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Sorting Through Vacuum Advertisements

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Vacuum advertisements distinguish their products based on their features or on their performance, and in both areas, there is a wide range of possibilities from which you can choose.

Features:

· Nozzle height adjuster—Adjusting the height of your vacuum nozzle allows you to customize your vacuuming for plush carpets, thin carpets, or hard floors. You can move quicker and more efficiently across all surfaces.

· Full bag alert—As you would expect, a full bag alert light tells you when it is time to change your bag.

· Retractable cord—With this convenient feature, you simply press a button and the cord winds itself.

· Brush on/off switch—Many vacuums simply have the brush on at all times, but turning the brush off on hard surfaces reduces the possibility that rather than sucking dust, you will sweep it away from the vacuum and into the air.

· Dirt sensor—A dirt sensor notifies you when you are over a heavy patch of dirt and then the light goes off when your vacuum is no longer picking up dirt. This feature can be helpful, but it only indicates when your vacuum has stopped picking up dirt, not when all the dirt is gone.

· Crevice and upholstery tools—These tools, along with an extension wand, come standard with many vacuums. They allow you to reach areas that you could otherwise not reach effectively, especially with an upright vacuum.

Performance:

Amps—The number of amps that a vacuum advertisement boasts refers to the amount of electrical power coming into the vacuum. It does not, however, give any indication of how powerful the vacuum is; that depends on how efficiently amps are used.
Microfiltration/HEPA filter—A microfilter or a HEPA filter are secondary filters that stop dust particles that the vacuum sucks in from escaping back out into the air. Consequently, this second filter can help allergy sufferers to avoid increasing the number of dust particles in the air. However, not all HEPA filters are created equal. True or absolute filters retain 99.97% of dust particles of a certain size while other HEPA filters may only stop 85-90% of these particles. In addition, some vacuums with a HEPA filter may sweep dust into the air before it ever makes it into the vacuum, so look at the overall information about a vacuum, not just what the filter does.
Self-propelled—Self-propelled vacuums do move faster and easier, but the added mechanism makes them heavier as well.

When you go to the store, compare several different kinds of vacuums, and then think about what is important to you. If you suffer from allergies, determine which vacuum reduces the most airborne particles. If you care about the weight of a vacuum or the noise of a vacuum, ask a salesman about those issues. See if you can test models in the store, or ask friends what kind of vacuum they have and whether they are satisfied with it.

Consumer Reports named three models—a Hoover, a Eureka, and a Kenmore—as its Quick Picks for general all-around cleaning. The magazine also recommended the nine-pound Riccar model for its light weight and a Bissell vacuum as an economical ($80) option. Kirby upright vacuums and Rainbow canister models, however, actually needed the least repairs. At least seven different brands received some sort of positive recommendation, so it seems clear that when you are choosing a vacuum, look especially for a model that meets your needs rather than a specific brand.

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