Are you someone who appreciates a clean house but finds it difficult to achieve this due to tight space or too large space? Do you feel stressed out when you think about cleaning? Are you looking for an easier way to get your house cleaning done? Well, you’ve come to the right place!
The best vacuum cleaners end up revolutionizing chores in the household. Not only do they make it easier and faster for you to do housecleaning, but they also help protect you and your family from allergens giving you a healthy air environment.
Vacuum cleaners come in all shapes and sizes — be it cordless, upright, cylinder, robot, bagged, and bagless. The numerous possibilities can make it difficult for you to get the best vacuum cleaner for your home. The perfect vacuum cleaner for a large home with many carpets may not be the best for a smaller one with mostly hardwood flooring. If you end up with a vacuum cleaner that doesn’t fit your space, it can make what would have been an easy chore a tiresome task.
To help you make the right choice, we’ll share some essential tips you should take note of when buying the best vacuum cleaner for your needs. Follow our guide to ensure that you pick the right one for your home. Let’s get into it!
Types of Vacuum Cleaners
Several factors act as determinants when purchasing a vacuum cleaner, from your house size to whether you have pets or kids. There are also different types of vacuum cleaners of which you have to choose the best option suitable for your space. So before you start shopping, think of your home and what type suits your place best.
- Upright Vacuum Cleaners
These vacuums are easily recognisable with their powerful suction and broad floor brushes which allows you to clean more inches in a single pass. They are heftier than their counterparts, though recent models tend to be lightweight and easier to navigate.
Due to their design, you are required to push or pull across the floor as you clean. An upright vacuum is best at penetrating deep into carpet fibres to dislodge dirt, debris, and pet dander. This makes them perfect for deep cleaning and regular maintenance for a large home with lots of occupants and shedding pets.
However, people find it difficult to get them into low and tight places, such as under the bed or couch. This can be solved with their detachable accessory which is perfect for these purposes. This type of vacuum typically costs more than other types as their prices range from RM400-RM1300, and may sometimes cost above RM 2000. There are still affordable models which perform excellently.
- Canister Vacuum Cleaners
This type of vacuum cleaner features a canister body that houses the motor and dust collection system and is attached by a hose to a floor nozzle. You need to reach tight corners and high areas while cleaning? The canister vacuum cleaner is your best bet.
It doesn’t need to be moved around while cleaning and is left in one place while its hose is used to navigate the floorboard to reach all areas of your choice. For easy moving, most canister vacuum cleaners come with wheels. It would be quite difficult to use an upright vacuum cleaner to clean the stairs, but the canister vacuum cleaner makes it easier as one doesn’t have to move the whole equipment to get to certain areas. The canister vacuum may come with a crevice tool that makes it more versatile.
However, it may prove tricky when trying to store it as the long hose and the body requires more space. It is generally quite cheaper than the upright model, but also tends to have lower suction power.
- Cordless Vacuum Cleaners
The cord-free vacuum or cordless stick vacuum cleaner is the best choice for us who find ourselves mostly entangled in the short cords which come with other vacuum cleaners. These are slimmed-down upright cleaners that run on battery power. They are convenient as a result of their lightweight and are also easy to use on the stairs.
Previously, cordless vacuums were unreliable as a result of their low suction power and battery life. The technology is now improving and recent models have a good deal of suction power and great battery life. They are easier to store unlike the canister and are quite handy for quick clean-ups. They tend to have varying price points depending on their features.
- Robotic Vacuum Cleaners
Lack of time and willpower can make cleaning very tasking, and that’s why the robotic vacuum cleaner is a convenient choice for you. You can avoid the exhausting task of pushing and pulling your vacuum cleaner around the house to get it clean as the robotic vacuum features an onboard technology, allowing them to easily dock themselves and scurry around the house cleaning as they go. These vacuums are great for regular maintenance and picking up pet hair and loose dust bunnies. If their battery life is low, they will often automatically return to their charging station.
A robotic vacuum is programmed to do the cleaning for you and has proven to be efficient in carrying out this task. It is important to consider; the type of room mapping the hoover is made for, the machine dustbin’s size, how powerful the engine is, and whether the device can maneuver around obstacles.
