Deciding on the perfect vacuum for your home can be tricky. This guide has been created to make your vacuum shopping experience as easy as possible. We have created a glossary of terms that describe many features of vacuum cleaners sold at Abt Electronics. For any additional help in purchasing a vacuum, please contact our knowledgeable sales staff at 1-888-228-5800.

There are four different types and styles of vacuum cleaners and each one is described below.

• Canister Vacuum Cleaners
• Upright Vacuum Cleaners
• Steam Vacuum Cleaners
• Handheld Vacuum Cleaners

Canister Vacuum Cleaners

Canister vacuum cleaners are portable and very easy to use. They are well suited for people who clean a variety of surfaces but are most popular for those who have little carpeting and like to vacuum their hard surfaced floors. Like most other vacuums, canisters include attachments that help when cleaning all other surfaces.

Canisters use a revolving brush system or brush agitator.  The revolving brush dislodges dirt particles from the carpet so they can be picked up easily. This feature is especially useful for picking up things like pet hair from your carpet. Without a built in revolving brush, canister vacuums use straight suction to clean. The revolving brush is optional on some models.

Most canister vacuum cleaners have a bag where the dust and dirt is stored. This bag is generally made of thick paper or synthetic material and must be changed periodically when it becomes full. There are bagless models with dust and dirt storage compartments that must be periodically dumped out. Bagless models eliminate the additional cost of buying dust bags. To view all canister vacuums at Abt, click here.

Upright Vacuum Cleaners

Upright vacuum cleaners are popular for those who have a lot of carpeting in their homes. There are several models with many features to choose from at Abt Electronics.Its important to ask yourself how often your going to be using your vacuum and how much your going to make you vacuum work? 

Some things to look for when deciding on your upright are onboard attachment, bagless or not, and the weight of the unit.  Upright cleaners come in a variety of styles and sizes, each varying in weight.  Some uprights include edge cleaning which picks up dirt under the entire area of the head.  This is a helpful feature especially when cleaning wall-to-wall carpeting.

It is good to note that not all uprights can be used on hard floor surfaces.  Doing so might cause damage to your floors and your vacuum. To view all upright vacuums at Abt, click here.

Steam Vacuum Cleaners

Carpet steamers look like upright vacuums. A large tank dispenses hot water with a cleaning solution and another tank holds the dirty water. Rotating brushes agitate the cleaning solution into the carpet and powerful secution lifts to the solution of dirty water from the carpet. To view all of the steam vacuums vacuums at Abt, click here.

Hand Held Vacuum Cleaners

Small, lightweight and portable, these handheld vacuums come either corded or cordless, They usually have a small bag (or dirt cup) to coolect all of the dirt. To view all of the hand held vacuums at Abt, click here.

Attachments
Standard attachments usually include a crevice tool, dusting brush, upholstery tool, combination dusting brush/upholstery tool, and floor tool.
- A crevice tool is a long, thin tool used to clean hard-to-reach places.
- A dusting brush is oblong and has bristles.
- Upholstery tools are used to remove dirt from curtains, cushions, and other fabric-covered items.
- Combination tools include the features of multiple tools, such as upholstery tools and dusting brushes.
- Floor tools clean hard bare floors.

Bagless
Most canister vacuum cleaners have a bag where the dust and dirt is stored. This bag is generally made of thick paper or synthetic material and must be changed periodically when it becomes full. There are bagless models with dust and dirt storage compartments that must be periodically dumped out. Bagless models eliminate the additional cost of buying dust bags.

Bare Floor Switch
When cleaning carpets, the revolving brush dislodges dirt and dust from within the carpet. However, on bare floors, it can kick dirt behind the vacuum cleaner before the airflow suction can pick it up. A bare floor switch stops the revolving brush beneath the vacuum, allowing for bare floor cleaning with straight suction.

Blower Operation
A blower port reverses the flow of air through the hose, so dirt can be blown out from hard-to-reach places, then cleaned up.

Brands
Abt Electronics carries a variety of brands including Miele, Hoover, Dyson and Electrolux.

Cleaning Path
This refers to how wide a path the vacuum will clean. Most vacuums have a cleaning path of 12 to 15 inches in width.

