There are many different brands of vacuum cleaners. You've heard of most of them, Kirby, Hoover, Bissell, Rainbow, Dirt Devil, Oreck and Panasonic. Each of these manufacturers offer vacuum cleaners of endless description and function. Most offer either standard upright and canister vacuum cleaners.
The choice of upright or canister is a matter of choice. Some people don't like to have to push an upright vacuum instead preferring to push a lightweight nozzle head of a canister. Others don't like the feeling that they're dragging the vacuum behind them, and prefer an upright. Uprights generally don't reach well under furniture, where a canister vacuum can be difficult to use on stairs. Again, a matter of choice.
Prices range from hundreds to thousands depending on function. You can purchase a vacuum cleaner that turns into a carpet cleaner, or a simple vacuum cleaner. Kirby has a Sentria vacuum cleaner that they say turns into "deep-cleaning upright, a carpet shampoo system, a canister vacuum a floor buffer and more". Some people would wonder how one machine can really do a good job at all these functions. They say for the thousands of dollars this one unit costs they can buy a very good vacuum and a very good carpet extractor/cleaner.
Today's vacuums are also going bagless. Dust and dirt are trapped into easy to clean compartments. The Rainbow vacuum cleaner actually uses water as the filter trapping dust and dirt. HEPA filters have become very popular today. HEPA filters are recommended for those with asthma and allergies as they trap 99% of allergens.
Some vacuum cleaner manufacturers market specific models to pet owners. They claim these vacuums are better at picking up pet hair then other brands. Some vacuum cleaners are marketed to work on carpets and bare floors. Some are lightweight, some are portable.
It may be difficult to read through the hundreds of sites that offer vacuum cleaner reviews. Unfortunately in today's unscrupulous business world it's hard to know who to believe. It's not unheard of that manufacturers hire people to make posts to sites about their products. This also happens in the travel industry.
How can you find out what type of vacuum to purchase? Try it out. Go to a store that sells different brands. Some department stores have areas where you can test vacuums on carpeting. Talk with friends and family about their experiences with vacuum cleaners and see what they recommend. Consider your particular cleaning needs. You don't want to go overboard purchasing an expensive vacuum that has attachments and features that you won't use. Pay attention to warranties.
You are also responsible for how long your vacuum lasts. Try to treat it with care. Keep it out of moisture and extremes of heat or cold. Check the bags, filters and belts frequently. If your vacuum seems to not be working well it may be easy to fix just by changing the bag or filter.
