What Type of Vacuum Cleaner Should I Buy?

Looking for "The Best Vacuum Cleaner"?

Is it a Dyson? An Oreck?

The answer might surprise you...

It lies in the options and features of the vacuum, in relation to the type of carpet you have in your home. Confused? Let us help.

It is best to find a vacuum with a beater bar. A beater bar is located under the vacuum and 'beats' the carpet as the vacuum rolls over soiled areas. This beating and vibration shakes the heavier sands in your carpet up high enough that your vacuum can suck them up. These heavier sands are part of the cause of the traffic lanes in your home, generally coming in from the front door or garage or off the kitchen into the living room, anywhere you step from hard surface to carpet.

A beater bar is wonderful, however, is not created for all carpet types. Just like fabrics, different carpet fibers have different characteristics. If you have berber, or a looped carpet, you need to avoid a vacuum with a beater bar - this can catch a loop and cause a snag or run in your carpets. We most often think of Olefin as a berber, but berber is the looped sytle of a carpet. Olefin ("ohl-uh-fin") is actually a plastic, made essentially from the same materials as your common Coke bottle. Notice when you crumble or smash a Coke bottle, it is impossible to restore it to its previous state? The same characteristic you'll find in Olefin carpets. If you're someone that likes to rearrange your furniture, Olefin is not for you. The divots and indentations from furniture placement will always be easily identifiable. However, if done right, Olefin cleans and brightens so nicely with regular professional carpet cleaning.

Mistakes to avoid when setting up your vacuum:

Our own thoughts dictate that "if high is good, low is better" when it comes to adjusting the heighth of our vacuum setting. The "Bare Floor" setting should not be used on carpet. It doesn't clean any better, it will actually burn up the motor. It also does not allow the brushes that send the dirt flying into the suction hose the space to rotate effectively.

The key to a good and thorough vacuuming is to vacuum 2-3 times per week, per manufacture's warranty and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as well as setting the proper height adjustments for your flooring.

Some tips:

It always seems as though cords are too short and you're trying to just get that last inch of carpet vacuumed without having to stop, turn off, unplug and find a new outlet. I heard a tip last week: add an extension cord. How simple is that? I had always just taken my vacuums into a sewing and vacuum specialty shop and had a commercial length cord put on. Either way works, and I'm sure you already thought of that!