Wet Dry Vacuum Cleaners

The wet/dry vacuum cleaner combination is no longer
just for a workshop.  Over the years, the driving
technology has improved a great deal, deceasing
the loud screeching noises that the vacuums were
so very well known for.

When you go out to buy a wet/dry vacuum with both
wet and dry features, you'll need to know some of
the details.  The vacuums are available in a variety
of different sizes and HP, ranging from 6 - 22 gallons
and 1.5 - 10.5 HP.  The capacity of the wet/dry
vacuum should match your needs in the following
ways:
1.  Wall mount vacuum cleaners with 1.5 HP
and a 1 gallon tank are available for quick and easy
cleanup jobs, such as spills.  You can also hang
this type on the wall as well, which will keep it out
of your way.
2.  The six gallon vacuum cleaners are ideal
for smaller jobs and are easy to maneuver and store
than a larger model.  Keep in mind however, that the
smaller wet/dry cleaners are much louder and also
more prone to tipping over.  The smaller the tank,
the more often you will have to stop and empty it.
3.  Higher capacity models are recommended
if you have a workshop or garage where larger spills
occur.  A large capacity tank will decrease the number
of times that you have to empty the tank.

When you looking for the best wet/dry vacuum for
you, you should look for the following options and
features:
-  The pleated cartridge filter.  It is
reusable and rinseable, and provides more filtration
area than the flat filter and it doesn't need to
be removed when you switch from the dry to wet
vacuum function.
-  An automatic shut off device is available
with most newer vacuum cleaners.  This mechanism
will shut off the motor automatically once the
tank has become full of water, which will prevent
it from overflowing.
-  A wide set of wheels will help to prevent
the vacuum from tipping over.
-  There are some of the larger models that
have the ability to convert to a leaf blower, which
is great if you have a lot of trees in your yard.
-  Some wet/dry models have a built in pump
attachment as well.  This type of attachment will
allow the water to be pumped through a garden hose
that attaches to the vacuum.
-  A handy drain valve or sprout will make
emptying the vacuum cleaner a snap.  If it doesn't
have this feature, you'll have to remove the
lid and tip the vacuum to the side to empty all of
the water.  Depending on how much water you have
in the tank, you could easily and accidentally
spill it on the floor.  The smaller types of wet/dry
vacuums normally don't have a spout or drain
option.
-  Wider hoses and floor nozzles are great
to have as well.  The wider the hose and nozzle
are, the less likely the vacuum will be to clog up
on you.

If they aren't provided with the vacuum you decided
on, you can also purchase the following attachments:
1.  Crevice tool - this handy tool will
easily get in tight corners and around floor edges.
2.  Extension wand - this will make the hose
longer for hard to reach areas.
3.  Hose couplings - this will join the
extension wand to the hose.
4.  Combination nozzle - this helps to
alleviate the need of switching nozzles before you
switch functions.
5.  Gulper nozzle - this tool is ideal for
the wet vacuum function.
6.  Round brush - this nifty little tool
is ideal for scrubbing.
7.  Cleaning kit - this kit will include
everything you need to clean delicate upholstery and
other areas as well.

Vacuum Configurations

Vacuum cleaners are devices that use an air pump to
create a partial vacuum to suck up dirt and dust,
normally from carpeted floors.  Most homes that have
carpet floors have a vacuum for cleaning.  The dirt
that is pulled up from the carpet is collected by
a filtering system or even a cyclone for later
disposal.

There are several type of configurations possible
for vacuum cleaners.

Upright
Upright vacuums have the pump mounted directly above
the suction intake, with the bag mounted directly on
the handle, which will rise to waist height or so.
The upright type designs normally employ mechanical
beaters which often rotate brushes, to help disturb
dust enough to be vacuumed up.  These beaters are
normally driven by a belt that is attached to the
vacuum motor.

Canister
Also known as cylinder vacuums, the canister type
designs have the motor and bag in a seperate canister
unit that connects to the vacuum head by a flexible
hose.  Even though upright units have been tested
as being more effective, the lighter and more
maneuverable heads of the canister models are quite
popular.  Some models have power heads, which contain
the same type of mechanical beaters found it upright
units, although they are driven by a seperate electric
motor.

Wet vacs/dry vacs
These types a specialized form of the canister
vacuum and they can be used to clean up wet or liquid
spills as well.  They will commonly accomodate both
wet and dry soilage, with some being equipped with
a switch or exhaust port that reverses the flow of
air.  This is a very useful function for everything
from clearing clogged hoses to blowing dust into a
corner for easy collecting.

