Buyer's guide - Vacuum cleaners

Overview...

By Alexandra Aussenac A guide to choosing the right vacuum cleaner

For cleaner living
Take the chore out of vacuuming
Give your vacuum cleaner a boost
Focus on...
The right vacuum cleaner for the job
Conclusion

For cleaner living

Vacuum cleaners are vital when it comes to keeping your floors clean, unlike brooms, which tend to just push dust around.
Vacuum cleaners are smaller, more powerful and easier to use than ever; plus they make your life a whole lot easier (and cleaner)!
Upright or canister, bagged or bagless… with so many vacuum cleaners out there, it can be hard to find the one that suits your specific needs. This guide is here to help you find the right vacuum cleaner for your needs and your home.

Take the chore out of vacuuming

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With or without bags, the technology used in vacuum cleaners is coming on in leaps and bounds. Read on to find the right vacuum cleaner for you!

Hygienic households

Kids and family pets make their mark on your life in more ways than one, and it can be difficult to stay ahead of the mess they leave behind on a daily basis. A bagged vacuum cleaner will help you stay on top of things!
Bagged vacuum cleaners are particularly suited to people with dust allergies because you simply throw the bag away once it’s full, ensuring you never breathe in any dust.
To get pristine floors, the quality of your bag is just as important as the vacuum’s filter. Try to get bags made from synthetic materials rather than paper, which will save money and to help preserve the environment. These synthetic bags are washable, which keeps dust from clogging them and ensures better air circulation. This in turn increases your vacuum’s sucking power.
It’s recommended that you change your vacuum cleaner bag when it’s 2/3 full; either an indicator or waning suction power with tell you when it’s time to change.
With a motor power ranging from 800 to 2,000 watts, bagged vacuum cleaners are good for deep-cleaning your carpets and rugs, especially if they offer low and high air-flow settings. Power doesn’t necessarily mean noise – bagged vacuum cleaners are usually equipped with some type of soundproofing or “silent” setting that brings the vacuum’s noise level down to 71dB. So that you can put this information onto context, the average sound level is between 76 and 80 dB and lowering sound by 3dB actually means that your vacuum cleaner is half as noisy.
A vacuum cleaner that runs under 70dB is quiet enough to be used while your children are watching TV without them flying into hysterics, or even while your littlest is taking a nap!

It's all about power

Bagless vacuum cleaners have a container in which dirt and dust are gathered, so you don't need to buy bags. Remember to empty the container regularly for your vacuum to keep all its suction power.
Another important element to consider is the filter in your vacuum cleaner. Filters are especially important in bagless vacuums because the dust floats around in the container instead of staying in a bag. To keep your vacuum cleaner running smoothly, you’ll want one with a washable filter; and if you’re asthmatic or have allergies, a HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filter retains 99.97% of 0.3 micron airborne particles rather than blowing them back into the air in the exhaust, leaving your living space as clean as possible.
Motor power in bagless vacuums is anywhere from 1,600 to over 2,000 watts, and most have variable power settings. You can adjust the motor power thanks to a switch conveniently located on the handle (or foot pedal) – this means more power for bare floors and a little less when tackling the carpet. Bagless vacuums adapt to different types of floors and dirt.
To get the most out of your vacuum cleaner, pay particular attention to the brush and suction head. There should be bristles on each side of the brush, while the suction head should have narrow grooves to ensure maximum suction power.
If you have a tough time getting rid of cat or dog hairs, you might be interested in a vacuum with a specially designed turbo brush, which is perfect for picking up dust and hairs because it picks up deep down particles and improves operation.

