With sleek designs, trendy styles and catchy colors, you might be overly overwhelmed by the wide range of products offered in the world of vacuum cleaners. But hey, thank God Jason is here to help you out! These are must-have appliances in the janitorial industry, and your ability to choose the right vacuum cleaner coupled with efficient accessories and extensions will determine your success in cleaning. You need to buy like a PRO in order to get value for the $$ that you are willing to spend. How about a detailed guide outlining what you should look for in a vacuum cleaner, packed with the right features, with just a couple of months before the holiday season? It is exactly what this small guide offers, so read on!
Factors to consider when buying the vacuum cleaner
Your needs
Whether it is a commercial or residential cleaning job, you will obviously have different needs, which dictate the kind of vacuum cleaner that is right for that particular job. If the main concern is cleaning carpets for instance, bagged upright vacuum cleaners could be the most appropriate. Canister vacuum cleaners on the other hand, are easy to move and can therefore be ideal when the cleaning job is confined to smaller and hidden areas alongside stairs and places close to the wall.
Its features
It is no doubt that every vacuum cleaner is designed to execute a cleaning job but its effectiveness depends on the kind of features that it is endowed with. It is the rather mundane features that differentiate one vacuum cleaner from another. While some are so vital, the rest is just baggage from unscrupulous manufacturers meant to lure an innocent buyer. With regard to this, you should have a hands-on experience of the most essential features that a vacuum cleaner should contain.
If a vacuum cleaner has the motorized brush for instance, it is best suited to clean carpets compared to one that relies on the machine’s suction power alone. If the cleaner has a manual height adjustment capability on the other hand, it is obviously superior to the automatic version when it comes to cleaning of carpets and other low-lying areas.
Find out its noise levels
No matter how trivial they may seem, these are the little details that will affect your willingness to use the appliance in cleaning. You obviously need an appliance that operates smoothly and quietly. With some people attuned to their favorite music, the least you need is an appliance that sounds louder than your music. Canister vacuum cleaners produce less noise, which too should be taken into consideration before buying a particular cleaner.
Accessories
There are various accessories in the market designed to increase the efficiency of vacuum cleaners. However, never be stunned by these products because some of them are just baroque additions which only contribute to the complexity and visual appeal of vacuum cleaners with no functional advantage. From the wide sea of items in the market, this article fishes out the most essential, with a light highlight of how they will be of help to you. Now, I’ve already covered all vacuum cleaner accessories in this ultimate guide, so make sure you check it out. I’ll mention here just a few to get you going.
Pet groom tool
Do you have pets which pose the risk of littering your home with hairs? A pet groom tool is perhaps the only accessory that you need to get rid of all these fears. It is a simple accessory that removes loose hair directly from dogs and other pets before it is littered on sofas and other areas around the home. The collected hair is stuck directly into the vacuum for disposal when the canister or vacuum bag are filled to capacity.
Mini turbine head
This accessory is endowed with an air-driven brush bar which is capable of removing dirt and pet hairs from tight areas such as interior parts of a car and stairs. The brush has tiny bristles which rotate at a very high speed; which not only helps in trapping fine hairs but also goes a long way to agitate carpet pile and dislodge all dirt so that it is picked by the airflow.
Let’s now move on with the features.
Brush agitator
This is mostly found underneath the machine, which spins while the machine is operational to dislodge dirt, grit and dust from carpets and floors. This makes all the light particles available for lifting by the airflow. Some models come with a switch which can be used to turn off the agitator as you clean bare floor surfaces because it is not needed here.
A brush agitator can be used when cleaning carpets to make removal of dirt and dust easy and convenient.
Retractable rod
This is more common with canister vacuum cleaners, allowing you to rewind the cord using a simple push of a button. While most machines are designed with an electrical cord which is approximately 20 feet, there are some whose cord can be as long as 30 feet, which is an essential addition to your cleaning endeavors.
Headlight
This is a headlamp which is meant to light areas underneath furniture and any other hidden places to increase visibility. It is a standard addition on all upright vacuum cleaners, positioned right on the powerhead. It is mostly used when cleaning dark and hidden places.
Full-container indicator
This is a feature designed to warn you when the canister or vacuum bag is full of dirt. Accumulation of dirt and particles to overflowing capacity reduces the functionality of a vacuum cleaner, a reason why bags should be replaced as you also empty the canisters once they are full. Although some bagless vacuum cleaners have the transparent design to help you notice when the bag is full, there are others which have this indicator to notify you.
They are used when doing all types of vacuum cleaning because dirt has to be emptied and vacuum bags replaced when they are full regardless of the surface that you are cleaning.
Edge cleaner
This is a feature that is mostly found in some canister models and most of the upright vacuum cleaners. It helps you to pick up all dirt from the area surrounding the cleaning head.
It can be used when carrying out wall-to-wall carpet cleaning because the vacuum cleaner can then pick all the dirt that lies closest to your walls.