Back pack vac
These types of vacuums are commonly used for
commercial cleaning, as they allow you to move about
quickly and efficiently in a large area.  They are
basically canister vacuum cleaners, except for the
fact that straps are used to carry the canister
on your back.

Built in or central
These types of vacuum cleaners will move the suction
motor and bag to a central location in the building
and provide vacuum inlets at strategic places
throughout the entire building.  You only need to
carry the hose and pickup head from room to room,
while the hose is normally 25 foot long and allows
a large range of movement without changing vacuum
inlets.

The plastic piping will connect vacuum inlets to
the central unit.  The vacuum can either be unpowered
or have beaters that are operated by an electric
motor or an air driven motor.  The bag in the
central vacuum system is normally so big that
emptying it or changing needs to be done less as
often, sometimes only once a year.

Vacuum Cleaner Bags

Everything that a vacuum picks up, no matter what
type it may be, needs to be deposited somewhere -
normally in a vacuum cleaner bag.

Back in 1920, the Air Way Sanitizer Company of
Ohio introduced the first vacuum cleaner with a
disposable vacuum bag.  Until that time, the bags
for vacuum cleaners resembled the type of bags that
golfers used to carry their clubs.  They were
somewhat heavy and awkard devices made out of
thick, stiff canvas, designed to be very flexible
and still keep dust and debris from the carpets
from escaping out into the air.

The improvements made by the Air Way Sanitizer
disposable vacuum bag went a long way toward
improving the effectiveness of the vacuum cleaner.
Made out of paper, the bag was designed to fit
inside of the cloth bag.  Not only did it make
cleaning the vacuum easier, but it also kept the
insides of the stationary bag clean at all times
so that less of the dust and debris could be
blown out of the vacuum and make its way through
the home again.

In the beginning, each manufacturer designed
their own disposable vacuum cleaner bag made out
of different types of paper.  You couldn't
interchange the bags from one machine to the next,
as the fittings were different sizes with
different configurations for the opening of the
intake.  Manufacturers who were once very
dependant on the sales of their machines had now
discovered an entirely new territory for the
disposable bags, and once again sales went through
the roof.

Before, a housewife had her vacuum cleaner and
the only thing it needed was to be cleaned and
serviced every now and then.  If the man of the
house was around, the job normally went to him.
After a while, repair shops that specialized in
vacuum cleaners began to pop up all over the
place.

These days, there are very few vacuum cleaners
that use bags.  Bagless is the way to go these days,
and for good reason.  What was once a revolution
in household cleaning, is now rapidly fading away
and fast.

Models such as the Cyclone or Dirt Devil, are
now using cylinder technology to store the dirt
and dust.  When you have finished vacuuming, you
simply empty the cylinder into the trash.  Vacuum
bags can be very frustrating, which is why
millions of people are using bagless vacuums.

If you own a vacuum cleaner that uses bags, you
should look into upgrading it.  Bagless vacuums
will save you time, money, and replacement.  If
you've grown tired of the bags, now is the time
to get a better vacuum.

Not only do the bagless models have more power,
but they will also save you quite a few trips to
the store and the closet.  They don't cost a lot
of money either, and they are the perfect addition
to any household.

Types Of Vacuum Cleaners

If you are planning to really clean your home, car,
camper, or job site, you'll want to check out one of
the many types of vacuum cleaners.  There are several
out there, with each one offering you an array of
special uses and features.

The ideal thing to do is make a list of your price
range and budget and what you need your vacuum to do.
Then, you can start shopping around and narrow your
list down until you find the vacuum that is perfect
for your needs.

There are several vacuum machines on the market
today, and you'll have no problems finding one that
will complete your tasks with ease and durability.

Vacuums are available in several different colors,
sizes, and prices.  Basically, there are two types
of vacuum cleaners - wet and dry vacs, and there are
even companies out there that have found ways to
combine both features.  You can choose from cordless,
handheld, and even bagless models.  If you are
feeling really lazy, you can even purchase a robotic
vacuum cleaner that will vacuum your entire house for
you while you watch.

Normally, vacuum cleaners are made of either durable
plastic or aluminum.  They range in colors, from
red to silver and white to blue.  For the models,
you can choose from upright, canister, stick, hand
held, and shop vac models.

There are some vacuum cleaners that are specifically
designed to help get debris and dirt out from
under your car seat and others that are made to
help you clean your hardwood floors.  Other features
can include extra detachable extension tools,
retractable power cords, a HEPA filter, and an
easy to reach power switch.  There are even models
out there that will pick up nails and even glasses
of water.

