As your local Virginia Beach carpet cleaners, we care about the cleanliness of your carpets, and that goes beyond your yearly carpet cleanings. In order to help keep your carpets cleaner in between carpet cleanings, we recommend that you get a great vacuum and vacuum your carpets regularly.
However, there are a lot of vacuums out there to choose from. How do you pick a vacuum that will keep your floors nice and clean without overspending on useless features that you don’t actually need? What separates a good vacuum from a bad one? These are questions that a lot of customers have. That’s why we’ve put together this complete vacuum cleaner guide.
Let’s start with a quick rundown of the types of vacuums out there, and then go over the different features are the most important for you.
Types Of Vacuums To Choose From
Here are some of the main vacuum options available, their primary features, and average cost.
Upright Vacuums
Upright vacuums are the most common type of vacuum and the type that most people are familiar with.
Pros: Upright vacuum cleaners are usually quite effective at removing dust and dirt from carpet, area rugs, and even hardwood floors. They typically include more customizable features, like brush and suction control. These features make the vacuum much more versatile. Turning off the vacuum brush can protect hardwood floors from being scratched, and suction adjustments are helpful for cleaning drapes or upholstery.
Cons: Upright vacuum cleaners are heavier than other models and can be more difficult to carry. This is especially a problem in homes with multiple stories and lots of stairs. They also take up more room when it comes to storage than smaller types of vacuums available.
Average Cost: $50 to $700
Stick Vacuums
Stick vacuums are usually small, cordless vacuums with a vacuum head, small canister, and a stick to push the vacuum around. They are a much lighter version of upright vacuums.
Pros: The small size makes them easy to move around the house, and fit in areas that larger vacuums can’t reach. They’re lightweight, versatile, and easy to transport from floor to floor. Stick vacuums are ideal for light debris in high traffic areas that will be vacuumed often. Many stick vacuums also come with a detachable handheld feature, which makes it easy to clean upholstery, blinds, vents, window sills, and car interiors. Stick vacuums are also lighter weight and take up less room in storage than other models, making them perfect for small spaces like apartments.
Cons: Stick vacuums cannot handle heavy duty messes and aren’t ideal for homes with kids or pets (at least, not as the primary vacuum). They also need to be emptied more often, making a hassle for large homes. Stick vacuums may come with fewer attachments or customizable options compared to an upright model.
Average Cost: $25 to $600
Robot Vacuums
Robot vacuums are the latest technology in vacuum cleaners. These vacuums are battery-powered and self-propelled. You usually set a schedule for them to run, and then they clean your floors all on their own, without you needing to do anything but empty the canister occasionally. Robot vacuum cleaners feature built-in sensors to keep robot vacuums from bumping into furniture or falling down stairs.
Pros: Robot vacuums are great for busy people or for those who are unable to push a vacuum themselves, such as the elderly. They can even clean underneath furniture. They work well on hard floors and low pile carpet. For homes with messy kids and pets, robot vacuums help to keep the mess under control (just pair it with an upright vacuum for deep cleaning).
Cons: Robot vacuums often have difficulty cleaning higher pile, plush carpet or rugs. If you have multiple floors in your home, you will need to remember to move the vacuum from floor to floor or have a separate robot vacuum for each floor. They also can’t travel from floor to floor in your home, so keep in mind that they’ll need to be moved manually to different floors of the home.
Average Cost: $100 to $1,000
Canister Vacuums
Canister vacuums are designed with the motor and bag together in a separate unit from the vacuum head. This unit is usually on wheels so it can move around easily and is connected to the vacuum head with a long hose.
Pros: Because you are maneuvering just the hose and head, canister vacuums are typically lighter weight than an upright vacuum. The long hose also allows them to maneuver into hard to reach spots easier. This is a great option if you’re looking to maintain the power of an upright model, but with increased mobility.
Cons: This is a bulkier unit, which can make it hard to store. It can be difficult to carry up or down stairs between floors. Some people don’t like having to maneuver both the hose and the canister separately, which is also something to consider.
Average Cost: $50 to $800
Features To Consider When Purchasing A Vacuum
Different types of vacuums offer different features to choose from. Here are a few basic features you’ll want to take into consideration when it comes to your needs.
Bag or Bagless
One of the first choices you’ll need to make when purchasing a vacuum is bag or bagless. Vacuum bags can sometimes seal and contain dust better. However, it can be difficult to tell when the bag becomes full and costly to keep buying new bags. Bagless vacuums are more convenient because it’s easy to tell when they’re full. Their containers are also easy to detach and empty into a trash can without having to deal with a separate bag.
Attachment Options
Different vacuums come with different attachments that allow you to vacuum different areas. The more versatile you want your vacuum to be, the more attachments you will want. Look for included or purchasable attachments like a crevice tool to clean tight spaces, a dusting brush for shelves and tables, and an upholstery tool for furniture.
Corded or Battery Powered
You can find newer vacuums that are battery-powered, so you don’t need to be attached to a power outlet the whole time. Battery-powered vacuum cleaners are more mobile and you don’t have to constantly move the plug, but you’ll have to recharge them after about 20-40 minutes of use. This makes them harder to use in large homes.
As you’re picking your new vacuum cleaner, remember that you will need to get your carpets cleaned by a professional at least 1-2 times a year to keep your carpets in great shape. Just vacuuming isn’t enough. Not getting your carpets professionally cleaned will negate any vacuuming you do. Luckily, our carpet cleaning professionals in Virginia Beach can help!