Modern cleaning equipment can surprise even an experienced housewife not only with its appearance and design features, but also with its functionality. A strong technological breakthrough was made by manufacturers of vacuum cleaners, offering the concept of separating wet and dry cleaning. At the same time, approaches to the management of this technique have also changed. The classic buttons and mechanical switches have been replaced by touch panels with wireless modules for communication with mobile devices. It remains only to answer the question of how to choose the right vacuum cleaner among a wide variety of new designs and options.
Which type of appliance would you prefer?
There are a lot of classifications of vacuum cleaners, but traditional models with dry cleaning and more modern versions provided withwet care function. What are the advantages of classic vacuum cleaners? They have an optimized design, designed for a standard set of functions required in household cleaning. How to choose the right vacuum cleaner for this type of apartment? Since no special features are provided for in the technical device, the characteristics of cleaning accessories must immediately be taken into account. It is necessary to evaluate the capabilities of dust nozzles, their purpose, the diameter of the suction pipe and hoses. It is also necessary to take into account the features of dry cleaning as such. This principle of operation is suitable for smooth surfaces, it is cheaper and does not require special maintenance of the device.
Now it is worth considering a vacuum cleaner designed for wet cleaning. The design of such a device is more massive, so the owners of small apartments should consider in advance the possibilities of distributing free space. And again, if the emphasis is on cleaning linoleum with parquet, then there will not be much point in buying such a model. The washing vacuum cleaner justifies itself when it comes to the comprehensive care of fleecy and woolen coatings. Eliminating dust with allergens in the air is a mandatory function if people with chronic lung diseases or small children live in the house. But how do you choose the right washing vacuum cleaner so that it performs these cleaning tasks effectively? It is desirable to include in the model the functions of deodorizing and humidifying the air, not forgetting the technical reliability. The concept of wet cleaning itself is not cheap, therefore, in order to attract customers by reducing the cost, manufacturers of such equipmentoften save on the quality of the element base. Breakage of small parts, cracks in plastic cases, ruptured hoses and typical engine burnout are common problems of budget cleaning equipment.
How to choose the right robot vacuum cleaner?
A completely separate niche in a huge family of modern vacuum cleaners. The main difference lies in the complete independence of robotic technology. The vacuum cleaner without the participation of a person turns on, selects the trajectory of movement, cleaning parameters and operating modes. How is this autonomy achieved? The device provides an innovative electronic filling based on the principles of artificial intelligence. Based on signals from sensors, software algorithms make decisions about movements and setting suction parameters, in particular.
How to choose the right robot vacuum cleaner? To begin with, it is worth clarifying why such devices were originally created. They are the perfect solution for troublesome cleaning in hard-to-reach places. Therefore, the size of the structure and, in particular, the height of the vacuum cleaner, will become the basic selection parameters. The average height of the case with wheels is 6-12 cm. The specific value should be selected based on whether the device can drive under a bed, sofa, wardrobe or other furniture under which cleaning is planned. No less important is the capture area, which can be counted on when cleaning in the process of one session. An average robot vacuum cleaner can service about 550-600 m2 in one output. This indicator is directly affected by the size of the brush - for example,A 30 cm nozzle is quite suitable for a medium-sized apartment. On the other hand, the smaller the design with the size of the brush, the more sneaky the device will be.
Of course, independence in management is not the main feature of such models. Manufacturers compete with each other, endowing a high-tech product and other operational "chips". How to choose the right robot vacuum cleaner for an apartment according to additional features - what to consider from useful functions? In this part, you need to be more careful, since an optional option that is attractive to the ear often increases the cost without fundamentally improving the quality of cleaning. The truly valuable features include the presence of a UV lamp with a disinfection function, remote control and a fixed docking station to which the device will return every time after the end of the working session.