Several companies out there produce vacuum cleaners,
including Oreck, Simplicity, Dyson, Hoover, Bosch,
Sanyo, Bissell, Eureka, and Kirby.  If you are
looking for a vacuum cleaner, you have a large
selection of discounted and refurbished vacuums out
there waiting for you.

One of the greatest things about vacuum cleaners is
the fact that the sky is limit.  There are literally
hundreds to choose from, giving you everything you
need to complete your task.  The most popular
types of vacuums on the market today are bagless,
as there are no bags to change, all you need to
do is empty the cylinder after you vacuum.

Whenever you are shopping for a vacuum, you should
always compare prices.  This way, you'll get the
best deal for your money.  They range in prices
from 30 dollars to 500, making it more than worth
your time and money to shop around.  Before you
know it, you'll have a vacuum cleaner that will
making cleaning your home or business both fun
and exciting.

The Great Vacuum Cleaner

A vacuum cleaner is an absolute must have home
appliance these days.  All of us rely on our vacuum
cleaner to help keep our homes free of dirt and dust,
although how we go about it sometimes, doesn't
give a lot of thought as to how efficient the
vacuum cleaner really is.

Before electric vacuums were created, home cleaning
was a tedious task.  Back then, floors had to be
cleaned with brushes, mops, and brooms.  Rugs and
carpets had to be removed from the floor, hung up
outdoors, and beaten to get the dust out.  Doing
things this way involved a lot of time and effort
and caused many health complaints.

The earlier inventions of non electric floor cleaning
devices made home cleaning much easier.  People
started to look for ways to improve on the efficiency
of these machines, which caused all types of
contraptions to be invented.

Throughout the 100 year history of the vacuum cleaner,
there have been all sorts of improvements.  The
very first electric vacuums were created in the
early 1900s.  In 1908, the Hoover Company built
the first electric vacuum cleaner that used a cloth
filter bag and cleaning attachments as well.

During the years that followed, many different
designs and models were created, each one varying
in weight, size, suction power, performance, and
other features.  With all of the designs that came
out, the upright vacuum cleaner remained to be the
most popular.

The latest upright vacuums that are available today
will make cleaning a whole lot easier.  They are
very light and versatile, and come in both bagged
and bagless designs.  They also include tools that
will help you remove dust from drapes, upholstery,
and even get tricky and hard to reach places.

By owning a bagless vacuum, you won't ever have
to buy vacuum bags again.  When it comes time to
empty the dirt container, you can empty it right
into your garbage can.

You'll want to do this out in your yard or on the
street in order to prevent the dust from getting
back into your house.  If you suffer from allergies,
it's best to stay with a bagged unit.  With bagged
vacuum cleaners, the dust will stay in a sealed
bag and then when it gets full, you can easily
dispose of it without being exposed to dust.

When you buy a vacuum cleaner, it's very important
to choose the best vacuum that will fit your home
cleaning needs.  You'll also need to think about
carpets and rugs, hard floors, even stairs before
you purchase your vacuum.  This way, you'll be
able to get the right vacuum with the right
accessories for the job - which will save you a lot
of time and effort when the time comes to clean your
home.

The Essential Vacuum Cleaner

The vacuum cleaner is a truly amazing piece of
equipment, as it would be very hard to cope without
one.  There are many people out there who prefer
domestic vacuum cleaners for carpeted floors in
their home.

No matter how you look at it, the vacuum cleaner is
an ingenious piece of equipment.  It has an air
pump that creates a partial vacuum to suck up the
dust and dirt, which it collects by a filtering
system or a cyclone to dispose of later.

Vacuum cleaner types
Based on their configurations, there are many types
of vacuum cleans.  The following are some of the
most known types of vacuum cleaners.

Bagless
Bagless vacuum cleaners, as the name implies, don't
use bags.  They collect the dust in a compartment
which you can quickly and easily empty.  This will
save you from the headache of dealing with messy
and frustrating vacuum bags.

Upright
Upright vacuum cleaners have the pump mounted
directly above the suction intake, with the bag
mounted on the handle that will normally rise to
waist height.  The designs of upright vacuum cleaners
will normally employ mechanical beaters, which
are often rotating brushes, to help dust that has
yet to settle be vacuumed up.  An attached belt to
the vacuum motor will drive these beaters.

