Vacuum Cleaner Guide
Your home is messy, not because you’re too lazy but because you don’t have the right vacuum cleaner. You’re probably soldiering on with an inferior vac that fails to pick up dirt around the house, giving you a stricter job each time you got to clean. Carpet, hardwood floors can accumulate dust and dirt fast, and you need a vacuum cleaner you can trust and rely on.
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What is a vacuum cleaner? A vacuum cleaner is an electrical device that removes dirt around the house through suction. There are various types of vacuum cleaners, including upright, stick and canister vacuums which all over their benefits when it comes to cleaning up floors, upholstery and more. A good vac might set you back a little bit, but it will be a sound investment helping to keep your house clean and minimise dust particles in the air. |
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The best vacuum cleaners are those with a combination of these qualities:
Everybody wants a clean and tidy house, and for that, we need a trusty vacuum cleaner. But with various vacuum cleaners out there, how do you choose the right one for you? |
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According to a study in 2017 by vacuumsguide.com, these are the following things that people want from their hoover.
The findings aren’t the most surprising. It’s no surprise to see that 54% of people are looking for a vacuum with great suction at a price they find affordable. This is one reason that contributes to people being unsatisfied with their purchases. People want the best suction but aren’t necessarily prepared to pay the higher prices associated with the more prominent hoover brands like Dyson, so chance getting something else only to be disappointed. |
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Suction power When looking for suction power, people can get confused and start looking at how many amps or watts the hoover has. These numbers are more to do with how much electricity is being used/generated by the hoover and not anything related to the suction. It’s a bit like clothing sizes too. One brand’s size doesn’t mean that another brand will have the exact dimensions, so comparing various hoovers based on amps/wattage won’t work. |
Airspeed Measured in meters per second m/s kph or mph Generally speaking:
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Airflow
Airflow is often called CFM and measured in litres per second (l/s), cubic meters per minute or cubic feet per minute. The airflow is just the total amount of air that flows through the vacuum at any point. It’s not the easiest for you to calculate. Here, you want to take the cross-section area of the cleaning head or where the air flows in and multiply that with the airspeed at any time.
The majority of vacuum cleaners will have an airflow of between
50 to 100 CFM
Please note:
The airflow is calculated usually without any additional hoses, wands or any other accessories. When these tools are connected, the CFM can end up lower.
What we typically find is
- The more air that flows through means, the better the hoover suction is
- The more suction that is there, the more dirt and debris that will be sucked up, the cleaner you’re space will be
Because a stronger motor often means the hoover needs more power and thicker cables, vacuum companies try to keep the motor lower but complement it with various power tools like brushes that spin and other aspects to help maximise the cleaning. With so many different types of hoovers on the market, it can be challenging to narrow down just exactly what type you need.
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Cylinder vacuum cleaners Great for portability, cylinder vacuums are among the most popular options for lugging around your house and keeping everywhere spotless easily. They are great as you can plug them in then drag the base of the hoover behind you as you use the extended arm and attachment to start cleaning. They can come either with or without a bag and usually come with a few or many attachments that make hoovering better for different scenarios. Where cylinder vacuum cleaners stand out is their ability to hoover underneath furniture, clean stairs, and clean out the boot in your car. The primary thing you need to be careful with is allowing your hoover to navigate safely around the room. It’s straightforward to bang it. |
Stick vacuums are becoming more and more common. They can be powerful and lightweight, making them one of the best options for people with larger surface areas to clean and want to do it in the fastest possible time. While variations in the weight can seem pretty minor, they can have a fairly significant effect on the overall use. For example, let’s say you have two stick vacuum cleaners, and one weighs 2.5 kg, whereas the other weighs 3.5kg. The weight will be pretty minimal to most people, especially at first, but that can change after prolonged use. Carrying around 2.5kg for 30 minutes can be different to having about 3.5kg. The weight is just under 50% more, so some older / trailer people may find they get exhausted quicker compared to the 2.5kg one. |
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Upright vacuum cleaner For larger households, the upright vacuum cleaner seems to be the most popular. This is mainly due to the turbo brush in the head making it excellent at picking up extra debris, and the broadhead makes it easier to cover larger surface areas and get the cleaning done quicker. Also, they have previously been one of the most common vacuum cleaners, but nowadays, they don’t look the most modern, which means many people opt for other vacuums. So old school, they even contain a plug which means you don’t have to worry about running out of batteries and having an excuse not to clean. You’ll also choose what capacity the bag is, the weight of the vac, how long the cord is and different technology between the models. |