Power selection
Power potential is one of the key parameters that determine the effectiveness of a vacuum cleaner. In this case, it is necessary to separate the power consumed and the suction power. As for the first value, it averages 1000-2000 watts. There are 800 W models that are suitable for targeted cleaning of small spaces, and 2200 W versions that are worth purchasing for servicing private homes. It is difficult to miscalculate in this parameter if you focus on a specific purpose. More important is the question of how to choose the right vacuum cleaner for suction power and what does this characteristic mean in general? This is not just an expression of the force with which the device sucksdust, and its ability to maintain this effort at the proper level for a long time. Usually, the suction force is calculated, which is valid for the first 5 minutes of the vacuum cleaner. This value is expressed by the product of vacuum and air flow, and denote it as aeroW. Now we can consider the specific values of suction force that are acceptable in different cases:
- 350 aeroWatt - optimal if dry cleaning of smooth surfaces is planned. For example, the same parquet with linoleum, tiled flooring, etc.
- 400 aeroW is the recommended value for cleaning with turbo brushes.
- 450 aeroW - models with this potential are suitable for cleaning long pile and carpets.
- 550 aeroW - with this power you get an effective wet care especially for carpets.
- 650 aeroW - suitable for gentle cleaning of upholstered furniture surfaces.
- 700 aeroW is a universal indicator, adjusting which you can even perform professional complex cleaning.
Corded or cordless vacuum cleaner?
The power supply system is another significant parameter by which models of modern vacuum cleaners began to be divided. Traditional household versions, powered by a socket, respectively, require a voltage of 220 V. There is also a narrow segment of small-sized automotive appliances connected to a local on-board network with a voltage of 12 W. How to choose a good vacuum cleaner connected to network communications? There are two special nuances here - the presence of security systems and sound insulation. Regarding the first aspect,then it is advisable to choose models with devices that protect the device from overheating and energy overload. Since network models are distinguished by powerful electric motors, it is important to consider the noise level. An indicator in the range of 70–80 dB is considered normal.
A more fashionable solution is a cordless vacuum cleaner, or a vertical one. It differs from conventional network ones by a center of gravity shifted downwards and a rechargeable battery. The operational advantages of such vacuum cleaners include mobility and the absence of restrictions on movement. Robotic models, by the way, are powered exclusively by a battery pack that does not limit the design to wiring.
How to choose the right battery-powered upright vacuum cleaner? The main parameters of the power system in this case are the battery capacity and the duration of operation. As for the first value, the powerful unit contains 2200 mAh. The working time interval is 60-120 minutes on a single charge. And such a battery is replenished in 200-300 minutes, depending on the volume.
Optimal filtration system
The cleaning steps in modern vacuum cleaners are implemented in steps and only in rare cases with budget models are limited to one way. In those that support wet cleaning, an aquafilter and a dust bag are provided. They collect small dirt and debris. However, these purification steps do not affect the improvement of the composition of the air environment. Filters with support for fine cleaning are the most technologically advanced and useful in terms of air cleaning. This group includesS-class filters, HEPA membranes and microfilters. Also, to protect the technical stuffing of the vacuum cleaner, a special filtration system is provided. These are the so-called motor filters, which are permanent and replaceable. But, such devices do not contribute to air purification.
How to choose the right vacuum cleaner for your home, in terms of the effectiveness of the cleaning system? HEPA membranes are still considered the most popular. They are multifunctional in themselves and can replace a whole group of traditional filters. In addition, it would be useful to provide an electrostatic microfilter. It retains the smallest elements with a size of the order of 0.3 microns. With this combination, you can count on air purification up to 80-99%.
Dust collection systems - which is better?
The operation of a vacuum cleaner is based on three main stages - direct cleaning, the aforementioned filtration and collection. The last stage, at first glance, is not so significant, but in the long run, the hygienic background that occurs during the cleaning process depends on it.
The easiest way to accumulate collected dust and dirt is a bag. This is an inexpensive, easy to use and familiar dust collector, which is still equipped with budget horizontal vacuum cleaners. But precisely, from the point of view of sanitary and hygienic safety, this is the worst option.
