Comparison vacuum Cleaners

General type of vacuum cleaner.

The general features of the design and use of the unit depend on this parameter. In addition to conventional models, vacuum cleaners of the following types are also produced nowadays: robot vacuum cleaners, upright(regular and upright with handheld), workshop, handheld models for household(including for bed and for car) and handheld industrial, full-size industrial (construction), backsack and vacuum cleaners for fireplaces. Here is a more detailed description of each variety:

— Conventional. Traditional household vacuum cleaners are designed for cleaning apartments, residential buildings, small offices, etc. Such a unit consists of a relatively small body on wheels (for ease of movement on the floor) and a tube with a brush connected to the body with a flexible hose. It is this option that you should pay attention to if you need a “regular home vacuum cleaner” that is not designed to perform any specific tasks.

— Robot vacuum cleaner. Vacuum cleaners that work completely autonomously, without...the need to control the device. The role of the user is limited only to auxiliary tasks (unloading the collected garbage, programming the work, etc.). The robot vacuum cleaner usually has the appearance of a flat disc. Low height allows it to pass under furniture and other interior items. And specific job features may be different. So, the simplest models move along random trajectories within the room, bypassing small obstacles and turning around when they reach walls or other large obstacles. In more advanced devices, it may be possible to set the map and/or cleaning schedule, access the unit via the Internet, etc. (See "Additional operating modes", "Robot features"). However, note that robots do not provide power and capacity. So it is hardly worth choosing such a device if you need high cleaning efficiency or a large cleaning area is expected. On the other hand, such a device is perfect for maintaining the already cleanliness in apartments, private houses and other similar conditions: a robot vacuum cleaner can be run at least every day without much difficulty.

— Upright. Vacuum cleaners of this type have a specific layout: the motor, dust collector and brush are fixed on a common vertical tube, while the hose is usually completely absent in the design. Such units are designed primarily for domestic use; they are not very convenient when cleaning hard-to-reach places (like the space under sofas or beds), but they do a good job with vast open spaces. Thus, upright vacuum cleaners are quite popular, in particular in large offices and private homes. And some of these units are equipped with bendable tube (see "Tube type"), which simplifies cleaning in the hard-to-reach places mentioned above.

— Handheld (household). Handheld vacuum cleaners for domestic use are light in weight, compact and have a one-piece layout: the motor, dust collector and suction nozzle (which can be worn with a brush) are combined in one body. Such units do not differ in power, but they are extremely mobile. In addition, most often they use batteries as a source of energy which gives even greater freedom of movement. One of the most popular ways to use handheld household vacuum cleaners is to clean the interior of a car. For this, some models can be equipped with a car cigarette lighter connection (both as an additional option and as the only source of energy). As for domestic use, such units are not suitable for full-fledged cleaning in an apartment/house/office. However, they cope well with auxiliary, specific tasks: cleaning furniture and various small surfaces, collecting small debris in hard-to-reach places, etc.

— Handheld (for bed). A variety of hand-held vacuum cleaners designed for cleaning beds, upholstered furniture, mattresses, pillows, etc. The main feature of such units is advanced disinfection and pest control, especially dust mites. So, an almost obligatory element of equipping bed vacuum cleaners is a UV lamp (see below), and their suction systems and operating format are designed to effectively draw in dust mites — even “burrowed” to a considerable depth. If necessary, devices of this type can be used for more traditional cleaning, but their main purpose is to clean furniture and bedding.

— Handheld (industrial). A type of industrial vacuum cleaner that does not have wheels and is designed to be carried from place to place in the hands. It is worth saying that for the most part, such units bear little resemblance to handheld household models (see above) — they rather resemble conventional vacuum cleaners with a hose, devoid of wheels and designed for transportation in hands or on a shoulder strap (although there are exceptions). Power is usually supplied from a battery; in some models, the possibility of working from the mains may also be provided. As a result, vacuum cleaners of this type are noticeably inferior in power to classic industrial models (also see above). On the other hand, they are more mobile — also due to independence from sockets — and at the same time, they are quite capable of coping with coarse construction waste.

— Upright with handheld. Models that combine the capabilities of upright and handheld household vacuum cleaners (see above). The traditional design of such a vacuum cleaner is a handheld unit with a motor, a dust collector and a nozzle, complemented by either a removable vertical bar or an extension tube. This design allows you to choose the format of work at your discretion and use one vacuum cleaner for general cleaning (in an upright format) and small specific tasks (in a handheld form). The main disadvantage of this option can be called a lower capacity than upright and conventional household vacuum cleaners — this somewhat complicates the use of large-scale cleaning. However, due to the versatility of the devices in this category, they are much more popular than purely upright units.

