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Which vacuum cleaner or carpet cleaner is right for you?

January 12th, 2010

Now is an ideal time to undo the damage done to your carpets during the Christmas break and freshen up your home ready for the new year.

The January sales are offering some fantastic deals on vacuum cleaners and carpet washers at the moment, with many models at half price or less. No matter how good the deal, it’s important to research the machine on offer to make sure it’s right for your needs.

Vacuum cleaners

Whether you choose an upright or cylinder vacuum cleaner tends to come down to personal preference and which type you find the most comfortable and effective for you and your home. Uprights tend to be kinder to your back during vacuuming and have a rapidly rotating brushbar that grooms the pile while you push the machine across the carpet. Cylinders are often less effort to carry up and down stairs and are easy store away after use, due to their compact size.  Whichever you prefer, there are a number of factors you should think about when picking the right model:

  • Pets
    If you have cats or dogs you’ll know just how difficult it can be to banish their hair from your carpets and furniture. Vacuum cleaners designed for homes with pets typically have a special tool with rotating bristles that pick up pet hair as it spins. Some pet models may also have an anti-bacterial filter to trap and neutralise germs. Look out for models with a HEPA filter if you have allergies, as these high level filters trap small dirt and dust particles, helping to reduce the allergens in your home.
  • Stairs
    If you regularly vacuum a tall flight of stairs you’ll find a model with an extra long stretch hose a real bonus, as you can reach right to the top of the staircase without having to unplug the machine and move it halfway through cleaning. Check the length of the power cord too, as a longer cord will make it much easier to vacuum stairs and multiple rooms without having to stop to swap plug points, saving you both time and effort. The capacity of the dust container can also vary widely between models, so look for a larger one if you don’t like having to empty the container too often.
  • Floor types
    If you have a mixture of carpets and hard floors in your home you should check the vacuum cleaner you choose is suitable for use on hard floors. Some uprights have a brushbar control so you can switch off the rotating brushes and vacuum hard floors without risk of damage. Some have a hard floor tool that you attach to the hose for doing the same job. Many cylinder vacuum cleaners have a combination floor head that has a switch for changing between hard floor and carpet modes, and some models may have a dedicated hard floor tool.

Carpet cleaners

There are typically two types of carpet cleaners you can choose from – canister models, some of which are multi-functional and can also dry vacuum, and upright models. Canister models tend to be robust with large capacity tanks. They usually have castor wheels, so they are very stable and easy to pull along as you clean. Upright models resemble an upright dry vacuum cleaner and are typically manoeuvrable and easy to use.

  • Upholstery and stairs
    Many carpet washers have a flexible hose and tools for cleaning upholstery and stairs, but do check the product specification carefully, as some upright models don’t have a hose and so are only suitable for cleaning flat areas of carpets. Canister models operate much like a cylinder vacuum cleaner, with a selection of tools that attach to the hose for cleaning carpets, upholstery and stairs.
  • Spots and stains
    If your carpets have areas with a lot of wear and tear, or have stubborn spots and stains, it’s worth investing in a model that is specifically designed to tackle these problems, so check the specification carefully. Upright models with brushes that gently scrub the carpet fibres, either on a rotating brushbar or on individual spinning brushes, will tend to give a deeper clean and better results than those with a static row of brushes. Some carpet cleaners have a pre-treatment system with special stain-busting solution that gets to work on soiled areas before washing with the machine.
  • Quick clean, quick dry
    If you want the quickest results from your carpet cleaner and need your carpets dry again as soon as possible, look out for models with technologies designed to speed up the washing and drying processes. These could include heated cleaning, where heat from the machine is applied to the carpet during washing, and dual air path technology, which delivers consistent suction across the entire width of the floor head.

Posted in Carpet Washers, Cylinder Vacuum Cleaners, Dry Vacuum Cleaners, Upright Vacuum Cleaners, Vacuum Cleaner Types | No Comments »

The UK’s most Advanced Cordless Vacuum Cleaner

December 7th, 2009
Vax LiFE unplugged

Vax LiFE unplugged

Just launched, the new U91-LF-B LiFE unplugged bagless upright vacuum cleaner from Vax takes all the pain out of vacuuming. If you struggle to lift your heavy, upright vacuum cleaner and hate negotiating the power cable, then you’ll love this lightweight, cordless model. There are no cables to trip over, no bending down to plug it in and no worrying about whether the cable will stretch to the top of the stairs.

