Archive for the ‘Brands and Styles’ Category
A Look at Roomba Robotic Vacuum Cleaners
The company iRobot produces and markets the Roomba vacuum cleaner. Millions of these vacuum cleaners have sold since their introduction in 2004, making them the most popular robotic vacuum on the market today.
Accessories Remote Control You can control the vacuum while not at the base. Scheduler You can program your Roomba to clean house at a particular time, even if you are not home. Homebase Where the unit is stored and recharges. It will automatically return to its homebase. Virtual Wall You can use this to restrict the Roomba from entering certain areas. OSMO This dongle attaches to the Roombas serial port.
Product Description This amazing vacuum cleaner is disc shape which is less than 4 inches tall and 13 inches wide. It has a contact sensing bumper and an infrared senor. The Roomba comes with either one or two infrared transmitter units, depending on the unit that you purchase. It will also have a carrying handle on the top.
While newer Roomba machines can automatically detect the dimensions of your room, older models would need to have you program this information in through the use of three small buttons.
Older models of the Roomba need to have their nickel metal hyrdide batteries regularly charged through the use of a wall plug. Newer models have a homebase to which they automatically return for charging when their batteries are low.
With the new generation Roomba models you simply take the Roomba to a starting location and press a button so it knows whether you want it to clean, spot, or max clean. After you press the button the Roomba will begin working after a very brief pause. You can keep the Roomba in the desired area through the use of virtual walls and the machines contact bumper will detect walls and furniture. The Roomba has infrared sensors on the bottom which prevent it from going down stairs or off ledges.
The Roomba depends on bumping into objects to map out a room, unlike the Electrolux models which need to first map out the room. Based on technology from MIT the Roomba uses simple control mechanisms so that they can become accustomed to their environments.
The Roomba will begin to sing after a short time, and attempt to locate and return to its homebase. All you need to do is empty the collected dust and dirt into a trash bin.
This vacuum is not designed to work with high pile carpet. It can, however, do an excellent job of cleaning under furniture. If the Roomba ever gets stuck it will stay put and sing so that it can be located.
A Roomba vacuum is a great investment for those who are sick and tired of vacuuming. The Roomba will take care of this task for you. You wont believe how simple the Roomba is to set up and use.
Your Way to a Cleaner Carpet: A Steam Cleaner Vacuum
On the market today you can find a broad range of both canister and upright hot water extractors. These units function by spraying the carpet with warm water mixed with detergent, washing the fibers of the carpet, and then pulling the mixture out of the carpet. For better cleaning there are models which also use rotating or revolving brushes to agitate the carpet fibers.
Originally these models featured a special wand and nozzle similar to what can be found on wet/dry vacuum cleaners. You needed to connect a long hose to the nearest hot water source and the detergent had to be mixed in before the water could be sprayed. You could control the amount of water being sprayed with a finger controlled valve. Many people still have and use these types of machines.
The models of today are easier to use and self contained, with the water and the detergent mixing into the tank on the machine. You no longer need to use a long hose to get hot water.
There are several main parts to an extractor vacuum, including a cleaning solution tank, recovery tank, cleaning nozzle, suction monitor, and solution spraying system. Those models that use hoses will also need motor or turbine driven pump to push the solution to the end of the hose.
Upright Steam Cleaners These models have all the components listed above in a machine that resembles an upright vacuum cleaner. These operate in much the same way as an upright vacuum cleaner. The spray nozzles for these units are usually directly behind the suction nozzle and are gravity fed.
Brushes that agitate the carpet and improve cleaning are included on most models. Many also come with a special hose, nozzle, and brushes which can be used for cleaning upholstery and stairs.
Canister Steam Cleaners These models feature a hose and nozzle which are separate from the tank and suction motor which can be pulled along behind you. You clean the carpet by moving the nozzle and wands at the end of the hose along the carpet.
Cleaning is made easier by some models which feature a drive motor style revolving brush in the nozzle. It is much easier to push these nozzles across the floor and a large upright model.
While it may be easier to maneuver a canister model steam cleaner it is not as easy to store and set up. It can be quite troublesome to pull them around with you as you vacuum. While smaller models may seem ideal for those with stairs and upholstered furniture to clean they are not usually very effective.
It is best to steam clean your carpets regularly when they are just lightly soiled. You may be very disappointed with the results if you wait until your carpet is heavy soiled.
A professional carpet cleaning service should be hired for those times that you have heavy duty cleaning. There equipment will yield much better results as it is much more powerful.
