With over a thousand different types of vacuum cleaners sold in the United States it is sometimes hard to pick the right vacuum cleaner. Different types of vacuum cleaners are specific to different types of cleaning tasks. Some common types of vacuum cleaners are backpack vacuums, wide area vacuums, wet/dry vacuums and upright vacuums. When purchasing a vacuum cleaner most people choose upright units. Upright vacuums have been available for over seventy years and are the most versatile for home use. When purchasing an upright vacuum cleaner it is import to choose the right unit for your needs. When you go to purchase an upright vacuum cleaner some key points to look at are vacuum cleaner weight, available attachments, bagged or bagless and of course quality.

Most people don't realize it but weight is extremely important when choosing a vacuum cleaner. If you reside in a multi story home, lugging a vacuum cleaner from level to level can be an arduous task. Moving a heavy vacuum cleaner from level to level can cause unwanted back strain, fatigue or even injury. If you have a multi level home try to pick a vacuum cleaner that is less than twenty pounds and has larger wheels so it can be easily maneuvered up and down stairs. Older vacuum cleaners tended to weigh more but as plastics have been used more in the manufacturing process, vacuum cleaner weight has been reduced drastically. The main drawback to using plastics over metals is cracking from falls or the plastic cracking from hitting furniture and walls.

Attachments are a necessity when purchasing an upright vacuum cleaner. With a broad range of attachments you can cut down on bending over or reaching up high to clean out of reach places. Vacuuming cleans better than dusting by trapping the dust and debris in filters and bags rather than pushing dust into the air. There many types of upright vacuum cleaner attachments each specific to its own task. Round brush attachments are great for trapping dust in the nylon bristles and then allowing the vacuum to suck debris into a bag or chamber. Crevice tools are perfect for hard to reach places such as baseboards, behind couch cushions and corners that the vacuum cleaner cannot reach. Hard floor tools have a rectangular head that can make quick and easy cleanup of cushions and under furniture. Each of these tools can be accessorized with extra wand tubes to add length to reach places that might not otherwise be accessible. With an extension tube and round brush tube ceiling fans can be a breeze to clean.

The most common choice to make when purchasing a vacuum cleaner is to buy a bagged or bagless unit. Some vacuum cleaners come with a filter bag that is discarded when full and then replaced with a new bag. These types of vacuum cleaners filter more particles from the air resulting in better indoor air quality. Some vacuum cleaners come with HEPA filters which are filters that contain material that can filter over ninety six percent of particles from the air that are one micron or larger. The drawback to filter bag vacuum cleaners is the replacement cost of the filter bag. Most filter bags average anywhere from fifty cents to five dollars per bag. Over time the cost of these bags can add up, but if air quality is important to you then a bagged vacuum cleaner is a sure choice. Bagless vacuum cleaners utilize a chamber or cup that is emptied when full. The types of vacuums are usually less expensive to operate but sacrifice air quality and cleanliness.

The quality of the vacuum cleaner you purchase is of course very important. If you have pets or are frequently vacuuming damp debris a disposable vacuum cleaner might be the best choice. Disposable units cost less but for the most part don't last as long. Disposable units on average cost under two hundred dollars and last anywhere from six months to three years depending on how it is used. Parts are not feasibly worth replacing on disposable vacuums due to repair labor costs and the price of the parts. If you purchase a vacuum cleaner under two hundred dollars the repair bill for a vacuum motor is usually more that the cost of purchasing a new one. Higher priced vacuum cleaners contain higher quality parts and are commonly repaired and rebuilt every four to five years.