Thursday, March 1, 2012

Vacuum Cleaner Selection Tips

Vacuuming carpet and rugs is very important to help them last longer and look their best at all times. Often, we are asked “What is the best vacuum to get?” For carpets and rugs, it is important to make sure your vacuum has a beater bar brush to loosen up the dirt during vacuuming. Besides that, there are many different types and prices for vacuums and the November 2011 Consumer Reports has a nice article and ratings for vacuum cleaners. The following is taken from that issue of Consumer Reports.

Here’s what to consider when shopping for a vacuum.

Select a type carefully

Upright vacuums do better overall on carpets, though canisters are easier to maneuver, especially on stairs. Bagless vacuums save you the cost of bags, but like bagged models they still require filters. Emptying a bagless vacuum is also a dustier process, a concern if you have asthma or allergies.

Check the features.

Edge-cleaning tools help at corners and baseboards. Suction control protects drapes and a brush on/off switch safeguards bare floors and prevents scattered dust and debris. Most recommended models by consumer reports have all three. Top canisters also have a motor-driven head for better carpet cleaning. Consumer Reports also found that some regular filters contained dust as well as pricier HEPA filters.

Give it a spin

Even if you order your vacuum online, visit a store first. Push, pull, turn and lift any models you’re considering.

The bottom line is, you may have the most expensive, fanciest vacuum, but if it is heavy, awkward to use or move around and you do not use it. It is a horrible vacuum. The reality is that the best model for you (whether cheap or very expensive) is the one you will use.

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