Bringing a vacuum cleaner into your home should change the way you permanently clean, using the perfect blend of technology and mechanical power to tidy your space so that you can devote your time to more enjoyable things—such as reading the newspaper!
However, buying a vacuum cleaner is not as simple as picking the most popular gadget in your budget range. Careful research is required to make sure you bring home a device that enhances your cleaning routine, instead of being abandoned in frustration and turning into a decorative item when it does not serve your purpose.
Here are some pointers to consider before you start your shopping journey, as well as the types of vacuum cleaners you can consider.
Types of vacuum cleaners
You can roughly categorise vacuum cleaners into three categories: robotic vacuum cleaners, cordless vacuum cleaners, and electric vacuum cleaners (wired).
Robotic vacuum cleaners are usually small, disc-shaped robots that move throughout your house over the course of several hours to clean the floors and regain power at a dedicated charging station. Many can be controlled via an app and they can be set up to clean your house while you are away at work.
Cordless vacuum cleaners also have their own charging station, but can be used to clean your house while the battery lasts, usually for between 20 and 60 minutes. They may sometimes come with a range of cleaning settings and detachable heads to tackle both floors and furniture.
Electric vacuum cleaners are diverse in terms of their form-factor, ranging from sleek, handheld stick models to large tubes with wheeled tanks that roll around the house with you. Some of these have their own tanks to collect dry and wet dirt, while others require you to buy and replace dust bags designed for this purpose.
There are also alternative vacuum cleaner models such as spot cleaners for smaller spaces like car seats and mattresses, portable vacuums for office desks and shelves, or steam vacuum cleaners that are meant to shampoo carpeted floors.
Budget
Vacuum cleaners cater to a range of budgets, but the general rule is that dry vacuum cleaners that run on power are more affordable than battery-operated vacuum cleaners or wet-and-dry vacuum cleaners, which fall under the middle segment for these devices. In the premium and ultra-premium segments, you have robotic vacuum cleaners. Other luxurious models go so far as to change their own water, so that you have as little contact with the collected dirt as possible.
Basic vacuum cleaners across form-factors can start at below ₹10,000 while robotic vacuum cleaners generally start at around ₹20,000 but can cost up to ₹1,00,000 or even more. Other devices fall within this range, with premium brands like Dyson competing against lower-priced Chinese alternatives. India’s homegrown vacuum cleaner sector, meanwhile, is still nascent.
Also, be sure to differentiate between wet-and-dry combined vacuum cleaners (that both vacuum and mop your floor together) and wet/dry vacuum cleaners (that suck up both wet and dry messes). Vacuum cleaners in the first category are usually more expensive and have advanced technology to cut down the time spent doing these activities separately.
Your home
A vacuum cleaner that is a joy to use in one home may be useless in the house next door. Consider your home and the messes you deal with on a daily basis before buying a vacuum cleaner. For example, robotic vacuum cleaners might not be the best choice for multi-storey homes with stairs. They may also be a poor fit for small apartments with high thresholds between rooms.
Meanwhile, if you have a shortage of electrical sockets in your home, a cordless vacuum cleaner that runs on battery power might be a more convenient option than a device with a cord.
The efficiency of a vacuum cleaner may also be affected if you have extremely glossy floors, or unevenly laid tiles that are not flush against the floor.
Cleaner’s needs
Ideally, the person who is doing most of the cleaning in your home should lead discussions about buying a vacuum cleaner. Consider the age of the person who will be using the vacuum cleaner the most, how much time they have, their comfort with technology, and their ability to handle heavy objects.
While some may want a wet-and-dry vacuum cleaner so that they can finish sweeping and mopping at one go, others may just want a dry vacuum cleaner so that wet and dry dirt is not mixed. People who own cars or furniture items with delicate textile finishes may need their vacuum cleaner to offer detachable heads so they can clean multiple soft and hard surfaces.
Small children and furry pets are also factors to consider. While wired and cordless vacuum cleaners can be on the louder side, robotic vacuum cleaners are quieter. However, larger vacuum cleaners are better equipped to handle bigger messes such as thrown food, hair balls, excrement, etc.
Be sure to note down all these requirements before you begin looking at vacuum cleaner options.
Types of messes
The kind of dirt you plan to vacuum on a daily basis will also greatly influence the type of vacuum cleaner that is right for you. Busy professionals who spend most of their day out of the apartment, for example, can opt for smaller vacuum cleaners that are suited to daily messes such as dust, hair, and crumbs.
On the other hand, if you have babies, furry pets, or family members with medical conditions, you may need to opt for a heavy-duty vacuum cleaner with higher suction power and a larger waste tank.
Aftersales support
Look up your vacuum cleaner’s brand to understand from where it sources its parts and whether replacements are easily available. Older customer reviews are useful to understand the long-term care the device may require.
There is little point in investing in a vacuum cleaner only to learn that replacement parts are not available in India and that repair services aren’t available in your area. Also make sure that parts such as filters, cleaning solutions, etc. are affordable and easy to order through your preferred sellers.