— For workshop. Vacuum cleaners designed for professional cleaning in large volumes. Such units are popular in cleaning companies but can also be useful for private use. Typical examples of the use of business models are cleaning a home workshop or garage, hotel rooms, etc. In terms of layout, this type of vacuum cleaner resembles conventional models — a body with a tube on a hose — but they have several differences. The most noticeable of these are a large size and vertical layout of the hull with an overhead engine. In addition, workshop models are distinguished by high power and capacity (from 6 litres or more). They may provide wet cleaning, although most models only work in the traditional dry format (see "Cleaning type").

— Industrial (construction). Vacuum cleaners designed for cleaning industrial facilities — construction sites, factory floors, etc. In many ways, they are similar to the workshop ones described above: most models have an elongated body with a top-mounted engine, high power and large capacity. The main difference is that industrial units are designed for coarse construction waste, which more “delicate” types of vacuum cleaners cannot handle. And to collect such garbage in such units, containers are used in the form of rigid containers. Such containers may be supplemented with paper bags for ease of unloading, but this is not strictly required. In industrial vacuum cleaners, the water collection function is very popular (see below), although they are never made for washing and most often do not even provide wet cleaning. In addition, only bags are used as dust collectors; aquafilters and cyclones do not occur in such units.
Note that this category includes only industrial vacuum cleaners of the classic layout, moved on wheels. Hand and backpack models are placed in separate categories (see below).

— Backpack. Vacuum cleaners carried behind the back in the manner of a backpack — hence the name. This design combines the advantages of classic and handheld format vacuum cleaners: the unit can be made quite powerful, roomy and at the same time mobile. However, most models of this type are mains powered, and battery solutions are less common. Nevertheless, even when powered from the outlet, you can achieve good freedom of movement. It makes backpack vacuums well-suited for situations where performance and mobility are needed at the same time. The main disadvantage of this type is the rather high cost due to some design features.

— For fireplaces. Specialized vacuum cleaners designed to collect coals and ash in fireplaces, stoves, barbecues, charcoal grills, etc. One of the key features of this type of unit is resistance to high temperatures, which allows you to collect coals and ashes that have not cooled down to the end. To do this, the hoses and brushes of fireplace vacuum cleaners are made of non-flammable refractory polymers, and a metal container is usually used as the main container. In addition, filters in such models have increased efficiency and resistance to fine dust. For added convenience, a self-cleaning filter can also be provided (see below). Note that vacuum cleaners of this type are mostly quite expensive. Therefore, it makes sense to buy such equipment only in cases where you often have to deal with cleaning fireplaces — for example, if a fireplace is installed in a restaurant or hotel lobby and is used every day.

– Robot floor polisher. Devices for automatic wet cleaning of non-carpeted floors. The general principle of operation, as a rule, is as follows: water or a cleaning solution is sprayed onto the floor, which is then collected together with dirt on a special napkin. At the same time, as befits a robot, such a unit moves independently along the floor, changes the direction of movement when encountering obstacles and builds a route in such a way as to, if possible, process the entire floor in the work area. Many models are also capable of returning to the docking station on their own to charge the battery; and to increase convenience and efficiency, various additional functions can be provided: work on a schedule, mapping, IR barriers to restrict movement, etc.
It is worth considering that the performance of scrubber cleaning robots is low; they are designed mainly for residential apartments/houses, small offices and other similar conditions and, in general, are not intended for serious cleaning. In addition, corners and other hard-to-reach places are usually too tough for this technique; you still have to clean them manually. On the other hand, robots are excellent for “on-duty” maintaining order in a relatively clean room, and the user requires a minimum of effort - usually it only requires periodically pouring detergent and cleaning the napkin after the process is completed.

Type(s) of cleaning for which the vacuum cleaner is intended.

Almost all modern units have the function of dry cleaning. In turn, wet cleaning is usually provided as an addition to the dry mode and is rarely used as the only cleaning mode. Here is a more detailed description of these options:

— Dry. Traditional cleaning without the use of water: the vacuum cleaner draws in air, collects debris in the dust container and purifies the air through a filter system. It is considered somewhat less effective than wet, but it has practically no restrictions on its use: almost any material can be cleaned in this way. In addition, such cleaning is much easier for the user (no need to fill or even drain water). And the units themselves, which have only a dry mode, are simpler and more inexpensive than similar models with a wet cleaning function. In addition, for some types of vacuum cleaners, this is the only available option. A typical example is handheld models of both household and industrial specialization (see "Product type").
We note that the possibility of water suction (see below) can be provided even in vacuum cleaners with a purely dry type of cleaning (most often in industrial and household models — see "Product type").