- Handheld Vacuum Cleaners
These are small and compact-sized cleaners that run on battery power and have powerful suction ability, allowing them to amass all debris, dust, pet dander, and first, that may be hiding in your couch. It is suitable for small tasks as it is easy to whip out to clean out occasional dry spills, and is excellent for cleaning out cars and cushions. Handheld vacuum cleaners are not exactly the best option for extended regular cleaning because of their low battery life, but are the best in taking care of minor cleaning. Most handheld cleaners come with attachments to augment their proficiency and may cost several hundred ringgit.
How We Test Vacuum Cleaners.
To find out the efficiency level of a vacuum, we carry out several tests on the various types and models based on what and how it was designed to clean. The vacuums are put through several tests to show how well it picks up specks of dirt, how much dirt it retains, how easy it is to maneuver and how noisy it is. To test this, sand pet hairs and clouds of dust are embedded in the carpet and the vacuum is maneuvered over the carpet as we observe how easy it suctions up the dirt, and how long it lasts. This same test is carried out on hardwood with the same set of refuse littered about.
Bag or Bagless – Which Vacuum Is Better?
Vacuums may either be bagged or bagless. Bagged vacuums come with a dust bag which makes it easy to dispose of dirt, but must be replaced as soon as they fill up. Choosing between these two for most people is a matter of preference, but if you or other family members suffer from allergies or asthma a vacuum cleaner with a dustbag would be a better choice.
The bagless vacuum works just as well as the bagged, and the only difference comes when you have to dispose of the amassed dirt. While you can easily dispose of the dust bag from the bagged vacuum without releasing any more dust or allergens back into your home, this may be difficult for a bagless option. No matter what bagless vacuum you use, it all comes down to removing the container of dust and disposing of it, this can release dust and other allergens into the air and your home as you do so. Therefore, allergies and asthma patients need to consider all this exposure, when maintaining a bagless vacuum.
An advantage the bagless vacuum has over the bagged is that there will be no need for bag replacement, which can be very expensive. The better choice though would be a bagged vacuum as it features more benefits than the bagless one. The bagged vacuum tends to have a larger capacity than the bagless model. The dust collected is safely contained in a bag, which minimises exposure when disposed of. Some bags come with extra filtration to prevent allergens from escaping and some self-seal.
Tips on Choosing the Best Vacuum for Your Space
This is what you’re here for, to know exactly these tips that would assist you in making the right choice when it comes to choosing the best vacuum for your space.
- Uprights Tackle the Big Jobs
Pet owners can easily relate to the amount of pet hair these furry animals leave lying around the house, and while they may adore their pets, no one wants to have pet dander everywhere. The upright model is the most familiar with powerful suction which makes it the best option for cleaning up pet hairs and other debris that may be lodged in your carpets. For a home with lots of carpets and rugs, an upright model with an adequate sized bag and filter is the best choice for you. If you have hardwood floors as well, it is better to go for the upright models with a brush roll feature that can be turned on or off.
- Canisters Are Easy To Manoeuver, but Hard To Store
The canister vacuum unlike the upright model is a better choice for hardwood or tiled floors. They are also great at cleaning carpets just like the upright vacuum and do so with less noise. However, these models are quite bulky and may be difficult to store as they have a long hose attached to the main body making it harder to store in a closet. They are perfect for cleaning those high and hard-to-reach places and are a better choice for cleaning curtains, ceiling corners, stairs, under furniture, and other hidden areas that the upright vacuum cannot reach.
- Stick Vacuums Handle Quick Clean Ups
The stick or cordless vacuums are known for their slim and slender design and are best for getting into tight places, like that little space between your wall and refrigerator. They are lightweight and battery-powered but are not the best choice for cleaning carpets and rugs as they come with lower suction power, unlike other models.
According to Consumer Report, they are mainly suited for surface cleanups and are not a replacement for the conventional vacuum. For a home with pets or kids, it is advisable to get one for easy clean of spilt cereal or tufts of fur left lying around. They are also preferably used for hardwood flooring. These vacuums also often come with a crevice tool which is useful for getting to hard-to-reach corners.
