You might have thought that all vacuum cleaners are the same, but you’d be wrong. There are many different types of vacuum cleaners on the market, and each is better for other purposes.
For example, there’s a difference between a compact canister vacuum cleaner and an upright bagless vacuum cleaner.
Many vacuum types are available on the market and differ in design, power source, features, and price. You might want to buy one that suits your home. Choosing a type of vacuum cleaner is not an easy task.
One has to be careful with which type of vacuum cleaner to pick up as there are differences in power, rate, storage size, and function. We will discuss ten different types of vacuum cleaners, one by one.
Different Types of Vacuum Cleaners
This post will detail each type of vacuum cleaner and explain what they’re best at cleaning. Let’s look at the different vacuum types and try to figure out what each type is best at.
1. Bagged Vacuum Cleaners:
Bagged vacuum cleaners are designed to collect the debris and dirt into a plastic bag, so you don’t have to empty it continuously into the dustbin.
Bagged vacuum cleaners are generally more suitable for people with pets as they can easily change and dispose of bags when they get full.
It’s essential to have enough storage space in the house to accommodate your bags, which can get very big sometimes.
Bagged vacuum cleaners are well known for their powerful suction and are sometimes referred to as “high-performance” vacuums. These vacuum cleaners are best for medium to large sized homes with pet hair, rugs, and carpets.
Using a bagged vacuum cleaner is best for people with very high-quality carpets who don’t want to replace them frequently. Bagged vacuum cleaners are the most expensive type and are great for heavy-duty cleaning.
Pros
- Long-lasting power
- Affordable price range
- Useful for people with pets and high-quality carpets
Cons
- High maintenance of bags and the vacuum itself,
- If a bag breaks or rips while vacuuming, it can be dangerous
- You also have to regularly purchase new bags every few months which can get expensive.
2. Canister Vacuum Cleaners:
Canister vacuum cleaners are robust machines with accessories and tools for cleaning different areas. They use two filters, one of which is located on the bottom of the canister.
The second filter is at the end of a long tube that sticks out from the canister to help clean dust from corners. They have a small or large canister that allows you to quickly remove the debris and suck it through the machine.
These vacuum cleaners aren’t as effective as bagged or upright vacuums but provide powerful suction and multiple attachments.
So you can clean hard-to-reach places such as the ceiling, under your bed, and other sites in your home. They generally come with different-sized tubes and accessories. However, these can be pretty bulky.
These vacuums are best at cleaning stairs and other areas that can be difficult to reach, such as corners of walls and dropped ceilings, but they can also be used in the house.
Pros
- Robust and powerful suction
- Can be used for cleaning small areas in the home
Cons
- It’s bulky, so it’s difficult to use in small spaces
- Not good for fine dust as it loses power quickly
3. Bagless Vacuum Cleaners:
Bagless vacuum cleaners do not have bags since they don’t lose suction when changing the bag. Most bagless canister vacuums system come with a one-step activation process that releases the dirt and debris into the dust bin or reusable dust bags that can be emptied over trash bins.
Bagless vacuum cleaners make less noise since they don’t need to change or empty bags frequently. They also require less maintenance since you don’t need to change the bags.
However, their drawbacks are that they can be quite heavy for some people and that you need to clean up the filter where all the dust sits to maximize its performance.
Bagless vacuum cleaners are great types of vacuum cleaners for pet hair because they let you easily clean out any excess hair without touching or ruining your expensive carpets (which can happen with other vacuum types).
Pros
- Bags don’t need to be changed
- Can clean your house without the need of bags,
- Very light and compact and is the easiest to use
Cons
- You might have to clean the filter often, which requires you to remove it from the vacuum cleaner frequently.
- If not cleaned regularly, it can affect the suction of your vacuum cleaner.
4. Robot Vacuum Cleaners:
Robot vacuum cleaners are programmed machines that automatically find their way to any corner of a room and even under furniture by avoiding obstacles and carpet patterns.
