With the vast selection of styles, models and manufacturers in the vacuum cleaner industry it can become a little overwhelming on where to start looking for the right vacuum for your specific cleaning needs. The following information should help give you a starting point and speed up your search in getting the right vacuum.

Deep Cleaning Vacuums (or steam vacuums):

Typical features on a deep cleaning vacuum include rotating brushes that agitate the carpet pile and loosen the dirt for a more thorough clean; on hard floor surfaces the rotating brushes gently scrub the floor clean. Some models have a handy automatic tool conversion button or switch that you push/flip as you move from carpeted surfaces to hard floor surfaces or vice versa.

The most common use for a deep cleaning vacuum is for the removal of carpet stains, hot water and the cleaning solution are pushed deep into the carpet to extract the stain. Special nozzles can be attached to make it more effective. When the job is complete you just empty the container, most models are equipped with a handy one hand tank removal. Deep cleaning frequency: If you take a scheduled approach to cleaning your carpets they will look cleaner longer. Clean entrances every 4-6 weeks, bedrooms about every 8 weeks, main traffic areas every 12 weeks, clean the entire house every 15 months.

Hand Held Vacuums:

Hand held vacuums are light weight, can be either corded or cordless and most can be mounted on a wall. Cordless performance depends a lot on the charge of the battery, as the battery power drops so does the suction power. Two styles of hand held vacuums include; straight suction or suction with a power brush to agitate the carpet or upholstery for a deeper clean, this works very well on pet hair. Other available attachments include: a brush for upholstery, crevice tool, extension wand and a switch to lock the machine in the on position. If you are considering a hand held vacuum determine its primary purpose, will it be used occasionally on small jobs or part of a regular cleaning schedule? Determining this will better guide you to selecting the right model.

Broom Vacuums:

Broom vacuums or stick vacuums are ideal for small apartments, those quick clean ups in the kitchen, bathroom or family room. The benefit of a broom vacuum is its light weight, if you have trouble pushing your heavier standard upright, this may come as welcome relief. You have the option of getting your vacuum corded or cordless, allowing you the freedom to roam around the house spot cleaning. The light weight, usually just 2lbs.-7lbs, allows you to easily store the unit in the closet taking up minimal space. For quick, convenient disposal of dirt and debris most models are bagles. Broom/stick vacuums work great on those small jobs but they just don't have the power or capacity to clean larger homes, however they are a great companion to your regular size vacuum cleaner. If you have never owned a broom/stick vacuum you might be surprised at how often and useful you find it.

Wet/Dry Vacuums:

Wet/Dry vacuums may be the most versatile vacuum cleaner on the market, with numerous attachments and functions it is handy appliance to have around the house. Canister sizes can vary greatly from the smaller 6 gallon to the larger 22 gallon. Horsepower ranges from about 2 H.P. up to 10 H.P. Try to match the size of unit to the size of the job and the frequency of use. Some beneficial features to look for in a wet/dry vacuum include:

Pleated Cartridge Filter: These filters will save you time and money. Just pull it out when it's full of dust and rinse it off with water. Wheel Base: Make sure your machine has a wide wheel base, this will help stop it from tipping over, and they generally pull easier. Drain Valve: To make it easier to empty liquids some units have a drain valve or nozzle located at the bottom of the canister.

Auto shut-off: This sensor has the ability to tell when your vacuum is full of water and automatically turn off the motor.

Some of the tools you can add to a wet/dry vacuum cleaner include: a scrubbing brush, crevice tool, water nozzle, combination nozzle (wet & dry), extension wand, cleaning kits and some larger models have the ability to attach a leaf blower.

Upright Vacuums:

One of the most common features of an upright model is the bagles system. In addition to increased performance, there is no need to purchase any bags saving you time and money. Emptying the bagles canister can be a little dusty. Some bagged upright vacuums feature a full-bag alert which will notify you when the bag is getting to full. Both bagged and bagles styles may offer a dirt sensor that notifies you when there is a certain level of particles in the air stream indicating there is still some dirt not being sucked up into the bag. An on/off switch for the power brush is good safety feature to have in case the vacuum accidentally gets pulled over your feet or cord as you focus on using the attachments. Most upright models come with a standard set of attachments that may include an upholstery tool, a crevice tool and an extension wand. A retractable cord, manual or automatic pile-height adjustment are two more handy features. Some vacuums allow the dirt to be sucked through the bag initially before it reaches the fan, other systems have the dirt goes through the fan first then to the bag, this may damage the fan. A HEPA filter is another common feature found on upright vacuum cleaners.

Canister Vacuums:

Retractable cords are common on canister vacuums and considering most cords are around 25 feet in length this handy feature helps from having to drag the cord around and possibly damaging furniture. A push of a button or slight tug on the cord will retract it into the vacuums canister. The nozzle is usually one of two types, a suction nozzle or a power nozzle. To thoroughly clean the carpet it is recommended that you use the power nozzle which will agitate the carpet and loosen up the dirt for a deeper cleaning. Another feature to look for on a canister vacuum is a suction-control switch; this allows you to adjust the airflow for cleaning delicate material like drapery and upholstery. Some handle grips also have an automatic shut off should you loose your grip and let go of the handle. Pile-height adjustment is another feature that may be offered on a canister vacuum. Being able to match the height of the vacuum to the height of the carpet will improve cleaning. Automatic pile-height adjustment does not seem to work as effective as manually adjusting the height of the vacuum cleaner.

I hope this information helps to narrow down your search to the style of vacuum cleaner that is best suited for your cleaning needs. Next you just need to compare the different manufacturers' models and features in your price range.