How to choose a stick vacuum cleaner
Stick vacuums are the ideal choice for smaller households with a limited amount of storage space.
Frequently asked questions when choosing a stick vacuum cleaner
What are stick vacuum cleaners designed for?
Stick vacuum cleaners are designed primarily for small households. They are easy to handle, compact and lightweight, which makes them particularly suitable for seniors.
What type of flooring are stick vacuum cleaners suitable for?
Due to their lower suction power, stick vacuums are more suitable for hard floors than carpets. However, more expensive models come with accessories and attachments for cleaning carpets and upholstery.
What kind of stick vacuum cleaner is better - mains-powered or cordless?
Both type have their advantages. Mains-powered vacuums are not limited by battery capacity, but their reach is restricted by the length of the cable. In contrast, a cordless vacuum is not restricted in terms of movement; and while they are limited by battery life, they have sufficient power for cleaning small apartments.
Important parameters
Filtration type
The quality of the filtration affects the overall efficiency of the vacuum. Vacuum cleaners often use a multi-stage filtration system.
Bag vacuum cleaners use a three-stage filtration system:
1st stage: vacuum cleaner bag
2nd stage: input filter
This is a filter between the motor and the bag. These filters tend to be made of foam and are used primarily to protect the engine from dust. It is necessary to regularly check and change the input filter.
3rd stage: output filter
Output filters are the most important as they ensure that the exhaust air is clean. You can choose between micro-filters (fabric) or HEPA filters, which currently provide the most effective filtration. HEPA filters are divided according to their efficiency in a range from 10 (85% efficiency) to 13 (99.9%). For those suffering from severe allergies or asthma, we recommend H12 and H13 HEPA filters.
Filters should be cleaned periodically, or replaced when they start to clog.
Power
You can choose between corded or cordless vacuum cleaners. Corded vacuums are not limited by battery capacity, but their reach is restricted by the length of the cable.
In contrast, a cordless vacuum is not restricted in terms of movement; and while they are limited by battery life, they have sufficient power for cleaning small apartments.
Noise
Vacuum cleaners that produce 61-70 db noise are considered very quiet, whereas anything exceeding 80 dB is considered noisy.
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
Container / bag volume
Stick vacuums come in both bag and bagless models.
The ideal volume of a vacuum cleaner bag depends on the size of the area you will clean.
Size vacuuming area
The volume of the bag
For bagless vacuum cleaners, 1.2 to 2 litres is siffucient volume.