Vacuum Cleaners Overview

• Upright vs. Canister: The two primary types of vacuum cleaners are uprights and canisters. Though both types try to meet all of your needs, it is generally true that upright vacuums work better on carpets and canister vacuums are superior on hard surfaces. Upright vacuums are also cheaper ($75-$300) and easier to carry and store. The drawbacks to uprights are that they are noisier than canisters, they are not as flexible, and they are heavier when you are vacuuming. Canister vacuums (a heavy canister base connected by a hose to the vacuuming arm) are great on hard floors, and they are also far more flexible than upright vacuums. Since you only have the arm and hose to maneuver, you can use a canister on drapes, furniture, and stairs. Unfortunately, canisters are more expensive ($150-$400) than uprights, and although the arm is easy to use, canisters are overall heavier and bulkier. While each kind is better for certain jobs, uprights are better on hard surfaces than canisters are on carpet, so if you’re choosing only one, you probably want to go with an upright.
• Other Options: While upright and canister vacuums are the most common models, there are other vacuum cleaner options. A central vacuum system has a large hose that you simply connect to the outlet in the wall and turn on, so you don’t have to lug around a vacuum. These systems are, however, expensive ($500 for a bottom of the line system) and complex to install (which also adds another several hundred dollars). Cordless upright vacuums cost around $250 to $300 and are convenient, but they generally don’t clean very well on carpets, so they have limited use. Mini vacs are popular for small jobs, such as cleaning furniture crevices and the inside of your car. They are relatively cheap ($20-$75) and convenient, but obviously, you wouldn’t want to use a Dustbuster to vacuum your entire house.
• Bagless vs. Bagged: Traditionally, a vacuum cleaner suctions dust into a bag that you have to throw out and change from time to time. Recently, however, manufacturers have begun selling bagless vacuums that have a dust bin that you simply empty out, and then place back in your vacuum. Bagless models are more convenient, but when you dump that much dust into a trash can, some of it inevitably escapes, so if you are allergy-prone, it might not be worth the convenience.