Whenever we look to purchase a vacuum cleaner for home maintenance, we often stumble upon the dilemma of what to look for and get confused after seeing various types of machines with their configurations and specifications. But, don’t worry; we are here to simplify it for you as we have researched and pick-pointed the essential considerations before buying a vacuum cleaner based on the end user’s needs and requirements. 

Vacuum Cleaner Performance

It is essential to assess the cleaning performance of any vacuum cleaners that you are looking to buy. It requires you to evaluate a variety of vacuum cleaner specifications. The most important ones are water lift suction (or sealed) and airflow.

Manufacturers often advertise the watts and amps of their vacuum cleaners. These ratings indicate the power of the vacuum cleaner motor. However, years of marketing vacuums in this manner have led to “power” becoming confused with “performance.” Watts or amps are not a measure of suction power, but how much electrical energy it uses to pick up dirt and soil. To do this, you must know the vacuum’s suction. Likewise, motor power ratings don’t mean anything. For example, a 10-amp motor may produce more suction power than a 12-amp motor if it’s more efficient.

The most important ratings are airflow (the highest) and sealed suction (listed in some vacuum cleaner specifications under “water lift.” Canister vacuum cleaners with/without powerheads should have at least 100 CFM (or a water lift of at least 90 inches).

There are many configurations for upright vacuum cleaners. However, two main designs can affect airflow or water lift. The “Direct Air” and “Dirty Air” designs allow dirt to pass through the motor before filtering it to the bag. 

A by-pass motor is used in the second design. It prevents unfiltered air from passing through the motor. This design allows only clean, filtered air to pass through the motor to cool it. A by-pass upright will provide airflow but not water lift specifications. A high-performing upright will have 60 CFM or more.

Many uprights won’t offer airflow ratings and will rate the motor only in amps.

Filtration

A vacuum cleaner’s ability to retain soils and fine particulates that it picks up is an essential aspect of cleaning. Unfortunately, this element is often overlooked. These fine particles can easily pass through a vacuum cleaner without any filtering. They will then settle in the air and become dust.

The majority of vacuum cleaners can filter the air that leaves the machine. A vacuum cleaner with high filtration, or HEPA, is highly recommended for anyone who has allergies or asthma.

HEPA stands for High-Efficiency Particulate Aero. HEPA filters must remove 99.97% of all particles smaller than 0.3 microns from the air passing through them. It is the best filtration method for residential use.

Because it indicates that the filter will still achieve 99.97% efficiency even if the particles are 0.3 microns, it is essential to use the phrase “as small” The term “down to 0.3 microns” is not the same as the filtration performance. It may refer to a mix of particle sizes to achieve the claimed efficiency.

There are terms like “Certified HEPA,” “True HEPA,” or “Absolute HEPA.” These are all HEPA filters that comply with the same HEPA standard. You should be cautious when you see terms like “HEPA-like,” “HEPA quality,” or any other qualification you expect to see “HEPA.”

United States uses the word HEPA. However, European companies refer to the same filter in the United States as the S-Class filter. Some manufacturers, such as SEBO, also use this terminology. Like HEPA filters, S-Class filters must remove 99.97% of all particles smaller than 0.3 microns from the air-exposed.

Quality and durability

It is crucial to consider the quality of your vacuum cleaner. It will affect how often your vacuum cleaner needs replacement or how long it will last.

The quality of the construction is key to durability. Solid components should be of high quality and not brittle or fragile materials. You want a good fit with no rough edges. Seals should be firm and should have a solid feel.

Most low-priced mass-market products do not have the right features to last long. Therefore, the differences between mass-market vacuum cleaners and those manufactured by companies specialising in long-lasting, high-quality machines will be apparent.

The warranty details and length are other indicators of durability and quality. Consider looking for extended warranties, particularly on the motor.

It’s easy to use

It doesn’t matter how well-designed a vacuum cleaner is; it should be simple to use. Look at the things you don’t like in your current vacuum cleaner, and find a replacement that fixes them.

It would be best to consider whether your personal preferences or weight are a concern when choosing between upright vacuum cleaners and canister ones. If you have specific reasons to buy a vacuum cleaner, make sure it addresses these issues.

No matter your situation, the vacuum cleaner you choose should feel comfortable in your hands and not be difficult to use. In addition, it should be easy to manoeuvre under furniture and around corners.

Noise Level

Also, noise is a significant consideration. Some vacuum cleaners are so loud that it is almost impossible to use. However, most vacuum cleaners are comfortable to use and allow you to hear your phone or doorbell ring.

Decibels (dB) are the decibels that a vacuum produces while operating. For example, a conversation at home is 50 dB, while the garbage disposal is 80 dB and a lawnmower or motorcycle 100 dB. Ultra-quiet vacuum cleaners can be heard operating at decibel levels as low as 60 dB. In comparison, cleaners between 70 and 77 dB are still relatively quiet compared to the vacuum cleaner you used growing up.

Capacity

The size of the vacuum cleaner’s dust bag or cup determines its capacity. Therefore, it is more efficient to change it less frequently if more significant.

You’ll need to clean up more soil if you have a larger home or lots of traffic (think pets and kids). Consider a giant vacuum cleaner in this situation. Then, you won’t have to change the bag or empty the cup constantly.

Storage

Some homes have lots of storage, while others don’t have enough. You should think about where your vacuum cleaner will be stored if storage space is limited in your home. Will it fit in the same area as your previous vacuum cleaner?

Attachments

Every vacuum cleaner comes with an assortment of accessories that can be used for both floor and above-floor cleaning. In addition, numerous cleaning jobs require special tools. Having a set of accessories tools to help you make your job easier will increase the utility of your vacuum cleaner and often improve its performance.

For example, the flexible crevice tools. While the standard crevice tool is great for most purposes, it cannot reach corners or behind appliances. Flexible crevice tools can. The flexible crevice tool is more extended than standard tools and features a nozzle that bends gently to get behind appliances and furniture and into difficult-to-reach corners.

The soft-bristle brush is another popular tool. The soft-bristle dusting brush is larger than the standard one and has soft bristles that can be used to gently clean fragile items like lampshades, lampshades, and other small objects. You can also adjust the angle of this brush to dust items like ceiling fans, blinds, and high shelves.

The mini-turbo brush is the most popular accessory tool for Best Vacuum customers. The mini-turbo brush is a handheld turbo brush that makes it easy to clean pet hair from furniture. It’s also ideal for cleaning car seats or floorboards.