Choosing the right vacuum cleaner can be a little complicated, in part because there are so many different types available. The features of each vacuum cleaner also vary a lot, so the first thing you’ll need to do is decide which of those features is most important to you. If you’re unaware of what these features are, not to worry because this article is here to help you figure out what to do so that in the end, you’ll have a high-quality vacuum cleaner that suits all of your cleaning needs, regardless of what those cleaning needs are.

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How to Choose a Vacuum Cleaner

Before we get into the type of vacuum cleaners on the market today, let’s take a look at some of the many features you might want to study before you make your final decision. These features include the following:

  • Type. Besides types such as car vacuums and wet/dry vacuums, the two main types of vacuums are upright and canister. The upright vacuum cleaners are the most popular ones in the United States and many other countries. They are easy to use, normally very lightweight, and are usually inexpensive as well. The canister-type vacuum cleaners sit on the floor and usually have to be pulled from one room to another, but they are easy to use and efficient. Both types can use either plain water or dust bags to suck up the dirt, dust, and debris.
  • Noise. A few decades ago, vacuum cleaners were very noisy, but that is not the case today. The noise level on a vacuum cleaner is measured in decibels, and today, the average vacuum cleaner can be 70 to 77 dB or even in the mid-60s. By comparison, a motorcycle is 100 dB, the garbage disposal is 80 dB, and a normal indoor conversation is around 50 dB. Newer vacuum cleaners are definitely much quieter than they were just a short time ago.
  • Filtration. There are two types of filtration systems that work to remove dirt and debris from floors and carpets. The first is a bag that you have to replace when it gets full, and the second is a bagless vacuum cleaner that usually has a filter – usually a HEPA filter. Bagless vacuum cleaners are ones that use water to suck in the dirt and debris. So, you’ll either be changing bags or changing filters and water, but for the most part, the filters tend to last much longer. Nevertheless, both of these are excellent options and work efficiently.
  • Flooring. Some vacuum cleaners are meant for carpet, others for hard flooring, and others for both. This is an important feature and one you’ll have to consider before you purchase your vacuum cleaner. Most people want a vacuum cleaner that can clean all types of floors, but that’s something you’ll have to decide for yourself before you go shopping for your own vacuum. Just know that there are different types of vacuums that meet your needs.
  • These are just a few of the features you’ll need to research before you make up your mind about what vacuum cleaner to buy, but this is a good start because you’ll need to decide on these features first before going shopping for vacuum cleaners.

    Types of Vacuum Cleaners

    There are numerous types of vacuum cleaners, and now we’ll look at five types that are very popular so you can learn a little about each of them.

    • Canister vacuum cleaners. These types of vacuum cleaners tend to work best on hard surfaces and smaller carpeted areas such as the stairs or even your car. They are easy to maneuver and usually have a separate unit for the motor and receptacle. Because of these things, canister vacuum cleaners work best for furniture and on multiple surface types. They are easy to use, flexible, and they are the most-common vacuum cleaners used by people in Europe and most of the world (with the exception of the United States and Great Britain).
    How to Choose a Perfect Vacuum Cleaner for Your Home
    Credit: amazon.com

    Bissell Zing Canister, 2156A Vacuum, Green Bagless

    Best Sellers in Canister Vacuum Cleaners

    • Upright vacuum cleaners. The most-common type of vacuum cleaner in the United States and Great Britain, it is perfect for large areas of the house that are carpeted. They have a motor-driven beater brush which uses suction to loosen and remove dirt and debris. Most of them come with numerous attachments so that you can clean a variety of structures, and they usually have an adjustable height that makes it simple and fast to switch from hardwood floors to carpet. They can be either bagged or bagless.
    How to Choose a Perfect Vacuum Cleaner for Your Home
    Credit: amazon.com

    eureka NEU182B PowerSpeed Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner

    Best Sellers in Upright Vacuum Cleaners

    • Deep cleaning vacuum cleaner. These vacuum cleaners are made for deep-cleaning and spot removals of carpet and are usually used along with a specially made carpet shampoo or carpet extractor. The carpet is sprayed with soapy water, then the high-tech vacuum cleaner brushes the fibers and sucks up dirt, debris, stains, and the water itself, leaving the carpet damp and not soaking wet. They are not for everyday use and are only meant for carpets, but they do an excellent job of keeping your carpet looking clean and stain-free.
    How to Choose a Perfect Vacuum Cleaner for Your Home
    Credit: amazon.com

    Shark APEX DuoClean

    Best Deep Clean Vacuum Overall

    • Handheld vacuum cleaners. These are portable, usually cordless vacuum cleaners that are perfect for cleaning small areas. If you have pets or children in your home, you need one of these to clean up spills. Handheld vacuum cleaners are super lightweight and easy to use, and since they are often battery-operated, you can use them in any part of your house without having to lug around an awkward cord. You’ll find lots of uses for these vacuum cleaners because they are so handy.
    How to Choose a Perfect Vacuum Cleaner for Your Home
    Credit: amazon.com

    beyond by BLACK+DECKER Cordless dustbuster – Handheld Vacuum Cleaner

    Best Sellers in Handheld Vacuums

    • Robotic vacuum cleaners. These are super high-tech vacuum cleaners that operate and clean your floors on their own. Simply set up the sensors and settings, press the button, and the vacuum cleaner does the rest. They are not always as powerful as traditional vacuum cleaners, but they do a much better job of cleaning your floors than you think. They are cordless and compact, and they save you a lot of time because they clean your floors efficiently while you are off doing other things.
    How to Choose a Perfect Vacuum Cleaner for Your Home
    Credit: amazon.com

    eufy by Anker, BoostIQ RoboVac 11S (Slim)

    Best Sellers in Robotic Vacuums

    Bagged or Unbagged?

    With bagged vacuum cleaners, the dirt and gunk are sucked into a bag that you change whenever it gets full. How long they last depend on how big the bag is. Some are very small while others are quite large. Naturally, the larger bags will hold more debris and therefore last longer than the smaller bags do. The bagless vacuum cleaners suck the debris into a container of water, which you’ll empty and replace with fresh water when it gets too dirty and filled with debris. These bagless vacuum cleaners usually have a filter that you replace periodically, although they usually aren’t replaced as often as bags are with bagged vacuum cleaners.

    The pros and cons of a bagged vacuum cleaner include:

    Pros:

    • The dust doesn’t leak out because it goes directly from the floor into the bag.
    • The bags are usually very easy to find.
    • They tend to be better at deep cleaning, which is good for carpets and rugs.

    Cons:

    • You have to constantly replace the bags.
    • When the bag is full, the vacuum cleaner is less efficient and sucks up less debris.

    The pros and cons of an unbagged vacuum cleaner include:

    Pros:

    • You save a lot of money since you’re not buying bags all the time.
    • With most of these vacuum cleaners, you can see when the container of water needs to be replaced.
    • There are no bags or other supplies to keep on hand.

    Cons:

    • You still have to replace the filters occasionally.
    • Emptying the container can be messy.
    How to Choose a Perfect Vacuum Cleaner for Your Home

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