Types of Floorcare
Vacuum cleaners have evolved from the humble bagged models. While they’re still a popular choice, there’s now a huge choice of floorcare devices available. We will explain the different types, covering everything from carpet washers and steam mops, to sweepers and polishers.
Vacuum Cleaners
The world of vacuum cleaners has transformed with modern technology.
There are many different types available, suiting every floor surface imaginable. Each has its own purpose, advantages, and disadvantages.
Upright vs. Cylinder
A traditional upright vacuum cleaner is one which you push around by the handle, while a cylinder is a smaller unit which you pull along behind you. Although uprights tend to be heavier and more difficult to manoeuvre, they’re generally better at cleaning large floor spaces.
While uprights tend to be heavier and more difficult to manoeuvre, they’re generally better at cleaning large floor spaces.
Cylinder designs benefit from being lighter and easier to move around, helping you clean difficult spots like the stairs. They need larger motors, which can take up a lot of the storage space inside, and make them less energy efficient. While uprights always have rotating brush bars, many cylinder vacuums do not, making these models inefficient at picking up hair without an attachment.
Bagged vs Bagless Vacuum Cleaners
Traditionally, vacuum cleaners have always collected dust and dirt in a sealed bag. Modern bagless designs are less fiddly to empty, and you won’t need to fork out any extra money for the bags. They collect the dirt in a container, which can be opened and tipped away, quickly and easily. They also avoid the problem of the suction becoming less powerful as the bag fills.
Bagged designs are better for allergy sufferers, however, as they lock dust and spores away more effectively, keeping them sealed away while you’re emptying it. The British Allergy Foundation award some bagged models with a Seal of Approval. This means they significantly reduce key allergens like dust mites and pollen.
Bagged designs are better for allergy sufferers as they lock dust and spores away more effectively.
Cordless
You may notice the length of the cable varies between different vacuum cleaners, but have you ever considered being completely free of wires?
A cordless model uses a rechargeable battery for complete freedom to move between rooms, without changing plug sockets. They’re lightweight, and some have docking stations which will charge them while they’re not in use. They’re always bagless too.
While they have their obvious advantages, cordless vacuums do also have some drawbacks. They can be expensive, and most have a battery life of 15 to 20 minutes, which may not be enough to clean your whole home. They also tend to have lower capacities.
A cordless model uses a rechargeable battery for complete freedom to move between rooms, without changing plug sockets.
Handheld
These are similar to cordless cleaners, because they’re battery powered. They differ because they’re smaller in size, and are used as a supplement to your main vacuum. While they’re not as powerful as other types, their portable design makes them useful for picking up dust and crumbs from the stairs and upholstery, and for cleaning the car.
Handhelds differ because they’re smaller in size, and are used as a supplement to your main vacuum.
Robotic
The most futuristic vacuum cleaner on the list, robot models will clean your floors while you get on with other things. Expect to pay for this convenience, as robotic vacuum cleaners are the most expensive type. As this technology is still new, they vary in their cleaning effectiveness too, so make sure you read online reviews before making a purchase.
The most futuristic vacuum cleaner on the list, robot models will clean your floors while you get on with other things.
Wet and Dry
Wet and Dry vacuums give your floors a thorough clean and make housework a little easier, as you can clean up liquids and solids using one appliance. Some models even have a washing function, to give your carpets and rugs an extra deep clean.
These vacuums have two compartments, so the wet and dry waste is stored separately. It’s a good idea to empty the liquid compartment after each use to avoid stagnant water.
It may also be worth investing in additional attachments to clean different household surfaces easily and effectively.
Wet and dry vacuums tend to be more common in the workplace, where the wet function is likely to get more use. This could be for anything from cleaning spillages to sucking up floods and unblocking drains.
Steam Mops
Steam cleaners, or steam mops, use high temperatures to clean hard floors (and sometimes carpets too), wiping away dirt and killing germs effectively.
The surface is often nearly dry after use, so you don’t need to avoid the room for hours as you would if you’d cleaned with a traditional mop and bucket. This hygienic method is achieved with just water. There aren’t any hazardous cleaning chemicals, making them a great choice for families with pets or young children.
Uprights, Cylinders and Handhelds
These phrases refer to the design of the steam mop, and are similar in appearance to upright, cylinder, and handheld vacuum cleaners. Cylinder models are difficult to find, but tend to be the most expensive and most powerful designs.
2 in 1 Models
A 2 in 1 steam cleaner detaches from the stick, to convert from an upright to a handheld. This gives you the flexibility to use one unit for a multitude of tasks, from cleaning the floors to washing the windows.
There aren’t any hazardous cleaning chemicals, making them a great choice for families with pets or young children.
Different Water Capacities
The larger the capacity, the more water it’ll hold (and the more steam it’ll produce) before it needs a top-up. At the cheaper end of the scale, there are water tanks holding less than 0.5 litres, while some are as large as two litres. A large water tank will make the unit heavier, making upright models harder to manoeuvre.
Steam Time and Heating Time
Steam time refers to how long you can use the cleaner before it runs out of steam. Most offer around 10 to 20 minutes of use, but this can be as high as 50 minutes for the most expensive models. If you see a heating time listed, that’s how long you’ll need to wait before the steam is produced. This can be anything from a few seconds to 10 minutes.
Carpet Washers
Carpet washers use a water tank and detergent solution to give soft floorings a deep clean.
Your carpets can be up to 10 times cleaner than if you’d simply vacuumed, with deeply ingrained dirt, stains, and allergens removed. You’ll usually need to pass slowly over each part of carpet multiple times, and they can leave carpets wet for a few hours afterwards, so carpet washers are used less regularly than other floorcare appliances.
Carpet washers use a water tank and detergent solution to give soft floorings a deep clean.
Sweepers
Carpet sweepers – or floor sweepers – are either manual or battery powered, and have a rotating bar which brushes dust and dirt inside.
They’re more effective than sweeping, but don’t offer the suction of vacuuming. They are useful for quick and convenient in-between cleans, since they’re lightweight and don’t need to be plugged in.
Polishers
Floor polishers are designed to keep wooden and hard surfaces buffed to perfection.
They’re more commonly used in commercial premises, but some domestic models are available. They use brushes to polish the surfaces for a shiny and spotless finish, and some models vacuum and scrub too (or can be used with different attachments to add these functions). Polishers are often more suitable for specific surfaces, so check this matches the flooring in your home.
Polishers use brushes to polish the surfaces for a shiny and spotless finish, and some models vacuum and scrub too.
