Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Vacuum for Household Cleaning

Vacuum cleaners have become a must-have household appliance to keeping your home clean and dust-free. In the following guide, we’ll be covering everything you need to know about vacuum cleaners and how to choose one that best fits your needs.

Upright vacuum cleaner

The upright vacuum cleaner not only uses the suction power in the vacuum body but also a motor inside the nozzle to drive the rotating vibrating brush. This combination can effectively clean the dust and dirt trapped in a carpet, making it an excellent choice for cleaning carpets.

There are two main types of upright vacuum cleaners – the front dust bag type and bagless type. The dust bag type requires regular replacement with a new bag, while the bagless type replaces the bag with a dust container, which can simply be emptied and reused when it is full.

Most upright vacuum cleaners are cordless, which makes vacuuming more convenient, but when buying one, you need to pay attention to its charging time and endurance.

Canister vacuum cleaner

Canister vacuum cleaners are the most common traditional wired vacuum cleaners. It mainly relies on its high-speed motor to generate strong suction power to suck dust and collect it in its mainframe.

Most canister vacuum cleaners have a flexible nozzle that can be extended and contracted freely. It also comes with a variety of nozzles that can be swapped depending on the environment.

However, due to the cable, it needs to be moved by means of rollers, thus limiting its range of use. Do pay special attention to the maximum reach of the cable when purchasing. Lastly, the canister vacuum cleaner tends to be larger. If your living space is limited, you will need to consider the storage space for the device.

Handheld vacuum cleaner

Handheld vacuum cleaners are the smallest among all vacuum cleaners and can clean locations that are difficult to reach with larger vacuum cleaners. Areas and items such as sofas, desks and cabinets are ideal for handheld vacuum cleaners.

Although it is very convenient to use, one thing to note is that most handheld vacuum cleaners are relatively weak in suction power. The market has also launched many upright and handheld 2-in-1 vacuum cleaners.

With these 2-in-1 designs, users will enjoy the best of both worlds in terms of wireless charging design and handheld portability feature when cleaning hard-to-reach surfaces.

Vacuum cleaner robot

If you don’t have time for housework, a robot vacuum cleaner is a smart choice. Most vacuuming robots are equipped with intelligent navigation systems that can navigate even the tightest home spaces on their own.

Robot vacuums are capable of avoiding obstacles and return to recharge automatically whenever instructed for cleaning duties. Although it is very convenient, in terms of suction power, they typically rank weakest among all vacuum cleaners.

In addition, because most vacuum robots come in round design, they are generally not efficient in cleaning sharp corners. As such, vacuum robots alone may not be sufficient for keeping the house completely dust free.

Water filter vacuum cleaner

Water filtration vacuum cleaners have an added air purification function whenever in use. The vacuums’ water tank needs to be filled before each use. The filtering technology can also be used to filter out the waste gases and purify the air while vacuuming, making it suitable for people who are prone to allergies.

Vacuum Cleaner Type Summary

Type	Optimal cleaning use	Weight	Mobility	Duration	Dust bag capacity	Body size	Noise
Upright vacuum cleaner	Larger carpets	Medium	Wireless use	Approximately 10 – 40 minutes	0.5L – 1.3L	Easy to store	Varying noise levels
Canister vacuum cleaner	Floors & hard-to-reach areas	Heavy	Easy to handle, pay attention to the length of the wire	Wire connection socket	1.5L – 3L	Larger size	Noisier
Handheld vacuum cleaner	Hard-to-reach areas for ordinary vacuum cleaners	Lightweight	Very easy to handle, easy to clean furniture	9 – 20 minutes	0.3L – 0.5L	Small and easy to store	Quiet
Vacuum cleaner robot	General flooring cleaning	Lightweight	Automatic, no control required	1 – 2.5 hours	0.3L – 0.5L	Small and easy to store	Very quiet
Water filter vacuum cleaner	General flooring cleaning	Heavy	Easy to handle,pay attention to the length of the wire	Wire connection socket	No dust bag	Larger size	Quiet

3 key points for purchasing

When purchasing a vacuum cleaner, users can search for information on the brand’s official website, as the European Commission has required manufacturers to label their vacuum cleaners with the EU Energy Efficiency Label.

This label provides information on energy efficiency, average annual energy consumption, and operating sound levels. Users can refer to the “EU Energy Efficiency Label” to understand the power consumption of a vacuum cleaner, the suction power rating of carpets / general floors, and the dust re-emission level before choosing the right vacuum cleaner model.

Suction power

The most important thing about a vacuum cleaner is the suction power. Users can refer to the suction power (AW) and suction pressure (kpa) to understand the suction degree of the vacuum cleaner.

Suction power refers to the cleaning efficiency of the vacuum cleaner, measured in Air Watts (AW). The larger the value, the stronger the suction power. Generally, vacuum cleaners are about 300AW – 1100AW.

If you use carpets at home, you can choose a vacuum cleaner with more than 300AW, while for floors or tiles, you can choose a vacuum cleaner with less than 300AW.

The suction pressure is another important indicator of the suction power is formed by vacuum. When the power of the vacuum cleaner is higher, the vacuum level will also be higher.

However, if the suction pressure is too high, it will increase the burden of the motor and affect the life span of the vacuum cleaner. The recommended range is between 18kpa – 23kpa.

Generally speaking, due to the limited battery supply of wireless vacuum cleaners, the power of the motor used will not be too large, therefore the suction power will be lower than wired vacuum cleaners.

Usage Time

Wired vacuum cleaners provide a large amount of power by connecting directly to an electrical outlet, so you don’t have to worry about endurance.

