If you've come across this article you're probably looking for help, information, resources and tips for the best, discount and the cheapest vacuum cleaner you can find - and still save money on your purchase. A good quality vacuum cleaner is an excellent investment in your home and in your home's cleaning equipment. Choosing just the right vacuum that will accomplish the necessary cleaning of your home can be confusing.

Check out features versus the weight to choose the right model for you. You want to make sure to get a vacuum designed for your mix of carpeting and hard flooring. Vacuum cleaners with replaceable bags can add up each year adding significant cost to your initial purchase.

It may be difficult to find as many of the bells and whistles you'd like on the lightweight models. If you have family members with long hair then get a vacuum cleaner that has a stainless steel brush roller with ball bearings. There are no standards set for the sealed models.

Of course you want to get the cleanest possible 'clean' you can for your carpets. Higher priced uprights have a wider cleaning path, possibly have dirt sensors, and some will be self-propelled; they may have pre-motor filters to protect the motor from damage too. Decide whether you want an upright or canister?

Always check to see how long the warranty is good for; the longer it is the better of course. Find the extra tools and features you need, and forget about the ones you don't need. It is important to find out exactly what kind of maintenance your new vacuum cleaner will need.

Once you feel fully informed, if possible, go to a local store to get a look at those you've picked and try them out. Consider where the vacuum cleaner will be stored to make sure it will fit in the space. Make sure attachments are easy to put together and take apart and that they will stay together and are airtight.

Canister vacuums range in price from $150 to $1500. A low-end upright model will usually only have a suction hose with a crevice tool, stair brush, and extended wand piece. The lower priced upright vacuum cleaner may or may not include manual adjustment for the height of your carpet.

Canisters at the uppermost end of the price range may be merely expensive, and not necessarily of higher quality or be more effective. The lower end uprights may have headlamps and/or bumper protection for your furniture. Read the warranty fine print so you know exactly what is covered in the event it is defective or you need it repaired.

HEPA-like or HEPA type filters may only capture 85 to 90 percent of particles and that percent can fall even lower for particles of 1 micron and below, unlike the true or absolute HEPA filters. Make sure to look for the serial number and test results that are printed on true or absolute HEPA filters; make sure that the test results are at .3 microns are 99.97 percent or above. Some vacuums will have a HEPA filter; this is always a good idea to keep your air free of the tiny particles that are stirred up when you vacuum. It is up to you to decide if a true HEPA is necessary for your family, or if capturing a smaller amount of particles is worth the price break on the filter costs; however your family's health is well worth paying a little higher price.

A bagless vacuum that uses filters may leak dust, dust mites, mold spores, fungus, bacteria, smoke particles, chemicals and all types of allergen particles into the air, so small you may not be able to see all of them. If possible test air-tightness; you can do this by vacuuming a little bit with a floor model and see how much dust has collected on the outside of the vacuum. Remember that true HEPA filters will have a serial number assigned to them if they're able to trap at least 99.97 percent of particles of .3 microns; these test results will be printed on the filter.

And just a reminder: make sure you check the warranty. Know that you're getting the best vacuum cleaner for your money today. And make sure you add on replacement bags to your initial investment if they're required.