Choosing a vacuum cleaner that's easy to use
(view report contents)
Guide to Test Results
Weight
What to look for
If you have limited strength, the weight of the cleaner will be very important, whichever type you decide on. Check to see that the carrying handles are comfortable to grip and that you can carry the machine with two hands if necessary.
An automatic cord rewind is helpful: you pull out the length of cord you need and press a button that retracts it back into the cleaner. Manually stored cords can be unwound easily if the cleaner has a quick release hook, but still has to be wound up by hand.
Upright Cleaners have a small hose attached to the back or the machine which you fix attachments to. With cylinder cleaners you use the hose for all types of cleaning so you don’t have to take it on and off.
Whether lengths of tube push together or extend telescopically, they should require little force. Cleaning tools should fit on the end of the tubing easily – and should be easily removed and replaced in the cleaner storage area.
What we found
The weights mentioned in the machine assessments are of the cleaners with their attachments. We found that those which were around 5kg were also noticeably less bulky to carry. Of those tested, the Dyson cylinders were bulkier than the rest, although their carrying handles were longer – giving you space for two hands. On the upright cleaners, carrying handles were generally half way up the back and were often covered by wound up electric cord.
The Dyson cylinders sit across and down two stairs
Of the cylinder cleaners tested, all but two had automatic cord rewind, operated by light pressure, from foot or hand on a large push button. All the upright cleaners had quick release cord hooks.
The more force you use to push together the tubes and tools, the more strength you will need to pull them apart. With most of the cylinders, you simply pushed the hose in, but with some, detaching it involved squeezing both sides of the hose end. None of the tubes on the cleaners needed you to have great force to push them together. Telescopic tubing takes away the need to put lengths together, but it still required some strength to extend and collapse.
Storage space for small cleaning tools – such as an upholstery brush and crevice tool – was provided on the cleaners. Each one fitted into its own space, so they all required some precision to replace. We looked at the colour contrast of the tools and their storage area as good contrast makes it easier for you to replace the tools if you have poor sight.
Cleaning
What to look for
The shape and width of the cleaner’s main handle, or the part of a cylinder’s hose that is meant to be held, will affect how comfortable it is to use. Moulded gripping indentations should prevent your hands from slipping, but should not be so deep that they require a specific handhold. If the handle is closed there should still be enough space for a swollen or painful hand.
With an upright cleaner, you should be able to easily release the cleaning head from the upright section- part way down for general use and fully for cleaning under low furniture. Cleaners which are light to push are less tiring and if you have painful grip they are more comfortable than appliances which need pressure.
The tubing and tools should not feel too heavy if you are using them above ground level- for example, when cleaning upholstery or curtains.
What we found
On the cleaners we assessed we found that the controls were generally easy to find by colour or by touch. The on/off control on most of the cylinder cleaners was a large section of the top edge of the cleaner body. This was meant to be pushed by foot but you could also use your hands. Most of these controls were quite slippery, but their size and the fact that they required only light pressure made them easy to use.
The small cleaning tools in the Dyson DC02 Absolute+ are easy to find from their colour.
On/off controls on the upright cleaners were located on the main handles. These were either push buttons or switches. Those that protruded from the handle surface were easiest to locate and use. They varied in the strength needed to operate them.
To adjust the cleaning heads for carpet or hard floor use, or for different lengths of carpet pile, most of the cleaners had a control on the cleaning head. This was a protruding foot switch on the cylinder cleaners and a variety of types on the uprights. Some models had automatic height adjustments. Variable suction power is a useful extra if you need to clean curtains and rugs.
Dealing with the dust container/changing the filters
What to look for
Changing the dust container usually involves opening the cleaner, removing a dust bag from a holder, maybe emptying the bag and replacing it, or fitting a new one and putting everything back together again. From time to time the filters in the cleaner will also have to be changed. Ideally there should be space to allow you easy access to the bags and filters, no fiddly movements and no action requiring much strength.
What we found
No vacuum cleaner we tested had ideal dust and filter arrangements. One or other of the actions required was cramped or awkward on all the cleaners.
Most cleaners had throwaway dust bags which are easier and less messy to deal with than reusable bags. Which? reports that reusing bags reduces cleaning power. Gaining access to the bag and often the filters involved lifting a lid or lifting off a section of the cleaner body. On some of the cleaners this required some strength. Removing or replacing the dust bag was fiddly on many models. Since our initial report many more machines have switched to bagless systems and even filterless systems, we will look at these in more detail in our upcoming report.
You can see all the dust picked up in the Dyson DC01 canister
The Hoover PurePower U3141 with a throwaway bag in place
Report contents
Some appliances tested suit some people more than others. Click on order by grip to see those we have judged best if you have limited grip, strength or dexterity - those at the top have features most likely to suit you. If you have impaired sight click on order by sight.
Introduction
Guide to types of
vacuum cleaner
Guide to test
results
Buying Guide
- Dyson DC02
- Dyson DC02 Absolute
- Dyson DC01
- Hoover Purepower U3141
- Sebo Automatic x1
- Electrolux Mondo 1150
- Panasonic MC - E962
- Electrolux Power System 1725
Quick check list for
vacuum cleaners
Manufacturers
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