10 things to look for when investing in a vacuum cleaner

Vacuum cleaners have become an integral part in the cleaning of indoor spaces since the invention of the first hand-pumped vacuum cleaner in 1869 by Chicago inventor, Ives McGaffey. Today, the vacuum cleaner has evolved into a high-tech piece of cleaning equipment, boasting many other uses apart from merely cleaning the floor. However, it is important to remember that not all vacuum cleaners are created equal – as such, it is essential to know what features makes a vacuum cleaner great.

1. Suction power: Essentially, vacuum cleaners work through suction that is created by a built-in motor. The stronger the motor, the stronger the suction power it creates, and the more efficient the vacuum cleaner will be at sucking up all the dirt and dust.

2. Manoeuvrability: Consumers often overlook manoeuvrability; however, good manoeuvrability is one of the most important features a good vacuum cleaner can have. “Having a vacuum cleaner that is easy to get around is essential – it needs to be easy to move to make light work of cleaning, and it needs to be able to get into difficult-to-reach and small areas.

3. Simple operation and noise levels: Nobody wants to spend hours trying to figure out how to switch the vacuum cleaner on. Vacuum cleaners should above all, be simple to operate – offering easy functionality to even the most technologically-challenged individuals. Over and above this, its special features should be easily accessible so that it makes the job of vacuuming much easier, not more complicated.

4. Compact and lightweight: Buying a compact cleaner often means making compromises such as accepting poorer quality, less efficient dust pick-up or inferior filtration. However, most of us do not want to cut corners when it comes to the cleanliness of our homes or the quality of the air we breathe, but we still want a compact and lightweight vacuum cleaner that is easy to store.

5. Aesthetically good-looking: Today’s appliances don’t just have to be functional, but they should boast good looks as well.

6. Environmental sustainability: With environmental friendliness being a hot consumer trend at the moment, and with the ever increasing cost of electricity, it is very important to take into account how energy efficient a vacuum cleaner is.

7. Longevity: It is very important to take into account how long your vacuum cleaner will last for – you may pay more for it initially, but if it is built to last, you will save money in the long run.

8. The filtration system: Vacuum cleaning is more than just cleaning your floor, it is about overall hygiene. Naturally, this also includes air hygiene. What would be the point if all the dust from your floors was simply distributed into the air again and stayed airborne?

9. Upright or cylinder models: The two main types of vacuum cleaners comprise cylinder and upright models. Cylinder or canister models largely dominate the market. They have the motor and dust collector (using a bag or bagless) in a separate unit, usually mounted on wheels, which is connected to the vacuum head by a flexible hose. Their main advantage is flexibility, as you can attach different heads for different tasks, and maneuverability as the head can reach under furniture and makes it very easy to vacuum stairs and vertical surfaces. Many cylinder models have power heads, as standard or add-on equipment, which contain the same sort of mechanical beaters as in upright units, making them as efficient on carpets as upright models.

10. Accessories: Most modern vacuum cleaners have a broad range of vacuum cleaning accessories that are specifically tailored to suit specific needs.