The Shop Vacuum Grows Up: Wet Dry Cleaners
These handy combination of wet and dry vacuum cleaners are now for more than just the workshop. Improved technology has reduced their well known volume level and made them more practical for other applications. You can now use these vacuums to clean up a wide variety of spills and dirt without hearing that familiar screeching noise.
There are some important things to be familiar with when you are ready to purchase your new vacuum with wet and dry features. There are now many different models with varying capacity (from 6 to 22 gallons) and horsepower (from 1.5 to 10.5 HP). You need to think about what you really need and then find a wet/dry vacuum to match. The following tips should be helpful.
If you regularly need a wet/dry vacuum for small jobs such as spills a great choice may be a wall mounted unit with 1.5 HP and a 1 gallon tank. Storage is made simple since you can just mount the unit on the wall. You will find that the six gallon models are much easier to store than the larger models and perfect for small jobs. One thing to consider is that smaller models are more likely to tip over and much noisier than larger models. Smaller tanks will need to be emptied more frequently. Those in a garage or workshop that frequently sees large spills will most likely benefit from purchasing the larger model. You will need to empty the tank much less often than you would with a smaller model.
Wet/dry vacuums can come with a variety of features and options and you will need to decide which ones are most important to you. Some of the most popular features include:
Pleated Cartridge Filter This filter is convenient as it does not need to be removed when switching from wet to dry functions. You can rinse it and reuse it, and it is much more efficient at filtration than flat filters. Automatic Shut Off – To prevent overflowing this function automatically shuts off the vacuum once it is full of liquid. Most vacuums will include this feature. Wide Set Wheels This is important to prevent your vacuum from tipping over. Leaf Blower Conversion This feature is available on some of the larger models. It is a great idea to have if you have lots of trees in your yard. Built In Pump Attachments This feature allows you to attach a garden hose through which water can be pumped out. Drain Valve or Spout This feature makes it much easier to empty your vacuum cleaner. Emptying water or liquids from a vacuum without this feature will require that you take off the lid and dump the entire thing over. This process often leads to accidental spills. You will usually not find this feature on smaller vacuums. Wide Hoses and Floor Nozzles These are great to have as they prevent the hoses from becoming clogged.
Some attachments do not come standard with your wet/dry vacuum cleaner but are available for purchase separately. These include:
Crevice Tool This enable you to clean floor edges and tight corners with ease. Extension Wand Makes getting into those hard to reach areas a snap. Hose Couplings Allows you to attach the extension wand to your existing hose. Combination Nozzle Lets you switch functions without switching nozzles. Gulper Nozzle A great enhancement to the wet vacuum feature. Round Brush Great tool that can be used for scrubbing. Cleaning Kit Kit that includes all the material you need for cleaning upholstery and other delicate items.
Carpet Cleaning Machines
The invention of a machine to clean carpet was not long behind the invention of carpet. 1860 Chicago saw the first hand held carpet cleaner, while the first power operated model was invented by Cecil Booth in the 1900s.
Probably one of the best known names in vacuums is Hoover. The first Hoover was actually invented by James Spangler around the same time as the invention of Cecil Booth, who then sold his invention to a cousin named Hoover. Hoover has gone on to become the most popular household names in the vacuum industry.
A power vacuum helped housewives complete their cleaning chores much faster. While early vacuums only had the capacity to suck up dirt and dust modern day vacuum cleaners can be found that also kill germs while they steam clean the carpet.
Carpeting is one of the most popular floor coverings for homes and apartments because it is soft and can help keep your feet warm on those cold winter mornings. While years ago carpet needed to be swept, the invention of the vacuum made the task of removing dirt and debris much simpler. It did not take long for a commercial carpet cleaner to also be invented, as people would need an occasional deep cleaning of the carpets in their homes and offices.
A pump system is what enables the vacuum cleaner to operate. A hose is placed next to the carpet surface to extract any dirt or debris as the pumping system sucks up air from around the hose. The vacuum cleaner contains a filtering system inside which allows the dirt to be stored in the vacuum until it can be disposed of in the garbage.
These days there are actually seven main types of vacuum: upright, canister, built in, backpack, handheld, robotic, and wet/dry. Each type of vacuum comes in an array of styles and sizes, and will have options in terms of power and voltage as well.
The cyclone carpet cleaner has been one of the most signification vacuum cleaner innovations in recent years. Dirt is collected in a large cylinder in this type of vacuum. It is then exposed to central air force and a variety of filters. Air is sucked up, sent through several levels of filter to be cleaned, and then safely released back into the air.
