Heavy-duty, traditional vacuums do indeed fit a certain purpose and meet a certain need for some people. They cover plenty of floor space, and many of them are loaded with attachments that aid in cleaning furniture, stairs, and hard-to-reach places. Yet sometimes these heavy vacuums aren’t the best machine for the job, and their lightweight counterpart known as the stick vacuum cleaner is a far preferable choice.
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What is a stick vacuum cleaner?
This is a lightweight machine that is often cordless, but there are some corded models available. Their name is derived from a stick-like appearance. Unlike traditional machines, they don’t normally have attachments and they also don’t require the need to push or pull heavy machines through your home. These machines generally weigh just a few pounds, and they are often used by those with bad backs or other physical limitations as well as by those who have a smaller home to clean. After all, when you have a small apartment or home, a large upright or canister vacuum is a bit of overkill!
Others, however, who live in larger homes, will have a stick vacuum cleaner on hand as well. These machines are great for grabbing for a quick cleanup job in larger spaces. For instance, if a neighbor calls and says they will be over in 10 minutes and your living room is a mess, you don’t have the time or the need for a full cleanup job. You can simply grab this lightweight machine and do a quick yet thorough cleaning of the main areas of your home where you and our neighbor will be. From start to finish, you can vacuum an average-sized living room in about two minutes!
Another great thing about the stick vacuum cleaner models is the price. There are tons of models available, and most are priced under $100. There are even quite a few that are priced under $50, which makes them great for any budget. The models available include those with bagged and bagless debris canisters as well as those that are corded and cordless, too.
Pros and Cons of Stick Vacuum Cleaner
You may be wondering if you need a stick vacuum cleaner, a traditional machine, or both in your home. Obviously, you want your home to be as clean as possible, and you want to find the machine or machines that make that cleaning job fast and easy. Yet, if you are like most people, money is a factor and your budget for buying a machine is not unlimited.
Looking at the pros of the stick vacuum cleaner, you have the fact that this machine is ultra-lightweight. You don’t have to worry about dragging around a big, clunky machine through the house to do your cleaning jobs. Instead, the various models of this machine feel as though they are gliding through air, and most weight about 5 to 10 pounds. The cordless and bagless varieties truly give you a hassle-free cleaning experience, too.
Yet these smaller machines have their drawbacks that need to be considered, too. For one, they generally are not intended for larger spaces. The cordless variety will run out of battery or the battery power will decrease with some models if you try to clean a large home from top to bottom with it. Plus the smaller debris canister means that you would constantly be emptying it as you move from room to room of a larger home. Then, there is the fact that most of the stick vacuum cleaner models do not have attachments. Many are designed to clean right up to your baseboards to give your floors a thorough cleaning, but these are not generally machines that you would use to clean cobwebs from your ceiling corners or to clean dog hair off the couch.
Obviously there are some clear benefits to having a stick vacuum cleaner on hand, yet the drawbacks cannot be overlooked either. Many people with larger homes will have a traditional model and a stick model alike on hand to tackle all of their cleaning jobs, big or small. Other people who live in smaller homes or who otherwise find cleaning with big machines to be too cumbersome will have just the lightweight machine and perhaps a secondary handheld machine to help with upholstery.
Buying Your Stick Vacuum Cleaner
Many people do find that these unique, lightweight machines offer some significant benefits that they want to enjoy in their own home. They do, after all, provide you with an easier and often faster cleaning experience than you will experience with traditional machines. If you are one of these people who has decided that a stick vacuum cleaner is right for you, you will then need to take time to research the options and to find the right machine for you. Here are some factors to consider as you shop around:
- Which types of floor surfaces do you need to clean?
- Do you prefer a bagged or bagless model?
- Do you prefer a cordless or corded model?
- Do you need handheld attachments?
These are just a few of the top factors to consider before you purchase your machine. Taking time to understand what your needs and requirements in such a machine are can help you to narrow down the choices and get the best machine for you.
In addition to using these factors to narrow down the options, you also will want to pay attention to the warranty information on the stick vacuum cleaner models that you are considering purchasing. You want to be able to enjoy plenty of hassle-free use of your machine, so the longer warranty period helps to ensure that you won’t have to pay for your machine to be serviced during the warranty time period.
One of the best places to purchase your stick vacuum cleaner is online. There are several different websites that offer these to you, and shopping online offers you a convenient and often far faster way to shop around and compare features, warranty information, and of course pricing. You may find that you can get a great deal on a machine that is marked on clearance. These are generally last year’s models, yet they still work perfectly well at doing the job you need them to do.
