Vacuum Buying Guide

There are tons of styles, functions, and high-tech features to select from in today’s vacuum cleaners. Invest in a cleaner that will leave your home spotless and will last a long time. Vacuum cleaners are one of the best ways to maintain superior air quality in your home as well as remove danger, allergens, dust, and other impurities. Before purchasing a vacuum consider your cleaning needs in order to find the perfect vacuum for you.

Vacuum Cleaner Types

Select the vacuum type that's right for you

Selecting the right vacuum cleaner for you can be a daunting task since there are so many types to choose from. Read up on the types of vacuums, their benefits, and usage below.

Stick Vacuum Cleaners

Upright Vacuum Cleaners

Canister Vacuum Cleaners

Canister Vacuums

Robotic Vacuum Cleaners

Handheld Vacuum Cleaners

Handheld Vacuums

Available Vacuum Cleaner Features

There are dozens of different features that can come with your vacuum. These can range from settings to physical attachments to enhance cleaning. Take a look at features that can make your next cleaning session a breeze.

Adjusts the height of the machine’s brush roll to a carpet’s pile height to allow for easy movement and thorough cleaning.

Lets you lessen the flow of air through the hose, perfect for cleaning curtains and upholstery.

Allows you to rewind the cord with the push of a button.

The vacuum uses a transmission and drive system to assist the pushing and pulling of the vacuum, requiring little effort of the user.

Helps you see dirt, dust, debris, and pet hair in dark areas.

Most vacuums come with basic tools such as a narrow tool for crevices, a small upholstery brush, or a round brush for dusting.

Vacuum Styles

Get the Right Vacuum

Bagged vs. Bag-less

When buying an upright or canister vacuum you’ll need to decide if you want a cleaner that requires disposable bags or has a reusable bin.

Bagged Vacuums

Disposable bag traps the dust and dirt suctioned up by the brush head. Typically holds more debris than bag-less cleaners, but you’ll need to regularly buy replacement bags.

Bag-less Vacuums

More expensive than bagged cleaners, but you can empty and reuse the dirt bin continuously.

Corded vs. Cordless

Vacuums can either be corded or cordless, each with its own benefits and drawbacks.

Corded Vacuums

Plug into an electrical socket for power. A longer cord length allows you to vacuum larger areas without needing to change outlets.

Cordless Vacuums

Work with battery power and are usually lighter than corded cleaners. However, you’ll need to consider how long the vacuum can operate before its battery runs out.

Cordless Vacuums

Additional Lifestyle Features

Vacuum Size & Weight

Full-sized vacuums can weigh more than 20 pounds while lightweight stick models are less than 10 pounds. When it comes to multi-floor cleaning, 20 pounds can be too much to lug up your staircase. For multi-level cleaning, canister vacuums are optimal. Canisters usually have various cleaning attachments, such as wands and extension hoses that can easily reach stairs.

Surface Type

Different floor types require different cleaning solutions. For smooth floors, like hardwood and tile, it is beneficial to minimize the space between the vacuum’s brush head and the flooring. Vacuums with lower brush heads provide more suction and clean these surfaces better. Stick vacuums are perfect for cleaning your smooth flooring.

For carpeting, upright vacuums are the best choice. Upright vacuums have the greatest suction, are the most durable, and have higher brush heads that will not get tangled in plush carpeting. However, you need to keep your carpet type in mind.

High carpeting, like velvets and plush carpeting, requires a vacuum with a high brush head so the carpet strands don’t tangle in the roller brushes. Upright vacuums are the best choice for this type of carpeting.

Low carpeting, such as Berber, requires a lower brush head so that the roller brush can provide the best suction for this kind of carpeting. Canister vacuums are the best match for this kind of carpet.

Pets

As much as we love our pets, they can leave big messes. Some vacuums call themselves “Pet Vacuums” because of their strong suction or attachments to tackle stubborn pet hair.

Pet vacuums generally come with a carbon or charcoal filter to absorb musty pet odors, as well as attachments like rubber blades and rolling brushes that are perfect for sucking up pet hair on upholstery, stairs, and area rugs.

If you are using a bagged vacuum, keep in mind that pet hair fills bagged vacuums quickly, making their replacement costly.

Allergies/HEPA Filter

Some vacuums work extremely well for people with allergies. These vacuums have HEPA filters and other attachments that rid your space of allergens like mold spores, bacteria, and viruses. High-Efficiency Particulate Arrestance (HEPA) filters remove harmful allergens like mold, smoke, and dust from the air. Although all filters do this to some extent, HEPA traps at least 99.97 percent of particles.

Most HEPA filters can be cleaned with water until they need to be replaced. A good rule of thumb is to replace your filter every 6 months for optimal results.