You may not have heard of a Riccar vacuum cleaner but don’t assume because you haven’t it’s not as good as other, well-known brands. In many aspects Riccar vacuum cleaners outperform their more famous competitors.

Riccar vacuum cleaners are made in America and built with components that will last many years. Its uprights use metal components where other brands use plastic. You get metal wands, metal pedals, metal base plates and even polished metal cord hooks. Although you can’t see it, you also get metal pivots inside that help prolong the life of the vacuum. Compare these components to a Hoover vacuum cleaner, which has mainly plastic where Riccar has metal.

The company also makes excellent canister vacuums. Another major plus is that it makes them in all sizes ranging from the small subcompact models right through to heavy duty models. Hardly any other manufacturer offers this range of size and function. Again many of the components are made from metal.

What really impresses those that own one is the suction power. Each model, no matter its size, is given a generously large motor. On some of the Riccar upright vacuum cleaners there’s something called the Tandem Air System. Tandem Air is the use of two motors; a high-flow, direct air motor just above the head, giving powerful suction, and a high-flow clean air motor that gives good suction power for the onboard tools as well as helping with high efficiency filtration.

Some models come with HEPA filters and some of the top-of-the-range models come with HEPA filters that are 100% sealed. A sealed HEPA filter means that as well as cleaning your carpet the vacuum also cleans your air. While this feature is not unique to Riccar it’s the mark of a top-notch vacuum.

Okay, this sounds great but what don’t you get with a Riccar vacuum cleaner?

The company does uprights and canisters but it doesn’t do specialist models such as steam vacuums, such as the Hoover SteamVac. It doesn’t make a stick version either, or specialist pet-hair removers, or cyclonic versions.

It’s bags only with Riccar – and they’re proprietary, so you have to order them specially. Nearly all the other big brands now make bagless versions, so if you prefer bagless you’re going to have to look else where.

You could also argue that the technology used is old fashioned. Dyson was the first to use cyclonic systems to create suction but now others have followed suit and introduced their own version, including Hoover.

While some models have HEPA filters, none are washable. You’re also going to have to replace them with Riccar HEPA filters; the bags and filters will add to the running costs of these already expensive machines.

One final point, because a lot of the components are metal and not plastic, it does make them susceptible to rust, so never leave your Riccar vacuum cleaner where it’s wet or damp.

A Riccar vacuum cleaner can be a good investment. Many online vacuum cleaner ratings give them top marks. However, they aren’t cheap so it’s well worth comparing them to other brands like Dyson, Miele and Hoover vacuum cleaners before you decide to buy.

Shark vacuum cleaners are made by a company called Euro-Pro. Euro-Pro itself manufacturers many different appliances and used to manufacture its own line of vacuum cleaners, but now it sells them under the Shark vacuum cleaner brand. What follows is a quick summary of the vacuum cleaners by Shark.

Some know Euro-Pro vacuum cleaners from the many ‘infomercials’ on TV. Whilst ‘infomercials’ can engender a somewhat down-market image on the products they promote, it would be a mistake to think that a Shark vacuum cleaner is a second-rate product. Shark vacuums are sold in many respectable retailers such as Sears; these retailers have a reputation to protect and will only sell products they believe will not tarnish their name. Finally, for those who use the web, Shark vacuum cleaners can be bought online very easily. Many retailers now use the web to sell their products and one big advantage about buying a Shark vacuum cleaner is just how many retailers sell Euro-Pro vacuums at very competitive prices. Spare parts are also easy to come by on the internet.

Of the many consumers who have bought and used a Shark vacuum cleaner, the vast majority will attest to the suction power of these vacuums. Many Shark vacuum cleaners come with HEPA filters that are washable and some vacuums come as specialist pet-hair removers. Shark also makes bagless and cyclonic vacuum cleaners.

You can buy uprights, canisters, industrial and hand-held vacuum cleaners from Shark.

Shark vacuum cleaners tend to be cheaper than equivalent machines with other brands, so they can be a good choice for those wanting to save money.

However, there have been some complaints about the Shark vacuum cleaner. Many consumer reviews have slated the canister vacuums from Shark; their uprights receive better reviews. The bagless units seem to have smaller dust cups than other brands; anyone who’s used a bagless vacuum know what a drag it is to empty the dust cup. There have been reports of over-heating. Some models of Shark Vacuums tend to clog rather easily. However, the most serious complaint has been about customer service; either from the retailer or the company itself. It’s very hard to verify if this complaint is justified. People complain about a lack of service even when a retailer appears to be bending over backwards to find a solution to the problem.

Shark vacuum cleaners are a good buy if you’re looking for a cheaper vacuum that has suction power comparable to other, more expensive, brands. But, because you’re paying less, you should expect the appliance to have fewer features and attachments. When you buy a Shark vacuum cleaner you’re getting a good vacuum cleaner at a fair price, if you want the best, then you should probably look at buying another brand.

Isn’t it such a hassle when you have to keep spending so much money on spare vacuum cleaner bags? They cost you a fortune and they don’t last long anyway. Plus, you even run the risk of releasing a dust bomb when you dispose of the dust filled bags. These were the very same problems I faced in the past, but I was able to overcome them.  

What I did was research online about the different kinds of vacuums. Through my search I was able to find a possible solution to my problem, the upright bagless vacuum cleaner. As the name suggests this machine functions like a regular vacuum cleaner–minus the bag. According to the various websites I visited, there are numerous advantages to using this kind of vacuum. 

For example, you no longer have to spend money on vacuum bags. Instead, you just need to clean a container that comes with the vacuum cleaner. Just take the transparent container out when you see it’s full. Then you dump the trash in the bin and wash the container before replacing it in the vacuum-cleaner. 

As I became curious of the vacuum cleaner I decided to purchase one for myself. However, there are various things I and you need to keep in mind when purchasing this device. Firstly, you need to check the power rating of the device. The higher the rating the more powerful the cleaner is.  

Another thing you need to look into is the price of the filters. As this kind of vacuum cleaner uses more filters, you will be replacing them more often. However, filters are significantly cheaper than vacuum bags. When I tried the device for the first time I was very happy with how it performed.  

It cleaned just as good as any other vacuum and I could use it longer because the container was bigger than a regular sized vacuum bag. Moreover, it was very convenient to use the container as advertised and reviewed on various websites.

One of the hot debates today is where or not to go bagless with your vacuum cleaner. Actually, there are some advantages to both. Personally, I prefer a good bagless vacuum. Here’s the trade offs.

First, the cost issue. It might not seem like too much money to buy bags for your vacuum here and there, but they do add up-especially if you’re buying the good bags. So you need to factor that into your buying decision.

Also, let me pause here for a moment to talk about filtration. Your vacuum cleaner is going to shoot air back out of the unit regardless of the bag type. It’s vital that your vacuum has a filter system, true HEPA is the best. If not, your air will become dirty that dirt will end up back on the floor.

Another feature with bagless vacuums I like is the convenience. When it’s time to empty the canister, I just pull it out, dump and go on my way. There aren’t any messy bags (ever had one of those explode?). I don’t have the time to mess with hooking up a bag back into the cleaner.

If you have pets, going with a bagged vacuum might be worthwhile. It is possible that the hairs of your pet will stick to the canister’s filter. This is something to check out beforehand. The last thing you need is a clogged, smelly vacuum filter.

Even with some minor trade offs, I still prefer bagless vacuums. Another alternative to doing it yourself is to buy a robotic vacuum cleaner. Let technology do your job for you.