Before You Buy an Upright Vacuum Cleaner

Buying the right upright vacuum cleaner for your individual needs is an important and expensive decision. Vacuums come with many different options and advantages, and it can become confusing finding just the right vacuum for your needs. Here are some of the more common options to consider before purchasing a vacuum cleaner.

Amps

Amps refers to the power of the motor, and range from 3.6 to 12. In general, the higher the amp rating, the more suction the vacuum cleaner will have and the more it will cost.

Bag or Bagless

Traditionally, most vacuum cleaners come with cardboard bags to collect the dust and dirt. Today, more and more vacuums are bagless, containing a cylinder that collects the dust and is emptied after vacuuming. The advantages are that you don't have to purchase bags and the ease of emptying.

* Top Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaners
* Review - Eureka The Boss Lite
* Review - Fantom Fury -Bagless

Filters

Many vacuum cleaners have some form of filtration that helps capture fine particles. Filtration ranges from micron filters to true-HEPA filters, which are said to offer the best filtration. In general, a true-HEPA filter will increase the cost of the cleaner.

Attachments

Most upright vacuum cleaners come with some onboard cleaning attachments. Although an upright's attachments will generally not clean as well as a canister type vacuum, you will want to compare the attachments available and flexible hose length if applicable.

* Top Canister Vacuums

Edge Cleaning

This is another factor to consider before purchasing your vacuum cleaner. Vacuums that can pick up dirt under the entire area of the cleaning head are more useful for cleaning wall-to-wall carpeting.