Mary Kay Alvarez

Vacuums - How To Narrow Your Search
When it's time to buy a new vacuum, the sheer number of features and options available may overwhelm you. It is .....

There are two main types of vacuums: canister vacuums and upright ones. The less popular canister vacuums are more versatile and clean a large variety of floors with equal efficiency. They can get to areas where upright vacuums cannot reach and are better suited for hardwood floors. Another strong point that canister vacuums have is that they are easy to manage and they are more durable than upright vacuums. However, they do have a series of weak points: they are hard to maneuver and they are often, literally, a "drag". Some models of canisters are known to fall over to one side when jerked or dragged, other are immune to such problems. Uprights, on the other hand, are not so expensive and they are easier to use.

If vacuuming the house is not your main concern, than an upright vacuum will probably do the job. However, if you have a large home or areas that are difficult to clean with a regular upright vacuum, you might want to consider the canisters. In this case, you should spend your money on a well-built, high-end canister, which will prove, for the short and long run, more effective than the cheaper models. Cheap canisters might still be worthwhile, but you will have to spend more time vacuuming and you will also have to show extra care so as not to tip them over while moving around the house.

The connection between the cleaning head and the floor type that it is used on is important. Most vacuums have a spinning brush that stirs up the dirt, which is than sucked in by the airflow. This works well on carpets but has less success on hard flooring. The nozzle doesn't pickup all the dirt as the contact between the cleaning head and the floor is not perfect. There are several vacuum models that employ different techniques in order to make floor cleaning more effective. Some models come with an ON/OFF button for the brush roll and usually work well with vacuums that have a powerful airflow. Other vacuum types are designed with a squeegee that is meant to bring dirt and dust into the airflow - a method that does have its efficiency.

When vacuuming solid floors, some models have the option of dropping the brush in order to make the sweeping more effective. As mentioned before, the stronger the airflow the more chances you have of picking up all the dirt. Such vacuums come equipped with a gliding surface, which maximizes the contact between the vacuum nozzle and floor. Since the actual vacuuming surface is now smaller, it will also take you longer to clean a hard wood floor, when compared to a carpet. However, this sort of system allows for excellent edge cleaning and it enables you to get dirt out of the most hidden corners. Such tools are often used for cleaning industrial and Berber carpets, which are a real obstacle when cleaned with regular vacuuming models.

Refrigerators Electric Consumption - Lower It In 15 Minutes
I recently had a customer ask for my advise about cleaning her refrigerator.

I started to describe the pros and cons of different cleaners that .....

Mary Kay Alvarez enjoys writing about the best vacuum cleaners, household appliances, and carpet care tips

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