You want to make sure to get a vacuum designed for your mixture of carpeting and hard flooring. A vacuum cleaner should essential up both from the carpet and hard-floors; many vacuums don't pick up well on all surfaces. If you have family members with long hair get a vacuum cleaner that has a stainless steel brush roller with ball bearings.

If you have lots of flooring to vacuum you'll want a model with floor attachments that use brushes and/or an upright vacuum with metal bottom plates. Check out features vs. the weight to choose the right model for you. Some vacuums may actually put dirt back into your home.

Of course you want to get the cleanest possible 'clean' for your carpets. You can find vacuum cleaners listed in the yellow pages under the vacuum cleaner repair stores, classified ads in your local newspaper, on Craigs List online, eBay and other online auction sites and the manufacturer and dealer websites on the Internet. When shopping for a new vacuum cleaner you want to buy a high quality vacuum cleaner and save money too.

You may want to find a canister vacuum cleaner with wheels that won't scuff or damage your floors. The highest priced upright models may carry every available feature; they may be true HEPA vacuums. Make sure the machine feels comfortable.

In the lower-end of uprights you will find a few models that have an additional feature, like bagless models or models with bags and a full bag indicator light. Higher priced uprights have a wider cleaning path, possibly dirt sensors, and some will be self-propelled; they may have pre-motor filters to protect the motor from damage too. It'll cost more buying a unit with a bag because you'll be buying bags ongoing.

The lower priced upright vacuum cleaner may or may not include manual adjustment for the height of the carpet. A few different tools and wands may seem like a plus, but if you rarely ever use tools, they may just be an extra expense. Find the extra tools and features you need, and forget about the ones you don't.

Many people find they don't like to bend over to move the vacuum around so prefer an upright over a cannister. A vacuum with a bag will keep the air you breathe free of dust, allergens, pollen, smoke particles, and other chemicals and pollutants found in household air, IF it doesn't get clogged. A self-propelled vacuum cleaner may sound great, but they're actually very heavy to lift.

HEPA filters trap small particles that may cause repiratory and other problems for asthma and allergy sufferers and others with health problems. Check out the vacuums with the patented internal filtration system. Considering your health when it comes to vacuum cleaners is important; you don't want to create or worsen respiratory, mobility, back problems or anything else needlessly. True or absolute HEPA filters are usually more expensive than other HEPA filters.

HEPA is a type of filter that can trap a large amount of very small particles that other vacuum cleaners recirculate back into the air of your home. Reducing or eliminating particles will make cleaner air for everyone in your home. True or absolute HEPA filters must pass a strict test to be considered HEPA worthy.

Ask your friends and associates what they use and like. And just a reminder to make sure you check the warranty. Although price may play a large part in your decision to purchase a vacuum cleaner, choosing a vacuum cleaner based on the features you need or want most will help you keep your costs down, while buying a vacuum cleaner that's a good fit for your particular needs.