— Wet and dry. The ability to carry out not only the dry cleaning described above but also wet cleaning. It is in this fo...rmat that all washing vacuum cleaners work (see below). However, we emphasize that not every unit with the wet cleaning function is a washing vacuum, and even the water suction function (also see below) is not always available in such models. The fact is that many vacuum cleaners with this feature use the simplest possible operation mode: water from a special container is supplied to a special nozzle and moistens the floor after cleaning. However, even such a treatment method significantly increases efficiency compared to conventional dry cleaning. An additional nozzle collects dirt that the vacuum cleaner could not draw in, and moistening the floor refreshes the room and prevents dust from rising into the air that could remain after cleaning. For washing vacuum cleaners, in turn, other advantages are also common. The main disadvantages of all models with two types of cleaning are the complexity of the design, greater weight and higher cost than similar units with only a dry format.

— Wet. This option means that the vacuum cleaner is designed for wet cleaning only and does not require a dry operation. See above for details on these modes. Here we note that it is a very rare option used in single models of conventional and upright vacuum cleaners (see "Product type").

The type of dust collector provided in the design of the vacuum cleaner.

Nowadays, there are three main types of dust collectors — a regular bag, a cyclone system and an aquafilter. Also, in some vacuum cleaners (in particular, industrial and fireplace models — see "Product type") dust collectors in the form of rigid containers (tanks) can be used without additional equipment. For such models, the type of dust collector in our catalogue is not specified. As for the three main types, here are their features:

— Bag. A dust collector in the form of a soft bag, simultaneously plays the role of one of the filters: air passes through the walls of the bag, and most of the contaminants are retained. Such containers are simple and inexpensive, while they can be made quite roomy. In addition, the vacuum cleaner with a bag remains operational in any position of the body. On the other hand, as the bag fills up, suction efficiency drops noticeably; and the cleaning procedure is usually quite troublesome — in particular, a lot of dust is raised into the air. Disposable bags, which are available for many models as an additional accessory, are deprived of such a drawback. However, on the other hand, the purchase of such bags is associated with additional expenses. As a result, this type of dust collector, although very popular in modern vacuum cleaners, is much less common...than the "cyclones" described below.

— Cyclone system (bagless). Dust collector based on a cyclone type air cleaner; usually has the form of a plastic bowl of a special shape. The principle of operation of such systems is that the air flow entering the dust collector is twisted into a spiral. In this case, the centrifugal force throws debris and dust out of the formed vortex, and the collected pollution sinks to the bottom of the dust collector. One of the main advantages of "cyclones" is the ease of cleaning: just turn the container over and the contents pour out of it without additional effort, and if desired, the dust collector can be easily washed. In addition, the suction force is practically independent of the degree of filling of the bowl. However, cyclones are somewhat inferior in capacity to bags, but because of the foregoing, this point is usually not fundamental. But the unequivocal disadvantages of this option are the higher cost of the same bags; a lower suction force for the same engine power; as well as a somewhat lower efficiency of catching fine dust. In light of the latter, "cyclones" have to be equipped with additional filters, which also periodically require cleaning. It is also worth bearing in mind that such systems are most effective with a regular, strictly defined position in space. If you deviate from this standard operational position, the efficiency of the dust collector may noticeably decrease, which leads to rapid clogging of the filters.

— Aquafilter. This type of dust collector looks like a container with water: the air drawn in by the vacuum cleaner passes through the liquid, which traps most of the contaminants. Such systems are highly efficient and hygienic: they capture various contaminants well, including even fine dust, without additional filters. In addition, the air released by the vacuum cleaner is additionally humidified which is especially useful in the cold season, when heating dries the air in the room. At the same time, the procedure for cleaning the dust collector itself is very simple and convenient: after cleaning, its contents can simply be poured into the sewer, while no dust rises into the air (unlike the process of cleaning cyclones and especially bags). On the other hand, it is desirable to wash and dry aquafilters after each use, which somewhat complicates maintenance. In addition, most of these vacuum cleaners are quite expensive, the passage of air through the water creates additional noise, and the water itself significantly increases the weight of the unit.
Separately, it is worth emphasizing that the presence of an aquafilter does not mean that the vacuum cleaner is washing (see above) or at least can wet cleaning (see "Cleaning type"). Quite a few models with an aquafilter work only in a dry format — and vice versa, units with a wet cleaning function may well be equipped with other types of dust collectors.

