People that dictate the purchase of cleaning equipment are not at a loss of choices when it comes to buying a vacuum. But the abundance of vacuum features that go along with every type of machine complicates the process of selecting the correct one. Dependant on factors such as hours of cleaning operation, size and type of facility and surfaces to clean, particular vacuums are better served for certain cleaning jobs than others.

Uprights

Thanks in large to how long the product has been on the market, the upright vacuum remains the most recognizable and most popular type of vacuum. Two discerning factors are the number of motors on each machine and the type of cleaning bags available.

The single motor upright vacuums are used primarily in hotel rooms or smaller areas that need to be cleaned quickly. The relatively low weight of the machine allows the user to clean at a quicker pace without as much strain as using a dual motor upright. The machine’s weight also makes it easier for the cleaner to put the machine on the cleaning cart and transfer it from one room to the next.

Another feature of single motor vacuums that suit them for cleaning hotel rooms is the dust control each machine offers, says Rick Hamilton, corporate channel manager of Windsor, Englewood, Colo. Dust control is important in hotel rooms. The single motor uprights go into the room and vacuum the settled dust.

While the single motor uprights work best for users looking for a quick cleaning process, the dual motor uprights are used for areas that need a more thorough cleaning. The dual motor vacuums are heavier than the single motor uprights and are used by building service contractors and workers who clean lobbies in hotels, schools and other areas with high amounts of traffic. The vacuums extract the dirt from the carpet while grooming it at the same time.

A further distinguishing feature of upright vacuums are the bags in each machine. Contract cleaning services prefer uprights with a larger shakeout bag, says Brad Hoare, senior marketing manager of homecare products, Sanitaire, Bloomington, Ill.

The other two bag options for uprights are the dirt cup and the high filtration paper bag. The dirt cup allows the user to see when the cup is filled up so they can empty it out and put it back on the machine. For the high filtration bag, the user unzips the cloth bag and removes the filter bag from inside, says Hoare. These types of uprights are suited for high air quality facilities like nursing homes and schools.

Backpack Vacuums

The larger and more rigid design offered by the single and dual motor uprights make it difficult to clean every area of a facility. For cleaning blinds, bookcases, cubicles and around other pieces of furniture, the backpack vacuum gives the user a smaller machine to effectively reach those areas, says Matt Wood, president of ProTeam, Boise, Idaho.

The design of the backpack settles comfortably on the user’s back, hips and shoulders. Ergonomically speaking, the backpack is superior to any other vacuum because you rest the machine right on your hips, says Wood.

The backpacks eliminate the repetitive back and forth arm motion of pushing a 20-pound vacuum and having to bend awkwardly to reach difficult spots, says Rob Godlewski, vice president of marketing for Powr-Flite, Finton, Mo.

Using a backpack is suited for someone looking for a quick cleaning process because of its small size and the unassuming manner in which one can clean, says Godlewski. Opposed to other vacuums that are an obstacle for people walking through an area being vacuumed, the backpack allows the user to move around highly populated areas.

A second area where backpacks are used frequently are on public transportation vehicles, says Andre Motta, senior products manager, Rubbermaid Commercial Products, Winchester, Va. The small design of the machine allows the user to work in and out of the aisles on planes, busses and trains in an area that is difficult for upright vacuums to clean.

Canister Vacuums

For some, the idea of wearing a vacuum does not comfortably suit their particular style of cleaning. A machine with similar capabilities to the backpack but offering a different design is the canister vacuum.

With wheels at the bottom and relative ease of transfer from one area to the next, the canister vacuums can clean multiple surfaces, says Bob Abrams, product manager of vacuums for Kent, Plymouth, Minn. It is useful in places where one has to clean a variety of floor surfaces while maneuvering through and around areas. Instead of having to change machines, the canister can handle the cleaning of a number of different surfaces with the same machine, even moving from wet to dry surfaces.

“The canisters can work from carpet to hardwood floors, tiles floors and grouted floors,” says Abrams. “These machines have the ability to go around obstacles in offices like cubicles or other tight areas. Facilities like cruise ships and theaters use them because it is easy to get around with them.”

Along with their ability to clean multiple surfaces and easy machine transport, the canister vacuums have a lower sound level than uprights and longer sustained productivity because of the size of the tank in the canisters.

Wide-Area Vacuums

There are certain areas where the cleaning path of traditional vacuums are not enough to clean a large, spacious area in a short amount of time.

To handle these large, open areas, cleaners will use wide-area vacuums. Useful in banquet rooms, airports, hotels and hospitals, the machines offer a thorough clean with a large machine, says Hamilton. The agitator brushes on the machine deeply cleans and vacuums the surface. The high power motors and size of the machines allows for a larger cleaning path and higher levels of productivity.

For even larger areas, ride-on vacuums agitate and clean the carpet with the same machine. The machines are used typically in spacious areas such as convention centers or lobbies.

Other Vacuum Features

There are more features of a facility besides the size of the cleaning area and the surface needing to be cleaned that can weigh on someone’s mind when deciding what type of vacuum to purchase. These features stretch from reduced safety risks to certified machines.

An increase in day cleaning by building service contractors and in-house cleaning staffs has resulted in more people walking through areas when cleaning staffs are working. To combat the congested areas, manufacturers offer a battery-powered vacuum. The elimination of the electrical cord reduces the risk of someone tripping or falling. It also simplifies the process of cleaning without the cord getting tangled around furniture.

Other features that lend to practicing day cleaning are low-decibel vacuums. The low noise levels emanating from the machines allow the users to clean facilities without disrupting the others working in the office.

Another feature uniform to all types of vacuums is the HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) Filtration System. With the rise of social awareness to green cleaning, vacuums with HEPA filters have become increasingly popular for a number of facilities concerned with a high level of clean indoor air quality.

“High efficiency particulate air filtration is important to any facility that values clean indoor air quality to the building and its occupants,” says Jolynn Kennedy, marketing manager, Tornado Industries, Chicago. “A vacuum cleaner equipped with HEPA filtration can be an effective weapon to protect people who suffer from airborne allergens and irritants such as animal dander, pollen and dust.”

HEPA filtered backpacks and uprights are commonly used in schools, hospitals, hotels and commercial buildings says Kennedy. The HEPA machines captures dust with the filter, removing the particles from the atmosphere.

Further separating the vacuums from each other is the Seal of Approval and Green Label certification programs from the Carpet and Rug Institute. Vacuums are granted the certification if they meet certain criteria such as soil removal, dust containment and carpet fiber retention.

The perception of being certified by the CRI has changed in the past few years. What was previously viewed as a commodity to vacuums has shifted to a requirement for machines that want to compete in the market place, says Motta.

The influx of vacuum features such as low decibel vacuums, HEPA Filters, and battery-powered vacuums have further compartmentalized an already diverse line of products. Even with these popular features there are more vacuum choices: explosion-proof, cleanroom and odor control machines, to name a few. When looking for the right machine, end users should have no trouble locating the perfect vacuum.

 

 




POSTED ON: 4/1/2008