Vacuum Cleaner Overview
A vacuum cleaner is an electric driven machine to remove dirt from the floor, furniture, curtains, carpets, or other surfaces. It is an easy way to clean floors, furniture, draperies in homes or offices. It creates a suction effect and collects dirt, which can be disposed of later. For today's busy life and schedule, it is a very useful product that makes cleaning very easy and less time-consuming.
History of a vacuum cleaner
The modern vacuum cleaner evolved from the traditional manual vacuum cleaner, named as ‘carpet sweeper’, that was first invented by Daniel Hess in 1860. This vacuum cleaner would collect dust with a rotating brush and had a bellows for generating suction. Later on, another model of the vacuum cleaner was the "Whirlwind" that was invented in Chicago in 1868 by Ives W. McGaffey. It worked with a belt-driven fan operated by hand.
By the end of the 19th century, powered vacuum cleaners were introduced in the market while the traditional vacuum cleaners used a combination of blowing air to clean the floors instead of suction. In 1901 powered vacuum cleaners using suction were introduced in the market by British engineer Hubert Cecil Booth and American inventor David T. Kenney.
How does a vacuum cleaner works?
When the power button of a vacuum cleaner is turned to ON, the debris and dust are collected with the help of the hose in either a dust bag or cyclone, which is disposed of later.
A vacuum cleaner is used in homes, offices as well as in industry and comes in a variety of sizes and models.
- Small battery-powered hand-held vacuum cleaner.
- Wheeled canister vacuum cleaners for homes.
- Domestic central vacuum cleaners.
- Huge stationary industrial appliances used to collect a hundred liters of dust before being emptied.
- Self-propelled vacuum trucks for recovery of large spills or removal of contaminated soil.
Specification of a vacuum cleaner
A vacuum cleaner comes with the following specifications;
Suction
The suction is the maximum pressure difference that the pump can create. The higher the suction rating, the more powerful the cleaner.
Input power
The power consumption of a vacuum cleaner, in watts, is often the only figure stated. The rated input power of a vacuum cleaner does not tell the user about the effectiveness of the vacuum but it tells only how much electricity it consumes.
Output power
The amount of input power that is converted into airflow at the end of the cleaning hose is measured in air watts the measurement units are simply watts. The word "air" is used to show that this is output power, not input electrical power.
Other specifications
The effectiveness of a vacuum cleaner can be measured by these other parameters too;
- Airflow-It calculated in liters per second or cubic feet per minute.
- Airspeed- It is calculated in meters per second or miles per hour.
- Suction, vacuum, or water lift is calculated in pascals or inches of water
Other specifications are
- Weight, in kilograms [kg] or pounds [lb]
- Noise, in decibels [dB]
- Power cord length and hose length (as applicable)
Attachments of a vacuum cleaner
Usually, vacuum cleaners are designed with various specialized attachments that include tools, brushes and extension wands, which allow the user to reach and clean otherwise inaccessible places or to be used for cleaning a variety of surfaces. The most common of these tools are
- Hard floor brush (for non-upright designs)
- Powered floor nozzle (for canister designs)
- Dusting brush
- Crevice tool
- Upholstery nozzle
Why should one choose to buy vacuum cleaners:
Cleaning becomes easy:
Cleaning can be a tough task both mentally and physically, especially in tight schedules. So, having a good vacuum, it becomes easier to clean the house or any other setting.
Saves Time:
It provides good cleaning in a shorter time.
Dirt free Environment
They make the environment dirt free by eliminating dirt particles.
Cost-Effective:
They reduce the need for keeping any servant for cleaning.
Affordable:
They are available at affordable prices.
User Friendly:
These are easy to use.
Car Vacuum Cleaners:
There are vacuum cleaners which can clean cars as well.
Types of Vacuum Cleaners:
There is a wide variety of vacuum cleaners available in the market. However, they can be divided into these categories :
Handheld Vacuum Cleaners :
These are small and lightweight vacuum cleaners which can be used to clean furniture, curtains, cars, music systems, etc.
Bed and upholstery Vacuum Cleaners :
These can be used to clean pillow, bed, mattresses, blankets, rugs, etc.
Cylindrical Vacuum Cleaner :
These are commonly used by housekeeping staff to clean a variety of surfaces. It comes with a filter and different attachments.
Bagless Vacuum Cleaner :
These are suitable for the areas which need daily cleaning. As the dust chamber has to be emptied when it is full
Backpack Vacuum Cleaner :
These can be used to clean ceilings, curtain ends, mattresses, etc. The housekeeping staff can use it easily by strapping it onto his back and using both hands for cleaning big areas. They are powerful and don't make any noise.
Carpet Pile Vacuum Cleaner :
These are used to clean long piles of the carpet. These are useful for making carpets free of dirt and stains
Portable Car Vaccum Cleaner :
Specifically used to clean cars.
Wet Cum Dry Vacuum Cleaner :
These work in two different modes: Wet and Dry. When used in dry more, they remove excess water from the surface. And when used in dry mode, they separate dust particles.
Top Three Best and Affordable Vacuum Cleaners of 2020:
These are some of the highest-rated vacuum cleaners for a house:
1) Shark Navigator Lift-Away Professional (NV356E)
It is an ideal household use. It has great suction power and easily cleans carpet or floors. Moreover, it comes with a HEPA filter to separate allergens from the environment. It makes it easy to clean hard to reach places. Also, it comes with a dusting brush, a crevice tool, a pet power brush, and a 25-foot cord.
2) BISSELL PowerForce Helix Bagless Upright Vacuum
It is affordable and one of the best Bagless Vacuum cleaner It comes with a washable filter and five different height adjustments. Other accessories include a dusting wand, a crevice tool, and an extension tool to clean high points and in corners with ease. It has notable ratings on shopping websites.
3) Best Canister: Miele Compact C2 Electro + Canister Vacuum
It is an all in one solution. This means it can be used to clean floors, cars, stairs, furniture and a lot more. It comes with great suction power and HEPA filter. Infact, It is reviewed as the most durable and reliable one by customers.
4) Robot Vacuum: EUFY RoboVac 30C
It is one of the best robot vacuums. It is rechargeable and does the task itself for the user by moving room to room. It has sensors and stops when it reaches the top of the step. Otherwise, it can climb over ledges between rooms or on rugs. It can be used manually with a remote or app also.
Limitations of Vacuum Cleaners:
- These are heavy.
- It is difficult to move these around.
- These result in high electricity bills.
- Reusable dustbin bags are needed to clean home or other places because some vacuum cleaners don’t have these.
Price and Availability:
These are easily available in Pakistan in electronic stores or supermarkets at affordable prices. Or they can be ordered online on shopping websites. On these websites customer reviews are available, so it is easy to choose one.
Conclusion:
Vacuum cleaners are becoming very common to clean houses, hotels, and offices. It can save great energy and time while providing efficient cleaning. No doubt, they give great value for money.