Costco Connection - September 2008

for your home

Sucking it up

Cleaning

floors

in the 21st

century

JUPITER IMAGES/LIQUID LIBRARY

By Steve Fisher

BUYING A NEW vacuum should be a relatively easy task. But there are lots of issues to consider, and price is only one point. We talked with experts at several manufacturers to come up with some questions and answers to help you make an informed decision.

What type of home—single story, two-story, bi-level, etc.—do you have? Is storage space an issue?

If you live in a two-story house, the choice is to lug a vacuum up and down stairs or have one on each floor. Keep the heavy-duty cleaner

FRANCE FREEMAN

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Shannon Axthelm Small Electrics Buyer

I HAVEN’T HAD a pet in years, but after using the Dyson DC14 Animal the first time, I expected him to come bounding back into the room. I was amazed at the amount of dirt I’ve been living with and didn’t know it. And I’ve been using a really good vacuum cleaner. The Dyson goes beyond good.

It’s great for all floor types. It auto-adjusts for different carpet heights, making cleaning a

(canister or upright) downstairs, where the traffic may be heavier, and keep a lightweight cleaner, such as a handheld or stick vacuum, on the second floor.

Handhelds or sticks are also good for the kitchen for quick pickups of coffee grounds or cereal. If your home has stairs, choose a

no-brainer. An on/off switch for the brush bar helps you avoid scratching bare floors. The Telescope Reach™ wand lets you instantly extend the wand and hose 17 feet for high ceilings and stairs, without having to go into Cirque du Soleil acrobatics to keep the machine from tipping. Oh, and it’s bagless, and has a lifetime HEPA filter. Unlike other vacuums, Dyson is certified asthma & allergy friendly™ by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. That’s nothing to sneeze at. Don’t take my word for it. Google it and see what others say. One comment that keeps coming up is “It left my carpets looking professionally cleaned.” That, plus the Costco value, and what more could you ask for? C

lightweight model or one with telescoping attachments to reach upper stairs without having to carry a heavy cleaner with you.

What type(s) of floors—carpet, tile, hardwood, ceramic, etc.—are in your home?

Canisters and upright vacuums with an on/off brush roll—which allows you to shutoff the brush bar when vacuuming bare floors— and height adjustment (manual or automatic) for rugs are best for homes with carpeting, tile and hardwood surfaces throughout.

Do you have pets?

If you have the furry kind that have free roam of the home, look for a vacuum with power hand tools to pick up that hard-to-get hair on stairs and furniture. A unit with shampooing or steam-cleaning ability might also be warranted.