It has an ultra slimline shape and weighs just 3.4kg, so is a lot lighter to carry than conventional upright vacuum cleaners. This means it’s ideal for anyone with a bad back or mobility problems. It’s easy to store too, as it takes less space than a bulky, full size cleaner and looks so good you won’t mind if it’s left out of the cupboard for a while.

The downside with many cord-free appliances is that the convenience factor is offset by a lack of power and poor battery performance. Vax LiFE is different because you get all the benefits of a cordless, lightweight vacuum cleaner without losing anything in performance. In fact, tests show that LiFE offers the same – if not better – suction performance than a corded upright. It uses Vax WindTunnel technology to lift and trap dirt and dust, so it doesn’t scatter back onto your floors. You can quickly switch between carpet and hard floor modes using the control on the handle.

LiFE uses Lithium ion battery technology, which is designed to maintain consistent strong power until it’s completely drained, so you don’t experience ‘slow fade’ while you’re cleaning. One full charge should be all that you’ll need to vacuum your whole house and power level lights let you know exactly how much charge you’ve got left, so you won’t get caught short.

Find out more at the Vax LiFE unplugged website  or the main Vax website.

Posted in Upright Vacuum Cleaners, Vacuum Cleaner Types | 1 Comment »

Clean Carpets for Christmas

October 14th, 2009

Traditionally Spring was the favoured time of year for sprucing up your home, but these days it’s more likely to happen in the run up to Christmas, when relatives are due to visit and friends are coming over.

After all those rainy autumn days when your pets and family have trodden half the garden through the house, your carpets and rugs are likely to be one of the first things that need a good pre-Christmas clean.

There’s a few options for tackling this task. You can call in the professionals, or hire a carpet washing machine to use over a weekend, or you could buy one to use at your leisure. Using a professional cleaning company to come to your home is an easy option, but can be very costly. Hiring a machine is less expensive, but buying your own will save you money in the long run, because you can use it again and again. The other big advantage with buying a carpet washer is that you’re not tied down to a particular day to do the cleaning. You can choose to clean the upstairs carpets one day, then tackle the downstairs the following weekend.

If you’re entertaining lots of guests it’s also really useful to have a carpet washer on hand, as there’s bound to be a few spilt drinks or footprints by the end of the night. You can simply whip out the machine, suck up the spill and shampoo the area clean before it turns into a stain. This is an especially good idea if you’ve got cream or light-coloured carpets. Carpet washers are also invaluable to have on stand by if your washing machine floods or your freezer unexpectedly defrosts, as they can suck up the liquid quickly, before it becomes a problem.

Modern carpet washers use advanced deep cleaning technology to lift and clean carpet fibres, removing embedded grime, stubborn stains and odours that dry vacuum cleaners can’t reach. For the best performance look out for models with ‘heated cleaning’, which use heat generated by the machine to speed up the cleaning and drying process, and ’edge to edge cleaning’ for even suction all across the width of the floorhead, so carpets dry quickly right up to the edges.

Using a carpet washer is very satisfying if you’re house proud, because you can see the colour of the carpets change literally before your eyes as dirt you never even knew was there is sucked away. If you dry vacuum your carpets daily it can be quite disconcerting to see just how dirty the water is when you pour it away after washing, and you’ll certainly see your ’regularly cleaned carpets’ in a whole new light!

The suction action of the washer lifts up carpet fibres that have become flattened from being trodden on day after day, so carpets feel softer and more springy once they’re dry. They also smell a lot nicer too, so washing your carpets is a good way of freshening up the whole house instead of reaching for the air freshener!

Posted in Carpet Washing, Cleaning Facts, Cleaning Tips | No Comments »

Vax unveils world’s lightest full size multi cyclonic upright – Mach Air!

October 8th, 2009

Vax Mach Air

Vax Mach Air

If you think that for an upright vacuum cleaner to be really powerful it also has to be heavy and bulky, then the new Mach Air from Vax could make you think again…

Weighing just 4.9kg, it’s officially the lightest, full size multi-cyclonic upright vacuum cleaner in the world, as it has all the power and capacity of a conventional upright but weighs a third less. This means it’s really easy to carry up and down stairs so it’s ideal for the elderly or those with back problems. And because it’s so slim and compact it’s easy to fit in a cupboard without taking up too much room.  

