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What Should I Look For in a Home Vacuum?

A home vacuum is a household necessity, but it can be confusing to know which one will work best. For instance, if you are in a household that has children or pets running around, you will likely need something different from someone who is living alone and is barely home. Additionally, depending on the type of flooring you have in your home, the type of home vacuum you will need may differ.

The first thing you should do before blindly purchasing one is to think about your cleaning needs and see what stands out as most important to you. After figuring this out, try to find a vacuum that matches these needs.

We may be a bit biased here at Gary’s Vacuflo however we would like to suggest you consider a central vacuum cleaner for your home if you have not already. Central vacuum cleaners are installed directly into the wall of your home as a semi-permanent fixture. This eases the burden of having to lug a heavy vacuum up and down stairs, all around the home, and potentially tripping over cords.

As we want to help aid your home vacuum search, here are some general things that you should look into before your purchase.

What Should I Look For in a Home Vacuum

Power Units

There are quite a few types of central vacuum power units for you to choose from. The majority of central vacuums are rated by square footage. However, the best system for your home may be rated at a higher square footage based upon the layout.

The three main power units that we prefer are the True Cyclonic, Filtered Cyclonic, and Maxum Replaceable Filter Bag. All three of these units are powerful, full-featured system that will ensure your home gets the superior cleaning experience you desire.

The True Cyclonic separates the dirt from the airflow without using filters or bags. Because of this, its cleaning performance will not decrease even as the dirt accumulates inside of it.

The Filtered Cyclonic has a dual-filtration process, which includes a cyclonic separation for primary filtration and a pleated filter for secondary filtration. This has a long-lasting filter and the performance will not decrease as the amount of dirt it picks up increases.

If you never want to have to deal with touching dirt, the Maxum Replaceable Filter Bag is likely the choice for you. Even when the vacuum is full, you do not have to worry about touching the dirt or dust that it has collected. This is thanks to the durable, triple-layer filter bags that do not let any dirt or dust escape. All you need to do is remove, seal, and replace the bag.

The Hose

Think about when you are currently vacuuming and ask yourself what your biggest complaint is. For many people, it is the hose.

Do you find yourself tripping over it? Does it never seem long enough? These are things you should consider before making a purchase, especially as there are many vacuum cleaners on the market that provide solutions to these problems. For instance, did you know that there are various hose management products that solve this solution? We personally prefer retractable hoses, Vroom, Spot, and WallyFlex.

With a retractable hose, up to 50 feet of central vacuum hose is stored in the tubing within the wall of your home. All you need to do is pull out the length of the hose you will need for the area you are cleaning, connect the powerhead, and start to vacuum.

If you are looking to do a quick cleaning of a small space, Vroom may be the tool for you. It turns on and off automatically; all you need to do is lift the hose. Vroom has up to 24 feet of retractable hose and comes with a convertible floor and rug tool, as well as an adjustable wand.

Spot is also by Vroom but is tailored more toward specific daily messes such as dryer lint screens and cat litter boxes. Up to 15 feet of hose is stored in your wall for quick, on-the-spot cleaning. It is hidden until you need to use it and comes in three colors (white, black, and almond) that will match the shade of your home.

Finally, WallyFlex mounts onto any wall and has a 13-foot expandable hose that can be used on all surfaces. Most people find this to be an essential tool in the kitchen, bathroom, laundry room, and even closets.

Accessories

The type of vacuum you should purchase depends on your daily life. However, in some situations, purchasing the correct accessories for your device can serve as the solution. These accessories can include cleaning kits, powerheads, hose accessories, dust and crevice tools, and storage and maintenance tools.

If you are a pet owner, there are various pet tool accessories you can purchase with many home vacuum cleaners. Additionally, if you are worried about the storage and maintenance of your device, there are accessories such as nylon hose carriers and cloth maintenance kits that will protect your vacuum. This will also ensure a longer life span. And, if your home has more hard surfaces than carpets, there are many tools and floor brushes of various sizes you can purchase to help properly clean that flooring.

Getting into corners and crevices can be a big challenge when it comes to vacuuming. If you find that a lot of dirt and dust fall into the crevices of your home, choosing a cleaner where a dust and crevice tool can attach on is a great idea. This will make sure that every inch of your home gets the cleaning that it needs.

There are many things you should consider before purchasing a home vacuum. Whereas we tend to recommend purchasing a central vacuum system, it is important to first see if your home is pre-plumbed for this. If it is not already pre-plumed, do not worry, as it is not as expensive as you may think to install central vacuum systems into your home.

Again, the most important thing for you to consider before purchasing a home vacuum is to figure out what best fits your needs. What types of cleaning do you do most? What areas do you have the most difficulty cleaning? Compile a list of all of these things, and then try to match the list with a vacuum. There are also many accessories that can be added to vacuums to solve any cleaning dilemma you encounter.

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