Are you like me? I am in the market for a new vacuum cleaner after my current model (8 years old) has started making weird noises and doesn't seem to have the suction it once had. We have dogs in the house and allergies to said dogs so a great vacuum cleaner is a must. How do you know what to look for? There are so many different models out there that are all claiming to be the best, so how do you know for sure? I took a closer look on my quest for a new vacuum cleaner and found out a lot of great information.
1. What type of vacuum? The first question is to ask yourself what type of vacuum cleaner you are looking for. A canister vacuum is generally more versatile. Like uprights, canisters handle carpets, but they're also great at cleaning bare floors, vacuuming stairs and sucking up dirt from corners. I have had both and found good features with both types of vacuums. I personally think my canister did a better job on wood floors and the upright did a better job with the carpets.
2. Bag or Bagless? Once you decide on the type of vacuum, consider whether you want to buy bags or clean out the dust storage area. Bagless cleaners save you the trouble of having to buy extra bags, but they can be messy to empty, and the filters and dust containers must be kept clean. While vacuums with bags keep dust and dirt contained, they are tricky to retrieve an earring or small object that gets sucked up accidentally.
3. What are all the attachments for? When you're vacuuming pile carpets and rugs, you should use the motorized power nozzle. But when you're cleaning bare floors and walls, it's best to use the wall/floor brush. To get dust out of drawers, heating and air-conditioning vents, and from under larger appliances, try the crevice tool. For mattresses, upholstered fabrics, curtains and car interiors, use the upholstery attachment. And to remove dust from blinds, lampshades and moldings, use the dusting brush.
4. How often should I vacuum? In an ideal world, an area that has heavy traffic should be vacuumed every day. But once or twice a week is more realistic with today's busy lifestyles and certainly enough for areas that aren't often used. For best results, slowly move the vacuum over the carpet several times, going back and forth and side to side in parallel rows.
Hopefully, this has answered your questions on looking for a new vacuum cleaner. Good luck!
Here are some great new vacuum cleaner options: Check out the Dyson DC33 Review or the Hoover UH70120 Review