You should be aware that while online shopping is faster and easier, and it often results in the ability to have the machine shipped right to your door, there is the issue of shipping charges. While some online retailers offer you free shipping on your purchase or they offer you a very low shipping rate, other online retailers charge a far more pricey shipping charge. In fact, some will charge a $10 or $20 fee on a machine that only costs $30-$40. This would greatly inflate the cost of your vacuum! So as you can see, where you buy the machine is an important consideration, and it is a consideration that can save you money on your purchase.
Caring for Your Stick Vacuum Cleaner
These lightweight machines are like any other machine of their kind. Yours will need regular maintenance and care if you want to get the longest use out of it and if you want the machine to continue cleaning with strong suction for years to come.
You will want to read the care instructions that come with your machine. However, generally speaking, you will definitely want to clean out the debris canister with each cleaning job you do. If you have a big cleaning job at hand, it may be necessary to empty the debris canister in the midst of a cleaning job. Keep in mind that the bagged varieties of these machines will need to have their bags changed when the bag is full of debris.
Some of these machines have air filters that will need to be removed, rinsed off, and allowed to air dry between uses. Other machines have disposable air filters that will need to be replaced periodically. Plus, a stick vacuum cleaner also has other less frequent maintenance that may need to be done. Many of these jobs can be performed at home by you. For instance, with a screwdriver, a few dollars in parts, and a few minutes of your time, you can change the belt on your vacuum when it needs to be done. Your machine’s care instructions can also guide you on the ease of various maintenance jobs. However, there may be times when your machine will need to be serviced by a professional, too.
Comparing the Stick Vacuum Options
As you are shopping around, you will find that your choices of models boils down to just a few different criteria, and those criteria are corded or cordless and bagged or bagless. So which is right for you? Consider your preferences with your current machine with the bagged or bagless debris canister. Some people find bags to be a pain to change, and it sure can be a hassle trying to keep a few stocked in your home, too. Yet bags largely will keep more of the dust and debris in, which is key for those with breathing issues.
As far as the corded or cordless options are concerned, this is also a matter of preference. Many people love the cordless models of the stick vacuum cleaner because they can be stored on a charging base and are ready to pull out and flip on at a moment’s notice. Yet these options do sometimes run out of juice or offer less powerful cleaning action on bigger cleaning jobs compared to their corded counterparts.
Popular Stick Vacuum Cleaner Models
Trying to find the perfect cleaning machine for your own needs can seem daunting. There are so many options to choose from! The good news is that these machines have been tested by many consumers already, and the consumer marketplace has developed a group of favorites that rank high in results, price, and other primary shopping considerations. Here are some of the top stick vacuum cleaner models available:
- Hoover Flair Bagless Upright Stick with Power Nozzle. This is one of the more affordable machines on the market, yet is completely powerful in its cleaning action. It weighs in at 10 pounds, boasts a 1-year warranty, and features a layered filtration system, a power nozzle, a 20-foot cord, and a powerful motor. Consumers say this is one of the top machines available for the price.
- Hoover NH50015 Platinum Collection LINX Cordless. This stick vacuum cleaner is among those at the top of the line when it comes to lightweight machines. It is a cordless machine with an Energy Star-rated, rechargeable, 18-volt Lithium-Ion battery. It works on bare and carpeted floors alike, and boasts Hoover’s popular WindTunnel technology. Plus, it comes with a six-year limited warranty, cleaning bristles, and a battery monitor gauge, too. Consumers rave about this machine’s lightweight yet powerful cleaning abilities.
- Dirt Devil Accucharge 15.6-Volt Cordless Bagless Stick Vac. This machine offers middle-of-the-road pricing compared to other models on the market, and it is a cordless, bagless model. It features an Energy Star, rechargeable battery, a motorized brush that works on all floor surface types, and a foldaway handle for compact storage. Consumers say that it works great on highly trafficked floors such as those in homes with kids and pets.
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When it comes to buying a stick vacuum cleaner for your own home, there are just so many benefits to having one that you will find this is a machine that you depend on for assistance with cleaning jobs on a regular basis! These machines are priced at an affordable level for most consumers, and they truly do make cleaning far easier and less time-consuming. Spend some time today exploring the many options available to you, and choose the model that is best suited to your needs and your budget.