If you’re looking to buy a vacuum cleaner, there is a fair bit of chance that you’d be spoiled for choice. Let’s run through the basics and help you choose the one that perfectly fits your needs.
Various brands of vacuum cleaners are fighting it out to win the consumer’s approval in the market, each trying to elbow out the competition by offering a little something extra. This makes it tougher for the consumer to take his pick among an entire array of cleaning contraptions; each one vying for his attention.
When it comes to vacuum cleaners, you need to make a careful choice depending upon several factors. Starting at the basics, let’s find out if an upright vacuum cleaner suits your needs or if a canister vacuum cleaner would make a better choice.
There was a time when both these varieties of vacuum cleaners had their own distinctive purpose. The upright version worked well on carpets, whereas the canister type was well-suited for hard floors. With improvements in technology, manufacturers made attempts to bring together the functions of each device, keeping in mind the convenience of the consumer. Now, you no longer have to buy an upright model for carpets and a canister model to help you clean the rest of your home. Go through these points of distinction and decide, which is the best vacuum cleaner to buy.
Upright or Canister Model – Take Your Pick
Points of Distinction | Upright Vacuum Cleaners | Canister Vacuum Cleaners |
Description | Upright vacuum cleaners are the traditional models. But don’t think of them as those heavy and noisy contraptions, which were a pain to lug along. Upright models, these days, come with the best of features and are still pretty economical. | Canister vacuum cleaners are a more recent innovation, and were aimed at small-sized homes initially. Although they come in different sizes, the compact versions are popular among small apartment owners. |
Features | Upright models, today, are equipped with fairly extendable cords and hoses with varying attachments, especially meant for upholstery. They can be height adjustable as well. | Their best features are compactness and flexibility. Canister models are lightweight and easy to maneuver in hard-to-reach areas and crevices. |
Cleaning Surface | Upright vacuum cleaners are suited for homes that have large, open spaces and wall-to-wall carpeting. They are not usually meant for hard surfaces. | Canister vacuum cleaners are well-suited for smaller rooms or homes which have a lot of furniture, and work well on hard floors. |
Cost | Upright models are very economical. You are more than likely to find a decent upright model which fits into your budget, once you zero in on this type. | Canister models are comparatively expensive, thanks to their user-friendliness. As they are consistently being preferred over the upright models, manufacturers are justifiably pricing them higher. |
User-friendliness | Upright models are quite easy to use, require less storage space, and depending upon the model, they can be very lightweight too. | Canister models are flexible, and they work very well to clean stairs and corners. They come with a range of accessories that suit every kind of area and surface. |
Buying a vacuum cleaner should solely depend on the house it will be used in, and no one would know it better than you. You may decide to go in for an upright or a canister model, but you must remember to answer a few questions in order to arrive at that decision.
✔ Is your home carpeted or do you use a lot of rugs?
✔ What is the type of flooring?
✔ Is your home crammed with furniture or are there a lot of open spaces?
✔ Does your house have a staircase that needs to be vacuumed?
✔ What is your budget? (Remember: expensive does not mean appropriate every single time!)
Answering these questions should help you make an informed choice. Do make sure you do your research, as the variety of vacuum cleaners available will definitely make your head spin. Take your time; don’t make a hasty purchase. And finally, happy cleaning!