| Until quite recently the vacuum cleaner was a | | | | uprights? Which do you find easier to handle. |
| humble servant of domestic cleaning; locked | | | | Most think that a canister is easier to |
| away for the most part and unloved. But how | | | | handle but Dyson have recently introduced a |
| times have changed? Those were the days | | | | ball into the head of the upright model, |
| before Oreck promised to lighten our load, | | | | making handling much easier.What's all this |
| before Dyson bamboozled us with science and | | | | bagless nonsense? Until Dyson came along most |
| garish colours, and Miele offered us ultimate | | | | vacuum cleaners were fitted with bags. Now |
| cleaning power with the stylish lines of a | | | | most manufacturers offer bag or bagless |
| German sports car.It used to be so simple. | | | | models. Bagless models claim to offer suction |
| You either bought a model from a door-to-door | | | | power that never diminishes, even when the |
| salesman or you went to your local hardware | | | | dust compartment is nearly full. They also |
| shop and bought pretty much the same sort of | | | | allow you to see what has been sucked up, and |
| vacuum your parents bought. The vacuum | | | | easy retrieval - handy when you've just |
| cleaner hadn't changed in eons. It was what | | | | vacuumed up something you shouldn't have. |
| it always was; heavy, rather ugly and noisy. | | | | However, emptying a bagless vacuum can be a |
| But not anymore.These days the hapless buyer | | | | messy affair for some people.A filter used to |
| is overloaded with the latest technical | | | | be a piece of foam in most vacuum cleaners. |
| advances, beguiled by the latest colour and | | | | Not anymore. These days many people are |
| styling and confused by the slick marketing | | | | concerned and affected by allergens in the |
| techniques used to push these 'design icons' | | | | air. Vacuum cleaner manufacturers have |
| upon us. So how do you make that difficult | | | | responded by introducing HEPA filters. The |
| choice? How do you buy the right vacuum | | | | problem with older vacuums is that a certain |
| cleaner and avoid universal ridicule from | | | | amount of dust was sucked in and blown back |
| friend and family? If you are thinking of | | | | into the atmosphere. Vacuums fitted with HEPA |
| buying a vacuum cleaner, you should think | | | | remove 99. 97 percent of particles 0. 3 |
| about the following points. Only by knowing | | | | micron in diameter (or larger) from the air |
| what your requirements are can you make the | | | | that passes through them.Attachments and |
| right choice.What type of flooring do you | | | | Extras: What attachments do you require? What |
| have? The vacuums of today are specialist - | | | | length of electrical cord would you like? You |
| in case you didn't know. You'll want to buy a | | | | should buy a model that has at least 20 feet |
| certain make of vacuum for fitted carpet from | | | | of cord. The hose should be at least 5 foot |
| a vacuum that's going to be used for hardwood | | | | long.Service: This is one thing that hasn't |
| flooring. You'll need to pay close attention | | | | changed. Top manufacturers have always prided |
| to the vacuum heads. Also, what type of | | | | themselves on after sales service. This is |
| attachments will you needs? Do you have | | | | still true today. However, some models of |
| curtains to clean? Windowsills? High | | | | vacuum cleaners are more expensive to repair |
| alcoves?Canister or Upright? Back in the good | | | | than others.Finally, how much are you |
| old days just about all came as upright. Then | | | | prepared to pay? The rule of thumb is that |
| someone had the bright idea of the canister! | | | | the more you pay the better the product |
| But seriously, do you have a lot of stairs? | | | | you'll be getting. But this isn't always so. |
| If so, you may prefer the canister. But if | | | | Some manufacturers rely very much on their |
| you have fitted carpets you may prefer the | | | | reputation; as a consumer you usually pay for |
| greater suction power afforded by most | | | | this. |