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.A capacity of a tank for water or detergent a vacuum cleaner with a wet cleaning function is equipped with. (see "Cleaning type").
Large capacity allows you to work longer without refilling the tank. On the other hand, an increase in capacity has a corresponding effect on the size, weight and cost of the unit. Thus, manufacturers choose this parameter taking into account the general specialization and the “weight category” of a particular model. So, in robots (see "Type"), the volume of the water tank is, by definition, small. Even in the heaviest models, it does not exceed 650 mL. But other types of vacuum cleaners can differ markedly in this parameter.
In general, for non-robot units, a capacity
of 1 liter or less is considered very limited,
1 – 2 liters is small,
2 – 3 liters is average,
more than 3 liters is above average. However, it much depends on the type. For example, in conventional vacuum cleaners, the capacity does not exceed 2.5 liters, and "for workshop" models this is very little — in most cases, they have a tank capacity of 3 liters or more.
Additional modes of operation provided by the robot cleaner (see "Product type").
First of all, let us clarify that the standard modes, in this case, include two formats of cleaning at standard power — continuous, in which the vacuum cleaner carefully cleans the entire room (or its specified area), and chaotic, in which it moves randomly within the working area. Other ways of working are considered additional; their list is given in this paragraph. Among the most common additional modes are
spot cleaning (Spot),
perimeter cleaning (Edge),
and turbo mode. In addition, a fairly popular function is the Zigzag. Here is a detailed description of the different options:
— Spot cleaning (Spot). A mode that allows you to use the vacuum cleaner for targeted cleaning of a relatively small area of the room — for example, when spilling a small amount of debris. Most often, this programme works as follows: the robot moves to the centre of a user-defined zone, and then starts moving from this point in an expanding spiral and stops at a given distance from the starting position.
— Perimeter cleaning (Edge). A mode that allows you to start the vacuum cleaner around the perimeter of a given zone. By the name, it is mainly used for cleaning along the walls of the room: a lot of dirt accumulates in these places, which are difficul
...t to remove when using standard cleaning modes.
— Turbo mode. Power mode for more suction force. Usually, the movement of the vacuum cleaner, in this case, can be carried out according to any programme available in the settings — both standard (combing, random movement) and additional (Spot, Edge, Zigzag). Anyway, the turbo mode is useful primarily for cleaning carpets and other floor coverings with pile, for which the standard power of the vacuum cleaner is not enough. However, working at increased traction increases the load on the unit and increases its wear. Therefore, most models have restrictions on the maximum time of continuous operation in turbo mode and sometimes on the minimum duration of breaks between switching on this mode.
— Zigzag. Zigzag movement is a kind of transitional variant between the orderly combing of the room and the random choice of direction. Zigzag allows you to achieve greater efficiency than chaotic movements. In addition, with such a movement, it is easier to compensate for the presence of various obstacles and ensure thorough cleaning of the entire given area.Types of
voice assistants supported by the robot vacuum cleaner.
As the name implies, this function allows you to control the robot using voice commands. However, we emphasize that in this case, we are not talking about the voice recognition system built into the vacuum cleaner but about compatibility with an external device on which the corresponding voice assistant is installed — a smartphone, tablet, smart speaker, etc. Thus, to use voice control, an additional device will inevitably be required; on the other hand, there are no problems with the search for such a device nowadays. And in itself, such a control method often turns out to be more convenient than a command from the remote control or searching for the desired option in the control application.
As for specific assistants, the most popular nowadays are (in alphabetical order) Amazon Alexa, Apple Siri, Google Assistant. And in robot vacuum cleaners, compatibility can be provided both with one of them and with several at once. The specific control functionality available through the voice assistant should be specified separately for each model. It is also worth paying attention to the supported languages: for Siri, the language must be selected in the settings, for the Google Assistant, automatic language recognition is available (some adjustment may be required), and in Alexa (as of early 2021) support for the Russian language is not provided at all.
We emphasize that in this paragraph we describe the functions of the vacuum cleaner nozzles and not the types of nozzles themselves. It is because one device can have several functions at once: for example, a crevice nozzle, which is also used as a dust nozzle. So the total number of nozzles may differ from the number of items in this list. Although exceptions are possible (when several nozzles of the same type are supplied in the kit, differing in size).
