Vacuum Cleaners Types | Which type of vacuum cleaner to buy?
We Indians are cleanliness freak. We are taught in the childhood only that cleanliness is next to godliness. So even the lady in the house is neck deep into other chores, she never skips daily dusting and mopping. If you get much time or have domestic helper then keeping house clean is bit easy. But if you have to rush for office early in the morning, don’t have helping hands then you don’t have an option other than just dusting rooms casually. On weekends and holidays these people are head to toes on the cleaning task.
Vacuum cleaner act as a boon in such situations. Actually vacuum cleaners prove really fantastic helpers if chosen wisely. There are many types of vacuum cleaners available in the market. You just have to choose the one which is suitable for your needs. In this article we have tried to give as much as possible information about vacuum cleaners.
Types of vacuum cleaners
Vacuum cleaners are broadly classified into five categories. Each have its advantages and limitations.
Handheld vacuum cleaner
As the name suggests, this type of appliance is operated by holding in hand. This is the small version of vacuum cleaner which is very much portable, compact and lightweight. For using it, just hold it in hand like a hairdryer and move on the surface to be cleaned. This type of vacuum cleaner is ideal for cleaning sofa, curtains, cupboards, car interior etc. It removes even the smallest bit of dust in the area which are usually out of reach like corners of sofa sets, cupboards, carved furniture etc. This is the cheapest type of vacuum cleaner which have only one disadvantage that it cannot be used for floor cleaning.
Upright vacuum cleaner
You must’ve seen this type of vacuum cleaner in the supermarket, malls etc as this type of vacuum cleaner is mainly suitable for cleaning the large floor very quickly. It stands upright on the floor which means you don’t have to bend a lot for using it. The best thing about this type is it has its nozal near the surface so it cleans carpets, floor quickly and efficiently. It can be operated with foot also as it have padels for changing direction.
But upright vacuum cleaner have some disadvantages too. Because of its size (it is heavy) you can’t carry it upstairs or far. It provides less mobility. Besides you can not use it for cleaning the surface under furniture, curtains, cupboards etc.
Canister Vacuum Cleaner
A canister vacuum cleaner provides wide range of usage. It can be used for cleaning floor to ceiling fans. Canister vacuum cleaner is portable, compact and more user friendly. It is provided with a telescopic extension pipes which means you can extend its hose for cleaning surfaces like under the bed or other furniture, ceiling fans or even ceiling, walls which are usually out of reach. It has a powerful suction as compared to upright vacuum cleaner. Canister vacuum have dust bags.
In some models dust bags can be reused while some models have disposable dust bags. You can choose according to your convenience. After using the appliance you have to clean the dust bag (or change it in case of disposable dust bag option) and filter as all the dust is collected in it. This is the most recommended type of a vacuum cleaner.
Stick Vacuum Cleaner
Like canister vacuum cleaner stick vacuum cleaners are also much useful for cleaning floor to ceiling. It is lightweight, comes with adjustable length of handle. Stick vacuum cleaners are helpful for cleaning underneath the furniture since it has a stick like design. You can go for this type if you have moderate use.
Autonomous or Robotic Vacuum Cleaner
This is the most advanced type of vacuum cleaner. It has a disk like shape and battery powered. Because of it’s shape autonomous vacuum cleaners can move all over the surface easily. These vacuum cleaners do not need human intervention. If the battery is sufficiently charged then it can work even in your absence. Therefore it is called robotic vacuum cleaner. It can clean the floor, area underneath the furniture easily and efficiently. It has sensors which sense obstacles and choose the path to avoid it. But there is a disadvantage that autonomous vacuum cleaner can’t clean large pile of dirt as it is small in size and don’t have much powerful motor. It also can’t clean stairs as there is not enough place for maneuvering.
Besides these main types there are two subtypes of vacuum cleaners – bagged vacuum cleaners and bagless vacuum cleaners. Both the types have their own advantages and disadvantages.
Bagged vacuum cleaners
Bagged vacuum cleaners have a dirtbag in the compartment of the appliance. All the dirt, dust, hair, litter is collected in the bag. Once the bag is full you have to remove and clean it. If the bag is full then it lowers the suction capacity. So for better results you have to clean the bag regularly. There are some models of vacuum cleaners where you don’t have to clean the dust bag just replace it with new one. This type of vacuum cleaner is expensive plus the cost of dust bags.
Bagless vacuum cleaner
In bagless vacuum cleaner, all the dust is collected in the plastic container. Once the container is full just empty it in the dustbin and your appliance is ready to use again. Unlike bagged vacuum cleaner, even if the container is full it doesn’t affect on the suction of the appliance. Bagless vacuum cleaners are cheap and they don’t have recurring expense of changing dust bags.
Parameters to be considered before buying a vacuum cleaner:-
There are certain things which you should know before buying the appliance. They are explained below.
- Air flow and suction power – The suction power of a vacuum cleaner depends upon the capacity of its motor. The more powerful motor the more suction is generated. The more suction then cleaner works more efficiently. Ideally the power of motor should be 1000 to 1500 Watts.
- Storage capacity of the cleaner – Storage capacity of the appliance means the size of the dust bag or dust container. If the dust bag/ container is large then you can use the appliance many times without a need of cleaning it. If you have a large area to be cleaned or have kids, pets then opt for a vacuum cleaner with a large storage capacity.
- Portability – This is one of the important factor to be considered before buying a vacuum cleaner. Based on your need choose the type which fulfill your requirements. Means if you are buying the appliance for lighter use then handheld vacuum cleaner should be sufficient but if you want to use it for floor, furniture, ceiling fan cleaning then handheld or canister vacuum cleaner would be the best option.
- Noise level – The ideal noise range of the appliance should be 60- 68 dB. Some models produce sound about 70-77 dB.
There is one more thing I would like to add in the article. Before buying a vacuum cleaner, just know your priority. Just think for what purpose you want to use it. The checklist given below will help you.
- Do you want to clean the floor?
- Do you need a vacuum cleaner for cleaning the interior of the car, cupboards, etc.?
- Are you buying the appliance for cleaning sofa sets, curtains, and cupboards?
- Maybe there is a need to carry the appliance upstairs?
In this article, we have tried to provide all the information needed to choose the best vacuum cleaner for your needs. Hope this article is useful for choosing the right vacuum cleaner for you.
