When it’s time to choose vacuum cleaner today, you are up for a challenge but don’t cut corners with this task. Vacuuming is one of the most common household chores. With a good and modern vacuum cleaner that fits your apartment and your needs, you can save yourself a lot of stress when cleaning. Who doesn’t want that?
The classic cylinder vacuum cleaner is still one of the most popular models and has many advantages. To make your choice more accessible, we have given an overview of the most essential information about vacuum cleaners below. Let’s get learning!
How to choose a traditional vacuum cleaner
You are looking for a traditional vacuum cleaner to clean your house, apartment or studio. The traditional vacuum cleaner has changed significantly in recent years and has been adapted to many different situations. After reading this article, you will know what to look for when buying a traditional vacuum cleaner, also known as a boom vacuum cleaner.
- Bag or no bag
- Floor-type
- Suction weight and maneuverability
Overview of vacuum cleaner models
The corded cylinder vacuum cleaner is suitable for every household as it’s among the vacuum cleaners with the best performance. They are available in many different sizes and with other systems.
Hand vacuum cleaners, on the other hand, are a valuable addition to a conventional vacuum cleaner. They are ideally suited for cleaning narrow spaces and cars and can be used in various ways.
Stick vacuum cleaners without cables are usually designed as cordless vacuum cleaners and are therefore particularly mobile. They enable uncomplicated and fast vacuuming even in larger apartments or houses and are more space-saving than cylinder vacuum cleaners.
Vacuum cleaner robots are particularly popular with pet owners or busy consumers who want to save themselves from vacuuming. The robots are not exactly cheap, but they can turn out to be very useful.
Reasons to choose a bagless vacuum cleaner
A traditional vacuum cleaner works with a power cord and has only one purpose: to vacuum your home. But there are many different traditional vacuum cleaners. Nowadays, traditional vacuum cleaners collect dust and debris in a container. When the container is full, empty it over the trash can.
The disadvantage: emptying the container is a dusty affair. And it is necessary to clean the container with a cloth from time to time. But one big advantage: You don’t need vacuum cleaner bags anymore. That saves costs in the long run.
The essential criteria for choosing vacuum cleaners
Suction power: The assumption that more watts automatically mean more suction power is wrong. The wattage only indicates which electrical power the vacuum cleaner consumes in operation. Several factors play a role in suction power, such as engine power and the harmonization of pipe and nozzle construction.
In addition, a full bag or a dirty filter can significantly impact suction performance. Some more expensive models can even regulate these impairments automatically.
Handling and weight: A well-designed and not overly heavy vacuum cleaner can make vacuuming a lot easier. The radius of action is limited by the length of the cable and the range of the suction nozzle – depending on the size of the area, you will have to reposition the cable. Control elements on the handle, smooth-running wheels, and suction cups with telescopic suction tubes can be comfortable and back-friendly.
Filter system: If a vacuum cleaner ensures a clean floor but bad air, it will fail – that’s why it should have a sound filter system. Dust that is released into the living space through the exhaust air is not only a burden for allergy sufferers, but can also pose a general burden on the respiratory tract. A large part of the dirt particles and dust is collected via the main filter and can then be disposed of in the garbage. The filter in the vacuum cleaner should have at least a double wall.
Operating noise: Quiet vacuum cleaners with less than 70 DB are important if you want to vacuum at a later hour or if you are quickly annoyed by loud noises.
Energy consumption: A vacuum cleaner does not necessarily need a high wattage because the overall construction is more important for the suction power. This means that vacuum cleaners that consume less energy can perform well and protect both the environment and your wallet.
Advantages and disadvantages of vacuum cleaners
A cable connects a classic cylinder vacuum cleaner to the power supply. Due to the high and adjustable suction power can also handle heavy and large dirt particles and is suitable for every floor covering. In addition, the dust box does not have to be changed too often, as the cylinder vacuum cleaner’s capacity is usually very high.
Thanks to the various attachments, every little corner can be reached, and the vacuum cleaners can be used on the floor and can also be used, for example, to clean cobwebs under the ceiling.
