If you're buying a new vacuum, sooner or later you'll have to decide if an upright style is right for you or if a canister is the best option. Both of these types have their advantages and disadvantages.
Ideally, the right one will basically depend on the type of floors in your home and how you will use the vacuum to clean them. Here are several pros and cons of both to help you with your decision.
Ideally, the right one will basically depend on the type of floors in your home and how you will use the vacuum to clean them. Here are several pros and cons of both to help you with your decision.
Why Canister Vacuums Make a Compelling Choice
- Versatility - The canister vacuum cleaner has become much more popular in recent years as the modern household is outfitted with a bigger variety of flooring types. As you might have read on our website, the biggest advantage of a canister vacuum is the ability to easily clean hard floors like tile and wood as well as rugs, though only the powerful models can handle thick carpeting.
- Flexibility - These kinds of vacuum cleaners are generally easier to maneuver around the home than upright cleaners and the flexible hose offers greater versatility. The head is also much lighter making it simpler to push. A lower profile design allows easier access to the spaces underneath furniture. The dust will have no place to flourish and hide.
- Safety -Another consideration for those allergy sufferers is many of them come with fully sealed HEPA filters, so those annoying allergens can't make their way back into your house. Two things to consider before purchasing a canister vacuum is the unit is typically behind you so you will need to pull it around the room. They also might require a little more lifting as you move between different types of floors. This is probably not a huge deal though as today's canister vacuums are quite lightweight.
Upright Vacuums Also Have Quite a Bit Going For Them
There are a couple reasons why the upright vacuum has traditionally been the vacuum of choice for most households:
A couple negatives to the upright is that it can't reach under furniture very well and it is not usually as easy to maneuver as a canister. More often than not, they are heavier which makes it more work to clean stairways and other harder to reach places. You also have to be careful on delicate hard floors as the brush-roll can damage them.
So, should you choose a canister or upright vacuum cleaner? Before you decide, it is important to weigh the pros and cons of each type so that you can be sure you're getting the best one for your needs. In addition, read online reviews to learn how other people feel about the model you are considering. Then, you will enjoy using it to vacuum your house on a regular basis.
- They are Ideal for large open areas - Homes of years past typically had quite large open areas, which didn't require much moving of furniture. The more powerful upright models worked wonders in this situation. The bagged cleaners also usually have larger bags than their canister counterparts which can hold more dust between changings.
- They are quite efficient - For homes with majority of the floor covered in carpets, especially thick ones, the upright vacuum can get the embedded dirt out in a more efficient manner. Many people also like the design where it is one big unit, always in front of them when vacuuming.
A couple negatives to the upright is that it can't reach under furniture very well and it is not usually as easy to maneuver as a canister. More often than not, they are heavier which makes it more work to clean stairways and other harder to reach places. You also have to be careful on delicate hard floors as the brush-roll can damage them.
So, should you choose a canister or upright vacuum cleaner? Before you decide, it is important to weigh the pros and cons of each type so that you can be sure you're getting the best one for your needs. In addition, read online reviews to learn how other people feel about the model you are considering. Then, you will enjoy using it to vacuum your house on a regular basis.