How to Choose the Ideal Vacuum Cleaner?

There are a lot of things you need to consider when picking the right vacuum cleaner. From the type of your carpets to the weight of the machine, everything must be carefully considered before making the big purchase.

1. The Type of Your Carpeting Matters

You can’t clean all carpet fibres the same way. They each have their own requirements. Durability, sturdiness of the fibres, level of fuzziness and soiling condition are all things you need to consider when purchasing a vacuum cleaner. If you want to know more about how to thoroughly clean your carpeting check our detailed guide on the topic.
But for now, let’s check another important rug feature – the way the fibres are weaved. This determines the final texture of your carpets and indirectly how dust and debris spread. It is important to choose the most suitable type of vacuum to both remove the dirt and avoid damaging the rug fibres.

2. Key Factors for Buying

The following points are essential characteristics your vacuum cleaner needs to have to save you time and effort. These factors are all the same for all types of machines. You need to examine them and make an informed decision based on all of them. Do not rush into purchasing a hover just because it is cheap, a certain brand or light-weight.

• Affordability – As a rule of thumb, the higher the price, the more professional and powerful is the vacuum. However, bear in mind, sometimes you also pay extra just because of the brand name. The ideal machine needs to be prised in a comfortable range – not too cheap (an indicator of low quality) and not too expensive.
• Capacity – Bigger is better when we are talking about the size of the bag or container. We will discuss the pros and cons of each dirt-holding method in the following paragraph. However, for now, it is important to know that capacity is always measured in litres, regardless of the type of machine. In the table below, you can check some important metrics:

• Weight – This factor is heavily influenced by your personal situation. For example, if you have a bad back, you wouldn’t want to push a heavy machine around the house. Our advice is to go and try different models and styles to find the perfect match for you.
• Performance – It is a combination of two other strong points – airflow power and suction. Depending on how powerful or weak these are the performance level of your vacuum changes. However, don’t forget your carpets also need to be able to uphold such vigorous cleaning power. The smartest way to decide on the ideal performance parameters is to check the type of rugs you own and their vacuuming requirements. Buy according to what you have, not just because you want the best of the best.
• Quality – From the type of plastic to the cleaning technology implemented in the machine, everything needs to be on point. Check the components of the vacuum. If something looks badly made or has a defect, you may want to skip that particular model or brand. Invest your money and efforts in a good-quality vacuum that will last you a minimum of 5 years.
• User-friendly – The machine has to be intuitive, easy to use with an ergonometric design that will help you vacuum faster and won’t cause you joint pain. A futuristically designed cleaner with a lot of buttons and functions can easily confuse older users. In contrast, the younger generation prefers flashy models with different sensors, integration with smartphones and other cutting edge modifications. Choose the vacuum that best fits your needs, with which you feel comfortable and can work.
• Level of noise – Back in the day, the loud roar of the machine indicated it was immensely powerful. Thankfully, nowadays people have changed significantly, in how they perceive sound. In the last years, manufacturers have put a lot of effort into making vacuum cleaners as silent as possible. But still, search for a machine that makes a sound around 60dB, with a maximum of 80dB.
• Attachments – The more you have, the better. At a minimum your vacuum should have the following attachments:
  • A round brush – Also known as a dusting brush, its soft bristles make dusting look like a child’s play.
  • An upholstery brush – Great to vacuum your couch and armchairs, the smaller head is designed to extract dust and debris without harming the fabric.
  • An expansion wand – It will help you get to those hard to reach spots like ceiling corners or thigh spaces under heavy furniture.

When we are talking about rechargeable vacuum cleaners there are two very important factors you need to look into before making a purchase:

• Battery life – You need a machine that will last more than 10-15 minutes. So when checking the technical characteristics, search for the following:

• Charging time – The faster, the better. If your machine recharges in the 2 to 4-hour ratio, you can easily plan your cleaning tasks. Avoid vacuums that take more than that as they are simply not efficient enough. A good solution to the charging problem is to have spare batteries. Some brands offer them as part of the initial purchasing packet.

These were the most important factors you need to check when purchasing a vacuum. The only things standing between you and your next cleaning machine are the following questions.

3. Do You Need HEPA Filters?

The simple answer is “Yes”, your vacuum cleaner needs to have a HEPA filter. This filtration system is highly beneficial both for people with asthma and allergies, as it purifies the air from different pollutants like dust, pollen, ash, etc. Thankfully the majority of brands have incorporated it into their machines. But what exactly is HEPA?

HEPA stands for High-Efficiency Particulate Air. It is a type of filtration system that removes 99.97% of all particles that go through it. It catches everything that is above 0.3 microns in size. When you are buying a vacuum cleaner, avoid the ones labelled as “HEPA-like”, “HEPA-like system” or “HEPA equivalent.” These statements are there to deceive you into thinking you are purchasing a quality tested product. The machine needs to be certified as a HEPA system, to get all of the benefits you are looking for.

All types of vacuum cleaners from the canister to the handheld can be equipped with HEPA filtration systems. For example, several brands like Shark have their own certified air cleaning technologies that can even surpass the standard HEPA.

4. Bagged or Bagless Vacuum Cleaner?

Both types of dirt-collection methods have strong points. It all depends on what you want. Below you will see the pros and cons of each kind.

Overall, the type of dirt-collecting method your machine would have depends on your personal preferences and the brand you pick. The bagless models of some companies are easy to clean and have close to no release of dust. Others offer bagged models that tend to spew debris and small particles the moment you touch the bag. Your final decision should be based on a suitable combination of the different features rather than just one factor.

We hope we were able to help you pick up the right machine for your property. You can check out our top picks for the best vacuum cleaners for 2022 and see if something catches your eye.

We hope we were able to help you pick up the right vacuum cleaner for your property. If you are not ready to commit to a type or model yet, you don’t have to skip tidying your house. Just give us a call, and our London professional cleaners will be at your doorstep ready to assist you. In addition, if you want to know more about how to pick the right vac or have a related question, ask us in the comment section below. We will make sure to answer you and keep you updated on the latest trends and best vacuum cleaners each year.

Stephanie Cooper

Stephanie is a content marketing specialist for Top Cleaners for the past several years. She has extensive experience working with cleaning companies and knows her audience. Stephanie creates engaging and useful content helping the customers of Top Cleaners with their struggles and providing them with the most accurate insight.