What I really dislike about hovering is the process of manoeuvring the vacuum cleaner out of the cupboard under the stairs, then jostling with it to get it back in afterwards. Neither is straightforward. The process does not bother me as much when the entire house is in need of a good hovering, but when I merely require some assistance in, say, removing a small patch of dried mud from the carpet, I really object to the whole rigmarole. That is when I came to purchase the Vax Gator, which is so much smaller than a regular vacuum cleaner, and requires a good deal less fuss when it comes to storage.

One of the many advantages the Vax Gator has over conventional vacuum cleaners is that it is cordless. This means that you do not have to concern yourself with wires becoming entangled in chair legs or the distance you can vacuum before you inadvertently pull the cord from its socket. The Gator gains its power through being charged up. The charging process takes around twenty four hours to reach full capacity. It is also comfortable to use - it is equipped with a chunky handle that has a ledge at the end to prevent the machine slipping from your grasp. It does, however, have a smooth surface instead of a textured one, meaning that when the machine is in use and emits some heat, the handle does have a tendency to become moist. A textured surface would provide more grip when this occurs, but even so, I have never dropped the Gator as a result of this.

The machine's wedge 'snout' makes it ideal for getting to tricky places such as underneath the radiator. Suction is also surprisingly powerful, and while other vacuums may require a specialist attachment to remove stubborn patches of dirt or debris, the Gator rarely requires any additional help. Emptying the cleaner is a simple case of pressing the Unlock button, then removing the debris before slotting the bottom of the machine back into place. You do have to give the filters a quick rub with a dry cloth sometimes, but this takes little time.

The real beauty of this machine lies in its simplicity. Despite its lengthy charging period it is a highly effective and compact vacuum cleaner that will easily get into the awkward nooks and crannies other devices are unable. At £49.99 the Gator may seem a little on the expensive side, but if you are looking to minimise the effort in both vacuuming and storage of the cleaner, this is an option worth exploring.