Your guide to buying a vacuum cleaner

A vacuum cleaner is likely to be one of the most important and frequently used appliances in your home. As vacuum cleaners are designed to last for many years it is important to choose a model that specifically meets your requirements. The choice of models available is vast, so read our expert guide before you buy to ensure you choose the best machine for the job.

• Consider what you want to clean with your new vacuum cleaner, carpets, hard floor surfaces, or perhaps a car.
• Decide how much you'd like to spend.
• Think about the style of vacuum cleaner you would like - cylinder or upright. Find vacuum cleaners that meet your criteria and consider what they have to offer in addition, for example, compare size, comfort, quality, construction and power. Check how light the machine is to push, the accessibility of the tools, cord storage and how well it handles when the tools are in use. Choose the vacuum cleaner that is best suited to your needs and is easiest to handle.

Upright or cylinder - the differencesBack to top

When buying a new vacuum cleaner, the first decision you need to make is whether you would like a traditional upright vacuum or a cylinder machine? Both types are available in standard and compact versions and as bagged or bagless.

Upright advantages

• Effective carpet cleaning using multiple heads
• Adjustable head for maximum cleaning power
• Better at cleaning pet hair
• Good for cleaning large areas without obstacles

Upright disadvantages

• Larger, heavier and harder to move
• Noisier than cylinders
• Not easy to clean stairs
• Not good at cleaning hard surfaces

Cylinder advantages

• Generally smaller, lighter and easier to move around
• Accessories readily to hand
• Suction head separate from machine for bigger cleaning area
• Most models have cord rewind
• Good at cleaning under and around furniture and on stairs

Cylinder disadvantages

• Bad at removing pet hairs unless motorized brush heads included
• Harder to store

Bagged or baglessBack to top

You can now buy bagged and bagless models of upright and cylinder vacuums. The bagless cleaners are generally more expensive because of their technology but the extra expense may be more than compensated for by savings you make on buying bags. Performance of bagged cleaners can also be compromised as the bag gradually fills up. Bagged models can be more hygienic, however, because the dirt and dust is collected in a sealed bag - a bagless unit must have its container emptied. If anyone in your house is asthmatic then choose a model which has the British Allergy Foundation seal of approval.

PowerBack to top

The power, in watts, of a vacuum is a pretty good indicator of how well it will perform at cleaning. Generally, the higher the wattage of the motor, the better the cleaning performance should be. A good figure for a cylinder cleaner is around 1400 watts, and 1300 for an upright.

Filtration and allergy sufferersBack to top

Filtration determines the size and number of particles there will be in the air when it is exhausted out of the vacuum with the majority of vacuum cleaners having a filtration rate of 99%. This does not have a bearing on how much dust or dirt the vacuum sucks up. Filtration is a feature of great importance to asthma sufferers and those who are sensitive to dust mites and pet allergens.

There are three basic types of filtration to choose from, standard, S-class/HEPA and lifetime filtration.

• Standard Filtration
  A heater may be fitted with wheels or castors or a combination of both, so that you can move it around easily from room to room.
• S-class and HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air)
  Filtration is specifically designed to reduce the number of microscopic allergens emitted after vacuuming. HEPA filters claim to capture 99.97% of all particles resulting in a cleaner outflow of air that is safer for those with asthma and similar problems, to breathe in. For the highest possible filtration, look out for a HEPA 12 which claims to capture 99.95% of the most penetrating particles.
  

S-class is the name of the standard adhered to by vacuum cleaner manufacturers to achieve this aim, and HEPA filters are the technology most models of this type feature. Having a Hepa filter isn't good enough - it's also important that it fits correctly.

The above two methods of filtration will require a change of filter after a certain length of time. Lifetime filters, on the other hand, do not need replacing. They are guaranteed to filter the in-coming air throughout the life of the vacuum without compromising on suction power or filtration efficiency. Some S-class/HEPA filters are also Lifetime filters, but models featuring this type of filtration are usually more expensive.

Other cleaner typesBack to top

Handhelds
Handheld cleaners are small, light and have the benefit of being very portable. Although not as powerful as uprights or cylinders, and despite having a much smaller dust capacity, the handhelds are perfectly suitable for stair, sofa and car cleaning. Filtration is available on most models, though is not recommended for asthma and allergy sufferers.

Wet and dry cleaners
These vacuums are versatile units that can do anything from picking up debris to unblocking sinks. They have relatively large capacities and can be either bagged or bagless. Wet & Dry cleaners come with a range of tools for many purposes, although they can be especially noisy.

Steam cleaners
Steam cleaners are multi-purpose appliances that use steam to powerfully remove dirt from carpets, ovens, windows, clothes and upholstery. They do not require detergents, but they do require 'steaming' time - this limits the amount of cleaning time available in one session. Steam cleaners come with a wide range of tools and some offer variable steam control.

