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The Right Vacuum Makes Spring Cleaning a Breeze
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By Celeste M. Smucker, Ph.D.\n\t\t\t\n\t\tDoes spring fill you with the urge to clean? If so, you are part of a long tradition dating back many hundreds of years. Historically, when people lived in relatively small spaces and heated with wood or coal, spring was often the first opportunity they had to open up the house, clean up soot that had collected on walls and windows, and shake out the bedding and drapes. However, spring cleaning is also associated with a number of religious traditions, including the Jewish celebration of Passover, the Persian New Year celebration called Nouroz, and the Christian observance of Lent. If spring cleaning is part of your agenda, a good way to make it easier is with the right vacuum cleaner.
When purchasing a vacuum, you have many options, including uprights, canisters, and central vac systems. There are also robots, bagless vacuums, and rechargeable models to name just a few of the other options. The first decision, then, is to decide what your needs are so you know which models to consider.
If you have a house full of wall-to-wall carpeting, an upright vacuum is usually the best choice. Most machines have height adjustments that allow you to clean different kinds of carpets or area rugs. Some also have a bare floor adjustment that allows you to safely vacuum hardwoods and other surfaces without leaving scratches. If you have big rooms, select an upright with a wide cleaning path. You will also appreciate bumper guards to protect your furniture, and edge-cleaning brushes to effectively clean corners and baseboards.
Self-propelled machines are available to make your job easier. However, keep in mind that while this feature makes your vacuum easier to push, it also makes it much heavier. Before you buy, be sure to test drive your vacuum to be sure you are comfortable with its weight and bulk.
An upright vacuum is less effective than a canister for cleaning under beds, dusting surfaces, or sprucing up furniture and drapes. Depending on the model you choose, it may come with a hose to which you can attach special brushes for these purposes. If so, look for one with a hose that is long enough to assure you can reach the highest spots you will clean, since picking up the machine to extend your range will be impractical.
Canister vacuums are lighter, easier to carry, and adapt better to cleaning bare floors, stairways, upholstery, and drapes. If you love these features, but want a machine that does a good job with carpets, choose a canister with a power head or beater bar. These attachments increase cleaning effectiveness by lifting carpet fibers and loosening dirt so that they may be more efficiently vacuumed up. Many attachments are height-adjustable and come complete with lights. Smaller versions of these special brushes for cleaning upholstery, stairways, and cars are also available.
Regardless of the style of vacuum you prefer, if you have a family member with allergies, you may like a machine that minimizes the amount of dust and dirt that goes back into the air. One alternative is a machine with a HEPA filter, which eliminates 99% of dust particles over .3 microns. However, according to Consumer Reports, there are many models that minimize emissions without the expense of a HEPA filter. Visit their Web site for details and to view comparisons of different machines.
If it’s been a while since you have shopped for a vacuum cleaner, you may not be aware that many models are now bagless. These use filters to gather dust in cups or containers, which must be emptied from time to time. Windows allow you to assess the level of the dirt so that you know when it is time to empty the container. These systems are simpler and eliminate the need to remember to buy bags. Also, they make it easier to retrieve inadvertently sucked up items. On the downside, they come with filters that need to be cleaned or replaced and the process of emptying the container may expose you directly to a cloud of dust, requiring you to wear a mask if you are sensitive.
Another popular way to clean is with a central vacuum system. These are pricier than conventional machines, and for most people, must be professionally installed. However, they have a number of advantages. With a central system, you vacuum through tubes attached to inlets installed throughout the house and powered by a single powerful unit located in a remote location such as a basement or garage. This means you don’t have a heavy machine to carry around when you vacuum. In addition, all of the dust and dirt are removed from your immediate living space, a real benefit for those who suffer from allergies. These units are also quieter than conventional machines, and since they are a permanent installation, may add to the value of your house at resale.
