How to Evaluate Vacuums

Pick a type of vacuum that you prefer. The two main types are canister and upright. According to Consumer Reports, uprights are better at deep cleaning while canisters are better for bare floors, drapes, stairs, under furniture, and upholstery. Canister vacuums are also heavier and more expensive than upright vacuums. Other types of vacuums include handheld vacuums, central vacuums, stick vacuums, and robotic vacuums.

Pull around the vacuums you are considering to gauge the heaviness of each unit. Eliminate any vacuums that seem too heavy to move around.

Determine if you prefer bagless or bagged vacuums. Bags can hold more, but have the additional cost of replacement bags. Bagless vacuums only require replacement filters. Each releases dust into the air when you empty the dirt, but the bags release less dust than emptying the bagless vacuums.

Check the features to see which vacuums meet your cleaning needs. Some features you may see include additional attachments and cleaning tools, a long reach, carpet-height adjustment, bare floors option, headlight, retractable cord, roller brush, full container indicator, and suction control.

Browse reviews on sites such as Consumer Reports and Consumer Search (see Resources) to see how vacuums that you are interested in are rated. This can help you decide between models or brands.