Allergy and Asthma Relief – Hoover Self Propelled Vacuum
Limiting your exposure to common triggers is one of the most important things asthma sufferers can do to stay healthy. Many of these triggers, including dust mites, pet dander, and pollen, can be removed from your home by using a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filtration system. One such vacuum is the Hoover Self Propelled Wind Tunnel Ultra.
This easy to use vacuum has many great features. Since it is a large vacuum the fact that it is self propelled is a real plus. The vacuum can suck up dirt and dust from the floor as it pulls itself along.
Another great feature of the Hoover Wind Tunnel is the embedded dirt finder which actually lets you know when an area is clean. This is great for those of us who often miss a spot or two.
Attachments The attachments for the Hoover Wind Tunnel Ultra are easy to use and work great, a big improvement over many modern vacuums. All you need to do is lock the handle in the upright position to turn on the attachments and turn off the dual agitator brushes.
You dont need to connect the flexible extension attachment hose to anything in order to get it to work. You simply need to pull it from the vacuum and begin. Some of the more popular attachments include a crevice tool, rotating brush, dusting brush, upholstery nozzle, and extension wands.
Cleaning Power This vacuum works equally well on both carpet and hard surfaces such as wood. To avoid dirt being blown back while vacuuming the Hoover Wind Tunnel Ultra features a hardwood floor setting that turns off the agitator brushes.
It can pick up almost anything, even on hardwood floors. It is also easy to clean your carpets, especially with the embedded dirt finder and high cleaning power. This vacuum also features a built in edge cleaner.
Filtration System While it is unusual for a vacuum in this price range to still use disposable bags, this feature is actually a benefit for asthma sufferers. People who suffer from asthma often have a difficult time with all the dirt and debris that is released into the air when emptying a bagless vacuum canister.
To ensure that dust and debris remain in the bag and not in your home the Hoover Wind Tunnel uses 3M vacuum bags that feature HEPA filtration in a 6 step process. You will also know just when the bag is full thanks to an easily readable indicator.
A Final Thought This is one of the best vacuum cleaners on the market today. It is especially helpful for those who suffer from asthma as it can remove all the common triggers from your home. This powerful vacuum is also very easy to use.
Those who suffer from asthma will particularly love the embedded dirt finder. It is no wonder that several different magazines have rated the Hoover Wind Tunnel Ultra the best vacuum.
Vacuuming Made Easy: Robotic Vacuum Cleaners
There have been improvements in technology in all areas of our lives. From high speed computers to advanced vacuum cleaners our everyday tasks are hopefully getting easier. One of the newest innovations in vacuum cleaners is the robotic vacuum cleaner which goes around your home finding and removing dust and debris. These new vacuums can really help to make your life easier.
This robot vacuums first hit the market in 2001 and were invented by Electrolux. Roomba took the robot vacuum to a whole new level with their innovations in cordless vacuums. Just imagine being able to actually enjoy your leisure time as the robot takes care of all the vacuuming tasks.
The Roomba robotic vacuum is able to get and clean up dirt no matter where it is, including corners, edges, and under your furniture, using its three stage cleaning system. These robotic vacuums are able to detect highly soiled areas in your floors and carpets and provide extra cleaning in those areas.
These robotic vacuums are also savvy enough to avoid stairs. They do this through the use of infrared sensors, which make it easy for them to avoid such hazards.
The robotic vacuum even knows to return back to its charging station to get recharged once the floor is clean. While Roomba is one of the best known manufacturers of robotic vacuums there are also robotic vacuums produced by Samsung, EVac, and Karcher. The Roomba Discovery SE is the most popular type of robotic vacuum.
Robotic vacuums can really help save you time and money over the long term. Owning a robotic vacuum means that you no longer have to worry about cleaning your floors.
There are, of course, price differences among the various models of robotic vacuums out there. Some of the Roomba models can now be found for less than $100. As you can see you dont need to make a huge investment to own a robotic vacuum cleaner.
Both online and traditional retailers carry robotic vacuums these days. Often the best deals can be found over the internet. Do some research to determine which model is right for you and before you know it your vacuuming days will be over.
The Handheld Vacuum Cleaner: An Indispensable Tool
Almost everyone has that one tool around the house that they just cant imagine living without. For many of us a handheld vacuum cleaner is just that tool. Many people say that they just could not keep their homes clean without one.
Your life is a lot easier with a handheld vacuum cleaner, no matter what type of home you have. They are the perfect tool for those small spills when it just doesnt make sense to haul the large vacuum out. You can easily clean up after you kids, pets, and spouse without any worry or hassle.
While there are some out there that actually enjoy the process of doing housework, most of us do it because we like the results. We like living in a clean home so we do it even though it is not our idea of fun.
