Which type of vacuum cleaner is right for you?
Our comprehensive guide to choosing the best vacuum for your home.
Image credit: Shutterstock
Our comprehensive guide to choosing the best vacuum for your home.
Shopping for a vacuum cleaner used to be a simple process. There weren’t many brands or variations around and they were all roughly the same price. Now, you can choose from cordless, upright, bag-less, robotic, cylinder – the list is endless.
And while we all love choice, sometimes it can be a bit overwhelming. To make buying a vacuum cleaner an easier process, the first step is to work out what type of vacuum cleaner would best suit your lifestyle.
If you live in a small flat, chances are a lightweight cordless vacuum will do the job. But if you’ve got pets, especially cats and dogs, you’ll need something sturdier, designed to help suck up that never-ending stream of fur.
There are many other factors to consider before deciding on your chosen type of vacuum – from cost to ease of use and even noise level.
Regardless of what type of vacuum you choose, it’s also paramount to work out how long that purchase is going to last, especially as vacuum cleaners can cost hundreds of pounds these days.
“Don’t forget to look at the durability of vacuum cleaners,” says Sarah Dempsey, cleaning expert at Myjobquote.co.uk.
“Go to an electrical shop, so you see for yourself how robust it is. But also check the availability of replacement parts such as batteries, filters and attachments. These are usually the first things to break or wear out, so being able to get new parts will save you needing to buy a new vacuum every few years.”
Best for: those who have larger floor spaces, carpets or pets
As the name says, an upright vacuum cleaner is a type of vacuum cleaner that stands upright on the floor. It has a long, flexible hose attached to a motorised head used to clean carpets and floors.
More powerful than cordless vacuum cleaners, corded upright vacuum cleaners have great suction, so are perfect if you have carpets throughout your house.
Some manufacturers do also have cordless models, such as the Shark ICZ300UKT Anti Hair Wrap Cordless Upright Vacuum Cleaner, but these are harder to find.
They’re also less likely to tip over and, because they stand upright, they’re easy to store. While you can get bagged upright vacuums, most these days are bagless and also come with lots of attachments.
Some like the Vax Air Lift Steerable Max Pet Corded Upright Vacuum Cleaner also allow you to lift the main cylinder away from the vacuum, making it more portable.
Shark Anti Hair Wrap Cordless Upright Vacuum, RRP £399.99
Best for: small homes or for people with mobility issues
They may not be the most high-tech vacuum cleaners but if you want a good value machine that cleans well, a cylinder vacuum is for you.
Their size makes them great for smaller homes and while you can purchase expensive cylinder vacuum cleaners, like the Miele Blizzard CX1 Cat & Dog Flex Vacuum Cleaner (John Lewis, £489), there are also lots of budget options available under £100.
They’re typically more powerful than most other vacuums as well and have a larger cleaning radius than most uprights, thanks to the length of the cord. Designed to be pulled behind you, it has a small cylinder on wheels.
This makes it a good choice for anyone with problems in their hands, arms or shoulders as it needs less effort than traditional push vacuum cleaners.
It does, however, require you to bend over, so if you have back problems a stick or upright will be a better choice.
Bosch, Series 2 ProEco Cylinder Vacuum Cleaner, RRP £99
Best for: those who need a lightweight, easy-to-use cleaner
As the name suggests, stick vacuums have a tall, thin body. Apart from that, they operate the same as upright models.
“The main advantage of a stick vacuum is versatility; in theory they can do most of the tasks that a traditional upright or cylinder type vacuum could do but are generally lighter,” says Nick Grey, the inventor and founder of Gtech.
They’re great for quick clean-ups and are often cordless, making them convenient for small spaces. They often have a smaller dust capacity, though, which means they’re not a great choice if you have a larger home to vacuum.
For Grey, the major drawback of sticks is the added maintenance they require compared to their upright or cylinder counterparts. “Stick vacuums suffer with blockages more than traditional vacuums because they have long tubes and limited air flow,” he explains.
