Vacuuming is a necessary chore. Moreover, trying to use an old vacuum cleaner makes it nearly impossible. As vacuums age, they lose suction, fail to pick up dust and debris, and even break down completely. How can you trust that your home is getting a thorough cleaning if your vacuum cleaner is too old to work properly?
If it’s time to replace your vacuum cleaner, you have plenty of affordable, efficient options. Before you decide to buy the first vacuum you find, it’s important to consider a few factors. Thinking about how you’ll be using and handling your vacuum can help you ensure you purchase one that’s right for your home and needs.
Africa Studio / ShutterstockIf you’re shopping for a new vacuum cleaner, make sure you consider the following important factors.
Types of Vacuum Cleaners
While you might assume all vacuum cleaners are alike, there are actually many differences. There are different types of vacuum cleaners, different sizes, and even different functions.
To determine which vacuum will best suit your home, make sure to consider the following common types.
Upright Vacuums
As the most common type of vacuum cleaner, an upright vacuum is a top choice for cleaning carpeting. In fact, an upright vacuum can clean a wide selection of carpeting with ease.
While upright vacuums can be heavy, there are lightweight models available.
Canister Vacuums
Canister vacuums are more flexible than upright vacuums, which means they’re better at cleaning tough areas. They can tackle both carpeted and bare floors, and stairs. Plus, they can get under furniture.
Canister vacuums often include attachments that can even clean upholstery. On the downside, these vacuums can be bulky.
Stick Vacuums
Designed to be a lightweight, easy-to-maneuver version of an upright vacuum cleaner, stick vacuums have tall bodies, slim handles, and a powerhead.
Due to their lightweight build, you can easily move stick vacuums around the house. This both makes them convenient and eliminates any bending over or heavy lifting.
Despite the convenience of stick vacuums, they aren’t as powerful as other vacuums.
Robotic Vacuums
If you want to take all the work out of vacuuming, a robotic vacuum cleaner is a great choice. These vacuums will clean your floors with the press of a button. Using built-in sensors, they easily maneuver around furniture in any room.
However, robotic vacuums can’t provide a deep clean. Unfortunately, they struggle on thick carpeting or rugs.1
Bag or Bagless
Once you’ve determined which kind of vacuum is best suited for your home, it’s important to consider whether you want a model that uses bags or not. Traditionally, vacuum cleaners relied on bags to pick up dust and dirt. Today, many models are bagless.
There are benefits and drawbacks to both bag and bagless vacuum cleaners. The best kind for you simply depends on your personal preference.
Bagless vacuum cleaners eliminate the cost of buying bags. But they can be messy when emptied. On top of that, you’ll have to clean out the filters and dust container regularly, which is another dirty job. Plus, you may need to replace filters more often in a bagless vacuum.2
Vacuum cleaners with bags do require the regular expense of purchasing new bags. However, a bag contains dirt and dust. A bag makes it easy – and much cleaner – to empty your vacuum when full. Make sure to consider the cost of purchasing new bags if you’re considering a vacuum cleaner that requires bags.
The Weight of the Vacuum
Next, it’s important to assess how frequently you’ll be moving your vacuum. While every vacuum – other than robotic models – requires you to push and pull it, you may need to move yours around the house often. Therefore, a heavy vacuum cleaner can make vacuuming a difficult task.
Consider how much you’ll need to carry or lug your vacuum around. Do you have stairs in your home? You’ll likely need to be able to carry your vacuum from one floor to the next. Do you have carpeting in some areas of the house and hardwood floors in others? You may need to lift the vacuum a small amount to tackle different surfaces. Are you frequently vacuuming small, hard-to-reach spots? A heavy vacuum will be tough to maneuver into these spots.
If you’ll need to move or lift your vacuum regularly, a lightweight model is the best choice. If you’re dealing with different types of flooring or tough-to-reach spaces, you may be fine with a heavy vacuum that includes attachments.
Assess how comfortable you’ll be carrying your vacuum wherever it’s needed before making a purchase.3
If Allergens Are a Concern
Vacuuming typically eliminates common allergens like dust, pet dander, and air pollutants. However, if someone in your family has asthma, allergies, or another health condition that makes them sensitive to particular allergens, you need to carefully consider certain vacuum features.
In order to more effectively remove allergens from your home, you may need a vacuum with a HEPA filtration. HEPA filters can capture incredibly small particulate matter, which ensures clean air throughout your home. You may also want to consider vacuums with charcoal filters, which can help eliminate odors and pet-related allergens.
If allergens are a concern for you, make sure to look into the filters and cleaning capabilities of different vacuums. Consider HEPA-certified filters, special vacuums designed with sealed systems, and other optional filters that may be effective.
Shop for Top Brands and Current Deals
Lastly, make sure you shop around to find the best vacuum at the best price. While vacuums are a necessity, you don’t need to spend a lot to get an efficient, effective model.
Additionally, if you shop around online and compare different vacuums, you may be able to find significant savings. For instance, sales and discounts of between 20 to 30 percent are common during holiday shopping seasons. You can also join email lists and customer programs at different retailers to ensure you’re notified of any upcoming discounts and sale events.
You can find plenty of budget-friendly vacuum cleaners available at many different retailers online. For example, the following vacuums are great choices with low prices all year round:
- Gtech AirRam MK2, a cordless stick vacuum priced at £179.99;4
- Hoover Velocity Evo Reach Bagless Upright, an upright vacuum priced at £81.95;
- Eufy RoboVac 11S, a robotic vacuum priced at £146.99, and;
- Dyson Light Ball Multifloor Upright Bagless, a multi-capable vacuum priced at £199.5
If you search, shop, and compare, you may be able to save on your next new vacuum. Research the different vacuums that suit your needs. Plus, keep an eye out for sales, discounts, and other savings that might be available.