I have always been an advocate of using technology to help save time. I love technology and gadgets of all shapes and sizes. I love my smart phone, I cant live without my laptop, and heaven forbid the internet should go down! Household gadgets do not have the same glitz and glamour or bragging rights but they are very useful however.

A robot vacuum cleaner is a small machine you can very easily set up to hoover your home. They are very simple to operate and very effective cleaners. Their compact size allows them to get under furniture and into hard to reach spots. They are pretty effective in terms of their cleaning ability too.

This is not totally new technology, but as with a lot of tech is takes a few years before it really gets refined and works as well as we would like. Robotic vacuums have now reached this level. They work well enough for us normal folk to be able to use them and be happy with the results. The sensitive issue of price is also becoming less prohibitive. The same as the classic plasma screen situation, when they first reach the market the technology is expensive due to the expense of research and development, and low production volume. Once sales volume increases, and economies of scale kick in the price is able to drop.

Back to the original question – no, they are not a sign of laziness. Investing in a machine to perform a somewhat mundane and relatively simple chore allows you to invest your time in something more rewarding. This could be working on your business, exercising, socialising or simply taking a time out and relaxing.

If you have not yet researched robot vacuum cleaners then I highly recommend you do.

It is very important to choose the best vacuum cleaner for your home. Mites, pet hair, and skin flakes can get into your carpets and irritate allergies the most common of which are caused by household dust and mold. To improve your quality of life you need to choose the best vacuum cleaner for you, but how do you do this?

The first thing to know is there are three different types of vacuum cleaners.

Upright Vacuum Cleaners

These are generally the most powerful of all types of vacuum cleaner. The vacuum is pushed along using the handle and a rotating set of bristles help to dislodge the dust and dirt that brings on allergy attacks. They are more suited to carpets than other floor types such as wood and tile. The majority of uprights come with a wide variety of attachments so areas where they struggle to get into such as under furniture can be more easily reached. For example some uprights struggle along the edges of rooms, and if you choose a bagged version it is possible for dust to escape it.

Canister Vacuum Cleaners

They are easy to use for cleaning beneath furniture and other awkward places like stairs and curtains. Today many of the best brands have a suction comparable to uprights. Canister vacuum cleaners consist of a hose and the main vacuum body is dragged or moved along as a separate unit. They generally do a better job of cleaning than uprights on wood or tile floors.

HEPA Filter Vacuum Cleaners

HEPA filtration cleaners are excellent for people who suffer from allergies to animal hair and so are good if you have pets in your home. The HEPA filter traps the dust and dirt particles within the filter. If you have animals or suffer particularly from allergies then you should always choose a HEPA vacuum cleaner. They are commonly recommended by doctors and used in hospitals due to there excellent dust capture facilities.

The next step is to decide the purpose of your vacuum cleaner.

If you have allergies to dust then choose a vacuum with a HEPA filter system. Are your floors mainly wood or tile or do you have a lot of carpets. What types of attachments do you think you need? For example do you have stairs in your home? If you find it easier pushing a vacuum then an upright is a better choice, or if you want something lighter choose a canister vacuum cleaner and the main part to move is the hose. All of these are important questions to ask before you buy.

Next you should decide on a budget before visiting the store and stick to it. Some vacuum cleaners can be very expensive and it can be easy to be talked into a more expensive purchase by the store because the particular model has this or that gadget. Remember many vacuum cleaners can do a very good job even though they are less expensive. Use the internet to read reviews and compare prices of different vacuum cleaners.

If possible, try before you buy. Go into your local store and ask for demonstrations of the models you are interested in. Ask to try them yourself so you can test the weight and how easy they are to move, that tiny bit of extra weight can make a big difference! Find out what sorts of attachments come with the vacuum cleaner and make sure you have the right attachments to reach difficult to get to places.

Finally look at what parts need to be regularly replaced. All vacuum cleaners have moving parts such as belts and brushes that may need replacing. Check that replacements are affordable and easy to obtain. Look at the cost of the disposable components such as filters or bags. Check that the components are standard across a range of vacuum cleaners as this makes them less likely to be discontinued and difficult to obtain.

If your vacuum cleaner isn’t working as well as it should, and you think that it’s time to buy a new one.  Don’t rush into anything.  It could be cheaper and quicker to fix your existing vacuum cleaner.

Here’s why.

1. Vacuum cleaner parts and accessories are cheap, and represent excellent value for money.

2. Repairing your existing vacuum is going to be much cheaper than buying a new one.

3. It’s much better for the environment to repair your existing cleaner than to replace it.  Think of all the packaging involved with a new electrical product, and the transportation costs.

4. Some websites will help you to diagnose what’s causing the problem with your vacuum , so you’ll know exactly which parts to order, and you know that they’ll be the right parts.

5. Ordering the right parts is quicker than having to research a new cleaner.  Making sure that the vacuum cleaner you’re looking at is lightweight, manageable and the right height, as well as ensuring that it comes with all the tool and accessories you need, and offers the cleaning power you’re used to, is time consuming.

6. By ordering your vacuum cleaner parts online, they will be sent to your door, so you don’t need to leave your home in order to get your vacuum cleaner working properly again.

7. The majority of parts are easy to fit, and there are instructions with pictures available, so you don’t need to be an electrician or DIY expert in order to have a clean house again.

8. Buying parts and accessories also minimises the time you’re without your vacuum.  You won’t have to go to a shop only to be told that your chosen model isn’t in stock, and will take a week to arrive.

9. There are lots of parts and accessories to choose from, for all the leading vacuum brands and models.  This means that you’re bound to be able to find the part you need.

10. Why not  get organised and buy consumables such as filters, bags and spare hoses in advance so that you can always the most common problems with your vacuum?

Now you know why you must fix your vacuum cleaner yourself, isn’t it time you thought about buying the right parts to fix yours, rather than thinking about buying a new one?

I don’t know about you but I seem to go through a vacuum a year. I have no idea what is going on with vacuums anymore but it seems that no matter how carefully I check out the different models at the store, they just don’t last very long.

Now, I admit that I am not a fanatic about these machines and certainly didn’t know very much about them, but I just became curious because I suddenly realized how many vacuums I have actually gone through in the past 10 years. It made me curious because I remember when I was growing up my mom had a Kirby that was pretty heavy and well built, all metal and of course had a bag. The machines I see everywhere now seem to be made of plastic.

In fact, my friend has a Dyson that she paid a lot of money for, and she had suggested that I should buy one of those. I went to the store to look at them and I noticed that for the price tag of around $400 I was going to get a whole bunch of plastic once again. I just could not bring myself to buy something like that.

So what to do? I decided to do some vacuum cleaner comparison and sleuthing online and just do a little reading up on the subject to educate myself. I was truly shocked at the fact that people who claim to be experts say that, pretty much, you cannot get a good vacuum in the regular stores like Walmart, Target, et cetera. Or more to the point, they will clean well at first but will not last very long and you may find yourself, like me, buying a new one very often. So it seems you really need to go to a vacuum machine dealer in order to get the best of the best, or elite vacuums that will last 25+ years like my mom’s did.

However, I believe there are still good models to be had in the stores, albeit if you realize they won’t last forever. One thing I have learned though is it’s best to not buy a bagless because you will end up with a lot of dust and possible allergens in the air every time you clean. I think, of the available models you can buy off the shelf, Eureka and Hoover are the best. If you want something better and are willing to spend the big bucks, move on up to a Sebo. That one will last you decades.