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Vacuum Cleaners - Buyers Guide |
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Vacuum Cleaners - Buyers GuideToday's cleaners can do more that just clean the surface dust from your carpets. The removal of pet hair and the reduction of allergens in your home are also well within the bounds of modern cleaners. So whatever the cleaning nightmare there will always be a cleaner to deal with it.
Upright or Cylinder Which type of cleaner is right for you, your home and your cleaning needs. Traditionally, cylinder cleaners relied mostly on suction, whilst uprights had a rotating brush in the cleaner head called a beater bar. These days however, technology has crossed over. Some cylinder cleaners have a turbo brush, which mirrors the action of the beater bar, whilst some uprights allow you to switch off the beater bar so they function more like a cylinder. Whatever type of cleaner you choose, generally the higher its motor power the better the results. You should be looking for a cylinder model with at least 1200 watts or an upright that has 1100 watts or more. Machines with variable power are best for the delicate cleaning of upholstery or curtains. Upright Cleaners Although bigger than the cylinder variety, upright cleaners require much less effort to push around and they glide easily across large carpeted areas as the brushes in the cleaning head raise the carpet pile for suction to remove the dirt. Uprights are not as good as cylinders at hard floor cleaning or getting in to corners, edges and under furniture but the latest models come with a selection of add-on bits and pieces so there will probably be a tool to suit the job you want it to do anyway. Cylinder Cleaners Cylinder cleaners are smaller and normally lighter than uprights which make them easier to carry around and use in homes that have a lot of stairs. This said, cylinder cleaners require a degree of effort to push and pull the cleaner head across a carpet and those with back problems may find this uncomfortable. Cylinder vacuums work especially well on wooden or tiled floors and models with variable power are most flexible as you can use the tools supplied to effectively clean surfaces such as curtains, upholstery and rugs with reduced suction power and with the cleaning tool attached to an adjustable hose and pole. 
Bagged vs. Bagless To Bag or not to Bag - that is the question. Bagged Cleaners Traditional bagged cylinder or upright cleaners are generally cheaper than the bagless alternative and offer easy disposal of dirt. The bags should not be re-used as dust clogs the bag reducing airflow, making the cleaner less effective at picking up dirt. Some cleaners have self sealing bags, which automatically seal the bag when you remove if from the cleaner. This not only makes disposal less messy but is also ideal for people who suffer from allergies, as you never come in to contact with dirt, even when you throw it away. To get the best out of a bagged cleaner you should choose a model with as much motor power as possible - anywhere between 1100 and 1600 watts should prove sufficient for most household chores. Bagless Cleaners Traditionally bagless cleaners tend to be at the upper end of the price range, reflecting the high level of technology involved in their design. Different models work in different ways, but ultimately you never have to buy replacement bags and there is no bag to act as a barrier to suction. With some cleaner bags costing up to £2 each, bagless cleaners can end up being cheaper to run although they are often more expensive to buy. Caught in a Cyclone 
Cyclonic models work by air and dirt being drawn into the cleaner where it is spun round by powerful G forces.
This force spins out any dirt from the air leaving the air clean. The remaining smaller particles of dust are caught in filters before the air is expelled into the atmosphere. Filters Your vacuum has a filter system so you can breathe cleaner air in your home All cleaners have a filter system that remove dust particles, mites and pollen from the air whilst the cleaner is operating, so this feature is particularly helpful to allergy sufferers and pet owners. Please note: This type of filtration relates to the cleanliness of the air that is returned to the atmosphere - it does not have a direct bearing on the amount of dust and dirt taken from the floor being cleaned. The diagram below shows the sizes of some common dust particles. As an indication: 'S' Class filtration systems filter particles down to a size of 0.3 microns. 
There is no industry standard for vacuum filters but all of todays cleaners employ one of the following: - Standard - A suitable level of filtration for households with no pets or allergy sufferers. The more the number of filter levels, the better the standard of filtration. S-class / HEPA Filters (High Efficiency Particulate Air) - are designed to retain the highest level of allergy-causing particles and are useful for people who suffer from asthma and other allergies. This is sometimes referred to as hospital standard filtration. Lifetime Filters - many cleaners come with a lifetime filter, meaning there is no need to ever change it. However a spare is recommended for when you wash and dry your existing one. Other Cleaners Wet and Dry cleaners Wet and dry cleaners not only vacuum your floors but can also mop up spills, and some will also shampoo carpets. Please note, you will need a separate shampoo for this. Wet and dry cleaners used to be quite awkward to use and change from one operation to another, but newer models, such as the ones on our site have significantly improved. Nevertheless, this sort of cleaner will usually only be used as a secondary cleaner, and not as the main one in the household. Handheld Cleaners 
Handheld cleaners are extremely versatile and often come with similar features as full-size cleaners, such as bagged or bagless and different levels of filtering.
Some handheld cleaners have the benefit of being cordless which makes them ideal for vacuuming
small areas such as spills or vehicle interiors. Wet and dry handheld cleaners are also available.
Essentials 
Dyson Zorb Powder - Carpet maintenance powder to keep new carpets looking new. Millions of tiny sponges absorb dirt from the carpet, which powerful suction then vacuums away. None of the drawbacks of wet cleaning.
Dyson DCO4 Lifetime HEPA Filter - No compromise on suction power or filtration efficiency. Filters particles as small as cigarette smoke (0.1 micron) and includes bacteria-killing screen. Handy to have a spare for when your other filter needs maintaining.
Dyson Mini Turbobrush - Rotating brushbar powered by constant airflow. Ideal for picking up pet hairs and other fibres in confined spaces e.g. stairs, upholstery and car cleaning. Helps takes the strain out of cleaning.
Spare Bags - For bagged cleaners you are sure to need spare bags in the future - so where we have stock, we will give you the chance to add some spare bags to your order.
This Product Guide was provided by kind permmission of Comet. Comet checks competitors' prices, then lowers their own. |
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