Upright vs Canister Vacuum Cleaners

When looking to purchase new vacuum cleaners, there are a number of considerations to keep in mind. One of the biggest decisions would be between a canister and an upright model. Both have their benefits and negative aspects, so it is best to wisely choose which will work best for the home. Most people are able to use vacuum cleaners for a numbers of years, so that makes this an important decision.

It usually comes down to a matter of preference as well as the type of cleaning to be done and the floors and layout of the home. There is no overall right model, but instead a very personal thing to find the best vacuum cleaners.

Canister vacuum cleaners have a number of advantages over the upright versions. They are usually easier to push around, since it is just the hose and cleaning head that is being moved around. The hose and wand usually make it far easier to get around and under furniture. Such areas are usually impossible to get with an upright model. The suction in these vacuum cleaners is also far superior. There are a lot of unique designs on the market for uprights, but the traditional canister will still outperform most uprights when it comes to power. With these, there is also a better filtering system, as many canisters offer HEPA filtration. Finally, since they are compact, the easily store in a closet and have a much smaller footprint than the uprights.

There are negatives that are associated with the canister vacuum cleaners. Since the canister is following behind the hose, it often can bang furniture and there is the chance to damage table legs and more. In homes that have both carpeting and hardwood floors, different cleaning head attachments may need to be used depending on the surface cleaned. This may prove to be a frustrating task if it has to be done multiple times throughout the cleaning process.

Upright vacuum cleaners also have their benefits and negative aspects. They are quite easy to use when it comes to vacuuming large carpets areas and hallways. Also, having the cleaner in front is also a preference for a lot of people. The unit is all in one piece, so this appeals to a lot of people. Depending on the type, there may be bagless canisters or bagged models. These will usually provide more capacity than the canisters. New models of uprights now come with a good number of onboard tools, so these are easily accessible whenever needed.

Uprights have some negative aspects to them also. They are unable to truly get under and around furniture easily. The hose and attachments can accomplish this, but many times the reach on these is not very long. Many models do come with filtration systems, but these are not as good as the ones in canisters. Finally, they are heavier and more difficult to maneuver on stairs.

Finding the right vacuum cleaner is a personal thing, so all of the positive and negative points should be weighed before making a purchase.