Vacuum Cleaners

Martin Buchan asked:


Choosing a vacuum cleaner can be a difficult choice - it’s usually best to stick with one of the big names unless you’re on a strict budget.  Here’s one suggestion worth considering the Dyson DC24.

Which Vacuum cleaner to pick ? A question I seem to ask lots of of times - I must admit I have always tended to buy cheaper vacuum cleaners but this can often be a false economy. The Dyson range of vacuum cleaners are not exactly the cheapest around but they do have a reputation for quality and innovative technology.

The Dyson DC24 is the lightest of Dysons vacuum cleaners which do have a tendency to be rather heavy and difficult to carry. This vacuum is much easier though weighing in at just over 5kgs (compared to some of the Dysons which are well over 15kgs) - it also has a handle which retracts which makes it simple to store. Most people should be able to carry this Dyson Vacuum cleaner with one hand. The weight is an important point with vacuum cleaners and one that is often overlooked - it doesn’t matter how many fancy attachments or technology hidden in your vacuum if you can’t get it up the stairs.

The other thing that makes this Dyson very easy to use - is the ball that is used to control direction instead of the standard wheels - you can change direction just by a slight movement of the wrist. Other features include the root cyclone technology which means extracts dirt directly from the air and therefore doesn’t require a filter of bag for this function.

A motorised brushbar helps get the floor clean by agitating the dust from carpets - although this can be a little loud to be honest. The brushbar can also be lifted to allow you to vacuum hard floors and rugs.

All in all if you’re trying to decide which vacuum cleaner to get you could do much worse than checking out the Dyson DC24. The only down sides I found where some of the attachments were not that great and to buy better ones was extremely expensive from the Dyson site. The Dyson DC24 is quite a small vacuum in order to keep it’s weight down - maybe a little small for a larger house although I’m sure it would be up to most jobs.

 



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Frank Buckley asked:


A well maintained Kirby vacuum cleaner will generally last 2 to 3 times longer than most vacuums. It’s not unusual for my customers to bring in Kirby vacuums for service that are over 20 years old. Kirby vacuum cleaners are made to last, but you do need to maintain your Kirby vacuum regardless of model to maintain optimum cleaning performance.

Change the Kirby vacuum cleaner belt every year. Don’t wait for it to break. Kirby vacuum belts will stretch with use over time, causing a decrease in the rate of agitation that occurs during the cleaning process. Your brush roller should spin as much as possible to effectively remove sand, dust and debris from your carpet. Kirby only makes one size vacuum belt, so it’s very easy to find at an online vacuum store.

Change the brush roller every 2 to 3 years. One of the most neglected parts on the Kirby or most vacuum cleaners for that matter is the brush roller, or sometimes refered to as the vacuum agitator. The brushes on the roller wear over time. This cause a degradation in cleaning performance. Kirby vacuum rollers can cost as cost as much as 40 to 50 dollars, which is a drop in the bucket when you consider the cost of the vacuum cleaner itself.

Use the best vacuum bags possible. Kirby has introduced a HEPA filtration bag with allergen reduction filters. It is certified to meet certain filtration standards and maintainer higher airflow throught the life of the vacuum bag. It feels like cloth. This vacuum bag was introduced for the Kirby Sentria series, but fits all of the Generation and Ultimate G / Diamond Series vacuum cleaners. It will even fit older Kirby vacuums that utilize a Style 3 bag. This bag will reduced the amount of allergens and dust that can become redistributed into your household as you vacuum. I highly recommend using this type of vacuum bag for your Kirby, as filtration for some models is limited at best. If you have pets or allergies, it’s a “must have”.

You should also keep the inside of the outer vacuum cleaner bag clean on your Kirby. I recommend using a canister vacuum cleaner to vacuum the inside of the Kirby exterior vacuum bag out. This applies to all Kirby vacuums, regardless of age or model.

Don’t vacuum up any hard objects. Your big, heavy Kirby vacuum cleaner probably has a plastic fan. The debris from your carpet passes through this area on the way up to the vacuum bag. The fan can break. Simply put, bend down to pick up anything that looks like you shouldn’t be vacuuming it.

Follow these tips and your Kirby vacuum cleaner will perform at peak levels for years. Kirby vacuums are one of the more expensive residential vacuum cleaners available, and it makes sense to maximize your investment by insuring the vacuum performs as well as it possibly can.



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