It’s all well and good hiring the services of a professional domestic cleaner each week, but from time-to-time, you’re going to need to get your own hands dirty. And of course, a good quality vacuum cleaner is an essential tool to quickly and easily spruce up your home.
In our opinion, a great quality vacuum cleaner is one that is suited to the size of where you live and doesn’t break the bank. After all, who wants to be paying above the odds for a vacuum cleaner! So to help you out, we’ve once again done all the hard work, and compiled your go-to guide for buying the best vacuum cleaner.
Which features do you need in a vacuum cleaner?
First off, here are a few core features you may need to decide on.
Bag or bagless?
Nowadays, bagless vacuum cleaners are a popular choice as you don’t need to worry about buying new bags regularly and fitting a new one every time it needs emptying. They are also handy because they usually come with a clear case so you can see if you vacuum up any objects by accident. The only downside is that they can be messy if you overfill them before emptying, and if you break the filter, these can be expensive to fix.
Cylinder or upright
Cylinder vacuums are those with a main body and an adjoining tube and arm which you vacuum with. These are useful for accessing awkward spaces or cleaning stairs. Upright vacuums are those which you simply push around the house. They are often easier to use and great for basic carpet cleaning. However, they’re not so good for awkwardly shaped spaces and getting them up and down stairs.
Cord or cordless?
Cordless vacuums are one of the newest features brought to the market. They are useful in that you no longer have to worry about getting tangled up trailing wires, you simply leave them on charge and use it when you need it. They tend to be lighter and more manoeuvrable as well. However, they can command a premium price tag, which is annoying as the battery capacity is limiting and they have less room to store dirt. These issues make them awkward if you have a bigger home and want to get all the vacuuming done in one go.
The best value for money vacuum cleaners
Numatic Henry
Best-selling features: 9 litre capacity bag; durable; 9.6 metre power cable
Priced from: £109
No list of the best vacuum cleaners would be complete without mentioning the classic Henry Hoover. It has remained popular in recent years because it is fundamentally a great cleaning machine, and is very cheap compared to other brands. It is commonly used in office spaces because it can take a lot of punishment, though this makes it good for busy houses as well. Just be aware that it is quite heavy, coming in at 8.5kg.
Vax Air Cordless Lift
Best-selling features: Cordless; only 5.1kg (3.3kg hand-held); 50 minute battery
Priced from: £120
The Vax Air Cordless Lift is a great vacuum for those looking for the ease of a cordless upright vacuum, and the convenience of a cordless handheld vacuum. If you need to clean other pieces of furniture or hoover the stairs, then the top part of the vacuum comes away. The handheld weight is only 3.3kg, however, this does limit the overall capacity of the vacuum to 1 litre. The only other criticism is that it’s not so good at cleaning the borders of the carpet, and you’ll need to go around with a crevice tool. Though, for a 2-in-1 cordless vacuum with a hearty 50 minute battery life, it’s hard to knock the relatively inexpensive price tag.
Miele Compact C3
Best-selling features: Perfect for pet owners; pet odour filter; long nozzle
Priced from: £229
The Miele Compact C3 is specifically designed with cat and dog owners in mind. It has incredibly powerful suction capabilities and a long nozzle making it great for cleaning up the stairs or hard-to-reach places. There is a 5 litre bag which allows it to store a lot before the bag needs emptying, and the pet-odour filter stops it from emitting foul smells.
Morphy Richards Supervac 2-in-1
Best-selling features: lightweight 3kg; collapsible handle; 2-in-1 handheld option
Priced from: £75
This 2-in-1 cordless is great if you have a small home and storage space is limited. The collapsible handle makes it perfect for tucking away in a small cupboard, and it’s lightweight at just 3kg, making it easy to move and perfect for elderly couples. It has a 30 minute run time and a 0.3 litre capacity which, though both quite small, iren’t a problem for tidying up a small flat. It moves smoothly and is suited to both hard flooring and carpets. The handheld option is also convenient for reaching furniture and awkward spots. For just £75, this vacuum cleaner is extremely good value for money.
It should be clear that a great quality vacuum cleaner does not need to cost a fortune, but instead should be bought to fill the needs of your home. Just because a certain model was released 5 years ago, it doesn’t mean it can’t do it’s job or is much worse than a brand new top of the range Dyson. Your vacuum cleaner should be seen as a worthwhile investment that will suit you for many years to come.
Perhaps it may be best to visit a few stores and try some of the suggestions above that you think you may like. Then, when you get back in, give us a call and discuss the domestic cleaning service we offer across Birmingham and Solihull. We take away all the boring and tedious cleaning work that you don’t like doing and will enjoy taking your brand new vacuum cleaner for a spin. You can contact us here.