With so many vacuums available on the market it is always difficult to decide which is the best one for your needs. If we then need to decide between an upright vacuum or a canister then things get more complicated. Both of them have pros and cons and asking yourself simple questions such as: do I have hard to reach points in my house that need to be vacuumed? or Am I strong enough to carry the vacuum around the house? will help you choose the correct one.

What are the positive points of an upright vacuum?

– People who have difficulty bending over to use the vacuum will find the upright vacuums quite useful.

– An upright bag will hold more debris than a canister bag.

What are the negative points of an upright vacuum?

– These vacuums are less able to reach corners, underneath upholstery and tight places.

– An upright vacuum will take more space on the cupboard, which some people may find annoying.

– It is a heavy vacuum, so it can be a mission to take it up and down the stairs.

What about the pros of a canister vacuum?

– The main positive quality: maneuverability, you can vacuum anything you can think of (under sofas, corners, inside cupboards,…)

– These vacuum are quite compact and generally light weight (useful when you have to carry it around the house).

– Space storage: canister vacuums are smaller than upright vacuums, so it is easier to find a place to “hide” it when the job is done.

And the negatives of a canister vacuum?

– There is actually a lot of people complaining about damages on furniture legs or skirting boards as you pull the vacuum around, not to mention the damages on our selves (that is, Achilles tendon and so on).

When buying a new vacuum, you have to assess your needs and/or preferences. Both types of vacuum can be good as long as they are used appropriately. If only the dust would disappear with a tweak of the nose!