- Handhelds Fit In Tight Spaces
These vacuums are quite similar to the stick model in terms of suction power, weight, and function. They are mainly used for surface cleaning. However, while stick vacuums are preferably used for floors and under furniture, handheld models are better at cleaning the furniture themselves or window sills. They are usually lightweight and battery-powered making them the best choice for cleaning the tops surfaces as well as car interiors. These lightweight vacuums also usually come with a crevice tool.
- Robotic Vacuums Do (almost) All the Work For You
These vacuums allow you to take your rest and do other things, while they handle the cleaning. They are designed to be able to reach hidden corners, like under the sofa and other hard-to-reach areas and they do this on their own without requiring you to move or pull them around. They do not have the high suction power the upright or canister model has. However, a plus is that they can be programmed with your smartphones to clean up while your attention is elsewhere.
Best Vacuum Cleaner Models To Consider
Looking for a good vacuum cleaner? Here are a few of the best vacuum cleaners you can consider.
1. Best Vacuum For Carpeting: MideaMVC-B500VM
The Midea MVC-B500VM is a wired vacuum cleaner modelled to help remove dust mites and other microscopic particles from your floor. This unit comes with a UV-C light which kills bacteria and allergens as well as a dual cyclone filtration system that helps get rid of very small particles.
Its 500hp high-speed motor is designed to deliver a powerful suction that makes cleaning less of a chore and this makes it a perfect choice for your carpeting. The MVC-B500VM has four modes which include beating, rolling, vacuuming, and a special mode for removing allergens & bacteria.
Pros
- UV-C light to get rid of bacteria and allergens
- 4 cleaning modes
- The dual cyclone filtration system
- Low noise design
Cons
- Short handle
2. Best Vacuum for Bare Floors: Electrolux Cordless Stick Vacuum ZB3411
This model has a 2-in-1 powerful cleaning action and uses brush roll technology. This is one of the best cordless vacuum cleaners in Malaysia from Electrolux. It proves to be a good choice for cleaning bare floors and with its 2-in-1 feature and high suction power. It could also be used to clean your carpets and rugs effectively. The sealed nozzle system generates higher airspeed and suction nearer to the floor. This provides 6 times better crevice pick up which makes cleaning edges and corners convenient. The motor inside the brush roll and red plush below nozzle improve the quality of side suction. It has a charging duration and maximum run time of 4 hours and 48 mins respectively.
Pros:
- It has 6 times more power service pickup
- It is lightweight.
Cons
- It has a long charging time
3. Best Vacuum Cleaner for Pet Hair: Dyson V11 Absolute + Vacuum Cleaner
This model features a digital motor that has been integrated. The digital motor spins the brush bar up to 60 times a second. Its stiff nylon bristles can be driven deep into the carpets and rugs, effectively removing dirt. Carbon fibre filaments pick up fine particles of dust found on hard floors. It is a perfect choice for removing pet hair and dander from carpets, rugs, and hardwood. Its point-and-shoot hygienic bin emptying allows you to empty the bin without exposing yourself to pet hair and other allergens.
Pros
- It has the right mode for the appropriate task
- It can work both on the floors and the carpets
- It has a washable filter
- It enables easy cleaning and offers more suction power than most corded vacuums
Cons
- Its weight is the most prominent disadvantage
- It is very expensive
4. Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner: Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop Global Version
The robot vacuum mop is one of the best ranked Xiaomi robotic vacuum cleaners. It functions with Alexa as well as Google assistant. Alongside its sweeping function, it is also equipped to mop the home with its integrated mop.
You don’t have to always be around before the cleaner carries out its duties. It can be monitored through an app. Likewise, when the battery is low, it automatically recharges and resumes cleaning.
Pros
- Requires less supervision
- Long cleaning duration long-lasting battery
Cons
- Expensive
Bottom Line
When you go to purchase your next vacuum cleaner make sure to take these tips along with you. You must first note the space you live in, how large or small it is, consider your pets or children if you have any, consider the type of flooring you have whether carpets, rugs, hardwood floors or tile flooring. It is also important that you take note of your budget and how often you expect to clean. Good luck on choosing the best vacuum cleaner for your space!
Still have some questions that you would like to be answered? Comment below and we’ll get back to you!