The main functions found in the nozzles of modern vacuum cleaners are as follows:
combined (floor/carpet),
crevice (including telescopic crevice),
dust brush,
for sofa,
parquet,
turbobrush(regular,
mini turbobrush or
electricturbobrush . However, sometimes the best choice is
vacuum cleaners without turbobrushes, and for handheld vacuum cleaners —
angle brush,
microfibre,
mop,
floor polisher (for wiping),
for mattresses,
for animals,
twister for hose,
siphon nozzle,
...f="/list/90/pr-41987/">flexible hose and
tool adapter. For robots, side brushes are important, which can be one or
two. Here is a detailed description of these, as well as some other features:
— Side brush. Function found exclusively in robots (see "Product type"). Such a brush protrudes to the side beyond the body and captures the space on the side. It increases the overall width of the operating area and allows you to effectively clean places that are inaccessible to the main brush of the robot (which is located at the bottom of the body). Typical examples of such places are the space near the walls of the room and at the bases of cabinet furniture, crevices under baseboards, etc. Note that this option is indicated when there is only one side brush; the presence of a pair of such brushes is specified separately (see below).
— 2 side brushes. The presence in the robot vacuum cleaner of two side brushes on both sides of the body. See above for more details on the side brush as a whole. This design option slightly increases the cost but significantly improves efficiency compared to a single side brush. The width of the operating area is evenly increased. And when cleaning hard-to-reach places, it does not matter which side the vacuum cleaner is turned to such a place — there is an additional brush on each side.
— Combined (floor/carpet). A function that allows you to use one nozzle for dry cleaning of various types of floor coverings — both hard (linoleum, parquet, laminate, tiles ...) and carpets. Accessories with this function are extremely popular. They are found in almost all conventional vacuum cleaners (see "Product type"), in many household vacuums, as well as professional models (except hand-held industrial and fireplace vacuum cleaners). The nozzle itself usually has a T-shape, rather large dimensions and a swivel mount that improves mobility. And adjustment for different types of surfaces is carried out due to the retractable brush. The bristles of such a brush are convenient for cleaning hard surfaces. And when cleaning carpets and other fleecy materials, the brush can be removed so that the nozzle fits snugly against the pile and effectively draws dust and small debris out of it.
— Crevice. This function means that the nozzle is equipped with a flat working part with a narrow slot at the end. This design is suitable for cleaning hard-to-reach places — spaces between pieces of furniture, crevices under baseboards, gaps between radiator sections, etc. The width of the crevice nozzle (and, accordingly, the length of the crevice) usually does not exceed the diameter of the vacuum cleaner pipe, but the length of the flat part can be different. Moreover, each option has its advantages: long models can reach further into narrow gaps, while short ones are more manoeuvrable and more comfortable in general.
— Dust. A function that allows you to collect dust from small hard surfaces, such as armrests of chairs, picture frames, lamp shades, etc. Traditional accessories with this ability are in the form of small round brushes but there is another variety — wider nozzles (also with brushes), somewhat similar to a smaller version of the floor/carpet format fixtures (see above). The second variety is often referred to as furniture nozzles. Some of these accessories have removable bristles and can be used as nozzles for a sofa (see below).
— For sofa. A function that allows you to effectively clean the upholstery furniture and other similar items — mattresses, car seats, etc. Brushes with this function can have different designs and application features. The simplest option is a T-shaped device, similar to a reduced combination nozzle (see above), which does not have bristles, but is often equipped with strips of the fine pile — they effectively collect hair and wool from the upholstery. Some of these devices are equipped with removable bristles and can also be used as dust ones (see above). A more expensive and advanced option is beater brushes that provide additional impact; this effect increases efficiency, allowing the removal of dust and other small contaminants even at fairly great depths. Also, some turbobrushes and mini turbobrushes may be intended for upholstered furniture (see below). For vacuum cleaners equipped with such accessories, both this function and the mini turbobrush are indicated in the specifications.
— Parquet. A function that allows you to use the nozzle for effective and gentle cleaning of parquet and other hard floor coverings. A nozzle with this function is similar to the combined one described above. However, the bristles in it are non-removable and they are designed to minimize the risk of damaging the coating. Nevertheless, the specific characteristics of such nozzles may be different. So if you have to work with delicate surfaces — the ability of such an application needs to be specified separately.
— Turbobrush. The working part of a classic turbobrush is a horizontal roller driven by airflow. This design allows you to effectively collect hair, wool and other similar debris (for example, thread). But the specific design and specialization of the turbo brush can be different. Models, where the roller is equipped with bristles, are designed mainly for fleecy surfaces like carpets. And some of these nozzles are reduced in size and are intended for cleaning upholstery furniture (in such cases, the function “for sofa” is also indicated in this list). In turn, rollers with soft short pile are great for smooth surfaces — including rather delicate ones, like parquet. Thus, there may be several turbobrushes in the kit — for different tasks.