Covering all your needs

If you don't want to lug a 10 lb vacuum cleaner up the stairs just to clean them, you might want to get a stick vacuum cleaner as well.
Just like upright vacuum cleaners, stick models stand vertically, so they're as easy to manoeuvre as a broom. They're also slim and lightweight, so they can reach everywhere, even under the furniture… so you can say goodbye to dust bunnies once and for all!
Cordless stick vacuum cleaners can be pulled along effortlessly, allowing you to remove all the dust from the floor without having to bend over, which is a major plus for those who suffer from back problems. Some stick vacuum cleaners even have telescopic wands to adjust to your height.
If you’re planning on using a stick vacuum as your main vacuum cleaner (they're particularly suited to small living spaces), choose one with at least 50 minutes' battery life. Just set your stick vacuum on its base/docking station to recharge it. You can even mount the base on the wall to save on space.
Stick vacuums may be compact, but they have just as much suction power as upright vacuum cleaners. Some have a motor power of 2,000 watts, different power settings, and a turbo brush, so feel free to let loose on your carpets and rugs!
If vacuuming is too much of a chore for you, why not get a smart robotic vacuum cleaner to do it for you?
Robotic vacuum cleaners will save you loads of time and effort. They’re widely available nowadays and reasonably priced. Thanks to its flat disc shape, the robotic vacuum can easily slip under your furniture to hunt for dust bunnies and glide over your floors without getting stuck or damaging your rugs. Thanks to its sensors, it can even slow down to avoid knocking over lightweight objects and can’t really do any damage to anything else it bumps into.
Some robotic vacuums have several dirt sensors, so they know exactly where your floors need them the most, and can adjust their settings accordingly. You can also put up virtual walls to keep your robotic vacuum where you want it.
Robotic vacuums don’t require bags (just empty the dust bin after each use) and can usually run for about an hour before needing to recharge; to cover 60 m², your robotic vacuum will have to charge for 3 to 5 hours beforehand. It doesn’t need you to recharge it either -- once its battery is drained, it’ll find its way back to its base all by itself.

See all vacuum cleaners

Give your vacuum cleaner a boost

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Now that you know which vacuum cleaner is best for you, it's time to take a look at your cleaner's accessories.

Cleaner air

By holding in dust and allergens, bags and filters purify the air in your living space – a must for allergy sufferers.
Synthetic vacuum cleaner bags are reusable and sturdier than paper ones. You’ll need to wash it every time you empty it though, to avoid your vacuum cleaner getting clogged and blowing dust particles back into the air. Just like paper bags, synthetic bags come in universal sizes that are more cost efficient and will fit into many vacuum cleaners. Plus, there's no need to keep your vacuum cleaner's reference number handy!
Some bags are scented to purify and freshen the air at the same time. You can even add a scented cartridge to your vacuum bag to fill your home with a refreshing fragrance.
Filters purify the air and come in a variety of types and meet different standards.
Pre-motor filters are placed between the bag and the motor, while and exhaust filters keep particles from escaping back into the air. You should change both of these filters every 5 bags or so.
HEPA filters retain most airborne particles such as pollen and dust mites, which is great if you have allergies or are prone to asthma attacks. There’s a difference between true or absolute HEPA filters, which have to pass strict tests to be considered HEPA-worthy, and HEPA Type filters. HEPA Type filters are less expensive and don’t meet the same standards as true or absolute HEPA filters – they often capture 85 to 90% of particulates (as opposed to 99.97% for true HEPA filters) so they leak allergens back into the air. Hospitals use latest generation H13 and H14 HEPA filters.
Some vacuum cleaners have lifetime, washable HEPA filters, so you can give the environment and your wallet a break.
You can also find vacuums with water filters -- the water comes to a boil and traps all impurities, thus purifying the air.

Nooks and crannies

Brushes are the most useful accessories when it comes to vacuum cleaners. They generally come with two settings (one for bare floors and one for carpets) to get all the dirt off your floors without damaging them. For more delicate surfaces like hardwood floors, you can get specially adapted brushes with no metal bits to avoid scratches.
Your vacuum cleaner will most likely come with a series of attachments, such as a flat nozzle for cleaning hard-to-reach areas or an upholstery brush to clean furniture and cushions.. They fit into a little compartment inside the vacuum cleaner. With these accessories, cleaning every nook and cranny from attic to basement is a breeze.
You can also find brushes specially designed to clean radiators, vents or even your car. Just be careful what type of attachment you buy, because some aren’t universal but model-specific.
Something else to consider is the hose; make sure it’s long enough for you to reach under furniture and around doors while you’re cleaning. Add an attachment to your hose and lengthen it to up to 3 metres, but keep in mind that suction power decreases with every extra inch. Some hoses have integrated metal rings that form a sturdy skeleton and prolong your vacuum hose’s life.
Telescopic tubes are really convenient; they can be adjusted to the length you need -- which means you don’t have to bend over when cleaning curtains and stairs -- and they allow you to clean all those hard-to-reach places easily. Plus, with a telescopic tube your vacuum cleaner is compact enough to fit in any cupboard!