Robot vacuum cleaners The benefit of robots cleaning your house is you don’t have to do much. Robot vacuum cleaners are fantastic at getting the job done without you putting in any effort at all. That’s not strictly true; these robot vacuum cleaners don’t come cheap. For a budget one, you’re looking at around spending £200, whereas for higher quality, top of the range one, you can be paying closer to £500 or even up to £1,000 or more. |
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Cordless vacuum cleaners Cordless vacuum cleaners are becoming more popular now. Also known as stick vacuums, you don’t need to find an electrical plug socket to connect to as it runs on a battery. This does mean that different vacuums can have various operating capacities when it comes to how long the battery lasts ( how long you can use the vacuum to clean) and how it will perform. Also, check the specific details about what type of floor that the hoover is best for. Also, does hoover offer handheld capabilities, or is it just fixed? |
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How long do cordless vacuum batteries last? Generally, cordless vacuums have the following battery lives depending on the size of the battery: |
15-20 minutes |
35+ minutes |
60 minutes + |
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Cordless vacuums with shorter battery life are often suitable for car cleaning where you may not be able to plug in the hoover. |
It may also be worth buying a vacuum with a higher mAh battery (mAh is the measure of how much current your battery can store), which makes the vacuum cleaner last for longer. |
It’s important to mention that with a brand new vacuum, as you start using it, as the battery is new, it will need a few cycles before it reaches maximum capacity and lasts long enough (depending on your model, of course). |
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The longer batteries generally mean the cleaner can clean more and has higher power (e.g. suction power). This is particularly useful, especially if you’ll want to use your new vacuum for cleaning larger rooms. |
When considering cordless vacuums, the other thing to remember is that they require pretty frequent recharging due to their limited battery life and power. For example, with high suction cleaners like Shark’s Rocket HV302, you could have up to 110 minutes of cleaning time! |
Key features to look out for with your new vacuum
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Sensory technology It’s 2021, and now vacuum cleaners are smarter than ever before. Sensory technology is all about helping you clean better and smarter. It’s now easier than ever to have a tidy home, with smart sensors that can identify and change the suction based on the type of surface that you’re cleaning. |
Vacuum cleaner Filters Make sure to clean your vacuum filters regularly, and don’t forget about them! This can make the difference between a top-quality clean or something that doesn’t live up to expectations. |
Cleaner attachments The more attachments included, the more you can use your vacuum cleaner for different jobs. At the minimum, a hose, brush tool, and dusting brush should be included with any new vacuum cleaner purchase. Ideally, look for something with a pet hair attachment and crevice tool too. |
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Capacity: If you’re often cleaning up and have children or pets, look for a vacuum cleaner with a good bag count. This will limit the number of times you have to change the bags and ensure that your vacuum can cope with continuous use without stopping and emptying the dirt container. |
Size of the vacuum cleaner Bigger isn’t always better, but better big hoovers are less likely to run low on power mid-way through vacuuming – if not being used constantly, you might find they’ll run out of battery sooner than expected. Ideally, look for one around 1-2kg in weight so you won’t get tired when lugging it around the home. |
Pressure Most vacuums have adjustable power settings but make sure that the highest power setting meets your cleaning needs. If not, you might find that bumps in the carpet or under furniture aren’t always cleaned to your satisfaction. |
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Vacuum Headlights Headlights are a great feature to look out for. This can help you see dirt hidden in the dark or something that has gone under furniture. |
Smart technology Most vacuums have smart technology nowadays. Sensory vacuum cleaners react to the surface they’re cleaning and adjust their suction accordingly. This means that you can clean your whole home without having to change settings all the time. |
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How loud is the vacuum cleaner? Some people find the sound of a vacuum cleaner disturbing, while others don’t mind at all. It’s worth knowing how loud your new hoover is going to be so you’re not surprised by its noise level when it arrives home! |
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How to fix a vacuum cleaner with no suction? If the suction in your vacuum isn’t as strong as it used to be, there’s various things that could be wrong. Firstly empty the bag and check the filters for any blockages, filters may need cleaning or replacing. You could also find you’ve got something stuck in the hose. |
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What is a wet and dry vacuum cleaner? A wet and dry vacuum is designed to help with liquid spills and general dryer dirt on the floor. These vacuum cleaners are used more in a commercial setting; however, some are made for the home. |
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how to clean a vacuum cleaner? It’s simple to give your vac a clean. You’ll want to make sure it’s unplugged and use a slightly damp microfibre cloth and a brush around the edges and in the nuts and crannies. Giving the baseplate and filter a clean can also help improve performance. |
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