Is A Canister Vacuum A Good Cleaner?

Posted by: JimG Post date: February 15th, 2009

upright vacuum cleaner

For portable floorcare, the canister vacuum is the only real option to the various types of upright vacuums available. Canisters are aptly named because the bulk of the machine is composed of a large canister, which holds both the dirt collection area and the vacuum motor. A hose extends from the canister itself and various cleaning accessories can then be attached to it, depending on the cleaning task at hand.

A canister model usually has wheels attached to the bottom of the drum which allows it to move easily. Rather than pushing the unit, as with upright vacuums, canister vacuums are pulled by the hose and attachments. The movement of the unit is free and easy as the vacuum operator moves around. This results in a much easier method of facilitation because the user does not have to push and pull on a heavy unit that includes the motor, as is the case with uprights.

Most people consider a canister vacuum to be more versatile than upright vacuums, as they are very much a multi-purpose tool. This is because of the the lower cost and the simple and straightforward design. It is only in the United States where upright vacuums outsell the canisters. This is mainly because it is the upright version of vacuums that people in the US are more familiar with having in their homes.

But, in the rest of the world, it is the canister vac that is the more common cleaning device. Perhaps it is because of the lower cost which is often more important in other areas of the world. In Europe, which overall has a culture that is much less inclined to purchase “disposable” products, the canisters are valued because they provide more years of dependable use.

Another reason that the canister model is preferred in other parts of the world is because of how they can be used on multiple surfaces and for multiple purposes. This makes them a more versatile cleaning device as they can be used for carpeting, as well as floors. Canisters are also considered to be better at vertical surface cleaning tasks.

A canister vac will clog much less frequently than an upright vacuum. This is because they use a straight tube and a non-convoluted hose which provides for a clear path into the dust bag of the vacuum. In upright vacuums, the dust must pass through a series of curves and connections that both reduces the airflow and creates more friction, which in tun reduces the suction power and the cleaning performance. A frequent complaint about the upright vacuum cleaner is that it is prone to clogging, which not only reduces efficiency, but requires time and effort to clear and maintain.

Overall, a canister vacuum will likely cost more initially, as compared to an upright vacuum cleaner. However, over the long haul, canister vacs are more cost effective because they have less moving vacuum parts to be replaced, they are less prone to breakdown from complications due to clogging, and they have larger vacuum bags, so they need to be changed less often. Because they are also more powerful and therefore efficient, they generally require less time to clean an area, saving both time and electricity.

This Panasonic is one of the best selling canister vacuums at Amazon. Check out its review here.

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