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03 Jul War of the Vacuums: Canister Vacuums

Posted at 17:45h in Carpet, Homes by

As we noted in our last blog, picking a vacuum for your home isn’t always an easy endeavor. Aside from brands, costs and additional features, one of the most important decisions you can make is whether to invest in a canister or an upright vacuum. This week we’re looking at the difference between these two vacuum systems. Last time we took a look at uprights, which can be easy to use and efficient on carpets, but less maneuverable and much bulkier, so today we’ll take a look canister vacuums:

 

Canister Vacuums

Canister Vacuums are composed of a large canister on wheels with a hose attached that provides the suction. The hose is long and flexible enough to reach into several hard to reach areas and may come with several different attachments.

  • More Maneuverable — The most significant “pro” that canister vacuums have over upright vacuums is their ability to reach hard to access places such as under couches, between appliances, pieces of furniture and walls, etc. This is because the hose allows suction into tight, packed spaces that the “attached” vacuum of an upright doesn’t without the moving of (often heavy) furniture and appliances.

  • Require More Physical Exertion — However, the added maneuverability and finesse that canister vacuums can offer requires some more work on behalf of the user. Users of canister vacuums will have to drag the wheeled canister behind them as they vacuum their home. Additionally, those hard to reach places may require you to get “down and dirty” by bending over or getting on the floor to reach the vacuum into those hard to reach spots.

  • Better for “Detail Cleaning” and Hard Floors — The rotating brush system of an upright vacuum is simply more apt for the cleaning of carpeted surfaces, but the high suction of canisters allows for great cleaning of hard floors and tile. Likewise, as we’ve already highlighted, canister vacuums are better for getting the “small details” in your home such as corners.

  • Compact and Lightweight — Depending on the canister you purchase, it may or may not be compact enough to store in your closet, though it seems the majority of the bulk may actually come from the hose. Canisters are lighter than uprights allowing for easy carrying up and down stairs.

 

At the end of the day though, neither one trumps the other in terms of cleaning quality. It all hinges upon your own needs and preferences in a vacuum cleaner. If you have any questions regarding vacuum suggestions or would like to schedule an appointment for your regular carpet cleaning, contact Steamer’s Carpet Care today!