All About Canister Vacuums
Up until a few years ago, there was a clear distinction
between upright vacuums and canister vacuums. Generally speaking, for
heavily-carpeted areas, upright vacuums worked best, while hard-surfaces
such as wood floors called for canister vacuums. However, as vacuum
cleaner manufacturers are now designing vacuums to be more multipurpose,
this distinction has become increasingly blurry. Nevertheless, canister
vacuums are still considered to be most effective on hard surfaces, as
upright vacuum cleaners may cause dirt scattering on these types of
areas.
Canister (or cylinder) vacuums have the motor and bag housed in a
separate canister unit that is usually mounted on wheels and connected
to the vacuum head via a flexible plastic hose with nozzle. This
canister is usually outfitted with a tool caddy and has some sort of
head and agitator similar to an upright vacuum. Not only are they ideal
for hard surfaces, they are also quite popular because they often
feature maneuverable heads and are lighter in weight, also making them a
great option for cleaning stairs and other hard-to-reach areas that may
not be accessible by a traditional upright vacuum. In addition, most
canister vacuums come with a variety of tools that will work well on
different types of surfaces in a home, including dusting tools,
upholstery tools, and even crevice tools.
Two major criteria to keep in mind when choosing a canister vacuum is
the floor surface that is to be cleaned and the power of the vacuum
itself. Canister vacuums commonly offer three types of tools for
floors:
1. A 10"-12" hard plastic brush with soft bristles for bare floors
and smooth surfaces without rugs or carpeting.
2. A turbo brush with bristles and a spinning drum roller best suited
for low pile carpeting and scatter rugs.
3. A power head brush that is very similar to the turbo brush, but is
powered by a separate motor, which is ideal for wall-to-wall
carpeting or carpeted surfaces with pet hair.
Canister vacuum cleaners with turbo or power head brushes utilize
spinning drum rollers similar to those used in traditional upright
vacuums, and can be typically switched off for safe operation on bare
floors. Although both types of brushes may look and perform similarly,
the power head brush's separate motor is more powerful than the turbo
brush variety. When shopping for a canister vacuum with a power head or
turbo brush, remember to carefully examine the brush roll and keep in
mind what type of area you will be primarily vacuuming. Canister vacuums
with independent motors will work best for thick-pile carpet, but turbo
or suction driven brush tools, which are slightly weaker, can also be
adequate for your needs.
In addition to being outfitted with a variety of tools, most canister
vacuums also have some type of filtration system, as well as retractable
power cords. Canister vacuums mostly feature collection bags, but there
are a few bagless varieties on the market as well.
When choosing a canister vacuum, also look for additional features that
may suit your needs. If you suffer from any type of allergy or
respiratory disorder, a HEPA canister vacuum may prove to be invaluable.
HEPA systems involve sealed filtration systems that retain up to 99.97%
of particulates up to 0.3 microns from the floor. These filtration
systems are some of the most powerful, and HEPA technology has recently
become quite popular in medical settings as well.
Other canister vacuum features can include specialized
tools to handle furniture or drapes; long cords and hoses if you need to
clean a larger living space; and lightweight bodies to accommodate
staircases. Dirt sensors are also a great feature, as they are indicator
systems designed to let you know when the vacuum has stopped picking up
dirt (though not necessarily whether there is still dirt in the rug).
Although canister vacuums are not quite as common as upright vacuums,
because they are multipurpose, lightweight, and easy to maneuver, they
are quickly gaining popularity.
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