An upright vacuum cleaner is an investment that you make in the cleanliness of your home environment and the health of your family. It is natural that you would want to buy an upright vacuum that will be easy to use, powerful, effective and not very expensive.

Let us look at some of the obvious and not so obvious factors that you should consider before buying a vacuum cleaner.

Power
The power of a vacuum cleaner is measured in the amp value of the motor. A higher amp value means more power. Although the power of the motor is an important consideration, it is not the only one.

HEPA filtration
True HEPA filtration ensures that 99.97% of all allergens (down to a 0.3 micron size) are captured by the vacuum. Allergens include dust, pollen, dust mites, ragweed, fungus and other agents that may cause allergy if not picked up by your vacuum. Ensure that your vacuum has HEPA filtration capability.

Bagged or Bagless Design
Most vacuum cleaners that are available today are of a bagless design and include a dust cup or a canister to collect dust and debris. Bagless designs cut down on the costs as you don’t have to buy and store disposable bags.

Check out whether the bagless design is actually usable. There are quite a few bagless vacuum cleaners where the mechanism for emptying the dust cup or canister is clumsy and not very effective.

Overall Design and Usability
Ensure that the vacuum cleaner is not too heavy especially if you have to carry it up and down the stairs. Make sure that the unit is stable and does not tend to topple over. If the design is unstable then you might be spending more time in picking up the vacuum cleaner than in actually using it.

Make sure that the length of the power cord in the vacuum cleaner is long enough for your home. If you buy a vacuum cleaner with a short power cord you may have to hunt around for a power outlet. Your vacuum should at the minimum enable you to clean one room without having to hunt for another power outlet.

It is a good idea to buy a vacuum cleaner with a wide cleaning head. This helps you to cover more carpeted area with fewer strokes and reduces effort.

Bumper guards and edge cleaners are other features that will help to improve overall convenience and usability of your vacuum cleaner.

Before you make a final Decision
Read the reviews of a particular vacuum cleaner and take the opinion of people who have used a particular model before you commit yourself to it. If in doubt, visit the dealer and have somebody demonstrate the vacuum. Try to use the vacuum on your own and see if it meets your requirements.