Canister Vacuums vs Upright Vacuums

Two of the most popular types of vacuum cleaners include upright vacuums and canister vacuums. In general one style is not better than the other, but depending on your cleaning needs one may prove to be more efficient and make the chore vacuuming easier. A number of major manufacturers offer both upright and canister models each providing their own list of features, but essentially all uprights operate the same and all canisters operate the same.

Upright vacuums: Many uprights have a rotating power head which are very effective at loosening impeded dirt from the carpet and removing it. Uprights tend to have more power and perform better on carpeting, so if your home is primarily carpeting I would lean towards an upright vacuum.

Canister vacuums: Canister vacuums may offer more versatility than upright models but give up some in pure performance and suction power. If your home is filled with stairs various floor surfaces such as carpet, tile, hardwood or linoleum you may consider a canister. Often lighter than uprights they are easier to maneuver up and down stairs.

These are general guidelines and are not true in all cases. But due to fierce competition between manufacturers and wanting to provide the edge in features many models crossover and are highly effective on many types of floor surfaces. Your choice may be as simple as personal preference.