subject: Is there a best hand held vacuum cleaner? [print this page] I originally entitled this piece "The best hand held vacuum cleaner." Then I realised that there is no such thing as "The best hand held vaccum cleaner!" The "best" for your requiements may not be so for me. It is a question of need, therefore an individual matter. Then, the "best hand held vacuum cleaner" for you is the cleaner that most satisfies your individual needs.
The issue for most people is not in identifying their needs, rather the perplexingly large variety of various hand held vacuum cleaners on offer and trying to sift through them to find the correct one.
Hopefully the points listed here will assist in the selection process.
Corded/Cordless
The corded (which you can plug directly into your main electric supply) are more powerful and don't loss power as the cordless do as/when the batteries run out. On the other hand, the corded are not as versatile as their cordless hand held vacuum cleaner relatives which can go anywhere. What you perceive to be the main location/area of use may well enable you to determine whether corded or cordless is best for you. For example, if this is going to be used primarily as part of your weekly car cleaning routine then cordless is most likely the way to go.
Suction
The power rating (in Volts for battery powered cordless models) will give the best measure of suction. Again, your requirements are determined by where and when you perceive using the cleaner. There is point in paying a premium for an industrial hand held if you don't require that kind of suction.
Features
Have you a dog? Have you, like myself, girls with long hair? You most likely require an attachment which will ease the task of lifting the unwanted hairs from your carpets. Have you an asthma sufferer in the family? The filter in your cleaner is an important issue for you. A good filter will prevent dust being recirculated back into the air.
Ergonomics
May not be an issue for most users, but if you are elderly or weakened by illness you may find some models quite heavy/cumbersome for prolonged use.
Budget
No matter what other features you would like or needs you feel have to be addressed most people will ultimately have to try to strike a balance between what they would like if money were not an issue and what they can afford given that money really is an issue. Happily there is such a comprehensive range of hand held vacuum cleaners available with a wide range of price points that there is a price to suit every budget.
Fallback
Individual manufacturers offer various terms. Always read the small print and satisfy yourself that you are covered for any faults that may occur.