They use a series of sensors to get around the room, and they pick up dirt, dust, and debris by sucking it into the vacuum or blowing it away with a blower.
Robot vacuums are one of the best types of vacuum cleaners, as they can work automatically but require a direct power source. These are generally great for people who have smaller homes and apartments.
They use intelligent programmable technology and are designed to sense the size of your space and adapt to it. They also don’t require human interaction, which makes them quite convenient.
Pros
- Automatically find their way around a room
- Doesn’t need human interaction
- Easy to clean and maintain
Cons
- It’s not good for large rooms as it doesn’t have much suction power,
- Doesn’t have a long storage life since it needs to be regularly maintained and cleaned.
- Very Expensive
5. Handheld Vacuums:
Handheld vacuum cleaners are the most portable as they can easily be carried around the house when cleaning different rooms. They come with two hooks that enable you to hang them on a wall or a door. That allows you to clean hard-to-reach places through suction or blowing off objects with a blower.
These vacuums are generally not as powerful as other vacuum cleaners and aren’t great for more complex cleaning tasks such as stairs, so they’re not ideal for large homes.
However, they allow you to quickly clean small areas and corners of rooms. They are pretty affordable and easy to store.
These vacuum types are best for quick spot cleaning or getting rid of unwanted hair on the carpet, but they are not best for deep cleaning carpets. These are among the most portable types of vacuum cleaners.
Also Check: Best wet and dry vacuum cleaner for home
Pros
- Quickly clean small areas and corners of rooms
- Can be used to clean hard-to-reach places
- A bit cheaper compared to other vacuum types.
Cons
- Not good for cleaning your home completely
- Not very effective in removing both airborne and on-the-ground particles
- Not very powerful to effectively pick up smaller and finer dustings.
6. Upright Vacuum Cleaners:
These are the most popular vacuum cleaners, and we all know what they look like. They have extensive, sturdy bases that can hold a large bag and a long hose with a wide nozzle. The wide nozzle is excellent for cleaning carpets of all sizes to maximum effect.
Upright vacuum cleaners are generally relatively quiet and provide powerful suction due to their design. The upright vacuum market is highly diverse. The options included corded, cordless, bagged, and so on.
They also come with various accessories, such as powered brushes and other attachments, to help eliminate dust mites, bed bugs, etc. However, they are not good at cleaning soft surfaces or pet hair because of their shape and size.
They are best for large homes or houses with hard floors requiring frequent vacuuming or cleaning.
Pros
- Powerful suction
- Easily reach areas with hard floors, but they are not good for carpets
- Easy to clean and maintain.
Cons
- They can be quite expensive, so they are not the best choice for most people.
- Heavy and not very portable
7. Cordless Vacuum Cleaners:
Cordless vacuum cleaners are similar to handheld vacuum cleaners in that they are also small and lightweight (generally two pounds). Instead of being battery-powered, they are cordless. These batteries allow you to use the vacuum without worrying about recharging it.
Most cordless vacuum cleaners have a long cord that lets you quickly move it around the room and reach hard-to-reach areas.
However, they generally run on a charging time that is quite long, so you’ll need to have enough power available for them to work efficiently on your carpets.
They are best at cleaning small spaces and corners of larger rooms.
Also Check: Best lightweight vacuum cleaner for elderly
Pros
- Can quickly clean small spaces and corners of larger rooms
- They are quite affordable and easy to store.
- Very lightweight and easily portable
Cons
- Their lifespan is generally shorter than other vacuum types.
- Not very powerful to effectively remove dirt and large dustballs.
- The battery drains quickly, which makes it impossible to finish cleaning a large area.
8. Stick Vacuum Cleaners:
Stick vacuum cleaners are powerful and lightweight, with long hose attachments that make it easy to clean difficult-to-reach areas. Due to their size and shape, you can easily carry them around the house, bend down, or even under furniture.