Cord Length
The length of the electrical cord from the vacuum to the outlet. This can be an important consideration if you have a large living space or if few electrical outlets are available. Most cords are 20 to 30 feet long; the overall range is about 15 to 40 feet.

Dirt Sensor
Models with this feature can detect whether the vacuum cleaner is picking up dirt. A small light indicates when the surface seems clean or dirty.

Edge Cleaning
Some vacuums can pick up dirt under the entire area of the cleaning head. Useful for cleaning wall-to-wall carpeting, this feature extends cleaning to where the carpet meets the wall.

Filtration
There are varying grades of filtration. Vacuums without filters deposit particles into a bag or dustbin, but some particles may escape through the exhaust. Filters minimize the number of particles that may escape. Filtration systems can have many layers made of paper, nylon, cloth or foam. Micron filters are said to provide finer filtration than standard filters, but less than HEPA filters. True HEPA filters are said to have the highest level of filtration.

Full Container Indicator
Some models have an indicator alerting you when the dust bag or bin is full. Bagless models may have a transparent bin, letting you see the amount of dirt collected.

Handle
A variety of features can be found on the handle of an upright vacuum cleaner. Handles may be ergonomically designed to lessen arm and back strain, and may adjust up to 180 degrees for easy cleaning under furniture and for convenient storage. Also, the power switch and other controls may be located conveniently on the handle.

Height Adjustment
Different carpets have varying lengths and heights. This feature adjusts the height of the brush to allow for easy movement and thorough cleaning. Some models include a height setting for cleaning bare floors. Height can be adjusted automatically or manually with a switch. Some models include a height setting suited for cleaning bare floors.

HEPA Filtration
HEPA is an acronym for High Efficiency Particulate Air. A True HEPA filter is 99.97% efficient at retaining particles as small as 0.3 microns, the most difficult to capture. Filters must pass a test before they can be given this rating. HEPA and HEPA-type filters are made of the same material as True HEPA filters but they do not pass the 99.97% efficiency test. Vacuum cleaners with a True HEPA filter rating are recommended to buyers who want to remove allergens from their carpets and homes. European brands have a similar rating known as a S-Class filter.

Motor Power
The rate or strength of electrical flow used by the vacuum, measured in amps or watts. Keep in mind that higher power doesn't necessarily mean better vacuum cleaning performance. A vacuum's ability to pick up dirt particles efficiently is largely dependent on the overall design of the model.

Revolving Brush
Also called brush agitator, motorized brush or power nozzle. The revolving brush dislodges dirt particles from the carpet so they can be picked up easily. This feature is especially useful for picking up things like pet hair from your carpet. Without a built in revolving brush, canister vacuums use straight suction to clean. The revolving brush is optional on some models.

Self-Propelled
With this motor design feature, vacuums can be moved back and forth with little effort.          

Size
Canister vacuums come in a variety of sizes. A compact vacuum typically weighs 12 lb. or less and can be carried from location to location. Compact vacuums are ideal for quick cleaning or light jobs on stairs and furniture. Midsize vacuums are slightly larger and heavier, typically weighing between 13 and 18 lb. Full vacuums are the largest, usually weighing 19 lb. or more.

Suction Control
Suction control lets you adjust airflow through the hose, which can be helpful when cleaning upholstery and curtains.

Attachments/Storage
Any of several attachments may be stored onboard or separate from the main unit. A crevice tool is a long, thin tool used to clean hard-to-reach places. A dusting brush is oblong and has bristles. Upholstery and furniture tools are used to suction dirt from curtains, cushions, and other fabric-covered items. Combination tools usually combine the features of two tools, such as upholstery tools and dusting brushes. Bare floor tools and wall brushes can clean hard surfaces. Wands and stretch hoses can extend the reach of cleaning attachments.

Upright Vacuum
Upright vacuums are self-contained and have a handle that extends up from its main unit. They are pushed in front of you, rather than pulled behind as canister vacuums are. An upright usually has a brush agitator for cleaning carpets and may have attachments for cleaning furniture, floors, and hard-to-reach places.

Click here to view all vacuums
Click here to view all of our vacuum accessories

Click here to view all Buying Guides.