Vacuum Cleaners - Which One Should You Choose?
A vacuum cleaner, more commonly known as either a vacuum or a broom, is a rotating device that generates suction to draw dirt from floors, furniture, drapery, and other surfaces. It's usually electrically powered. They have many different models available for cleaning various situations.
The most common vacuum cleaners are the upright models. These work well for most domestic and commercial applications. Most homeowners own upright models because they are easy to move around. There are also canister models which have a container that holds the dirt collected during the vacuum's spinning time. These work best in large areas such as rooms or whole buildings.
Another type of upright vacuum is called a handheld vacuums. Handheld vacuums can be battery operated or plugged in. This allows you to use them in places where an upright vacuum cannot. Handheld vacuums are great for cleaning hard-to-reach areas, such as those between the couch and the bed or behind the wall in the closet.
Another type of vacuum cleaner is called a citation needed (CY) vacuum cleaner. Unlike most other vacuum cleaners, a CY vacuum cleaner doesn't have a power source. CY vacuum cleaners use electric motors and encoders to move the suction instead of electricity. Some CY models require a cord to be attached to the suction unit. If you don't want to purchase a cord, check out the optional rechargeable batteries that many CY vacuum cleaners come with.
Another popular type of vacuum cleaner is the hopper vacuum cleaners. Hoppers have a long hose that collects debris on carpeted or bare floors. A hopper usually contains enough material to cover at least one floor space at a time. The small size of the hopper makes it easy to store. As a result, the hose can be found hanging in most kitchens.
Still another type of vacuum cleaners is canister vacuums. Canister vacuums are ideal for cleaning high-traffic areas because the suction collected is very powerful. They usually come with canisters that hold a large volume of dirt and debris, making it easy to clean even the largest rooms. Many canister vacuums also come with extra brushes and wheels to remove even more dirt from your floors.
The vacuum cleaners described above use a brush attachment that rotates around a scoured nylon disc. Vacuums with brushes use a vacuum cleaner motor to power the brush attachments. Canister vacuums use an electric motor to power the suction that is gathered by the canister. The differences between these types of vacuums are obvious: the type of motor and the power used to power it.
Older electric motors tend to exhaust a lot of exhaust gasses. Newer motors reduce this problem by using low-profile exhausts. Both types of canister vacuums use suction hoses to attach to the wall behind your furniture. Suction hoses are long, plastic tubes that snake from the vacuum cleaners to the canister. Suction hoses make it possible to reach all corners of a room, which makes canister vacuums particularly useful for cleaning upholstered furnishings.
An important feature in both newer and more old-style vacuum cleaners is the presence of an air filter. The air filter is designed to remove dust particles from the air during the cleaning process. Depending on the type of cleaner, the air filter can be sealed or open. A sealed air filter is easier to clean but can be harder to replace if needed.
One major difference in the design of modern day vacuum cleaners is the presence of a dust extraction accessory. This accessory serves two functions. First, it sucks up small pieces of dust as you clean, then it stores that debris away in a bag. The second function is that it also removes allergens that have been trapped within the bag. Many people suffer from allergies and are not able to use regular vacuums on their carpets and floors because they are too dusty.
Many newer styles of vacuum cleaners have the ability to use both methods. Some popular types of vacuum cleaners are the iRobot sweeper and the Electrolux sweeper. The iRobot sweeper comes with a sensor that is able to distinguish between a pet and a person and will therefore not clean the carpet if the pet is present. If a person is present, the sweeper will slow down and begin its suction process only after the pet is gone. The Electrolux sweeper on the other hand is able to vacuum both carpet and fur; the sweeper's sensor also detects when someone is present but begins its suction process immediately.
Both of these types of cleaners are quite effective at getting the larger, more dust-filled areas of the carpet cleaned. The hoover is used more frequently for those fine dust particles that have not been completely removed by the Electrolux. A good hoover should be able to handle any sized carpets and are especially effective when cleaning fine dust particles from a pet's hair. Bissell and Hoover make both of these excellent brands. If you do some research you can find one to fit your budget and needs.