They come with various attachments, such as a crevice tool, duster, brush tool, and so on. They are generally quite affordable and don’t have the long charging times of cordless vacuums.
They are great for pet hair and other hard-to-reach places in the house.
Stick vacuums and sweepers share some standard features with a few different types of vacuums cleaner ( Ex: handheld, upright, etc.). They are best at cleaning large rooms and upholstery. These can also clean other hard-to-reach places, including stairs and furniture.
Pros
- Lightweight, easy to carry around the house
- A good option if you have a pet or two
- Easy to clean and maintain.
Cons
- Not great for carpets because of their shape.
- Can be quite expensive.
9. Wet/Dry Vacuum Cleaners:
Wet and dry vacuum cleaners are specially designed to handle liquids, regular debris, and dust. They are great for cleaning oil spills, removing excess water from your wet floors or carpets, and removing floods in your home.
The wet/dry vacuums can filter out liquid and muck, either by using a water filter or a specific filter that can be pulled out when you need to clean it.
These types of vacuum cleaners are powerful and great for removing any excess liquid, making them ideal for people with pets or messy homes.
They are generally quite affordable as well. Also, they come with various accessories, including flexible extension wands that easily clean hard-to-reach areas and over the floor.
These are best for cleaning up pet messes and gathering dirt from your car or floors with beards of different sizes and shapes.
Pros
- Suction power is fairly good
- Can clean up oil spills and floods
- They are relatively lightweight and easy to store
- It’s extremely convenient to use.
Cons
- They aren’t suitable for non-water cleaning: carpets, furniture, etc.
- Not very effective against large particles.
10. Pet Vacuum Cleaners:
Pet vacuum cleaners are a great addition to your home. Manufacturers specially design them to move around and clean pet hair from carpets, stairs, and furniture without damaging the materials.
An extension cord or rechargeable battery can power pet vacuum cleaners. They are also quite versatile, so you can use them to clean surfaces such as tile, vinyl flooring, rugs, and other fabric items. It is also possible to clean your car with a pet vacuum cleaner.
Pet vacuums differ from standard vacuum cleaners because they deal with many more types of filth, such as pet hair and dirt. It is best for pet owners who want an excellent vacuuming machine.
These vacuum cleaners are best at cleaning pet hair from carpets, furniture, and stairs. They also make great gifts for pet lovers and people who love cleaning their houses.
They use special tools like crevice tools, which help you quickly reach all of these tight spaces.
Pros
- Suction power is very good
- They are quite lightweight and easy to clean pet hairs around the house
- They are clean floors, stairs, and upholstery very well.
- Can be used on various types of surfaces
Cons
- Not suitable for removing large objects or things that are set on big blocks of soft material (colorful rugs, etc.).
Conclusion
The best vacuum cleaner for your home can effectively clean up all the dust and dirt throughout your house. With so many different types of vacuums cleaners, it can be hard to find the right one for your home, but the benefits will be apparent once you do.
Now, you better understand the various types of vacuum cleaners and how they all work to provide you with a quality cleaning experience. Choose the one that suits your needs best and enjoy the benefits of a clean home.
Keep in mind that these vacuum cleaners are all great options, each with its strengths and weaknesses. Remember what features you need in a vacuum cleaner for your home.
FAQ’s
Can I use my handheld vacuum on the carpet?
You can use your handheld vacuum on carpeted areas. However, the performance will vary depending on what model you own.
Can I use my vacuum on my stairs?
Yes, you can use your upright vacuum or any other model to clean your stairs. However, you will need to be careful, as some models are not built for this type of cleaning. It would help if you also looked at how long the cord is on your vacuum.
Which vacuum is cleaner preferable for cars?
Handheld vacuum cleaners are an excellent choice for cars, as they work off a rechargeable battery, so you never have to worry about being near an outlet.
Can I clean my furniture with my vacuum?
Some models come with attachments that enable you to clean your furniture quickly, while others do not. Check with the manufacturer to see what extension options your vacuum cleaner has.