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Helping you with your housework

Steam cleaners: Steam cleaners can be used to wash hardwood floors and tiles, as well as to clean windows and mirrors. Steam cleaners don’t require detergents or cleaning products, which is a plus for the environment, and they often come with HEPA filters to purify the air while you clean. You’ll need an appliance with pressure of at least 3 bars to get the job done properly.
For small surfaces, try a mini steam cleaner - they’re smaller but just as efficient! See all steam cleaners
Floor waxers and buffers: Floor waxers give your floors a beautiful sheen and sometimes even double up as a vacuum cleaner.
Floor waxers can be used to dust, wax, polish and buff your hardwood floors to get them gleaming and gorgeous in no time! See all floor waxers

Best-sellers

I-ROBOT Roomba 555 Vacuum Cleaner: € 385 Inc. VAT; IN STOCK

BOSCH BKS3043 Handheld Vacuum Cleaner: € 28,88 Inc. VAT; IN STOCK

BOSCH BSGL42282 Bagless Vacuum Cleaner: € 180 Inc. VAT; IN STOCK

DOMENA Actisurf AS 50 Steam Broom: € 69,71 Inc. VAT; IN STOCK

POLTI Eco Pro 3000 Steam Cleaner: € 303 Inc. VAT; IN STOCK

DYSON Turbine Head Brush: € 51,79 Inc. VAT; IN STOCK

Focus on ...

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Central vacuum systems

With central vacuum systems, a vacuum cleaner with a powerful motor -- stashed in the garage, basement or a cupboard -- is connected to a few inlets placed around the house. You only need to connect a hose to any one inlet to vacuum your home.
Since the vacuum cleaner is placed away from where the actual vacuuming is done, central vacuum systems produce less noise and don’t release dust particles and allergens back into the air, but into a specially designed container that needs to be emptied 2 or 3 times a year.
Powerful, silent and hygienic, central vacuum systems are also costly. They can be installed in new homes as well as in older ones, preferably by an expert; but if you’re the DIY type, you might be able to install it yourself in one day.

Control at your fingertips

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Power adapted to your floor

You might already have gone through several vacuum cleaners to keep your carpets and rugs looking spick and span. Despite their power, they all bit the dust in the end....
Power alone won't tell you how efficient a vacuum cleaner is, but rather how much electricity it consumes while running. Appropriate power or suction power is measured in air watts and determines a cleaner’s efficiency - although manufacturers don't always mention this.
The actual power of a vacuum cleaner, its air capacity, is usually measured in airflow, in cubic decimetres (dm3) per second. Airflow actually indicates how fast the dust moves from floor to bag.
A debit of about 36 dm3/s is good, and with a variable power setting you can adjust the suction power according to the type of floor you wish to clean.
Depression, measured in kPa, indicates the appliance’s ability to suck up dust and foreign objects off the ground. If you have thick, heavy carpets, you need more depression. Don’t get a vacuum cleaner with too much depression for your type of floor though; too much suction can cause air to get trapped in the hose and overheat the motor. The floor brush can also play a key role in avoiding this type of situation.

Making your housework easier…

Your vacuum cleaner needs to be more than powerful; a low noise-level and a user-friendly design are just as important.
As we’ve already seen, a vacuum’s average noise level is between 76 and 80 dB. The quietest appliances are central vacuum systems and bagged vacuum cleaners – the dust stays enclosed in the bag and doesn’t spin around in the container as it does in bagless vacuums.
Another noise-causing factor is depression, especially if there’s too much of it. You might get your rug spotless, but the noise can be really draining - unless you don’t mind walking around with earplugs!
Vacuum cleaners are becoming more stylish, without compromising on user-friendliness.
Look for a vacuum with a hose that can rotate 360° and a long, retractable power cord of at least 6 metres so you’re not constantly looking for a closer outlet.
If your house has several floors, a smaller vacuum cleaner with an extra long hose or better yet, a shoulder strap, is much more convenient to carry around, even though it might hold less dirt.
To keep you from bending over, most vacuum cleaners have foot-operated controls for power on/off and suction speed for example; some vacuum cleaners also have a "parking position" so that the wand doesn’t fall over and you don’t have to bend down to pick it up!
You can even get self-propelled vacuum cleaners that basically follow you around – no more lugging your vacuum cleaner from room to room!

Conclusion

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Vacuum cleaners are constantly being reinvented to make your housework easier.
Hygienic, silent, smart and ruthless when it comes to dust, vacuums don’t just clean your floors; they purify the air too – great news for asthmatics and allergy sufferers!
Choose a practical, powerful and quiet vacuum cleaner to make housework less of a chore.