Features to consider when choosing a vacuum for high pile carpets
Vacuums for high pile carpets are intricate devices. There are a lot of components and a lot of features to consider. For those still overwhelmed with the selection of vacuum cleaners, pay close attention to these key features.
Type
A vacuum cleaner is just a vacuum cleaner, right? Unfortunately, no. Within this category of products are many different types. And you need to match the type of vacuum to your carpet for optimal results.
Stick vacuum cleaners
For those that have low pile carpets and a small space, a stick vacuum is perfect. It is lightweight and very portable. It will usually be bagless but the canister can be quite small so needs to be emptied regularly. Stick vacuums don’t have a lot of power, but they can work on both carpet and laminate or wood flooring. They are also quite inexpensive.
Canister vacuum cleaners
If you want a lot of mobility and a product lighter in weight, a canister vacuum cleaner may be for you. They have two parts to them: the cannister and the hose. The cannister will have wheels so you can move it, as well as a handle for carrying. The hose should be long enough to reach all the corners of a room without you having to move the canister itself. They are strong vacuum cleaners and can work with all types of carpet pile as well as hardwood flooring. They can be expensive but they will last for a long time.
Upright vacuum cleaners
This is the traditional idea of a vacuum cleaner. It stands upright but has a button or lever so you can angle the handle for better results. These vacuum cleaners can be heavy, but as you are pushing them around, it shouldn’t be too much of an issue, except if you have to continuously move it up and down the stairs. They range in price from cheap to expensive, usually relative to how strong they are. Upright vacuum cleaners can be both bagged and bagless, depending on the brand. They are great for high pile carpets.
Robot vacuum cleaners
At some point, somebody realized there must be a better way than having to manually vacuum a house. And along came the robot vacuum cleaners. There are two parts to this machine. The roaming part, using in the shape of a disk, will move around the house picking up dirt. Then there is the home or docking station where the vacuum cleaner will return to for charging.
Depending on the size, you may have to remove the dirt more often with a robot vacuum cleaner. The charge will vary, as well. Expect to charge your robot vacuum cleaner every night in order for it to work for a few hours the next day. Robot vacuum cleaners vary greatly in price and abilities. Usually, the more money you invest in one, the better able it is to clean thoroughly. These are good for high pile carpets, but some brands are not as good on stairs as others.
Power
Vacuum cleaners should suck, right? And the better they suck, the happier you will be. Behind that suction is power. 1,200 Watts is the average, with both the Miele Complete C3 and the Miele Blizzard CX1 having this amount. If there is a higher power, expect more suction, and vice versa with lower power. High pile carpets need more power to suction all the hidden debris. You should look for at least 1,000 Watts of power.
If it’s bagged or bagless
If you’re of a certain age, you can remember the dreaded task of changing your vacuum bag. How often did you leave your vacuum bag in until it was bursting because you just didn’t want to deal with the hassle? And then once you did, the inevitable chaos and dirtiness of trying to wrestle your old bag out and place a new bag in.
Thankfully, times and technologies have changed. There are now vacuum cleaners that are actually bagless, and those that still rely on bags are a lot easier to remove.
Bagless vacuum cleaners use canisters to hold dirt. The canister needs to be removed from the vacuum, but it is usually an easy affair with just the press of a button. Then, enter the contents from the canister into your home garbage can and pop the now empty canister back into the vacuum.
Going bagless is better for both your wallet and the environment. You don’t have to worry about purchasing new bags, and you don’t have to add even more waste to the world. However, those canisters can be a bit tricky to use. Often, they are small and you may even need to use a knife to slide all the contents out. Particles can also get stuck, so again, you may find yourself becoming more intimate with your dirt than you would like to. Those that do have bagless vacuum cleaners, however, quickly fall into a rhythm and find the best ways of removing all that debris.
With bagged vacuum cleaners, there is a lot less hassle. The dirt is completely contained, and all you need to do is remove the bag and insert a new one. You will need to keep a supply of vacuum bags on hand, and finding them can be a bit of a challenge as they are usually model-specific. It’s best to order vacuum bags online in bulk so you can continue cleaning your house whenever you want to.
Cord length
You’ve finally hit the cleaning groove. You’re moving from one room to the other, only to move one inch further and have the cord suddenly be ripped from the wall. Ugh, what a nuisance. Not only do you then need to stop and move your vacuum cleaner and cord, but repeated ripping can start to bend the prongs which can be an issue in the long run.
A long vacuum cleaner power cord can help with your sanity. It means less bending over and trying to find the right plug hidden by bookcases and couches. You can get on with your vacuuming and be done as quickly as possible.
The average length of a vacuum cord is 30 feet. This should allow you to plug into a hallway outlet and cover a few rooms before having to move. Of course, there are cordless options that run on battery power. You will need to have a dedicated outlet for the docking station, but not having to deal with a cord is a pretty appealing idea.
Runtime (for robotic models)
Robot vacuum cleaners, like the iRobot Roomba s9+ and the Roborock E25 on our list, run on battery. Each has a docking station that it will return to and then will recharge before it can be used again. A full charge for the iRobot Roomba s9+ will result in a runtime of 120 minutes while the Roborock E25 has a runtime of 100 minutes. It’s best to keep your robot vacuum cleaner in its charger at all times so that it’s ready whenever you need it.
Dimensions
Vacuum cleaners come in all shapes and sizes. For example, the iRobot Roomba s9+ is the smallest on our list with a diameter of just 12.2 inches. On the other end of the spectrum is the Soniclean Soft Carpet Upright Vacuum Cleaner, which has a height of 43.5 inches.
Always think about where you will store your vacuum cleaner when not in use as this may affect the size you want to purchase.
Warranty
It’s always a shock just how expensive vacuum cleaners are. And when you’re spending hundreds of dollars on a product, you want to know it will last for as long as possible. A warranty is incredibly important, especially as vacuum cleaners have now become complex machines.
The warranties on our products all vary to the extreme. Some, like the Roborock E25 and the iRobot Roomba s9+ only offer a one-year warranty. Others, like the Sirena Vacuum Cleaner have a tiered approach. It features a ten-year limited warranty on the motor, a three-year limited warranty on parts, and a one-year limited warranty on labor.
As it the case with any warranties, keep track of when it expires. There are still too many sad stories of people realizing something is wrong with a product, mere days after their warranty has expired.
Tips to keep your high pile carpet clean
High pile carpet is finally coming back in style. Who doesn’t love that luxurious feeling of walking over soft carpet in their bare feet? Unfortunately, lurking within those long strands of carpets can be a lot of dirt and dust.
If anything spills on your high pile carpet, clean it immediately. Use a clean cloth to absorb the liquid and then apply a carpet cleaning solution.
It can be a bit tedious, by try to vacuum either every day or every other day. While lesser-used rooms, such as guest bedrooms, can be done once a week, high traffic areas such as living rooms, need to be vacuumed on a regular basis. Vacuuming will trap not just dirt but allergens as well, leaving your whole house a lot healthier.
