With so many
different vacuum cleaners and other floor-care machines, it can be difficult to
choose exactly what's right for your floor. Our vacuum cleaner buying guide
will help you decide what's best for your floor-care needs.
Upright Vacuums VS Canister Vacuums
Vacuums& Floor Care
Uprights and canisters have long been the staples of floor cleaning. How do you decide which one is best for your home?
Uprights and canisters have long been the staples of floor cleaning. How do you decide which one is best for your home?
Think about the
surfaces you'll be cleaning. Uprights are generally best suited for carpets,
while canisters are more suitable for hard floors. Also, the weight of the
vacuum should factor into your decision. The more attachments you have, the
heavier the vacuum is to pull or push.
The following
chart will help you narrow down your choices.
Upright Vacuum
·
·
Swivel caster system for better maneuverability
·
Furniture and wall bumper guard
·
Carpet height adjustment
·
Headlight
·
Self-propelled
·
Standard attachments on most models include a hose,
dusting brush, crevice tool and upholstery tool
|
Cannister
Vacuum
·
·
Instant carpet-to-bare-floor cleaning
·
Power brush nozzles are usually standard, but some
models aresuction only for hard-surface floors
·
Standard attachments include a wand, bare-floor brush,
dusting brush, crevice and upholstery tools
|
Additional
Features:
·
Bagless (also referred to as a hard bag)
·
Bare-floor cleaning (ability to turn off the brush)
·
HEPA (high efficiency particulate
air)-sealed system filter
·
Adjustable suction to clean lampshades and curtains
·
Retractable cord
·
Longer electrical cord (more than 20 feet is desirable)
·
Longer hose (more than 5 feet)
·
Dirt sensor accessory, which reduces the suction
strength if the floor isn't very dirty, or increases the suction if there's a
great deal of dirt
·
Edge cleaner for hard-to-reach corners
|
Additional
Features
·
Bagless (also referred to as hard bag)
·
HEPA-sealed system filter
·
Edge cleaner for hard-to-reach corners
·
Long electrical cord (more than 20 feet is desirable)
·
Long hose (more than 5 feet)
|
HEPA filters are good
for allergy sufferers or those with air quality concerns. There are two kinds
of HEPA filters:
·
True HEPA filters have completely sealed airflow systems
that reduce the amount of dirt recycled by the vacuum. True HEPA filters remove
99.97% of 0.3-micron-diameter particles (or larger) from the air that passes
through it.
·
HEPA-type filters aren't actual HEPA filters. They allow
a greater percentage of allergens to be recycled.
·
When choosing a vacuum, don't use the
amount of amperage as a deciding factor. Amperage is the amount of electricity
the motor uses, not the suction power.
If your floor-care product requires bags,
keep the style number of the bag in an easy-to-remember place. You'll thank
yourself when it's time to buy refills.
Broom Vacuums
A broom vacuum
is good for small apartments with hard-surface floors or for people who have
difficulty maneuvering heavier, full-sized vacuums.
Features of a
broom vacuum include:
·
Lightweight and easy to store
·
Quiet operation
·
Bagless (dust cup)
·
Quick pickups on bare floors, carpets, rugs and stairs
·
Corded and cordless rechargeable models
Hand-Held Vacuums
Hand-held
vacuums are convenient for picking up small messes without dragging out the
full-size vacuum.
Features of a
handheld-vacuum include:
·
Lightweight
·
Corded and cordless rechargeable models
·
Wall-mountable
·
Bagless (dust cup)
Attachments
available on some models:
·
Crevice tool with extension wand
·
Extension wand
·
Furniture / upholstery brush
·
Lockable on switch
·
Agitator brush for spills and stains
Vacuum Options
Hard-Surface Floor Steam Cleaners
Hard-surface
steam cleaners can be used on any hard surfaces. No chemicals are needed.
·
Has a 25-inch cleaning radius
·
Sanitizes and cleans floors with 220°F steam
·
Uses plain tap water and no chemicals
·
Replaces mops, buckets and cleaners
Deep-Cleaning Vacuums
Steam vacuums
can be used on hard-surface floors and carpets, and are good for cleaning
spills, stains and other accidents.
