Introduction - We have come a long way since Puffing Billy, the horse drawn Vacuum Cleaner patented and produced by Hubert Cecil Booth in 1901. It’s inventor apparently tested his idea by placing a handkerchief on a chair, putting his mouth to it and then trying to suck up as much dust as he could. Whilst dooyoo does not recommend repeating Booth’s experiment, the principal (the creation of a partial vacuum using an air pump to suck up dirt and dust) remains essentially the same and today, upright or cylinder, bagged or cyclonic, the humble hoover is an indispensable domestic appliance.
If you are contemplating a dalliance with a Dyson, a rumba with the robotic Roomba or making a pact with a Dirt Devil, you could do worse than take a peek at our buying guide.
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The Upright Vacuum Cleaner - Vacuum cleaners generally fall in to one of two categories, upright or cylinder. Both have their strengths and weaknesses, though features that were once the exclusive preserve of the upright have migrated to the cylinder and vice versa.
Upright models generally feature a rotating brush or beater bar, often with variable settings, which makes them ideal for vast expanses of carpet. Though they are often heavier and less maneuverable than their cylinder counterparts, those of us blessed, or cursed, with wall to wall shag-pile may find these models easier on the back. The owners of hairy pets will also appreciate the superior cleaning power of the beater bar. Greater versatility, when it comes to stairs and other hard to reach areas, is provided by onboard hoses and nozzles. The proximity of the cleaning head to the dust collection unit (bag or centrifuge) as well as the relative width of the cleaning head, mean that these machines generally require and produce less suction than their cylinder counterparts, this in turn often means lower wattages and (slightly) lower power consumption.
Assuming you may also want to use your upright machine on surfaces other than carpet, it would be wise to check for a model that allows you to turn off or adjust the beater bar function.
Some good examples of upright vacuum cleaners include: The Hoover HU4207T, Electrolux Vitesse Z4712AZ, Panasonic MC-E3011RP47, Morphy Richards Essentials 73333.
The Cylinder Vacuum Cleaner - Smaller, lighter and often cheaper than their upright counterparts, cylinder models feature automatic chord rewind and foot operated on/off switches. The location of the suction head at the end of a pole/flexible hose gives them a wide cleaning radius and a variety of accessories makes getting into those nooks and crannies easier. A further advantage of the popular cylinder type machines are their ease of storage. Models featuring variable power settings can also be used to clean upholstery, curtains and other surfaces whilst a turbo brush is an essential accessory for negotiating expanses of carpet as, paradoxically, the greater suction exerted by these machines reduces their effectiveness on carpeted floors and increases the amount of exertion required from you.
Some popular cylinder machines include: Miele S5211, Electrolux ZSH710
The Handheld Vacuum Cleaner - The handheld, chordless, vacuum is just the ticket for cleaning the car, hard to reach areas or small spills. Holding a charge of between 5 and 10 minutes they won’t replace a full size model but do represent a handy and lightweight alternative for lighter cleaning tasks. The Dyson DC16 Root 6 also looks like it comes strait out of Ghostbusters (n.b. please ensure you follow the manufacturer’s recommendations when using a vacuum cleaner to deal with the supernatural).
Some excellent examples of handheld vacuum cleaners include: Dirt Devil DDMHH2, Black & Decker NW3660, Electrolux ZB404.
Wet & Dry Vacuum Cleaners - A variety of cylinder machines can be found that will deal with liquid spills, shampoo your carpet and (by virtue of reversible airflow) blow as well as suck. The pathologically messy (and indeed the obsessively clean) may find the lure of these machines irresistible, the rest of us will continue to do the Shake N Vac.
Examples include: Draper 64674, Bissell 9400, Vax V026
Bag or Cyclone ? - Both upright, cylinder and handheld cleaners can be found with or without bags. Whereas the conventional vacuum cleaner relies on collecting the dust in disposable bags, resulting in costs incurred from their replacement and diminished suction as the bag nears the end of its life, cyclonic (initially Dysonic) models deploy centrifugal forces to dispense entirely with the dust collection bag.
Manufacturer’s of these machines claim more consistent performance as well as the savings made as a result of not having to buy replacement bags. It is worth bearing in mind, however, that a bagless vacuum will still contain filters which will need to be cleaned and/or replaced (depending on the model) and that emptying these machines can be a messy affair (not recommended for those with dust allergies).
Models using cyclonic separation systems have tended to command higher prices than their conventional, bagged, cousins. This is however beginning to change, as the lure of the vortex proves irresistible budget machines are beginning to appear.
Cyclonic models include: Dyson DC24 The Ball, VAX Appliances V-125 All Terrain,Hoover HU4207T,Dyson Stowaway DC20
Filtration - The other key issue to consider when purchasing a vacuum cleaner is the question of filtration. All vacuums have a filter system of some kind to deal with particles vented back into the air by the exhaust from the machine. Filtration relates to the cleanliness of the air recycled back into the room and NOT to the particles initially sucked up by the machine.
Standard filtration comes in a variety of different levels and is found in less expensive models. Machines claiming to offer Microfiltration should have a minimum of four levels of standard filtration. The higher the level of filtration the smaller particulate size the filter will trap.
For those with allergies S-Class or Hepa (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filters, sometimes known as hospital standard filtration) eliminate a far smaller particles. In the case of Hepa filters these particulates can be as small as 0.1 micron.
With the obvious exception of Lifetime filters (Hepa or otherwise) filters will need to regularly replace to ensure their efficiency.
Models featuring HEPA filtration include: Miele Hepa 5281,,[url=667805]Dirt Devil DDMHH2 (Handheld)
Summary of buying advice - As with most purchases, doing a little research ahead of time will take some of the anxiety out of the decision. Decide on your budget and stick to it. Cyclonic, ‘designer’, vacuum cleaners and high tech robots (they may do the cleaning but you will still have to empty the machine) command higher prices than their more conventional counterparts and their advantages are open to debate. As always, check the user reviews on dooyoo for informed comment.
The key factors which inform your choice should be the floor coverings, or lack thereof, in your home. If you have large areas of carpet to clean an upright may prove a more effective choice but the comparative versatility of cylinder models has a wide appeal. The machine’s weight, ease of maneuverability and noise should also be considered. As previously noted attachments such as turbo brushes and hoses go some way to equalizing the performance of upright and cylinder machines but don’t pay for accessories that you will never use.
As an ever growing number of people are suffering from dust allergies, HEPA filtration is certainly worth considering. Whether you decide for this level of filtration or not, always ensure that your filters are cleaned or replaced according the manufacturer’s instructions to ensure the efficiency of your vacuum cleaner.