Note that the turbobrush must be periodically cleaned from collected contaminants. In addition, such a nozzle slightly reduces the overall suction efficiency since part of the suction power is spent on rotating the roller. Electric versions are deprived of this drawback, but they also have their own disadvantages — see below for more details. Also note that even mechanical turbobrushes are quite expensive, even though their advantages over conventional fixed attachments become noticeable only when cleaning hair and long hair. Therefore, if you do not regularly have to deal with such pollution, it most likely makes sense to choose a vacuum cleaner
without a turbo brush.
— Mini turbobrush. A reduced version of the turbobrush — conventional (see above) or electric (see below). Compactness allows to effectively use such a brush in hard-to-reach places and on small surfaces. Actually, the main purpose of most mini-turbo brushes is to clean wool and hair from upholstered furniture. In addition, some of these nozzles are also well suited for cleaning carpets on narrow stairs.
— Electric turbobrush. Devices that are almost completely similar to the turbobrushes described above with the exception that the roller, in this case, is driven not by an air stream but by an electric motor installed in the nozzle itself. The main advantage of electric nozzles is the higher efficiency (with the same suction power). Firstly, such nozzles practically do not affect suction power, while traditional mechanical turbobrushes lose part of this power, spending it on rotating the roller. Secondly, the speed of rotation of the electric turbo brush does not depend on the airflow, and the torque of the electric motor can be quite high. The downside of these advantages is the complexity and high cost of the nozzles, as well as the need to use special tubes and hoses with them, supplemented by wiring to power the electric motor.
— Angle. This function means that the vacuum cleaner is equipped with a device that allows you to place the working nozzle at an angle (usually perpendicular) to the main tube. In this case, the specific design of such a device may be different. In some models, this is an additional adapter in the form of an L-shaped tube on which different nozzles are installed. In others, the L-shaped nozzle itself is made of one type or another — for example, dust (see above). Thirdly, such an adapter or nozzle is equipped with a swivel joint, which allows you to place the working part at different angles. All such devices make it much easier to clean in some hard-to-reach places.
We note that it makes little sense to use angle adapters with combined floor/carpet nozzles (see above) — such devices usually have swivel joints and do not require additional equipment to rotate them.
— Microfibre. Microfibre cloth for wet cleaning. It is worth saying that for some models with such equipment, only dry cleaning is claimed in the specification (see "Cleaning type"). But this only means that the vacuum cleaner does not have its sprayer and the microfibre must be wetted manually. In general, such a nozzle is most popular in robots. However, it is also found in upright models (mostly upright with handheld ones, see "product type"). In the first case, the microfibre is installed on the lower part of the body. In the second case, on one of the working nozzles. However, microfibre is effective in wet cleaning: it perfectly absorbs dirt and is easily washed from them. On the other hand, it makes sense to use such a nozzle (like any wet cleaning device) mainly on linoleum, parquet and other hard surfaces.
— Twister for hose. A small cyclone-type container (see "Dust collector") mounted directly on the hose of the vacuum cleaner; usually at the joint with the pipe. Most often is used in vacuum cleaners with a bag. Twister performs several useful functions at once. Firstly, it traps most of the dust and allows you to work longer without cleaning the bag; and cleaning the twister is much easier and faster than cleaning the bag. Secondly, the container on the hose is usually made transparent which makes it easier to monitor the amount of dust collected. Thirdly, it is easier to get a small but necessary item (coin, memory card, etc.) accidentally sucted by the unit from the twister. The disadvantage of such a device is that it makes the hose more bulky and heavy, reducing mobility.
— Siphon nozzle. A function that allows you to use a vacuum cleaner to clean sewage in kitchen sinks. For such cleaning, specialized nozzles are used, which are similar in shape and principle of operation to plungers. The difference is that the suction that clears a clogged pipe is created by the operation of the vacuum cleaner. All units equipped with such nozzles have the function of water suction. However, they may not be washing vacuums(see above) and may not even have the ability of wet cleaning (see “Cleaning type”).
