THE TYPE OF VACUUM TO CHOOSE Start by determining the best vacuum for the type of cleaning you do. If you have wall-to-wall carpet, or just lots of rugs, upright vacuum cleaners do best overall. But if you have lots of stairs or hardwood, laminate, or tile floors canisters can be easier to manoeuvre and are safer to use on wooden floors. Stick and hand-held vacuums are great for lighter tasks that need quick attention; a robotic device is an option for the set-it-and-go crowd.
WHY CHOOSE CANISTER VACUUM CLEANERS?
Canister vacuums can efficiently remove dirt from the cracks and crevices of your hardwood floor using their long, oval floor brush attachments. Canister models are also easier to carry up the stairs and use in cleaning awkward places, such as behind furniture, inside the car and sucking up dirt from corners. Most are quieter, and the separate power makes them seem lighter as well.
THE CHECKLISTS FOR HARDWOOD FLOOR VACUUMS NO ROLLING BRUSHES Check the head of the vacuum for any rotator brushes, which are usually covered with thick bristles. You want to avoid vacuums with brush roll because they are designed to dig into carpet fibers, but can cause damage to wooden floors. Or there must be an on/off switch for the brush roll.
STRONG SUCTION Since we don’t want rotating bristles when cleaning hardwood floors, we rely on the suction power of the vacuum to suck up all dirt on wooden flooring.
RUBBERIZED OR PROTECTED WHEELS This is to prevent scratching wooden floors when moving the vacuum around.
EDGE CLEANER ATTACHMENT To quickly clean corners and along the baseboard.
TELESCOPIC HOSE (CANISTER MODELS) To vacuum floors and to transition to staircases.
LONG ELECTRICAL CORDS Allow easy mobility in long corridors and stairwells, a key feature for accessibility. Also, it minimizes the need to re-plug to other electrical outlets.
SIZE AND WEIGHT When it comes to delicate wood surfaces, you want to find a cleaner that’s lightweight and compact. It’s not essential depending on the other features, but it does make it a lot easier to manoeuvre and reduces the risk of accidental scratches and scuff marks.
HEPA FILTRATION Dust can trigger allergies and asthma, choosing a vacuum with HEPA filter cuts the amount of dust you inhale as it filters out 99.7% of small particles.
LOW
VARIABLE SUCTION POWER
MEDIUM
This is very useful for more delicate jobs, such as cleaning curtains, furniture and such.
HIGH ON-BOARD STORAGE FOR ACCESSORIES
Most canister vacuums come with all the attachments you need. You want them stored onboard for instant access no matter what you are cleaning.
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