Choosing the right vacuum cleaner ought to be a relatively easy affair wouldn't you think? Don't they all basically do the same chore? It seems they should! It can be a good idea to see what leading consumer testing groups discovered during their product evaluations. Consumer Reports accomplished that very thing when they thoroughly tested a number of modern vacuum cleaners. After testing vacuums on a variety of real-world situations, an obvious winner should be determined. Shouldn't it? But it boggles the mind when after all this in-depth testing, their results don't often jive with customer feedback. Turns out the evaluation team may not grade a model very high but reviews submitted by product owners showed a totally different account. So much for scientific testing! Although there may be conflicting advice as to which is the 'best' vacuum cleaner to purchase, here are some basic tips to keep in mind when you're out shopping for a new vacuum cleaner. A basic question is the length of the manufacturer's warranty? Vacuums do break down so a long warranty is also a plus. Especially if you're laying out big dollars to purchase a new model. Some cheaply priced vacuums lose their value quickly if they run into frequent breakdowns. That great 'deal' isn't so if it needs to be replaced after only a year's use. Something else to look for is the length of the hose. Does it stretch out far enough for those extra tasks you want to get done like cleaning the stairs or sweeping out the car? Will the hose reach the top of your curtains? Is it equipped with important attachments needed to do a thorough cleaning? Niche cleaners, dust brushes and miniature heads can help with specialized clean-up jobs. Do the roller brushes disengaged for bare floors? Rapidly revolving brush heads can nick the surface of hardwood floors. "Beater brushes" are ideal for lifting up ground in debris but some models do a poor job of cleaning close to walls. A model with an edge cleaner permits you get right next to obstacles. If you're selecting a 'bag' model, make sure your local store sells the make and size you'll need. If not, you'll have to special order them and that can be a major bother. Vacuum cleaner bags come in a large assortment depending on the make and model of your unit. Your local store may have on hand the brand name but be sure they also supply dust bags for your particular model type. Even if you don't select a bag-vacuum, there's still some replacement costs involved. Many models have filters that must be changed. A high-end model may require expensive replacement filters as well. So check out where these specially-designed filters can be acquired. Vacuum cleaners come in two basic models: Canister and Upright. Canisters work exceptionally well on hard floors and stairs, but effectiveness varies greatly on carpet. Canisters tend to cost more than an upright and they are not as maneuverable due to their large size and weight. Canisters can be very cumbersome if your cleaning duties include relocating the unit up and down stairs. Consumer Reports tested canister vacs and their pick went to the Kenmore Intuition 28014. This Kenmore model permits carpet height adjustments, brushes that can be disengaged for bare floors and comes with a full-bag indicator. The cord on the Intuition is retractable and HEPA filtration for cleaning the air as well. Consumer Reports "recommends" this vac and it has a price tag around $600. It weighs about 26 pounds. Uprights perform admirably on bare floors, and like canister models, results on carpets are varied. To clean thoroughly also requires enough power achieved via the hose and attachments. Consumer Reports evaluated several upright vacuum cleaners and the Hoover WindTunnel Anniversary Edition U6485-900 won out in comparison testing. This unit collects dirt and debris with a dust bag. This Hoover model is self-propelled so moving around the WindTunnel is a piece of cake. It has a HEPA filter, full-bag indicator, and the brushes can be turned off to protect hardwood floors. Consumer Reports garnered the Hoover WindTunnel Anniversary Edition a Recommended Buy. Selling price has a wide range of $180-$280 so comparison shopping is a must.
Article Source: http://www.articlecontentprovider.com/articlesubmit
So many choices to make when buying a new vacuum cleaner. Do you prefer bag or bag-less? What's best: Canister or Upright? How do the vacuum fair when put through testing? Find out which vacuum cleaner models are recommended by a leading consumer reports organization.
Visit our website to read more reviews on the best vacuum cleaners including reports on vacuum cleaner ratings.
Please Rate this Article
5 out of 5 4 out of 5 3 out of 5 2 out of 5 1 out of 5