— Flexible hose. The presence of this function is specified for vacuum cleaners that are not related to conventional ones (see "Product type") — the latter is equipped with a hose by default and there is no need to specifically mention this accessory for them. In other cases, a flexible hose can be both the main working accessory (for example, industrial vacuum cleaners, including most handheld ones) and an additional accessory (for example, upright units). In the latter case, the hose allows you to reach places that are inaccessible without such a device when cleaning.
— Adapter for tools. A function that allows the use of a vacuum cleaner in combination with various electric and sometimes pneumatic tools for cleaning production waste right in the process. It is found mainly in professional-level units — industrial (including handheld) and for workshop (household vacuum cleaners are poorly suited for working with large amounts of chips and sawdust). However, the specific design and purpose of such an adapter may be different. Most often, it has the form of a kind of cone, made up of "steps" of different diameters and is used to connect to tools that are originally equipped with nozzles for a vacuum cleaner. At the same time, the dimensions of the "steps" of the adapter correspond to several standard diameters in which nozzles are made on tools. (Some units with this equipment even have an auto-on function when the tool is turned on; see "Built-in socket" for more details). However, before buying such a unit, it's ok to clarify the compatibility of the adapter with specific tool models.
Another version of the "tool" adapter is a kind of cover that covers the area around the place of work and is used mainly with
drills and
hammers. In such a cover there are two holes: one — with a pipe for connecting a vacuum cleaner, the second — for the working nozzle of the tool. The circumference of the hole for the tool is often made of characteristic "petals", reducing the risk of damage to the drill or other nozzle in case of accidental contact with the adapter. However, such devices are rarely included in the package — they are more popular as separately sold accessories.
In addition to those described above, in modern vacuum cleaners, there are other, more specific functions of nozzles, in particular:
— Washing. Sometimes the presence of this function is specifically indicated for washing vacuum cleaners — mainly to clarify the features of the washing nozzle. So, it can be intended for different surfaces (for smooth floors or carpets/furniture), have different sizes, etc. However, the principle of construction of all such nozzles is the same: the design necessarily has a nozzle for spraying detergent, and the working part usually has the appearance of a thin and rather wide gap. This design most effectively handles with the collection of liquid.
— Ultraviolet lamp. An ultraviolet lamp, built-in in one of the main nozzles — most often in combined for floors/carpets (see above), but exceptions are possible. Such equipment allows the vacuum cleaner to carry out not only ordinary cleaning but also additional disinfection: UV radiation handles well with most pathogens. At the same time, it is harmless to people and pets if you follow the safety rules specified in the documentation for the vacuum cleaner. Of course, we are not talking about one hundred per cent disinfection. However, the use of a UV lamp anyway improves the quality of cleaning.
— Flexible crevice. A special variety of the crevice nozzles described above is with a flexible working part. This design of the nozzle allows it to penetrate even into curved slots that are inaccessible to a traditional rigid design.
— For pets. This function allows you to use the vacuum cleaner to collect hair from pets that tend to shed heavily, especially long-haired dogs and cats. A specialized nozzle for such tasks is an improved “comb”: it effectively removes loose hair, which is immediately drawn in by a vacuum cleaner. And at the same time does not create discomfort for the animal (the main thing is to accustom the pet to the noise of the vacuum cleaner itself).
— Pulverizer. A feature found in some vacuum cleaners with a wet cleaning function (see “Cleaning type”). Usually, it is implemented through a special nozzle designed exclusively for spraying liquid.
The operating time of a battery-powered vacuum cleaner (see "Power supply") on a single battery charge.
Usually, the average operating time in normal mode is indicated here. Accordingly, in fact, the battery life of the vacuum cleaner may differ slightly from the claimed one, depending on the chosen application format. Nevertheless, the operating time indicated in the specifications is a fairly reliable indicator; it can be used both for a general assessment of battery life and for comparing the selected vacuum cleaner with other models.
Separately, we note that increasing battery life requires either the use of more capacious (and therefore more expensive and heavier) batteries or a decrease in engine power (and the efficiency of the unit as a whole). So it is worth looking specifically for a long working vacuum cleaner if these moments are outweighed by a long operating time.
The time required to charge the cordless vacuum cleaner fully (see "Power supply").
Larger batteries tend to take longer to charge. On the other hand, modern batteries can use various solutions that speed up the process, so there is no strict dependence here.
Separately, we note that the speed of charging batteries is usually uneven: at first, the process is fast, then it gradually slows down. So if, for example, the specifications indicate a charging time of 2 hours, then charging from 0 to 50% will take a little less than an hour, and from 50% to 100% the remaining time.
