The Eight Myths of Vacuum Cleaners
Article by Faith Bennett
Recently, I happened on the site of the Housekeeping Channel. First off, I can’t believe I didn’t even know there was a housekeeping channel! Live and learn. Besides learning about the channel, I also learned a bit about vacuum cleaners.
As I get older, there are some things I’d rather not fill up my brain’s storage capacity with, and, personally, I’d be happy to restrict my vacuuming knowledge to knowing how to push the button on an iRobot 532 vacuum, but… If you’re considering buying a traditional vacuum cleaner, you might want to know about the “Seven Myths of Vacuuming” as disclosed by the Housekeeping Channel.
Myth #1: Amps Mean Performance
Electrical current is measured in amps. It doesn’t have a whole lot to do with how well your vacuum cleaner performs. Would you judge a car’s performance by its gas consumption?
Myth #2: Everyone Needs HEPA
HEPA is just a technical definition. All you need in a vacuum cleaner filter is one that traps the most particles and prevents then from getting into the air. There are microfiltered filter systems that are as good at this as a HEPA system.
Myth #3: Picking Up a “Bowling Ball” Shows Cleaning Power
I admit it: When I’ve seen the television ads that show people picking up bowling balls with a vacuum, I have been a little impressed. Silly me. All the demonstration really proves is that a seal has been created on the smooth surface of the bowling ball. It’s very hard to break that kind of seal, but it has nothing to do with how well your vacuum is going to suck stuff out of your carpet.
Myth #4: All Vacuum Bags Are the Same
If you opt for the cheaper, generic, single-ply bags, you’re going to get what you paid for: Bags with big pores that let particles of dust escape into the air. Use a denser multi-ply microfilter and you’ll capture and trap more of those particles and increase your vacuum’s efficiency.
Myth #5: All Vacuum Belts Are the Same
More on the you-get-what-you-pay-for theme: A cheap vacuum belt is… cheap. It will stretch, slip, and self-destruct a lot more quickly than a better quality one. High-quality vacuum cleaner belts are geared like a car’s timing belt; they won’t slip and they’ll last a lot longer.
Myth #6: Cyclonic Systems Do Not Use Filters & Require Less Maintenance
Most of the newer cyclonic (bagless) vacuums do use a filter to catch dust particles that the cyclonic filtration “missed.” If you want your vacuum to operate as it should, you need to clean or replace those filters on a regular basis.
Myth #7: All Vacuum Cleaners Have Similar Design Features and Are Equally Easy to Use
Just not true. Consider ergonomic design and weight. Consider maneuverability. And, seriously, what vacuum could possibly be easier to use than a robotic one?
Myth #8: Suction Alone Makes a Vacuum Work Well
A vacuum cleaner is a system, and it’s the system that determines whether or not your vacuum cleaner performs well or not. There are four things you should look for when you consider a vacuuming system:
airflowThis is the amount of air moving through the vacuum and affects the amount of soil that can be picked up and contained in the vacuum cleaner’s filtration.
lift Lift is the vacuum’s ability to lift dirt. Lift is measured in inches – the inches a vacuum can pull water up a lab tube. Look for high numbers in both airflow and lift for the best performing vacuum cleaner.
filtration Filtration is what keeps what your vacuum sucks up from going right back out again. It needs to be designed to work with the vacuum’s airflow and lift.
designWe’re not just talking about a pretty face when we talk about vacuum cleaner design. Bad design can defeat good vacuuming potential.
Suddenly, choosing a vacuum seems a bit more complicated than just picking one you can cram into your linen closet.
If you’re looking for a new vacuum and aren’t an engineer, you might want to consider going with a brand name you know and trust from a store you know and trust. An easy way to begin your search is by checking possibilities at online stores. You’ll find a lot of options to compare and you won’t have to haul your new appliance home on the bus!
About the Author
Faith Bennett researches and writes about household appliances. To learn more about vacuum cleaners, visit her at her blog or click here for great vacuum cleaners and reliable online stores.
This article was originally published on Ezine Articles.