How to choose a multi-purpose vacuum cleaner
Multi-purpose vacuum cleaners can handle both wet and dry vacuuming, with some models even able to shampoo carpets and upholstery. These cleaners are especially suitable for larger households with a mixure of carpets and hard floors.
Frequently asked questions when choosing a multi-purpose cleaner
How do multi-purpose vacuum cleaners differ from conventional vacuum cleaners?
Unlike conventional models, multi-purpose cleaners offer both wet and dry vacuuming. More expensive models also have a water filter for deep cleaning carpets. Furthermore, multi-purpose cleaners feature large-volume containers and come with a wide range of attachments for a variety of floor coverings. However, compared with conventional vacuum cleaners they are larger, heavier, and have less suction power.
Who are multi-purpose vacuum cleaners designed for?
Multipurpose cleaners are ideal for larger households with different types of floor coverings. They can vacuum coarse dirt and liquids, and can clean carpets, furniture, porches and garages.
What features do multi-purpose vacuum cleaners offer?
The basic functions of multi-purpose cleaners are wet and dry vacuuming. In addition to these, more expensive models can shampoo carpets and upholstery. Some multi-function vacuum cleaners also allow you to mop floors and clean windows, as well as steam cleaning. A blower function allows you to quickly inflate a mattress or blow away leaves and other debris.
Important parameters
Bag / container volume
The ideal volume of a vacuum cleaner bag depends on the size of the area you will clean.
Vacuuming area | Bag volume |
|---|---|
| Up to 50 m2 | 2-2.5 litres |
| 50-150 m2 | 3-4 l |
| Above 150 m2 | 4 l + |
Noise
Vacuum cleaners that produce 61-70 db noise are considered very quiet, whereas anything exceeding 80 dB is considered noisy.
Cable length and operating radius
The cable length determines the reach of the vacuum cleaner. Accordingly, if you plan to clean large areas, it's definitely worth choosing a model with a longer cable length.
Instead of cable length, some manufacturers state the operating radius. This indicates the overall reach of a vacuum cleaner, i.e. the sum of the cable length, body length and the vacuum nozzle length.
Accessories
Attachments are available for carpets, hard floors, crevices, etc. Turbo brushes are suitable for the removal of animal hair or hair from carpets.
Glossary - Vacuum cleaners
HEPA filter
HEPA filters (High Efficiency Particular Air) are among the most powerful filtration systems available, capturing up to 99.9% of impurities. The degree of efficiency is indicated by the numbers 10 to 14, where the number 10 indicates 85% filtration efficiency and 14 represents 99% filtration efficiency. The HEPA filter is located behind the vacuum motor, where it captures dust and debris. If you have a family history of allergies, it is recommended to choose a vacuum cleaner with this type of filtration.
Turbo brush
Turbo brushes are designed for cleaning carpets. They are ideal for removing animal or human hair, but they are also effective at removing ingrained dirt. Turbo brushes contain one or more rotating cylinders with fixed bristles. They can be powered either by air intake or by a motor. Turbo brushes with their own motor offer increased performance, but at the cost of higher power consumption.
Glossary
Suction power
Suction power is considered one of the most important parameters when choosing a vacuum cleaner. However, it is not always given by the manufacturer as there is no uniform system for its measurement; therefore, data from individual manufacturers cannot be clearly compared. Nevertheless, suction power typically corresponds to 1/3 to 1/5 of the vacuums power.