How to Choose a Vacuum Cleaner

A vacuum cleaner is one of your most important cleaning tools. To choose the one that's best for your needs, look around the house and see what most often needs cleaning.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Product Brochures
• Power Brush Vacuum Attachments
• Replacement Vacuum Bags
• Vacuum Cleaners
• Vacuum Wands
• Vacuum cleaners

1. Choose either an upright or a canister vacuum. Uprights are best for cleaning just your carpet, while canisters offer more versatility but are more difficult to lug around.

2. Decide how important a sophisticated filtration system is to you. Vacuums that have them generally cost more, but they can be effective in removing a large percentage of pollens and mites from the air.

3. Choose the "bells and whistles" in terms of attachments, attachment caddies, power nozzles, indicators that tell if the bag is full, air freshener systems and self-propelled uprights.

4. Compare and read warranties carefully.

Tips & Warnings

• Some upright vacuums now come with an onboard hose and attachments to make them more versatile for cleaning.

• Regardless of what the salesperson tells you, the number of amps a vacuum uses has nothing to do with the power of its motor.

• If you have severe allergies, get a vacuum with a HEPA filter.

• Many highly publicized vacuum cleaners are made of plastic. Most people who know about vacuums will tell you to ignore the hype and get a metal one.