New technology or an old standard: choosing the right vacuum cleaner
Price is the first concern in the consumers mind and,
truthfully, bagged vacuum cleaners are typically cheaper. You
can purchase one for 49.99 brand new off the shelf. These models
use bags (usually attached to the back of the handle) to store
dust, dirt, and debris. The bags themselves range in price from
2-4 dollars depending on which vacuum you have and when the bag
is full you simply detach it and throw it out--though, as
everyone knows, changing a vacuum cleaner bag can be a sooty
affair.
Bagless systems, by definition, avoid such mess; however, they
are a little more expensive to buy in the beginning. Base models
of bagless vacs can be purchased for around $80.00 and do not
require the use and changing of a bag. But they are not
maintenance free either. Most bagless vacuums have a filter, or
filter system, that requires occasional cleaning and,
eventually, changing. How much do the filters cost? This is
where the true cost of a bagless system becomes revealed.
Filters run from 19.99 up to 39.99 depending on the model.
Luckily, though, most filters will last through many fills of
the canister and may only need to be changed once per year, if
even that frequently.
Of course, there are other considerations that come into play
when choosing between a bagged or bagless system. For instance,
convenience. Emptying the canister of a bagless system is far
and away simpler and more convenient than detaching a bag.
And for asthmatics and individuals with allergies, it's safer as
well. As we mentioned, the changing of a bag can release a fair
amount of dust and dirt into the air, a clear no-no for those
who have a respiratory-related illness. How effective and "safe"
is a bagless system? This is clearly a selling point as most
bagless vacs will remove over 99 percent of dust and allergens
from the air.
Which type of vacuum cleaner should you purchase? It many cases,
it will probably boil down to convenience and personal
preference. For most individuals, the 30 dollar jump in price
from a bagged system to a bagless system may seem very
reasonable when you consider the advantages that come with
bagless cleaners: no bags to change and, straight to the point,
cleaner air. However, if budget concerns are preeminent in your
considerations, the standard bag vacuum may simply be the best
choice.
About the author:
The author of this article is Tim Moore, who publishes a website
on http://www.vitaminstuff.com>Vitamins, herbs, and
nutrition which features a section on http://www.vitaminstuff.com/antioxidants.html>Antioxidants
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