Canister types
Canister vacuum cleaners have the motor and the
bag in a separate cylinder unit that is connected
to the vacuum head by a long flexible hose. Even
though the upright units have been tested as being
more effective, the lighter and more maneuverable
heads of the canister are also popular.  There are
some canister models on the market that feature
power heads which contain the same type of beaters
as found with upright units, even though those
types of beaters are driven by a seperate electric
motor.

Backpack
Backpack vacuums are a great tool for commercial
type cleaning.  Backpack vacuums will allow you to
move around rapidly in a large area.  It is
basically a canister vacuum cleaner, except for the
fact that the straps are used to carry the canister
unit on your back.

Central vacuum
A central or built in vacuum cleaner has the suction
motor and bag based in a central location of the
building, providing vacuum inlets at strategic
places throughout the building.  This way, you only
need to carry the hose and pickup head from room
to room.  The hose is normally 25 foot long,
allowing a large range of movement without having
to change vacuum inlets.

A plastic pipe will connect the vacuum outlets to
the central unit.  The head of the vacuum may
either by un-powered or have beaters that are operated
by an air driven or electric motor.  The dirt bags
in central systems are so big that you only need
to change or empty them once or twice a year.

Robotic
Robot type vacuum cleaners will move around your
home, cleaning as they wish.  They are compact and
powered by batteries.

Hand held
Hand held vacuum cleaners are very small and powered
by either batteries or electricity, and very popular
with cleaning up small spills.

Wet or dry vacs
Wet or dry vacuum systems can be used to clean up
both wet and dry spills and dirt.

Vacuums are very helpful with protecting yourself
and your family from dust particles.  They are also
helpful for those who suffer from allergies that
result from dirt and dust.  Before you buy a vacuum
cleaner, you should always read some reviews and
find out other information to ensure that the vacuum
cleaner you buy will meet your needs.

Steam Cleaner Vacuum

A selection of hot water extractors are being marketed
that range from the large or small canister types
with hose and nozzle to those that look more like an
upright vacuum cleaner.  The basic operation of the
steam cleaner vacuum involves spraying a mixture
of warm water and detergent into the carpet, washing
the fibers and then extracting the solution mixture
back out.  There are some models that include
rotating or revolving brushes that will agitate the
carpet for better cleaning.

The earlier styles that were sold consisted of a
special wand and nozzle that was used to on wet/dry
utility type of vacuum cleaner.  The long hose was
connected to a nearby hot water source.  The detergent
came in a small bottle on the wand and was mixed with
hot water before being sprayed on the carpet.  By
using a finger controlled valve, you should control
how much water was sprayed in the carpet.  Even today,
this type of vacuum is still being used.

The more modern designs are more self contained in
the sense that water and detergent mixtures are
placed into a tank on the machine.  This will free
you from the long water supply hose.

The main part of an extractor will consist of a
cleaning solution tank, recovery tank, suction motor,
cleaning nozzle, and some sort of solution spraying
system.  If there is a hose that is used, there
will also be a motor or turbine driven pump that
will force the solution on to the end of the hose.

Upright steam cleaners
These types of vacuums look like uprights also
have the tanks, suction motor, main nozzle, and
other features built into one. The entire vacuum
unit is pushed around much like using an upright
vacuum cleaner.  Normally, the solution is gravity
fed to the spray nozzle which is directly behind
the suction nozzle.

Most types have brushes mounted in the same area
to agitate the carpet for overall better cleaning.
For cleaning upholstered furniture and carpeted
stairs, most types will have a special hose and
smaller nozzle that will come with stationary
brushes that can easily detach.

Canister steam cleaners
This type of steam cleaner will come with a separate
hose and nozzle and has the tanks and suction motor
built directly into a case that is pulled along
with you.  The nozzle at the end of the hose and
the wands are moved back and forth across the carpet
to clean it.

There are some deluxe models that have a drive motor
style revolving brush in the nozzle that will help
you with the process of cleaning.  These types of
nozzles are much lighter to move acros the carpet
than the upright types of steam cleaners.

The only disadvantage is that they aren't as
convenient to set up and store as the self contained
upright type.  Therefore, having to pull them
around with you can be a pain in the neck.  The
smaller portable extractor is a variation of the
canister type in a small package.  Even though this
may sound great to have for stairs and furniture,
the effectiveness they offer is actually quite
poor.

Steam cleaners work the best when they used on a
periodic basis to clean carpets that are very
lightly soiled.  If you use them on carpet that is
very heavily soiled or stained, it can be very
disappointing to say the least.

If you have the need for heavy duty cleaning, you
should look into the professional cleaning
services that are offered in your area.  They have
heavy duty commercial equipment that is far more
powerful and able to produce much better results.