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DUCTED VACUUM CLEANING SYSTEMS:
These units are built into the home. They consist of:
. A motor and dust collection unit (usually located on outside wall or in the garage).
. Ducted tubing to 2 - 4 outlets within the home.
. Flexible hose and attachments, which connect with outlets.
Features of this type of system:
. No bags to empty, main collection unit emptied a few times each year.
. Powerful
. Low noise within home.
. Lightweight to manoeuvre.
UPRIGHT VACUUM CLEANERS
This style is upright and suction works by sucking dust up through a fan and blowing it into the collection bag. In addition brushes beat the dust up from the carpet.
Features of this type of cleaner:
. Eliminates need to bend; most have on/off button on handle.
. Wand and hose attachment for cleaning furniture and crevices.
. Head adjustment to suit different carpet pile heights and tiled, wood or slate floors. The BISSELL Lift-Off Bagless and HOOVER Self Propelled Ultra models can be manually adjusted whilst the DYSON DC07 adjusts automatically.
. More difficult than barrel style to manoeuvre when there is a lot of furniture to be cleaned around and under.
. Can be heavy to carry upstairs.
. Dust bags must be changed or emptied regularly.
CANISTER OR BARREL STYLE VACUUM CLEANERS
These vacuum cleaners sit on the floor on wheels. The user vacuums with tubing and attachments, and pulls cleaner along. They vary in size from small and lightweight to quite large and heavy. The fan is usually positioned after the bag so suction is decreased compared to uprights.
Features of this type of vacuum cleaner:
. Can manoeuvre under furniture.
. Height adjustable, telescopic wands match the user's height.
. Wand and foot controls which can limit bending during use.
. Dust bags need to be replaced or emptied at regular intervals.
. Can be used on carpet and bare floors.
HAND HELD VACUUM CLEANERS
These cleaners are available in both corded and cordless, rechargeable models.
They are designed for small pick ups only.
Features of this type of cleaner:
. Ease of storage.
. Lightweight; although entire weight must be carried whilst cleaner is used.
. Suitable for small spills.
. Able to get into difficult places, eg. furniture, stairs.
WET - DRY VACUUM CLEANERS
These cleaners are available in canister, upright or hand held units. They are designed to shampoo and cleanup liquid from large surfaces and in some hand held styles, to pick up small liquid spills. Large cleaners are often time consuming to assemble and have small parts.
BODY WORN VACUUM CLEANERS
. eg Worn around the waist or attached to a strap slung over the shoulder
. Must be lightweight.
. Is load evenly spread over body? Consider affect of shoulder worn model.
. Enables freedom of movement without having to drag or push a machine.
. Enables better access to confined areas
AUTOMATIC VACUUM CLEANERS (new on the market)
. Also known as robotic vacuum cleaners
. Uses sonar to navigate around a room
. Automatically docks at a charging station when finished
. May not do heavy cleaning like a hand held vacuum cleaner
Factors To Consider
POINTS TO CONSIDER IN THE PURCHASE OF VACUUM CLEANERS
. Location and space available for storage. Environment in which the cleaner is to be used.
. Dust collector. Vacuum cleaners collect the dust in paper or reusable cloth bags. Reusable bags generate less waste and will be cheaper in the long run. Is the dust bag easy to remove?
. Floor adjustment. Can brush head be adjusted for different carpet piles and bare floor?
. Optional extras: Does the cleaner come with or, are other attachments available for purchase, such as crevice nozzle, dusting brush and upholstery brush? Is there room for storage of these on the cleaner?
. Dust bag full indicator. Some cleaners have an indicator as to when dust bag is full.
. Blower. Is there an exhaust hole to blow air back through tubing? May be useful to clear tube or to inflate some items, eg. air beds. The PANASONIC MC-5030 has a blower.
. Retractable cord storage.
. Size and location of on/off button. Are they clearly visible and easy to read, i.e. large print in contrasting colours.? Are they easy to reach and turn on and off?
. Weight of cleaner and weight of wand when cleaning overhead, eg. curtains, stairs.
. Length and conditions of warranty.
The specific products listed below are those from recent assessments performed by Choice magazine (July 2005 issue) using guidelines provided by the ILC.
Although no vacuum assessed was ideal, the MIELE 758 Active HEPA + Seb 217 was easy to manoeuvre and the controls were easy to read and use. Upright models such as MIELE 726 Cat & Dog 700, WERTHEIM 2000P and DYSON Dc07 had good foot controlled on/off switches but are still relatively heavy.
For people with asthma
. A vacuum cleaner that does well in dirt removal tests
. The best option is a vac with a good filtration system (HEPA, HEPA S-Class or replaceable electrostatic) and double-walled vacuum bags to remove and retain the airborne allergens in the exhaust air.
. When vacuuming, keep the windows open, wear a mask, or get someone else to do it.
. You may even want to consider a built-in ducted vacuum system, which removes the suctioned dust to a separate storage bag.
For further information about asthma, contact your local Asthma Foundation
For further information check Choice magazine, the yellow pages of the telephone book or talk to a retailer.
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These are general suggestions - If you experience considerable difficulty in performing activities of daily living, consult an occupational therapist at a community health centre or aged care assessment team, or make an appointment with the ILC.
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