Carpet height adjustment
This is a feature that is used to adjust the height of your machine’s brush role in relation to the carpet. When the height is too low, it is adjusted such that there is easy movement when cleaning. When the height is too high on the other hand, it may be lowered a little so that carpet cleaning is done efficiently. It is an automatic accessory in some models, but the manual model is more precise because it gives you more control over the height.
This can be used when doing carpet cleaning to ensure the machine is standing at a good height in relation to the carpet for easy movement and effective cleaning.
Self-propelled feature
It is a simple inclusion which makes use of drive and transmission systems to help you in pushing and pulling the vacuum cleaner. It reduces the amount of effort required to operate the appliance. However, it can also add a lot of weight to the vacuum cleaner, making it difficult to use especially where a lot of lifting is required.
It is a good option for use on flat and bare surfaces where lifting is not required.
Bare floor options
These are accessories or inclusions which are meant to ease the cleaning of uncarpeted floor surfaces such as vinyl and hardwood floors. Some of these features are the on/off switch and bare floor settings.
These can be used when cleaning bare floor surfaces, which require totally different settings from what you would use on carpeted areas.
Filters
Let me just say before I get into this section that I’ll do a complete guide on vacuum cleaner filtration systems in the near future.
EDIT: I’ve just wrote it, you can read it here.
Now, resuming, I’d say every vacuum cleaner will boast of its ability to clean surfaces and leave behind fresh air. While some hide behind the issue of bags to clean your home, the rest will boast of filters as an effective way of cleaning the air around your home. But which of the two propositions is worth believing in?
You certainly need filters for your vacuum cleaner, but the quality is of greater value. Micron level filters are highly regarded because they can trap the smallest particles of dust, dirt and allergens. Standard filters are second in the list, but you are mostly advised to settle for HEPA filters because they can reduce emissions and protect persons suffering from allergies and asthma.
Vacuum bags
There are several varieties of vacuum cleaner bags, some which are HEPA vacuum bags while others are built to offer protection against allergens. A number of these bags are designed to deliver 99% filtration of dirt and dust. For optimal performance of the vacuum cleaner, it is advised that you replace the vacuum cleaner bags after every one or two months.
Efficiency dust bags
These are small inclusions which are effective in cleaning small and dry debris such as drywall dust. They also make a notable contribution towards maintaining the cleanliness of your vacuum drum. These dust bags are easily discarded and relatively cheap compared to the kind of protection that they offer to your vacuum cleaners.
Cleaning solutions
These are deep cleaning solutions that are used to remove stubborn stains, dirt and grit from carpets and hard floor surfaces. Solutions are nice for use in areas experiencing high traffic because they reinforce the suction and cleaning powers of a vacuum cleaner. Depending on your needs and the surface that you intend to clean, there are various cleaning solutions. While some will do an excellent job in removing stains, others are good in neutralizing allergens and removing odor. If you can’t land on a multipurpose cleaning solution, therefore, you may require more than one of these if you target more than one cleaning objective.
On/off switch
This is a conveniently located switch, either on the handle or someplace accessible to your feet for easy activation and turning off. It is mostly convenient for surfaces that are uneven or cluttered, which require frequent powering and switching off while you clean to save power.
Steam cleaners and hybrid vacuum cleaners
Steam is the way to go if at all you desire to keep the floors shining clean. You will find a variety of steam replacement kits, complete with reusable microfiber parts to prolong the life of your steam cleaner. This is the best accessory when opting to clean surfaces such as sofas which are bound to get dust embedded to the fabric. I’ve just recently covered one of these, check it out.
Suction control
The amount of suction power that your vacuum cleaner produces will determine how effective it is in cleaning your home. However, the ability to control this suction power is of greater value. Unless you have control over the suction power, you may not be able to clean surfaces such as rugs, carpets, curtains and upholstery. Always give preference to vacuum cleaners which give you control over the suction power. When cleaning curtains and blinds for example, you will need very little suction power, which can be reduced if you have the control. Solid floor surfaces on the other hand, are more demanding in terms of suction power and will therefore require the maximum limit.
Add-on cleaning tools
If you are not careful with the kind of vacuum cleaner that you are buying, it may require you buy a lot more cleaning tools to suffice the little chores that this appliance cannot execute. When buying canister vacuums for example, always remember that a power nozzle is superior to the simple suction nozzle because it has more cleaning power. If there is a vacuum cleaner which has a tool combining the functionalities of two different tools, it ought to be given preference. Take an example of any feature that functions as an upholstery tool and dusting brush. This reduces the number of cleaning tools that you may be required to buy after the vacuum cleaner.
In summary, before walking to any retailer or subscribing to any online store for a vacuum cleaner, it is important to have a complete buying guide that directs you on what to look for. Other than just the brand that most people consider, features, accessories, the ease of use and reviews are some of the additional key points that will help you get the best appliance. Cleaning should not be drudgery, so be sure to shop smart. And if you have any comments for me or for our lovely audience, please use the form bellow. Thank you!
Jason Roberts
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