It is much more relaxing to hang out in a clean home than it is to be surrounded by a mess. It can be so frustrating to see a newly cleaned home overrun by crumbs or pet hair.
With a handheld vacuum you get nice clean floors without dragging around a large vacuum. Many of us like to hide our vacuums out of sight, making them just that much more difficult to get at to pick up a few little crumbs. With a handheld vacuum cleaner you can quickly and easily take care of small spills without them turning into a big ordeal.
Having a tool you will enjoy using around the house is one more way to make sure that the housework will actually get done. Doing a quick clean up with a handheld vacuum will help ensure that small messes dont get out of hand. Having the right tools makes it easy to have the clean home that you desire.
You will see how this small tool is a big help the first time that you use it. Your home will stay clean and spill free with very little effort on your part.
The Hypoallergenic Vacuum: Oreck XL Ultra
Anyone who suffers from allergies knows how important it is to control allergens in the home. For many this task is made easier by using the Oreck XL Ultra. Effective on both carpets and hardwood floors this vacuum can remove allergens and embedded dirt. You will receive excellent filtration with its inner and outer bags which work in concert to remove 99.9% of allergens.
All the dirt and debris that is collected by the XL Ultra is locked in the disposable dust bag. You will avoid any contamination with the Oreck patented Saniseal system. Dirt is tightly locked into the bag so you never come into contact with it. Full bags can be safely and cleanly disposed of.
The most recent version of the Oreck XL Ultra features microsweep technology, added edge brushes, and robust front wheels. This makes the vacuum easier to maneuver around your home, as well as enhances edge cleaning on both bare floors and carpets and makes it easier to remove dirt from bare floors. Almost no one enjoys housework. However you need to vacuum often in order to keep your house clean. One nice feature of the Oreck XL Ultra is that it is lightweight and features roller brushes that rotate at 6,500 RPM. You will be able to pick up deeply embedded dirt and surface dirt all in one pass, which will make the task of vacuuming quicker and easier.
It folds flat to neatly fit under beds or furniture for easy storage. Stairs will be easy to vacuum as this model is so light to carry. It also features an automatically adjustment feature that allows you to go directly from carpets to bare floors. It works so well on bare floors that it can actually sweep up sand with no effort.
All Oreck machines are known for great performance in a lightweight package. This model feature state of the art 24 bar technology that allows it to operate powerfully and quietly. One great feature of this technology is that it uses approximately one third the electricity of other types of vacuums. This will allow this long lasting vacuum cleaner to pay for itself over its lifetime.
The Oreck XL Ultra also features some of the top suction power of any vacuum on the market today. It will be hard to find many vacuums that can match its suction velocity which is equal to a category 2 hurricane.
You can say goodbye to tangled hair and thread in the bearings of the machine as well. The hardwood maple roller is incredibly durable and will pick up just about anything in its path.
The Oreck XL Ultra is that new and improved vacuum cleaner you have been waiting for. Not only does it perform well, it will make your housecleaning easier and more enjoyable that you thought possible.
A Look at the Dyson DC15
The Dyson DC15 features a large yellow ball which allows for ease of movement and pivoting, a major improvement for those vacuums that use wheels. You can change the direction of the Dyson DC15 with just the flick of your wrist. This ease of movement is usually found in canister vacuums, but no upright models.
The filtration system for the Dyson DC15 is also quite innovative. You need to forget about the way other vacuum systems use filters when imagining the Dyson vacuum.
Large particle such as food, hair, and fibers are removed in an outer cyclone after the dirt has been sucked into the canister. Fine particles are removed from the air in an inner cyclone which rotates at a much higher velocity.
The majority of remaining particles are then removed at a washable inner foam pre-filter. The use of the pre-filter keeps dirt and dust trapped in the vacuum, away from its motor.
A HEPA filter is the last stage of this cleaning system. This filter prevents 99.9% of mold and bacteria from entering into your home. These undesirable elements will be sucked up and kept out of your families living environment.
Dyson vacuums have been around for years, even thought they are just beginning to gain popularity. These vacuums offer excellent performance even though the name is not as well known as Hoover. With each new product release Dyson products are improved, which is almost unheard of in the vacuum industry.
The Dyson DC15 is their first model to feature the roller ball for ease of movement. Those who are not willing to jump on the robotic vacuum cleaner trend just yet will find that the technological advancemans of the Dyson make it a joy to use.
The great suction power and attachments that come with the Dyson DC15 are also well known. While it may take a while to get the hand of, once you do changing attachments will be very simple.