How to Choose a Vacuum Cleaner
When it's time to buy a vacuum cleaner, you are faced with myriad options. All of them seem to boast some sort of special feature, or at least claim to be able to pick up extraordinary amounts or types of debris. Here are some steps on how to choose a vacuum cleaner.
- For little jobs, it's often best to get a small vacuum. A hand-held rechargeable vacuum or a mini canister vac is great for small pick-ups or tight areas like stairs.
- Regular household vacuums are good for the main areas of the house. They usually have attachments for various specialized tasks as well as providing good cleaning power for expansive carpeted areas.
- Shop vacuums are, like their name implies, good in shop or garage situations. These are made to handle heavy debris such as sawdust or picking up large quantities of water. They are unwieldy, so are best used where they won't need to be picked up or rolled across carpet.
1. Decide what type of jobs you're going to be doing with the vacuum cleaner.
2. Make sure the vacuum has enough power for what you'll be doing with it.
A cheap vacuum may be enticing, but if it doesn't have enough suction, it'll be a waste of money. On the other hand, a super-powerful vacuum isn't usually needed for quick pick-ups or cleaning your car out. Once you have decided how much power you need, check the amperage of the vacuum cleaner you're considering. This is likely the surest way to know if the machine has enough suction power to do the job.
3. Check the warranty.
Sometimes, a vacuum cleaner seems to have all the specifications you need, but it'll have a very short warranty period. Since the warranty is basically the manufacturer's statement as to how long they think the machine will last, it stands to reason that you should shop for one that has a long-lasting warranty.
4. Look for reviews.
Often, the only way to get real-world reports on how a vacuum works is by looking at user reviews. These will often have a variety of ratings, from extremely positive to fairly negative. Look for the average rating to see how most people's experience has been, and then actually read the individual reviews to find out the specifics.
5. Try it for yourself.
Buy your chosen vacuum and see how well it works when you're actually using it. If it's not to your liking, exchange it for a different one. If you've taken care to keep the above steps on how to choose a vacuum cleaner in mind, however, chances are good that you'll like it.
If you have special circumstances like industrial usage, you may need to consider more aspects of how to choose a vacuum cleaner. For the normal homeowner, however, these simple steps should help you find the right machine with little hassle.