·
Rotating brushes (agitates dirt out of carpet and scrubs
hard-surface floors)
·
Headlights (work in poorly lit rooms and corners)
·
Automatic tool conversion (switch from carpet to hard
surface floors)
·
Hot water and a cleaning solution cleans carpet
·
Switch from floor cleaning to tool use (stairs and
upholstery)
·
One-hand tank removal
·
No faucet hookup
·
Nozzle for cleaning soiled spots
·
Sizes range from compact to large carpet / bare-floor
cleaner
Wet / Dry Vacuums
A wet/dry vacuum
is no longer just for the workshop. Over time, wet / dry vacuum technology has
improved, decreasing the loud screaming noise commonly associated with it.
Wet / dry
vacuums are available in a variety of sizes and horsepower (HP) ranging from 6
to 22 gallons and 1.5 to 10.5 HP. The capacity of the vacuum should match your
needs:
·
Wall-mount vacuums with 1.5 HP and a one-gallon tank are
available for quick and easy cleanup jobs. Also, these models hang up for
out-of-the-way storage.
·
A six-gallon vacuum accommodates small jobs and is easier
to maneuver and store than a larger model. However, smaller wet / dry vacuums
(less than 10 gallons) can be louder and more prone to tipping. The smaller the
tank, the more often it has to be emptied.
·
A higher-capacity model (more than 10-gallon capacity and
a 4- to 6-HP motor) is recommended for your workshop or garage to clean up
large spills. The larger-capacity tank decreases the number of times it has to
be emptied.
Look for the
following options to determine which wet / dry vacuum is best for your needs:
·
Wall-mount vacuums with 1.5 HP and a one-gallon tank are
available for quick and easy cleanup jobs. Also, these models hang up for
out-of-the-way storage.
·
A six-gallon vacuum accommodates small jobs and is easier
to maneuver and store than a larger model. However, smaller wet / dry vacuums
(less than 10 gallons) can be louder and more prone to tipping. The smaller the
tank, the more often it has to be emptied.
·
A higher-capacity model (more than 10-gallon capacity and
a 4- to 6-HP motor) is recommended for your workshop or garage to clean up
large spills. The larger-capacity tank decreases the number of times it has to
be emptied.
Look for the
following options to determine which wet / dry vacuum is best for your needs:
·
A pleated cartridge filter is rinseable and reusable. It
provides more filtration area than a flat filter and doesn't have to be removed
when switching from the dry-to-wet vacuum function.
·
An automatic shut-off mechanism is available on most
high-quality vacuums. The mechanism automatically shuts off the motor when the
tank is full of water.
·
Wide-set wheels help prevent the vacuum from tipping
over.
·
Some larger wet / dry vacuums (usually 16 gallons or
larger with at least a 6.25-HP motor) have the ability to convert to a leaf
blower.
·
Some models have a built-in pump attachment. The
attachment allows water to be pumped through a garden hose attached to the
vacuum.
·
A drain valve or spout makes emptying the vacuum easier.
Otherwise, remove the lid and tip the tank to the side for emptying. Depending on
how full and heavy the tank is, you could accidentally spill the liquid on the
floor. Smaller vacuums usually don't have a drain or spout option.
·
Wide hoses and floor nozzles are a plus. The wider the
hose and nozzle, the less likely the vacuum is to clog.
If the vacuum
you choose doesn't come with the following vacuum replacement accessories, you can choose to add them to most
models:
·
Crevice Tool: Gets in tight
corners and around the edge of the floor
·
Extension Wand: Makes the hose
longer for hard-to-reach areas
·
Hose Couplings: Join the
extension wand to the hose
·
Combination Wet / Dry Nozzle: Alleviates the
need to switch nozzles before switching functions
·
Gulper Nozzle: Great for the
wet vacuum function
·
Round Brush: Used for
scrubbing
·
Cleaning Kit: Includes all
items needed to clean upholstery and other areas
http://www.morck-cleaning.com/
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