However, most of the new upright vacuum cleaners are cordless in design, and since they require a powerful motor for operation, the battery is the main factor affecting the endurance of the vacuum cleaner.

There are two main types of batteries used in vacuum cleaners, lithium and nickel-metal hydride. Compared to nickel-metal hydride batteries, lithium batteries have greater capacity and are less prone to wear and tear, resulting in relatively long battery life.

Commercially available cordless vacuum cleaners generally require slightly more than 3 hours to be fully charged and can be used for 10 – 40 minutes depending on usage.

To avoid running out of power before the vacuum cleaner finishes cleaning, users can choose the right vacuum cleaner according to the size of their living space.

Operation volume

Vacuum cleaners are noisier than other home appliances, so be sure to take the volume into consideration when purchasing one. Generally, vacuum cleaners emit a noise level of 78-90 decibels.

If you prefer a quieter home environment, it is recommended that you choose a quieter vacuum cleaner with ratings below 70 decibels. Japanese brands of vacuum cleaners have smaller wattage and emits a relatively lower noise level.

On the other hand, European vacuum cleaners tend to have a high wattage but most are equipped with a layer of soundproofing to reduce noise. Long periods of noise can be annoying, so it’s important to choose wisely.

Hong Kong Consumer Council’s 2018 Vacuum Cleaner Test Results

In 2018, the Hong Kong Consumer Council conducted tests on a total of 20 upright vacuum cleaners in the market. The tests covered functions such as cleaning capacity, endurance and quietness.

Model	Origin Claims	Suction Power	Suction Power and Usage Time	Energy Efficiency	Noise Level	Ease of Use	Overall
Dyson V11 Absolute	Malaysia	4.5	2.5	3	2.5	3.5	4
Dyson V8 Animal	Malaysia	4.5	2	4	1.5	3.5	4
Karcher VC5 Cordless Premium	Italy	3.5	2.5	4	4	3.5	3.5
Electrolux Pure F9 PF91- 6BWF	Europe	3.5	3.5	3	3	3.5	3.5
Mi Handheld Vacuum Cleaner	China	3.5	2.5	4.5	3	3.5	3.5
Bosch BCS122GB	China	3.5	3	4	3	3.5	3.5
Philips FC6823 SpeedPro Max	China	3.5	4	3.5	1.5	3.5	3.5
Dyson Cyclone V10 Fluffy	Malaysia	3.5	2.5	3.5	1.5	3.5	3.5
Philips FC6813 SpeedPro Max	China	3.5	3	4	1.5	3.5	3.5
Philips FC6722 SpeedPro	China	3	3.5	4	3.5	3.5	3.5
Bosch BBH3211GB	China	3	3.5	4	2.5	3.5	3.5
Tefal TY7329 X-Pert Essential 360	China	3	4.5	4	3	3	3
Tefal TY9292 Air Force 360	China	3.5	1.5	4.5	1.5	3.5	3
Midea VCP5	China	3	2	3	4	3.5	3
Bosch BCH3ALL25	China	2.5	4.5	4	3	3.5	3
Electrolux ZB3320P	China	3	3.5	4	3	3	3
Electrolux ZB3301	China	2.5	3.5	4.5	3	3	3
Philips FC6172 PowerPro Duo	China	2.5	2.5	3.5	1	3	3
Candy CRA22PTG003	China	1.5	2	4.5	2.5	3.5	2.5
Tefal TY6756 Dual Force 2 in 1	China	1.5	4.5	4	3	3	2

Practical Tips

Is an air filtration system necessary?

If your family has allergies, look for a vacuum cleaner with a High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter, which effectively reduces allergens such as dust mites, pollen and pet hair.

Moreover, it can filter 99.97% of dust as small as 0.3 microns which greatly improves indoor air quality. Because HEPA can only block dust mites, but not kill them, users must replace the filter regularly, otherwise, it will become a breeding ground for bacteria and dust mites.

What should I pay attention to when using the vacuum cleaner?

• It is recommended to check the power plug and power cord of the vacuum cleaner for any signs of damage before use.
• Before turning on the vacuum cleaner, check that the voltage and frequency are exactly the same as your home’s power supply, and make sure the plug is fully inserted into the outlet.
• Turn off the power and unplug the vacuum cleaner before cleaning or servicing it or any of its accessories.
• If the vacuum cleaner is too noisy, check to see if the bag or box is full and make sure the vacuum cleaner is not clogged with suction heads, tubes or other parts.
• If using a corded vacuum cleaner, do not pull the vacuum cleaner through the cord and avoid running the vacuum cleaner over any sharp objects to prevent damage to the power cord.

How to clean the vacuum cleaner properly?

Users must clean the dust bag regularly, otherwise, the dust inside the bag will block the vacuum cleaner and affect its performance.

• If you are using a canister vacuum cleaner, you should first check if there is dust in the hose of the vacuum cleaner and clean the dust before rinsing it with water.
• If the vacuum cleaner is designed with a bag, it should be cleaned or replaced after every three to four months of use; if a paper bag is used, the user can throw it away directly after use to save the trouble of cleaning; if a cloth bag is used, the dust needs to be cleaned regularly and washed with warm water and dried naturally.
• If you use a bagless vacuum cleaner, it is recommended to rinse the dust container after each use and put it back into the vacuum cleaner after it is air-dried to ensure hygiene.
• In addition to the basic cleaning of the dust bag and dust bin, it is also important to clean and maintain the filter. Simply rinse the filter with cold water, do not use a brush to clean it, and allow it to dry thoroughly before using again.

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