Upright vacuum cleaners have always been popular in the UK, and there are no signs that this will change anytime soon.
There is a wide range of reasons why people love them, and they have a reputation for being reliable and long-lasting.
There are many benefits of using an upright vacuum to clean your home, and we will go through them here.
There are also a few situations where an upright may not be the best solution for cleaning, and this article will give you the knowledge to decide if an upright vacuum is right for your needs.
Contents
Uprights Are Cost-Effective
A top of the range upright vacuum cleaner will set you back £200 – £300, with the average price around the £150 mark.
This is a much cheaper option than a cordless stick vacuum, which can set you back as much as £500. An upright vacuum will last a long time, which makes them a very cost-effective option.
Uprights Are Versatile
An upright vacuum used to be labelled as a one-trick pony, and in a sense, this was true as they could really only clean your floors and nothing else.
However, technology has allowed the upright to become more versatile, and they can now be used to clean your whole home.
Shark were the pioneers of the lift-away canister, and now a lot of other upright vacuum manufacturers have their own variation of it.
A lift-away canister essentially allows you to detach the canister away from the main body of the vacuum, turning it into a portable cleaner.
Now you can clean your stairs with an upright, without having to awkwardly balance a heavy machine on a narrow step.
The lift-away function also means you can clean areas that were previously out-of-bounds for an upright.
Ceilings, curtains, tops of furniture and upholstery can now be cleaned with an upright thanks to the combination of lift-away and attachments.
Speaking of attachments, upright vacuums usually come with a wide range of tools to make cleaning your home easier.
Upholstery tools, crevice tools, and dusting brushes are just a few of the accessories that you can expect with an upright.
Upright Vacuum Cleaners Are Reliable
This point was touched on further up, but it’s worth mentioning again.
Uprights are the most reliable type of vacuum cleaner, with some models known to last 15-20 years.
The design of an upright means that it has to be built with strong materials as it has to withstand a lot of punishment when cleaning.
Upright vacuums are also simple to take apart, which makes cleaning and maintaining them much easier than other vacuum types.
Cordless stick vacuums often feel flimsy in use, and the battery will only last a couple of years at most before needing to be replaced.
Cylinder vacuums can vary, but the majority of them are built with cheap plastic that is not designed to last more than a few years.
Upright vacuums, on the other hand, are usually built with high-quality materials that are designed for daily use in all types of environments.
The fact that most uprights come with a warranty of 5-10 years gives you an idea of how reliable they are, and how much manufacturers believe in them.
Uprights Are Good For Allergy Sufferers
If you or anyone in your home suffers from allergies, it’s essential that you choose a vacuum cleaner that is capable of dealing with allergens.
Most uprights use a bag to capture the dirt, and this is the best option for dealing with allergies. Bagless models, such as cordless stick vacuums, capture the dirt in a canister.
This is ok if it is a sealed vacuum system, but the problem arises when you have to empty the canister.
As soon as you open the canister to empty it, dust and allergens can go back into the air, no matter how careful you are.
With a bag, you simply remove it when full and place it straight into the bin. Some bags also contain a self-seal tab which makes the process even more hygienic.
This makes a bagged upright vacuum the best option when it comes to dealing with allergies.
When Should I Not Use An Upright?
Modern upright vacuum cleaners are a lot more versatile than they used to be, so the reasons for not purchasing one have been reduced.
That being said, there are still a couple of reasons where an upright vacuum may not be the best option for you.
Upright vacuums generally work better at cleaning carpets, although some models can do a good job on other types of floors.
If your home has mostly wooden or tiled floors, then there may be better options out there for you.
There are a number of lightweight upright vacuums on the market today, such as the Vax Air Reach, but uprights tend to be a lot heavier than their canister or stick counterparts.
If you have mobility issues or you need a lighter vacuum for another reason then an upright may not be the best choice for you.
Final Thoughts
Upright vacuums are one of the best options when it comes to cleaning your home.
They are cost-effective, powerful, and reliable.
Unless you need a lighter vacuum cleaner, and an upright vacuum cleaner with a lift-away canister will ensure you can clean every area of your home, with the minimum of fuss.
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