Vacuum Cleaner Buying Guide

Here are some useful hints and tips to help you choose a vacuum cleaner from the wide range that is available from online retailers.

How to Choose A Vacuum Cleaner: Types

There are three main types of vacuum cleaner:

Upright: The upright vacuum cleaner has a handle at waist height with the vacuum motor nearer the floor level, and can be pushed and pulled along easily over large floor spaces. Upright vacuum cleaners usually come with attachments, including stretch hoses for cleaning stairs and hard to reach areas, so they're very useful for all parts of the house.
Cylinder: Designed to be compact and versatile, cylinder vacuum cleaners can clean small areas as well as larger floor spaces. They are built with a single stretch hose to which a range of floor heads can be attached, including nozzles for pet hair and upholstery. The main unit gets pulled along as you vacuum, or it can be carried from area to area. Cylinder vacuums are especially useful for flats.
Wet and Dry: Wet and Dry vacuum cleaners wash surfaces as well as vacuuming. They are usually heavier than conventional vacuum cleaners, although it's worth noting that as long as the floor is level they will move effortlessly along on castors or wheels. Wet and Dry vacuum cleaners usually come with a range of accessories for both washing and vacuum cleaning.

Within these categories, vacuum cleaners will use either a bagged or bagless system of cleaning. Bagged vacuum cleaners feature an internal bag, which retains the dirt. Depending on the model of vacuum cleaner, the bag will be disposable or reusable. When a reusable bag is full, you simply empty the dirt and replace the bag.

Bagless vacuum cleaners feature a permanent dust container. Many models use a hygienic system for emptying the dust container, so there's no need to worry about creating more mess than you removed!

Other types of vacuum cleaner include:

Handheld vacuum cleaner: These vacuum cleaners are usually wall-mountable and cordless. Ideal for small spills, quick cleaning jobs, or for vacuuming your car, handheld vacuum cleaners are small and light enough to use with one hand.
Robotic vacuum cleaner: Cordless and usually small in size, robotic vacuum cleaners will quietly clean large or small floor spaces completely unassisted. Robotic vacuum cleaners come with special sensors so they actually move around furniture and avoid stairs! Some models will even charge themselves and can be programmed to clean at regular intervals.

Features to Look for When You Buy a Vacuum Cleaner

When choosing a vacuum cleaner it is important to consider which specifications and features you'll need.

Specifications and features to look out for when buying a vacuum cleaner include:

Filtration: Essential for trapping particles and cleaning the air in your house, vacuum cleaner filters can be disposable or lifetime (simply clean and reuse), and there are two main types - standard and HEPA/S'class.

Standard filters offer great all-round filtration, but HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filters can trap up to 100 percent of allergens and over 99.7 percent of particles down to 1 micron, so they are ideal for allergy sufferers. The term 'S-class' refers to the standard to which HEPA filter manufacturers adhere in order to achieve the aim of allergen reduction.

Weight: Weight makes a lot of difference if you have lots of stairs, but shouldn't be an issue in a single floor household.
Capacity: The larger the capacity of the dustbag or dust container, the more you can clean before having to empty or replace it. A larger capacity model can save time and money but will increase the vacuum cleaner's weight - especially with wet and dry vacuum cleaners. Handheld and robotic cleaners have smaller capacities.
Power: Even with less power, vacuum cleaners can still deliver great suction, thanks to innovative design and clever use of technology, so you can save on energy costs without compromising on performance. Some vacuum cleaners come with variable power settings, so you can increase or decrease power according to the floor surface.
Dust bag/container indicator: This indicator will tell you when the dust bag or container is full and needs to be emptied.
Cord length: The longer the cord, the larger the area you can clean before having to change plug sockets.

Choose From the Following Vacuum Cleaner Accessories

Vacuum cleaners usually come with a good range of accessories, to help you clean other surfaces as well as floors, while other accessories can be used for cleaning up pet hairs, car interiors and crevices.

Accessories to look out for when choosing a vacuum cleaner include:

Brush tool: Gently loosens debris for pick up.
Stair tool: Handy for cleaning stairs.
Turbine head/turbo nozzle: For picking up pet hairs and stubborn dirt.
Stretch hose: For cleaning stairs and hard to reach areas.
Crevice tool: For cleaning corners and crevices.
Adjustable floor head: Dual use: switches from carpet to hard floor.
Upholstery brush: For cleaning furniture, curtains and car interiors.

Do I Need to Buy an Extended Vacuum Cleaner Warranty?

Vacuum cleaners will usually come with a warranty or guarantee, which means they can be repaired or replaced under certain conditions. Most manufacturers or online retailers will offer a free or fixed price warranty on new vacuum cleaners, for up to three years. By shopping around online, you can compare the types of warranties offered by different retailers.

Likewise, when giving yourself a budget to buy a new vacuum cleaner, you should try to keep to it and avoid buying a vacuum cleaner with features you don't need.

Remember to compare prices between different retailers and look out for special offers or discounts when shopping for a new vacuum cleaner, as you might find a better model of vacuum cleaner than your budget would normally allow.