Get the right equipment with the features you need and your whole family will breeze through the change of seasons this year.
Dirty Work
Kärcher WD 4, R1 999
The WD stands for ‘wet and dry’, which means it will handle a lot more than your dusty carpet. The entry-level Kärcher models are not as resilient, but this hardy industrial design will happily slurp through all your worst garage and garden mess, including muddy puddles on the patio and gravel bits on the driveway. It all empties into the 20 bottom bucket, so it’s easy to tip out, rinse and resume.
FEATURES: Bagless, pullalong, ruggedised, 1 000W
Sweet Sucker
Panasonic MC-CL163DF4X, R1 499
If you’re on a tight budget you can still get up-to-date vacuum tech. This is a bagless design with a full-strength 2 000W motor, and it’s fitted with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter. It gets the job done, and looks good doing it! We like the metal extension pipes and the larger wheels, which make it easier to steer and allow it to climb over floor ridges and small obstacles (like toys!) in its path.
FEATURES: Bagless, pull-along, HEPA filter, 2 000W
Top of the Pile
Miele Complete C3 Comfort PowerLine, R4 499
Miele vacuums are built to last at least 20 years. Handle one and that becomes easy to believe. There’s no beating this model for all-round quality and reliability. It still uses bags, unfortunately, but it’s the quietest model on test. Its HEPA filters are superb and special casters make it the easiest pull-along model to manoeuvre around the house. Start with this base model and you can upgrade its filters and brush systems over time.
FEATURES: Bag, pull-along, HEPA filter, 2 000W
Cordless Convenience
Bosch Athlet BCH6ATH25, R3 499
Cordless vacuums are the new trend, but these battery-operated motors have struggled to generate the raw suction power of mains-powered ones. This one convinced us otherwise. Bosch claims it’s actually more powerful than a standard vacuum, and our basic tests suggested that might be true. Importantly, its lithium-ion battery lasts for a full 60 minutes, or long enough to get through a large home on a single charge.
FEATURES: Bagless, upright, HEPA filter, 25,2V, cordless
Handy Solutions
Black+Decker Dustbuster PV1820L-QW, R1 999
The original hand-held cordless vacuum was such a powerful idea that the name Dustbuster is still around 40 years later. This one has a nozzle that pivots through 200° with an extension section that gets into any awkward spot under furniture or behind large appliances, and it’s ideal for quick cleanups in the car too. It folds down into a more compact shape than competitors’ products for convenient storage.
FEATURES: Bagless, hand-held, cordless, lithium-ion battery, 18V
Allergy Alleviator
Philips FC9713 Animal+, R4 099
Pet hair is a common cause of many allergic reactions such as sneezing, a runny nose and burning eyes. This bagless model has the highest-rated motor on test, and it combines that sucking power with a special SuperTurbo brush for stripping pet hair from carpets and furniture. Philips claims its head has a three-way action with powerful suction concentrated in the middle and side brushes to clean effectively, even where the carpet meets the wall
FEATURES: Bagless, pull-along, HEPA filter, 2 100W
Hipster Living
Dysan V6+, R7 000
This innovative cordless model weighs just 2,3kg, but feels even lighter because it’s cleverly balanced. The tiny 350W motor produces adequate suction, but battery life is below 30 minutes and the cleaning head is extremely small so, while it’s ideal for manoeuvring around an apartment, it’s impractical for working through a full-size house. Remove the main pipe and you have a neat triggeroperated hand-held unit for getting into tight spots, like in cars or cupboards.
FEATURES: Bagless, upright, 350W, cordless
Shopping tips:
Pull on the other one: Of the two main vacuum styles, the pull-along design is far more popular in South Africa, is easier to use on carpeted stairs and requires less storage space. Older people might prefer the upright style, which requires less bending to operate. Both styles clean equally well.
In the bag: Most vacuum cleaners no longer use bags, as these are now viewed as an inconvenient ongoing expense, since most bags cannot be reused. However, the dirt box on bagless machines should be rinsed out and then dried after each use.
Breathe easy: The best vacuum cleaners have a HEPA filter made from fibreglass to trap particles like dust and pollen that are being sucked up by your machine. This HEPA filter will catch 99,97% of particles up to 0,3 microns big, so the air leaving your machine will be cleaner than the air in the room!
WATT you say? The power of the vacuum motor is measured in watts. You’ll need at least 2 000W for a large family home and about 1 700W for a smaller house. Anything around 1 000W is only suitable for a small flat.
Watch your step: All vacuums will clean carpets and mats, and won’t scratch tiles and wood floors, but get a brush attachment if you want deep carpet cleaning, or if you have pets. Check for a stair tool if you live in a double-storey house, or an upholstery tool to do your couches.
ALSO READ:
Professional cleaners reveal the places we always forget to clean
10 things you didn’t know you could put in the washing machine
The post Tested Products: Vacuum Cleaners appeared first on Good Housekeeping.
from Good Housekeeping http://ift.tt/2xsXwE5
via IFTTT