— Aquafilter + bag. This option means that the vacuum cleaner is equipped with two types of dust collectors at once — an aquafilter and a traditional bag. The features of both are described in detail above. Here we note that such models necessarily have a wet cleaning mode (see above) and/or a water suction function — an aquafilter is used for these purposes. But the bag, anyway, is intended for traditional dry cleaning. In general, this is the most common combination of the two types of dust collectors. The other variants described below are much less common.

— Aquafilter + cyclone. A combination similar to the aquafilter with a bag described above. The delivery set of such a vacuum cleaner includes two types of containers: an aquafilter for wet cleaning and/or water suction (this function can also be provided in vacuum cleaners with purely dry cleaning), as well as a cyclone system (see above) for sry cleaning .

— Cyclone system + bag. A combination found exclusively in dry cleaning models. Similar to the combinations described above, most often we are talking about the presence of two replaceable dust collectors of different types in the kit. The specific type is chosen depending on the situation. So, the cyclone system is convenient for collecting relatively large and heavy contaminants, and the bag handles better with fine dust.

Rated power consumed by the vacuum cleaner. In models with power adjustment (see below), the maximum value is taken into account in this case. We are talking about the characteristics of the installed motor, which is the main, and in most vacuum cleaners, the only consumer of energy.

Higher power increases suction force and improves overall cleaning efficiency. In addition, a more powerful unit is easier to equip with a capacious dust collector. On the other hand, only vacuum cleaners of the same type with the same types of dust collectors can be directly compared by this parameter (see above for both). And even in such cases, the actual suction force (see below) may be different — and it is it that determines the real efficiency. However, the total power also allows you to generally evaluate the capabilities of the vacuum cleaner, including in comparison: a 1500 W model will significantly outperform its 800 W counterpart in efficiency (although it is impossible to say exactly by how much). But what definitely depends on this indicator is energy consumption.

As for specific power values, they are largely related to the type of device. For example, handheld models, robots and uproght units have low power — less than 1500 W(and often noticeably less). Such values are quite popular among other types of vacuum cleaners (conventional, industrial, workshop, etc.), but among them there are already more solid indicators — ...f="/list/90/pr-1067/">1500 – 1750 W, 1750 – 2000 W and even more than 2000 W.

The suction power provided by the vacuum cleaner. For models with power adjustment (see below), in this case, the maximum value is taken into account. Note that "suction power" is sometimes erroneously also called the suction force, indicated in pascals; see below for more details.

Suction power is a key indicator that determines the capabilities of the unit: the higher it is, the more efficiently the vacuum cleaner can draw in various contaminants, and the better it handles with carpets, fabrics and other materials into which dust can penetrate deeply. On the other hand, high power inevitably affects the weight, power consumption, dimensions and price of the device. Therefore, it does not always make sense to chase the maximum values — you need to take into account the real working conditions and the general purpose of the vacuum cleaner.

The specific numbers found in this paragraph largely depend on the type of device. For example, in handheld household models, suction power does not exceed 100 W, and for conventional household units, an indicator of 100 – 150 W is still considered very limited. At the same time, we note that the minimum required for a full-fledged dry cleaning of smooth floors is considered to be 300 – 350 W, for carpet and other short pile coatings — 350 – 400 W, and for long pile materials and upholstered furniture higher rates are desirable. Vacuum cleaners with lower suction power values are intended not so much for periodic cleaning, but for constant (ideally daily) maintenance of cleanliness in an already tidy room.

As for the relationship between suction power and suction force, it is as follows: power is the suction force (thrust) multiplied by the airflow (performance). Without going into too much detail, we can say that the efficiency of the vacuum cleaner is determined by both of these indicators. And it is worth evaluating this efficiency by suction power (regardless of the specific relationship between traction and performance).

The nominal volume of the dust collector installed in the vacuum cleaner.

This indicator largely depends on the type of unit (see above). For example, in most handheld household models, the capacity does not exceed 0.5 L. The volume of the container in upright vacuum cleaners and robots can be somewhat larger — among the first variety there are quite a few models for 1 – 2 liters or even more, and among the second — by 0.6 – 1 liter and a little more. For conventional vacuum cleaners, the minimum figure is actually about 0.8 – 1 L; dust collectors for 1 – 2 L and 2 – 4 L are very popular in such devices; the maximum capacity is actually 4 – 6 liters — units of a similar layout, but with a larger capacity, are usually referred to as household ones. In turn, relatively small containers are occasionally found among workshop models. However, in vacuum cleaners of this type, the capacity is generally quite large — it can reach 26 – 50 liters or even more ; the same applies to industrial (construction) units.

