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How do I Choose the Best Professional Vacuum Cleaner?

M.C. Huguelet
M.C. Huguelet

With the wide variety of professional vacuum cleaners available today, it can be difficult to determine which model is best. To choose the best professional vacuum cleaner for you, it is helpful to consider the way in which the machine will be used to decide which features you need most. You may want a model that can work in both wet and dry environments, that can handle heavy-duty debris, that can be carried on your back, or that can penetrate tight spaces. Once you have decided which feature or features are most important, you can select the model that best fits your professional vacuuming needs.

In some work environments, such as garages and restaurants, the flooring can be prone to wetness. The best professional vacuum cleaner for this type of setting is one that can intake damp materials and even spilled liquids without sustaining damage to its electrical parts. These machines are generally known as wet/dry vacs. Commercial-grade wet/dry vacs are usually canister-style machines, and are available in a range of sizes.

Commercial-grade wet/dry vacuums are usually canister-style machines.
Commercial-grade wet/dry vacuums are usually canister-style machines.

The flooring of work settings such as construction sites and factories tends to become littered with heavy debris like drywall pieces and wood scraps. Most ordinary vacuum cleaners are not equipped to intake this type of debris, which can break their belts, jam their hoses, or pierce their bags. To clean heavily littered flooring quickly and thoroughly, you should seek a “heavy duty” professional vacuum cleaner specifically designed to handle bulky intakes. Heavy duty machines are available in both canister and upright styles.

Many professional cleaning brands have developed a portable vacuum cleaner.
Many professional cleaning brands have developed a portable vacuum cleaner.

If you are a professional cleaner, you may be required to vacuum for extended periods of time. In this case, a backpack-style professional vacuum cleaner may be the best choice for you. The body of a backpack-style machine is usually made primarily from plastic, fabric, or another lightweight material, with a hose extending from its base. It straps comfortably onto the back, allowing it to be easily transported from room to room.

Should you be required to regularly vacuum in tight spaces, such as in corners and under furniture, you may wish to purchase a professional vacuum cleaner which includes an assortment of hose attachments. Typical attachments include a long, thin crevice tool, which is useful for cleaning the space where flooring meets wall, and brush-tipped heads, useful for removing cobwebs and dust from beneath furniture. Like heavy-duty vacuums, this type of machine is available in both canister and upright styles.

You may find that your professional vacuuming needs necessitate a machine that combines several of the features described above. Luckily, many professional vacuum cleaners are designed to address multiple cleaning needs. Certain wet/dry machines are capable of taking in heavy materials, for instance, while many backpack-style machines include a selection of hose attachments. Once you have identified your primary vacuuming needs you may wish to shop around at a commercial appliance store or online, checking each machine’s specifications to determine whether it will meet those needs.

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    • Commercial-grade wet/dry vacuums are usually canister-style machines.
      By: Supertrooper
      Commercial-grade wet/dry vacuums are usually canister-style machines.
    • Many professional cleaning brands have developed a portable vacuum cleaner.
      By: jackmicro
      Many professional cleaning brands have developed a portable vacuum cleaner.