaner air quality in your home. Some vacuums even feature odor-eliminating filters to tackle pet-related odors, making them a valuable investment for pet owners.
In fact there are a few low watt vacuum cleaners in the market that can directly be used on the pet’s fur. This prevents the loose strands of fur from falling on the furniture and the carpet and reduces the chances of allergies.
Check out these Vacuum cleaners that work well with pet hairs and stains:
How Often Do You Want To Use It?
Vacuum cleaners come in all shapes and sizes, the bigger the cleaner the more powerful it is. In fact, some vacuum cleaners will have 2 motors that keep them running for longer. To know how powerful a vacuum cleaner is you must check its watts usage. The starting range for suction power in a vacuum cleaner is somewhere around 100 watts but that can go anywhere to 2,000 – 2,200 watts.
The power consumption of a vacuum cleaner is often measured in watts, indicating its suction power and efficiency. While a higher wattage may imply greater suction strength, it’s not the sole determinant of a vacuum cleaner’s performance. Factors such as design, airflow, and filtration also contribute to its effectiveness.
Instead of solely focusing on wattage, consider the overall design and features of the vacuum cleaner. Opt for models with efficient motor systems that maximize suction power while minimizing energy consumption. Additionally, look for energy-efficient models with high-performance ratings to ensure optimal cleaning without excessive power usage.
How Big Is Your House?
So here’s the tricky bit, a big house would naturally need more cleaning than a smaller house. But then, bigger vacuum cleaners – equipped for heavy-duty work – are not the best to maneuver especially if you have a staircase.
Canister vacuum cleaners are ideal for such situations. Although they may look bulkier than your standard upright vacuum cleaner, they are easier to maneuver. Most canister vacuums come with wheels and can be lifted while cleaning the stairs.
But with multiple-storied houses, even a canister vacuum might feel bulky. In this case, you can keep your larger, heavy-duty vacuum cleaner in the place that needs maximum cleaning and have a smaller portable vacuum cleaner for all the hard-to-reach nooks and crannies.
Do You Have Ample Storage Space?
This should go without saying but you’d be surprised how many people buy a large vacuum cleaner without really thinking about storage. Now if you’re like us and need things to be stored away when not in use, you should check if you have enough storage space. So have a look in the storeroom and move things around if you have to because your next powerhouse home appliance needs its space!
Does Anyone Have Allergies?
Although vacuum cleaners work well to remove allergens from the atmosphere, you should make special considerations if you, or a family member, has allergies. Currently, there are many high-quality vacuum cleaners in the market with HEPA filtration systems that act like air purifiers. They work to remove 99.97 allergy-causing particles from the atmosphere. You can find them under the following labels:
- Certified HEPA
- True HEPA
- Absolute HEPA
Avoid buying vacuum cleaners with the following labels:
- HEPA like
- HEPA quality
Types of Vacuum Cleaners – Which One Is Better?
Here are a few types of vacuum cleaners you should be aware of:
1. Bag/Bagless Vacuum Cleaners
As the name suggests, bagged vacuum cleaners collect all the dust and debris in a bag that needs to be disposed of and replaced with a new bag once it is full. A bagless vacuum cleaner collects everything in a metal or plastic container that needs to be emptied out every time it is full.
Which one is better?
Ideally, it all boils down to personal preference but if you are allergic to dust particles, the bag vacuum cleaner will make sure that you don’t come in contact with the dust and debris when you are emptying it out.
2. Upright and Canister Vacuums
Upright vacuums were very popular during the 1900s in America. They are good for carpet cleaning and are most often made with a disposable bag. However, since the canister vacuum was developed much later, it is far superior to upright vacuum cleaners.
A canister vacuum cleaner consists of 2 units – the motor and the dustbin. You can clean your surroundings while dragging the dustbin behind you. This allows the motor to be stronger and provides a larger space to collect the dirt so you don’t have to change/empty out the dust and debris often.
What Makes A Good Vacuum Cleaner? – Key Features
Apart from the specific requirements mentioned above, several features contribute to making a vacuum cleaner stand out as a good investment:
Strong Suction Power: A good vacuum cleaner should have powerful suction to effectively remove dirt, dust, and debris from various surfaces. So, how many watts is a good vacuum cleaner? Anything above 1000 watts would indicate it’s a strong vacuum cleaner. However, if you don’t have deep cleaning needs, an upright vacuum cleaner would work just fine. It is ideal for traditional floor cleaning and has an average suction power of 500 – 300 watts.
Versatility: Look for models with versatile attachments and accessories for cleaning different surfaces such as stairs, upholstery, and curtains. If you choose a heavier cleaner, make sure it has wheels that can turn in all directions.
Maneuverability: Consider the maneuverability of the vacuum cleaner, including features like swivel steering, lightweight design, and adjustable handles for ease of use.
Filtration System: Choose vacuum cleaners with advanced filtration systems, including HEPA filters, to trap allergens and pollutants, ensuring cleaner air quality.
Durability: Invest in a vacuum cleaner from a reputable brand known for its durability and reliability, backed by warranty and customer support services. Good vacuum cleaners always have a detailed and extended warranty. Always read their warranty terms before purchasing.
Here are some good vacuum cleaners worth looking into:
By considering these factors and prioritizing your specific needs, you can confidently choose a good vacuum cleaner that not only meets your cleaning requirements but also enhances the overall cleanliness and comfort of your home. Remember to conduct thorough research, read customer reviews, and compare different models before making a purchase decision. Maintaining a clean and healthy living environment becomes a breeze with the right vacuum cleaner at your disposal.
