Homes need vacuum cleaners but choosing the best vacuum cleaner for your needs can be a real challenge. Recently, I had to make this important decision after our current vacuum stopped working right in the middle of cleaning the carpet. What I discovered was that making the choice is about compromise and that there’s a better option more people should be considering.
Picking the Best Vacuum Cleaner for You
When you check out the vacuum section of your local store, you’re likely to find four main types of vacuums. The smallest is the handheld – it’s great for cleaning up small messes but you’d end up wasting a lot of time trying to clean your whole house with one of them. We have one, but we keep it near the computer desk and don’t use it that often.
You’ll also find stick vacuums which are relatively new. They take up less room than other vacuums, but they also have less power. If you have limited space, this could be a good choice for you but it wouldn’t be my first choice.
The two main options for vacuum cleaners are canisters and uprights. Neither option is perfect. If you have stairs, an upright vacuum won’t be very useful in cleaning them. Canister vacuums, on the other hand, are harder to move around so they don’t work as well for vacuuming larger areas. Some families actually buy one of each so they have the best of both worlds, and that’s probably a good option if you can afford it.
Another thing you’ll probably notice about vacuum cleaners is that price varies. You can spend anywhere from $30 to $600 on a vacuum. Just remember you typically get what you pay for. Many of the pricier models also come with warranties or guarantees. Do some research online and look at reviews of different vacuums to see which ones are getting the best scores.
I’d also recommend looking for vacuums with HEPA filtration to reduce the allergens in your home’s air and for bagless vacuums. Yes, you have to still empty them but at least you won’t have to spend money for bags or worry about running out of bags during a big cleaning.
An Alternative Best Vacuum Cleaner
In my search to find the best vacuum cleaner, I did manage to track down another option. Now we don’t have this installed in our home (yet!) but two of our neighborhoods have and they love it. It’s called a central vacuum system. You basically have a vacuum cleaner built right into your home. Tubes connect the vacuum to a series of pipes running through your home which take the dust, allergens, and dirt out of your home completely instead of keeping them in the vacuum or a trash can.
The costs are a bit high. One manufacturer’s product with installation starts at $1,000 which isn’t much more than what you’d pay for one of the high-end Dyson vacuums. Of course, the costs depend on the model you choose, the accessories you want, and the amount of installation work required.
Besides the convenience, these systems are supposed to be quieter and more effective than traditional vacuum cleaners. I’d definitely recommend having one installed if you’re having a house built but it’s worth considering even for an existing home.