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Celeste Smucker is a writer, editor, and author of Sold on Me, Daily Inspiration for Real Estate Agents. She lives near Charlottesville. \n\t\t\t\n
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The Right Vacuum Makes Spring Cleaning a Breeze
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By Celeste M. Smucker, Ph.D.\\n\\t\\t\\t\\n\\t\\tDoes spring fill you with the urge to clean? If so, you are part of a long tradition dating back many hundreds of years. Historically, when people lived in relatively small spaces and heated with wood or coal, spring was often the first opportunity they had to open up the house, clean up soot that had collected on walls and windows, and shake out the bedding and drapes. However, spring cleaning is also associated with a number of religious traditions, including the Jewish celebration of Passover, the Persian New Year celebration called Nouroz, and the Christian observance of Lent. If spring cleaning is part of your agenda, a good way to make it easier is with the right vacuum cleaner.
When purchasing a vacuum, you have many options, including uprights, canisters, and central vac systems. There are also robots, bagless vacuums, and rechargeable models to name just a few of the other options. The first decision, then, is to decide what your needs are so you know which models to consider.
If you have a house full of wall-to-wall carpeting, an upright vacuum is usually the best choice. Most machines have height adjustments that allow you to clean different kinds of carpets or area rugs. Some also have a bare floor adjustment that allows you to safely vacuum hardwoods and other surfaces without leaving scratches. If you have big rooms, select an upright with a wide cleaning path. You will also appreciate bumper guards to protect your furniture, and edge-cleaning brushes to effectively clean corners and baseboards.
Self-propelled machines are available to make your job easier. However, keep in mind that while this feature makes your vacuum easier to push, it also makes it much heavier. Before you buy, be sure to test drive your vacuum to be sure you are comfortable with its weight and bulk.
An upright vacuum is less effective than a canister for cleaning under beds, dusting surfaces, or sprucing up furniture and drapes. Depending on the model you choose, it may come with a hose to which you can attach special brushes for these purposes. If so, look for one with a hose that is long enough to assure you can reach the highest spots you will clean, since picking up the machine to extend your range will be impractical.
Canister vacuums are lighter, easier to carry, and adapt better to cleaning bare floors, stairways, upholstery, and drapes. If you love these features, but want a machine that does a good job with carpets, choose a canister with a power head or beater bar. These attachments increase cleaning effectiveness by lifting carpet fibers and loosening dirt so that they may be more efficiently vacuumed up. Many attachments are height-adjustable and come complete with lights. Smaller versions of these special brushes for cleaning upholstery, stairways, and cars are also available.
Regardless of the style of vacuum you prefer, if you have a family member with allergies, you may like a machine that minimizes the amount of dust and dirt that goes back into the air. One alternative is a machine with a HEPA filter, which eliminates 99% of dust particles over .3 microns. However, according to Consumer Reports, there are many models that minimize emissions without the expense of a HEPA filter. Visit their Web site for details and to view comparisons of different machines.
If it’s been a while since you have shopped for a vacuum cleaner, you may not be aware that many models are now bagless. These use filters to gather dust in cups or containers, which must be emptied from time to time. Windows allow you to assess the level of the dirt so that you know when it is time to empty the container. These systems are simpler and eliminate the need to remember to buy bags. Also, they make it easier to retrieve inadvertently sucked up items. On the downside, they come with filters that need to be cleaned or replaced and the process of emptying the container may expose you directly to a cloud of dust, requiring you to wear a mask if you are sensitive.
Another popular way to clean is with a central vacuum system. These are pricier than conventional machines, and for most people, must be professionally installed. However, they have a number of advantages. With a central system, you vacuum through tubes attached to inlets installed throughout the house and powered by a single powerful unit located in a remote location such as a basement or garage. This means you don’t have a heavy machine to carry around when you vacuum. In addition, all of the dust and dirt are removed from your immediate living space, a real benefit for those who suffer from allergies. These units are also quieter than conventional machines, and since they are a permanent installation, may add to the value of your house at resale.
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Celeste Smucker is a writer, editor, and author of Sold on Me, Daily Inspiration for Real Estate Agents. She lives near Charlottesville. \\n\\t\\t\\t\\n