Barrel Vacuums

The two most common types of Vacuum Cleaner in Australian homes are Barrel Vacuums and Upright Vacuums. Both types come in bagged and Bagless models.

Barrel Vacuums also known as Cylinder and Canister Vacuums house their motor inside a body with wheels that is pulled along behind the handle and head as it cleans. The Vacuum head is attached to the motor via a height adjustable metal cylinder connected to a flexible plastic hose. This design makes Barrel Vacuums more efficient at cleaning in tight and awkward spaces like stairs or inside cars in addition to thorough all round cleaning.

Upright Vacuums place the motor, head and handle all inside the same single unit pushed along the floor. Because of their design they tend to be heavier, harder to store and more awkward to manoeuvre but more powerful as a result. They are good at cleaning large areas of level carpeted and hard flooring but are generally less efficient at cleaning in awkward or tight spaces like stairs and car interiors.

There is no single, measurable factor that can determine the overall cleaning quality of a Vacuum. But there are a few specifications you can consider collectively that can be useful when comparing models.

The first comparison you can make is Watts. The watts of a Vacuum Cleaner measures how much power the motor will consume as it is being used. Whilst this measure doesn’t account for energy efficiency, it is a good place to start when comparing the cleaning power of a Vacuum. The water lift or sealed suction of a Vacuum compares suction performance as the bag or dust collector fills up and the filters get loaded. This is particularly useful when looking at Vacuums with HEPA filters.

Airflow is measured in cubic feet per minute (CFM) and lets you compare how much force is applied to a surface as it is being cleaned. It factors in the power of the motor and the resistance of the Vacuum Bag and Filter that the air must flow through. A Vacuum with more than 100 CFM is recommended.

Emptying the dust collector or replacing the dust bag regularly as it fills is one of the easiest things doable to improve the suction quality of a Vacuum. As Vacuums collect dirt and dust it builds up and begins to obstruct air flow throughout the Vacuum, reducing the suction power in the process.

This principle also applies to the Vacuum Cleaner filter. Depending on the model, the filter may be cleaned by brushing off collected dust or washing it in water. The filter may be a foam block or a mesh and some may need to be replaced rather than cleaned or washed, so always check the user manual to see how to take care of filters.

If the Vacuum head has a roller or brush inside, check to make sure it is clean and not being obstructed. Longer hairs, threads, dental floss and stray shoelaces can get wrapped around a brush head to stop it from spinning. Scissors work well for removing these if they can’t be easily pulled away by hand but be careful not to cut the bristles.

Vacuum Cleaners with a powered head will have a separate built in motor working in conjunction with the rotating brush to agitate the carpet as it cleans, which helps bring embedded dirt and dust to the surface for a deeper clean. They're fantastic for cleaning up after pets, but because of the additional motor in the head they tend to be a lot bulkier and heavier. To compensate they may also include wheels that propel the head forward automatically.

Consider what sort of attachments come with a Vacuum. Crevice nozzles are great for getting around chair cushions, along skirting boards and in corners. Upholstery brush heads are great for cleaning curtains and soft cushions or couches.

HEPA filters are a great option for people who experience asthma or allergies. These can filter out additional particles like pollen, mould, pet dander, tobacco particles and dust mite droppings. This type of filter needs to be replaced annually and/or washed regularly to work effectively.