Hardwood Floor Vacuum Guide by Adr-wa

You have fitted your home with new, gleaming hardwood flooring. After spending a hefty sum on the flooring, you want to keep it looking that way.

When you installed your hardwood floor, you took on a rather daunting responsibility. Maintaining it will take a bit of time-intensive effort on your part.

Ease that effort by choosing a suitable vacuum cleaner. It doesn’t have to be the best hardwood floor vacuum that you can find, but it does need to have the qualities and features that make a vacuum suitable for cleaning wood floors.

If you have never fitted hardwood floors, bear in mind that ordinary vacuums will not do. Though it is tempting to use the one you already have, it is probably suited for tiled floors or carpets.

What to Look For in a Hardwood Floor Vacuum:

Vacuum Companion’s list of best vacuums designed specifically for hardwood floor cleaning is similar to our own list, but the big question then is what exactly to look for in each machine that makes it ideal for your home/situation. You will find that the type of vacuum you eventually choose is quite different from the one you already have, especially if you’ve been dealing with carpets this whole time. A good hardwood floor vacuum should adhere to the following guidelines:

1. It should not have brush attachments – To start, you will probably want to do away with brush attachments. Attached rolling brushes lift dirt buried deep inside carpets. These bristle brushes spin to tease out the stubborn dirt. The rough motion forms scuff marks on your wood floor. If you must have rolling brushes because you have carpeting as well, look for a cleaner that allows you to switch the brush off for hardwood floor cleaning.
2. It must have rubber wheels – Again, to avoid leaving scratches on your hardwood, choose a cleaner that has padded or rubber wheels. Rubber padding prevents your new flooring from scratches.
3. It should be portability and easy to store – Of course, choose a portable cleaner. No one wants a backache after completing heavy cleaning chores. If you have persistent back problems, you want a hardwood floor cleaner that is easy to lift. If the floor space of your home is wide, you need to choose a good cordless vacuum cleaner that you do not need to constantly plug and unplug. If you do not fancy charging cleaners, look out for those with very long cords.
4. It should be lightweight – If the person who is vacuuming is small-sized, toting a bulky cleaner will completely drain him by the end of the task. Find a cleaner with a flexible cleaning head that allows you to lift dirt from under furniture. It should have an adjustable height as well. This also makes the vacuum.
5. It needs to be a dynamic machine – Then, the cleaner must also have strong suction power. Those who have hardwood floors know that lifting stubborn debris and pet hair is quite troublesome. If the cleaner is cordless, it must have enough run time for you to clean an extensive area. You do not want to have to charge a vacuum in the middle of a cleaning task.
6. It should come with accessories– Aside from being dynamic, look out for functional accessories. Nozzles and edge brushes all help you get to hard-to-reach areas.
7. It should be easy to empty – A good hardwood cleaner must have a dirt cup you can empty without hassle. You do not want to sneeze or develop allergic reactions because of dirt strewn all over. If you prefer vacuums with bags, look for one that has replaceable bags available in most hardware stores.
8. Should fall within your budget – Consider budget. You will want a cleaner that is good value for your money. Low-range vacuums are affordable, but may not have enough suction power or the accessories to do a thorough job. Conversely, a high-end cleaner may create a hole in your pocket. If it does not have the power or accessories to clean well, this is disappointing.
9. Ideally a canister style vacuum cleaner – There is current debate about whether upright or canister vacuums are best for hardwood floors. No vacuum is perfect, so it boils down to your needs and preferences.  Upright vacuums are heavier, harder, and less mobile. However, they are quite useful for vacuuming stairs.  Canister vacuums, conversely, are lightweight. Most are less strenuous to lug around because they have padded, rubber wheels that glide over floors easily. This is why canisters tend to be the optimum choice for hardwood floors.

How to Properly Vacuum a Hardwood Floor:

If you have never vacuumed a hardwood floor before, here are some simple steps you can follow:

1. If you have carpets, choose a hardwood cleaner that allows you to turn its motorized, rolling brushes off. If you cannot do so, attach an oval brush with a long wand to your canister vacuum. This stops the beater brush from moving.
2. Clean high traffic areas first, running your vacuum to lift dirt.
3. Use the crevice tool to lift dirt from stubborn edges and other inaccessible areas.
4. Do this routinely to get rid of dirt that tarnishes your hardwood floor.

Recommended Hardwood Floor Vacuums:

Below are three vacuums perfect for cleaning hardwood floors:

1. The Miele Olympus S121

The Miele Olympus S121 is the perfect vacuum for those with a variety of flooring.

This canister vacuum works on carpets, tiles and hardwood.

It comes with:

• A powerful air clean filter
• Functional accessories (a dusting brush, crevice nozzle and upholstery tool. )
• A 29.5 feet cleaning path

The Miele Olympus is more than a multi-purpose cleaner. It lifts dirt from a wide are of 29.5 feet.

The useful accessories allow it to clean hard-to-reach areas in your home. The upholstery tool cleans your furniture as well.

The lightweight portability of this relatively small fellow pleases customers. Transition from cleaning hard floors to carpets easily.

2. The Eureka 3670G Mighty Mite Canister Vacuum

This next vacuum is definitely worth every dollar you spend. This mighty vacuum cleans carpets, tiles and pet hair.

It comes with:

• A blower port
• 12 Amp Suction
• A power touch handle
• Functional Accessories ( a deluxe floor brush, dusting brush, bare floor nozzle, upholstery tool and a crevice tool)

This vacuum gives the home a quick, efficient clean. The 12 Amp suction allows the cleaner to clear most dirt. Customers love its compact, light form.

Most are satisfied with its very low price. However, it does not clean carpets as well as it does floors, for it was not built for that sole purpose.

3. The BISSELL Poweredge 81L2T

The last vacuum is the BISSELL Poweredge 81L2T. If you have pets, you will need this fellow’s help. It comes equipped with:

• A V-Shaped, Swivel Head
• An easy-to-empty dirt cup
• A 20-inch power cord
• BISSELL’s patented cyclonic system

It captures pet hair and other debris along edges easily. The V-Shaped cleaning head directs large debris into the center suction path. The ends of the V capture finer dirt particles. An easy-to-empty dirt cup reduces allergic reactions, as it does not spew dirt around the house.

A customer, who is a veterinarian, comments that it cleans up the mess of pet hair and nails that gather in his clinic. He bought another for his pet-friendly home. The powerful suction, attributed to BISSELL’s Cyclonic System, awes him.

Remembering the advice given above, making wise choices, and following the right tips can make cleaning your hardwood floors a breeze.