In general, a larger dust container allows you to work longer without interruptions. On the other hand, a capacious container itself takes up more space and, accordingly, affects the size, weight and price. So when choosing th...is parameter, it is worth considering the actual features of the use of a vacuum cleaner. Here we can give such an example: for a full-scale cleaning of an average city apartment, a capacity of about 1 – 1.5 litres is required. Thus, say, a 4-litre bag allows you to carry out two such cleanings with sufficient efficiency without unloading the vacuum cleaner. There are more detailed recommendations regarding the optimal volume of the dust collector, including specific cleaning options. These recommendations can be found in special sources.

The type of power regulator provided in the design of the vacuum cleaner.

By itself , power adjustment allows you to adjust the operating mode to the current situation. For example, to clean a thick carpet, it is better to use a vacuum cleaner on full power, and on a delicate sofa or chair, it may be better to reduce the power. Types of power regulators are distinguished by location; options can be as follows:

— On body. The most popular option among modern vacuum cleaners. The main advantage of models with this design is that they do not require special hoses (unlike the units described below with adjustments on the handle). However, installation on the body is not very convenient for conventional vacuum cleaners (see "Type") — to change the power, you have to lean towards the body every time. However, for most users, it is not critical.

— On handle. The power regulator on the handle of the vacuum hose is convenient because the control is right at your fingertips, and you can change the power with just one movement of your finger, without bending over to the body. However, this convenience has a downside. So, some of these vacuum cleaners can only be fully used with special hoses; when installing a classic hose (without a regulator), the device, at best, will only work at full power, without adjustment, at worst, it will not turn on at all. A special hose is usually included...in the kit, but finding a replacement for it can be a quite troublesome (and costly) business. In other models, a wireless remote control is used, and its presence significantly affects the price of the unit.

— On body and handle. Vacuum cleaners combine both of the options described above. Usually, a hose with a regulator on the handle is supplied with such a unit. However, if necessary, you can install a regular hose and change the power with a switch on the body. Such control is the most versatile. Nevertheless, it is more expensive than each of the options described above.

Presence in the vacuum cleaner dust collector filling indicator.

The general meaning of this function is already clear from the name: it is an indicator that informs the user about the fullness of the dust collector. At the same time, we note that the features of the operation of such a pointer may be different. The simplest option is a mechanical or electrical device that works when the amount of debris in the dust collector approaches a critical level. More advanced indicators can show a specific degree of filling at any time. In advanced vacuum cleaners, complex electronic systems can be used with values displayed on a display or a light indicator.

This function is most popular in models with bags (see "Dust collector") since without an indicator it would be necessary to control the fullness of such a vacuum cleaner manually — by opening the dust collector compartment and checking by touch how tightly the bag is filled. In cyclone systems, fill indicators are very rare and in aquafilters — even less often: both there and there, transparent materials are often used to allow you to see the amount of debris inside without opening the vacuum cleaner.

The presence of a HEPA fine filter in the vacuum cleaner; also in this paragraph, the specific class of this filter is often specified.

HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Absorbing) filters are designed to purify the air from the smallest mechanical contaminants — up to tenths of a micron in size. It allows you to trap not only fine dust but even bacteria. For comparison: the size of most bacteria starts at 0.5 microns, and the effectiveness of HEPA filters is evaluated by the ability to retain particles with a size of 0.1 – 0.3 microns. The most advanced such filters ( class 13 and above) are able to remove more than 99.9% of these particles from the air. Here is a more detailed description of the different classes:

— HEPA 10 – traps at least 85% of particles with a size of 0.1 – 0.3 microns;
— HEPA 11 – at least 95% of such particles;
— HEPA 12 – not less than 99.5%;
— HEPA 13 – not less than 99.95%;
— HEPA 14 – not less than 99.995%;

Note that pollution with a size of 0.1 – 0.3 microns is the worst-kept by HEPA filters, so with particles of other sizes (both larger and smaller), the efficiency of such elements will be even higher.

Regarding the choice for this parameter, it is worth noting that, in fact, it does not always make sense to pursue a high filtration class. For example, during wet cleaning with a washing vacuum cleaner (see abov...e), the HEPA filter, in fact, is not needed at all (in many models, it is recommended to remove it altogether for such cases). So if you plan to use such a vacuum cleaner mainly for washing, you can ignore this parameter. Another specific case is industrial units (see "Type"): they are often used for rough cleaning of large debris, where thorough air filtration is not required.