Comparison Vacuum Cleaner Brands

Vacuum cleaners are available in many brands, all with their own specialty and story.

Vacuum cleaners suck; that's a common characteristic of every brand on the market. Aside from the basic function of these common home-cleaning devices, there is a vast difference in the devices from one brand to the next. The most popular brands on the market each have their own individual histories and features that set them apart in one way or another from the competition.

Dirt Devil

Based in Ohio, Dirt Devil had its beginnings back in 1905, when it was called the P.A. Geier Company. The company started in a garage but grew into the familiar brand it is today starting in 1981 when a group of investors bought the company and initiated a sales and marketing strategy that took the company from $5 million in annual sales to $408 million by the year 2000. Since then, the Dirt Devil has been sold in major retail chains like Kmart and Wal-Mart and has become the top-selling handheld, corded vacuum on the market. As of January 2011, more than 23 million Dirt Devil brand units had been sold.

Hoover

Hoover is a name synonymous with vacuum cleaners. In fact, its popularity in Europe resulted in the word "hoover" literally being used interchangeably with vacuum cleaners in general. It started when Murray Spangler invented a "suction sweeper" to get dust out of the air that irritated his asthma as a janitor. He used a soapbox, a fan and a pillowcase to create what would eventually become the Hoover vacuum cleaner. W.H. "Boss" Hoover bought the patent from Spangler in 1908 and retained him as a partner. What started as a small six-man operation turned into a leading company in vacuum manufacturing a few years later. Hoovers were sold by reputable Hoover dealers in stores early on, and they can still be bought in this way. Hoover produces upright vacuums, carpet cleaners, canisters and air purifiers.

Dyson

Dyson is among the modern day leaders in vacuum technology, but inventor James Dyson didn't plan for it to go this way. He tried desperately to get the major brands of the day to invest in his ideas, but no one would. In 1983, Dyson introduced the G-Force. This initial design won the Japan International Design Fair Prize in 1991 and the Japanese began selling his design in their market. The success of the vacuum enabled the Englishman to start his own company. Since then, Dyson has developed a series of popular and powerful vacuum cleaners that include bagless designs with transparent dirt reservoirs, suction created by a vortex and endless developments that the company spends millions on each year. Some of the popular advancements in technology include a ball-shaped steering mechanism and the "Animal" attachment that is among the best tools for removing pet hair from floors and furniture.

Kirby

Since the 1920s, Kirby has been a direct-seller of vacuum cleaners that are known for their sturdy construction, long life, quality warranties and overall good performance. The Kirby Company differs from its competitors because of the belief that the product needs to be demonstrated in the consumer's home prior to purchase. Kirby salesmen still travel door-to-door in some places and make appointments in others. They bring the home cleaning system into the home, do a little cleaning and make a face-to-face sales pitch. Kirby is a more expensive product, but also considered a very high quality one. The Kirby features a highly durable fan, effective HEPA filters and power assist that makes the job almost effortless.

References

• Dirt Devil: Company Information
• Hoover: About Hoover
• The All Dyson Site: The History of James Dyson and His Vacuum Cleaners
• Kirby: The Kirby Story