Jargon busterBack to top

Active carbon filter This is a filter, which is especially efficient at absorbing household odours - particularly those associated with pets. Automatic safety suction control This feature is activated if the end of the hose becomes obstructed. It momentarily releases the suction therefore preventing items becoming attached to or sucked up the cleaner. Bag full indicator A bagged cleaner will let you know when the bag needs emptying. Bagless Any cleaner that stores the dust in a removable container for emptying, removing the need to replace messy bags. Beater brush bar A revolving brush on upright cleaners that picks up hard-to-get-hairs. Brush control system This allows the cleaning of delicate floors and rugs by switching off the brushbar. A clear bin Enables you to see the part of the vacuum cleaner where the dust collects, so it's easy to check when it needs emptying. Cord rewind Generally features on cylinder vacuums, the mains cord is withdrawn into the body of the cleaner after use for neat and compact storage. Cyclonic bagless action Cyclonic bagless systems separate the dust particles from the airflow by spinning the air within a separation chamber. The spinning causes centrifugal force to act upon the dust particles, moving them outward while the air exits from the inner part of the chamber. Cylinder These are small high power cleaners, using suction only especially suited to hard floors, short pile carpets and hard to reach spaces. Dual cyclone system Exclusive to Dyson, the dual cyclone™ is completely new technology and because it does not rely on blocking the airflow to filter it, it maintains constant suction right up to the point where the bin needs emptying. It gives 100% suction, 100% of the time. Dustpress system Unique to Sanyo vacuum cleaners, the Dustpress system compresses the dust, thereby enabling it to store up to two times more than other bagless cleaners. Dust sensor Some vacuum cleaners have an infrared dust sensor which monitors the levels of dust in the air passing into the cleaner. When the dust content falls to a certain level the sensor light turns green and you can be sure your carpet is really clean. Easy airway inspection This allows you to inspect the airways in your vacuum cleaner and clear any blockages that might occur. Edge to edge cleaning The ability of a vacuum cleaner to clean all areas of a surface, for example, right up to the skirting board. Electrostatic filter This is a type of filter consisting of very fine synthetic fibres on which a static electric charge builds as air passes through them. This charge attracts even the smallest of dust and allergen particles, helping the filter to retain them and not pass them back out into the air. Filtration The process through which a vacuum retains unhygienic particles before pumping the air back out. The more levels of filtration, the cleaner the emitted air is. For optimum cleaning power, filters need to be replaced regularly, following the manufacturers instructions. HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) A method of S-class filtration that emits air which is safe for allergy sufferers. Lifetime filtration Filtration which does not require a change of filter throughout the lifetime of the vacuum cleaner. Microfiltration A form of standard filtration which can retain the finer particles. Motor power Vacuum cleaners come in a range of power from around 700-1700 watts. The motor power is not an indication of cleaning capacity as this is better expressed in terms of suction power. Cleaning capacity also depends on factors such as cleaning heads and filter systems. On board tools Tools for a number of cleaning purposes contained within the main body of the vacuum. S-Class filtration A manufacturing standard for anti-allergenic filtration. Self-adjusting head A cleaning head that remains in close contact to the surface regardless of the angle the vacuum is at. Stair cleaning An attachment for upright cleaners allowing them to be used to clean stairs. The vacuum unit itself should be stood at the bottom of the stairs for safe cleaning. Standard filtration A filtering system on less expensive models. Suction power Suction power is measured in air watts and vacuum cleaners range from around 100 - 250 air watts and above. A higher figure indicates more power and more effective cleaning. The efficiency of the suction power will also depend on the design of the cleaner and whether it is an upright or a cylinder cleaner. Some cleaners have adjustable power settings enabling you to set it in accordance with a particular surface. Telescopic tubes A range of attachments that can be adjusted to the length required. Upright A traditional cleaner that uses a rotating brush as well as suction. Especially suitable for large floor areas. Suction release trigger This enables you to control the suction manually by pressing a button on the hose. This allows you to release any items which have become attached to the hose. Telescopic tubes A range of useful attachments that can be extended to the length required. Useful when cleaning curtains, stairs and cars. Triple edge cleaning action This is a feature that works when the small nudge bars at the front of the upright cleaning head come into contact with the skirting board or an item of furniture. A slim panel is lifted allowing the cleaner to suck in the dust and clean right up to the edge. Triple vortex system The patented Hoover Triple Vortex system is a bagless system with no need for replacement filters. It works in three stages: The first chamber draws in the dirt and air mixture and spins out most of the dirt down the sides of the waste container. The second chamber, the in-the-loop vortex chamber, increases the air speed to swirl out the dust. The third stage, a high efficiency vortex, spins the air clean with the dust falling into the waste container. The air is recirculated back through the second and third stages above to ensure only the cleanest air is expelled.