Guides

Additional Features

Keep an eye open for any design feature that will make your life more convenient. Is the electricity cable long and retractable? Is the vacuum's motor reasonably quiet? Does it come packaged with additional tools, or are they sold separately? Such tools can include attachments for vacuuming inside crevices and hard surface attachments. Other handy features include things like dust indicators, they warn you when the bag is almost full.

Steam Vacuums

Some vacuum cleaners use steam and in some instances shampoo to give carpet an extra cleaning.

Reverse airflow

Some vacuum cleaners include a reverse airflow function. This is handy for gathering dirt into one area, clearing the hose if it gets clogged, and filling up contraptions, such as airbeds.

Power & turbo heads

A power head has an inbuilt motor that operates the cleaning brush on barrel vacuums. This helps to disrupt dirt and dust particles more effectively than a standard vacuum head. The effect is comparable to the motorised brushes found in upright vacuums. Turbo heads are similar in concept, but use additional airflow to operate the brush.

Specialised Pet Vacuums

For pet owners there are special vacuums designed to extract stubborn pet hair from the carpet, and have special filters to keep old pet hair smells trapped inside the vacuum cleaner once there.