“Whereas old fashioned vacuums could generate 30 to 40 litres of air flow per second, modern stick vacuums generally generate five to 15 litres per second. This can result in them being prone to dirt and debris lodging in the tubes and blocking them up.”
He says to retain air flow you will need to regularly clean your vacuum cleaner, including the filters inside your stick vacuum. If you don’t, you risk having to replace the machine only a couple of years after purchasing.
If you’re on a budget, though, stick vacuums are typically less expensive than other types of vacuums.
The size of stick vacuums also makes them easy to store and great for smaller houses or flats.
Dempsey says: “If storage space is at a premium in your home, you’ll want a vacuum that’s wall-mountable or compact.”
Shark Stratos Pro Model Cordless Stick Vacuum, RRP £449
Best for: versatility and easy cordless cleaning
Looking for freedom for you and your vacuum? Then cordless is the perfect type of vacuum cleaner for you. It not only allows you a huge cleaning radius but also means you don’t have to tangle with cords getting in the way.
You can get both cordless upright and stick vacuums, although the latter is more common. The best cordless vacuum will be fairly lightweight and easy to move around, which is pro if you have any mobility issues. Great for any quick cleans – just switch on and go – they may not have quite the suction as corded models.
However, as technology evolves, this is becoming less of a problem.
"Battery life can be a real problem, though, especially if you have a larger house", says Dempsey. She adds: “For cordless vacuums, you should look at the battery life and charge time to see if it’s practical for your needs.”
Bear in mind, though, that if you want a cordless vacuum that delivers the same performance as a corded one, you will have to splash the cash.
You can buy cheaper models but they often don’t have the power and suction. However, these can be useful for quick cleans.
Hoover Cordless Vacuum Cleaner with Anti Hair Wrap, RRP £139
Best for: heavy-duty vacuuming
As the name suggests, wet and dry vacuum cleaner can handle both wet and dry messes, whether that’s vacuuming up spilt cereal or sucking up the milk that went with it.
They’re also pretty powerful, with great suction, so take heavy-duty tasks in their stride such as unblocking sinks, vacuuming up larger debris or dealing with outdoor messes.
While you can find cordless wet and dry vacuum cleaners, they tend to be corded and are generally very functional machines.
Don’t expect high-tech design features such as lasers or LCD screens – these are made to handle the tough stuff. It also means they’re often not small, so you’ll need the storage space.
BISSELL Crosswave Wet & Dry Vacuum Cleaner, RRP £247.96
Best for: a no-effort daily vacuum
Robotic vacuum cleaners are a convenient option for those who want to automate their cleaning routine. They can be programmed to clean at specific times and can navigate around furniture and obstacles on their own.
“A good quality robot vacuum should be able to take on hard floors and carpet and do a reasonable job,” says Dempsey.
“If you’re short on time and have kids or pets, using a robot vacuum on a daily basis is a good way to prevent a build-up of dirt.”
However, Dempsey does say that robot cleaners aren’t as effort-free as you may think, as you need to clear the floorspace of any obstacles, including power cables and toys. And while it can go under furniture, it can’t get into little crevices or cope with stairs.
"It won’t be as thorough as vacuuming yourself, as there will be crevices and corners the robot just can’t reach,” she says.
While they’re not as powerful as other types of vacuums and struggle with picking up larger debris, they are superb used for a daily clean in between human vacuuming sessions.
Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 Self-Empty Robot Vacuum & Mop, RRP £499.99
Best for: small and quick clean-ups
Designed for quick clean-ups, handheld vacuum cleaners are small and portable. Typically, cordless and lightweight, they’re easy to use and are great for quick spills, cleaning the car or even tackling the stairs.
Most come with a charging station, like the Beldray Airlite Cordless Hand Vacuum (Amazon, £48.99), meaning you can leave them on charge so they’re ready to jump into action when needed.
This also makes them a great option if you have a caravan and want to vacuum while you’re away.
The suction power is limited, as is the bin capacity, but they’re a great addition to your cleaning routine when used in conjunction with your main vacuum cleaner.
Shark Classic Handheld Pet Vacuum, RRP £79.99
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