However, one must consider that the range of action of the cylinder vacuum cleaner is limited by the length of the cable – in larger houses, the cable must be constantly re-plugged. In addition, vacuum cleaners with cords can quickly collide with other pieces of furniture and cause dents. Further disadvantages are the comparably high noise level and the ample storage space required.
Important questions about vacuum cleaners
The purchase decision ultimately depends on your requirements for a vacuum cleaner. Therefore, it can be worthwhile to deal with the following questions before making the final decision:
Which surfaces do I want to clean?
Which vacuum cleaner is best for you depends mainly on the size of your apartment or house. The classic canister vacuum cleaner has strong suction power. However, a smaller cordless vacuum cleaner can be an advantage for a smaller apartment with little storage space.
Which vacuum cleaners are suitable for allergy sufferers?
If someone in your household is allergic, you should choose a vacuum cleaner with a bag and ensure that it contains at least one HEPA filter technology. Many modern bag vacuum cleaners have the advantage that the dust bags can be removed from the containers when they are closed so that no dust particles can escape.
Which vacuum cleaner is suitable for animal hair?
If you have pets such as cats or dogs, you have to expect they will also leave their fur in the home. It is worth using special filters for your vacuum cleaner to avoid animal hair on upholstery or furniture. Various manufacturers offer these products and are usually available for cylinder vacuum cleaners. This means that even fine animal hair and fine dirt can be effectively removed.
Which is better: a vacuum cleaner with or without a bag?
Bagless devices are usually more expensive, but you save the running costs of new bags and at the same time do something good for the environment by generating less waste. Vacuum cleaners with bags have the advantage that they can be removed very easily and with almost no dust.
How do I dispose of my old vacuum cleaner?
If your old vacuum cleaner is defective and a repair can be ruled out, you cannot simply dispose of it in the household waste. Due to the environmentally harmful substances such as lead or mercury they contain, vacuum cleaners must either be taken to a collection point for electronic scrap or to a dealer for proper disposal.
FAQ
Do I need special vacuum cleaners for wooden floors, hard floors or carpets?
When choosing a new vacuum cleaner, it is vital that you verify that the vacuum cleaner is suitable for your type of floor. For example, a beautiful wooden floor needs a different vacuum cleaner than a carpet. You need a vacuum cleaner with a parquet brush to protect your beautiful wooden floor. This prevents possible scratches. You need a turbo brush or combination brush to clean carpets and ordinary hard floors.
What is the suction power of the vacuum cleaner?
The desired cleaning result has a lot to do with the suction power of a vacuum cleaner. You can read more about this in our advice article on suction quality. The better the suction power of a vacuum cleaner, the faster you’ll be done vacuuming. We judge the suction quality of a vacuum cleaner based on several properties. These properties are also different for each type of vacuum cleaner, because we don’t want to lump vacuum cleaners with bags, bagless, and stick vacuum cleaners in one pot.
Why vacuum cleaner weight and maneuverability are important?
If you live in a large, multi-story house, the vacuum cleaner’s weight is a big factor. It also often means that the lighter the vacuum cleaner, the more maneuverable it is. So it rolls smoothly after you. But the shape and wheels of the vacuum cleaner also influence its maneuverability. If you really want to lift less weight while vacuuming, a stick vacuum cleaner might be for you.
How to choose a quiet vacuum cleaner?
How much noise a vacuum cleaner makes varies enormously. There are quiet vacuum cleaners so you can still hear the phone ring or the kids can just keep watching TV. But there are also vacuum cleaners that are so loud that you cannot talk, even if you are standing next to each other. So if you think it’s important not to be bothered by the vacuum cleaner’s noise, it is wise to buy a vacuum cleaner with a low noise level.
What vacuum cleaner brushes and nozzles do I need?
Do you have pets? Then a turbo nozzle or mini turbo nozzle should not be missing in the accessory packaging of your vacuum cleaner. The brushes on this nozzle rotate at high speed and easily pick up pet hair. A parquet nozzle is essential if you want to keep a beautiful wooden floor beautiful. In short, make sure you have the right accessories for your vacuum cleaner.