How to choose the right vacuum cleaner for an apartment in order to prevent the spread of harmful elements when collecting dirt? Containers and water filters perform best in this capacity. In the first casethis is a permanent dust collector that does not require replacement - periodic cleaning is enough. It is in the possibility of easy cleaning of surfaces that the advantage of the container lies. But, he also has a drawback, which consists in noisy work due to vibrations. As for water filters, they have no equal in creating an optimal microclimate with maximum safety. The air passing through it is washed by water, and the dust settles in a special container. As a result, the debris is neutralized already when it is in the body of the vacuum cleaner. Further. all that remains is to pour out the contaminated water.
Approaches to instrument control
Of course, the manual method remains dominant in most models. Full autonomy with control through programming is only available in robotic technology.
But how to choose the right vacuum cleaner for ease of control functionality, if we are talking about standard models? In many ways, this is an individual approach, in which everyone evaluates how comfortable the configuration of the controls is for him. Nevertheless, it is important to take into account the progressiveness and development of traditional control systems. Thus, the appearance of sliders and touch panels with LCD displays makes the work process more informative and enjoyable.
The most modern controls, as already noted, are implemented in robotic vacuum cleaners. They can be interacted with via the same control panel with touch buttons, remote control, etc.
But how to choose the right vacuum cleaner if the emphasis is on maximum autonomy? Then you should contactto models provided with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. With such modules, the user can communicate through a mobile device, giving commands over a long distance. In addition, robotic vacuum cleaners can be configured for long-term work schedules so that the device will automatically start cleaning in a specific mode without current incoming commands.
Question of price
You have to pay an appropriate price for a modern option, so high technology has not yet completely replaced the traditional segment. So, typical budget models cost 3-7 thousand rubles. It can be an ordinary plastic vacuum cleaner with a power of up to 1000 W with a small set of functional elements. For 15-20 thousand, you can already count on models that support wet cleaning. In the class up to 25,000, manufacturers also offer high-performance filtration products with HEPA purification.
But how to choose the right washing vacuum cleaner for the home if you don’t want to overpay for extra functionality? Those who expect to get just a reliable assistant for dry and wet cleaning without an excess of options should pay attention to ergonomics and physical strength. The plastic should have thermal protection with anti-scratch coatings. Inside, it is still desirable to provide effective fillings like separator aqua filters.
Top Producers
Not so long ago, Polaris, Electrolux, Zelmer, Philips, etc. were recognized as leaders in this segment of household appliances. The products of these brands are still in demand today, as developersmaintain the same level of quality. It is worth contacting this direction of manufacturers for classic network models worth 8-10 thousand. But technological vacuum cleaners are promoted by companies like Panda, iRobot Miele and Karcher. For example, the last two manufacturers bring a lot to the consumer segment from the professional sector.
How to choose the right vacuum cleaner for your home by brand of origin? It is necessary to build on the tasks to be solved. In terms of the quality of the technical device and reliability, German brands remain leaders - Bosch, Karcher and Miele. To get modern functionality, you should choose from the iRobot line, and inexpensive compromise options are products from Polaris, Electrolux, etc.
In conclusion
As the functionality of modern household appliances expands, some segments began to intersect with each other, adopting seemingly unnecessary features. In the case of a vacuum cleaner, these functions include humidification and air washing. Such tasks are much better handled by special climate devices. Therefore, if you don’t want to overpay, but there is a goal to get good-quality equipment with a useful option, then you should focus on the basic operating parameters.
For example, the question of how to choose the right vacuum cleaner in terms of power will determine the efficiency of dust collection. And here, too, you should not chase high performance - 1200 W is quite enough for a city apartment with an area of 50-60 m22. Further, a set of accessories, nozzles and brush mechanisms is taken into account. Only sincetaking into account a complex of assessments, you can make the right choice.