There are other ultra lightweight multi cyclonic uprights on the market but their compact size means they often have much smaller dirt bins than conventional models. Mach Air is different because it has a 1.5-litre dust capacity so you don’t have to stop cleaning to empty it as often.   As it uses multi cyclonic technology it doesn’t lose suction, so it gives consistently good dust pick-up. This technology works by spinning the air and dust sucked into the machine through a series of cyclones. Centrifugal force separates out the dust before it reaches the filters, so they don’t get clogged up. As long as you clean out the dust container regularly and maintain the filters as per the manual, you won’t lose suction as you clean. 

 Mach Air has an LED Performance Indicator so you can see straight away if there’s something blocking the airflow. It’s also been designed to be very comfortable to use, as the handle can move up and down to 8 different levels to suit your height.

 If you find you’re always losing the tools on your vacuum cleaner, Mach Air solves this problem by having the upholstery, crevice and brush tools all combined in a 3-in-1 tool that’s stored on board the cleaner.

Check out the dedicated Mach Air website for images and more info, or go to the Vax website to buy.

Posted in Uncategorized, Upright Vacuum Cleaners, Vacuum Cleaner Technology | No Comments »

A Perfect Match for Your Home

September 24th, 2009

If you’re a regular viewer of Emmerdale, Coronation Street or This Morning, you may have spotted the new Vax TV advert during the ad breaks.  It features the Match range of carpet cleaners, which are designed to ‘make cleaning carpets child’s play’ and stars an adorable little girl (who are actually played by identical twins Keira and Sienna) who makes quite a mess of her mum’s carpets!

The idea with the Match range is to mix and match your preferred type of carpet cleaner with add-on kits that are designed to tackle particular problem areas in your house. These include kits tailored for homes with pets, or those that have particularly difficult stains, or those that need protecting against future damage. By picking the right type of cleaner for your home and then adding one or more kits, you can tailor make a carpet cleaning solution that best suits your particular needs.

The carpet cleaners in the Match range vary from the more manoeuvrable and lightweight ‘Classic’, for smaller homes and apartments, to the larger, more rugged ‘Power’, which pumps jets of cleaning solution into the carpet fibres for a really deep clean. They’re designed to be as easy as a regular vacuum cleaner to use and have powerful suction that sucks out the dirty water. This suction means they don’t leave carpets soggy and you can walk on the carpets again within a couple of hours.

The largest and latest kit is called ‘Pet & Stubborn Stains ’ and includes a pre-treatment applicator and special pre-treatment solution that gets to work on difficult stains before you use the machine to wash it. It also has a big bottle of Vax Ultra solution for use in the machine and Carpet Guard spray to protect carpets after washing. This kit is currently only available to buy direct from the Vax site, but will be out in high street shops next year.

Posted in Carpet Washers, Carpet Washing, Vacuum Adverts | No Comments »

Absolutely Amazing Carpet Cleaner

September 9th, 2009

The V-124 Dual V carpet cleaner from Vax is a  big hit with the team at the Absolute Gadget website, who gave it 9/10 in their recent tests. The tester states: “It would take us a lot (and we mean a lot) to get us off our Dyson vacuum cleaner addiction. But Vax has a new carpet cleaner that threatens to run the cyclonic sucker out of town.” They then go on to give the machine a thorough testing on the office’s dirty shag pile carpet.

Initially they struggle to get the hang of the controls, but after realising the trigger only needs to be held down for dispensing the solution when it’s needed they say: “the results were very impressive. While we would not say that the carpet was back to showroom condition (it had gone far beyond that a long time ago) the carpet looked respectable enough to invite guest back around again. Stains we thought were going to stay forever, had disappeared completely in some cases.”

The tests then involve trying the machine in rinse mode only and then cleaning the stairs. Again they are impressed with the results. Even in rinse mode, container after container of almost pitch black water was poured out of the dirty water container. “In both modes the water from the container is heated up before being applied to the carpet and this should help loosen dirt that an ordinary vacuum couldn’t pick up in years”.

A big worry for most people thinking of washing their carpets is whether the carpets will dry out again afterwards. According to Absolute Gadget, this isn’t a concern with this model. “The cleaner manages to suck most of the water back out, meaning that you don’t have to wait too long before you can step on the floor again.” So no soggy feet after cleaning with this machine!

The reviewer’s overall conclusion is: “while a beast of a machine, it is good looking too and really effective as a carpet cleaner.”

The V-124 Dual V is available at most electrical retailers such as Argos, Currys, Amazon etc, or you can buy it direct from the Vax website, along with extra cleaning solutions and spare parts.

Posted in Carpet Washing, Reviews | 1 Comment »

Vax Celebrates 30 Years with Limited Edition Range

August 12th, 2009

It was 30 years ago in 1979 that the first Vax multi-function cleaner rolled off the production line, starting a revolution in home carpet cleaning. This machine was the first domestic vacuum cleaner in the world that also washed carpets and that people could easily use in their own home.

30 years later the Vax multi-function cleaner is still the favourite choice in many homes, because of its unique flexibility to wash carpets, suck up spills and dry vacuum carpets or hard floors – all in one easy-to-use, large capacity machine.

To celebrate its 30-year history as the UK’s favourite floorcare brand, Vax has just launched a limited edition family of ‘30th Anniversary’ carpet cleaners and vacuum cleaners, which includes the latest version of the iconic 6131 multi-function machine.

All the products in this collection have an introductory price of 30-50% below the RRP, which gives shoppers something to celebrate too. They also look pretty smart, as they have a special edition colour scheme of graphite and original Vax orange, which really sets them apart from previous Vax ranges.

At the top of the vacuum cleaner range is the VZL-6017AN Mach 7. This bagless upright has WindTunnel technology that traps the dust and dirt more effectively as you clean, for excellent dust pick-up. It also uses multi-cyclonic suction power, which means that dust collects in the container, not the filter, so its filters don’t get blocked and it doesn’t lose suction. This means there’s no drop in performance, even as the dirt container fills up. The Mach 7 is a good all round the home cleaner, as it can be used on either carpets or hard floors, plus it has an extra long stretch hose so you can clean right to the top of your staircase without having to move the machine. With washable HEPA filters and no bags, you won’t need to spend money on replacements either, and as it has 6-year guarantee you can be sure that you’re covered should anything go wrong.

There are five other vacuum cleaners in the Anniversary range, including four from the Power range, which was first added to Vax’s line-up in January of this year, plus the G:2 Pet cylinder vacuum cleaner. Three of these are ‘Pet’ models, which means they have anti-bacterial HEPA filters and an air-driven TurboTool that is specially designed to lift pet hairs off carpets and upholstery, and can be also used to great effect on stairs. A TurboTool is also included on the Mach 7.

There are two upright carpet cleaners in this new range – the Rapide Spring Clean, which is lightweight and easy to manoeuvre, and the Rapide PowerJet Pet, which has larger capacity tanks and uses ‘PowerJet’ technology to give a really thorough deep clean. PowerJet works by pumping jets of cleaning solution into the fibres. The brushes works with the solution to lift dirt and stains from the carpet, which is then sucked back up into the dirty water tank.

They are as easy to use as a regular dry vacuum cleaner so are a really good way of getting carpets looking new again, without the hassle and expense of replacing them or getting in professional carpet cleaners.

You’ll be amazed at how much fresher your carpets will look, smell and even feel, as the suction action of the carpet cleaner lifts the carpet pile and removes trapped dirt to makes it feel softer and springy again. 

Posted in Carpet Washers, Cleaning Facts, Vacuum Cleaner Technology | No Comments »

Industry rates Vax Dual V as the best floorcare product

July 7th, 2009

If you’re in the market to buy a carpet washer and want to know which one is the best, a good tactic is to read up on recommendations, whether they are from other consumers, professional testers or the people that sell them in their shops.

The V-124 Dual V from Vax is one carpet washer that has been consistently praised by all of these groups since it launched last year. It frequently gets given top marks in feedback on retailer sites and last year  the independent consumer reviews magazine Which? recommended it to readers as a ‘Best Buy’. More recently the Dual V was awarded ‘Best Floorcare Product’ at the IBA industry awards.

Hosted in association with IER magazine on 25th June, the Independent Business Awards celebrate the achievements of companies, innovations and people within the independent electrical industry. ‘Best Floorcare Product’ is awarded to the most innovative floorcare product from the past 12 months.

A combination of votes sent in by readers of the magazine and a panel of industry judges on the day rated the Vax V-124 Dual V carpet washer number one in this category.

To win the award the Dual V beat a very strong line-up of finalists that included the Dyson Ball DC-24 vacuum cleaner, Miele S7 vacuum cleaner and Bissell ReadyDry carpet cleaner.

It’s undoubtedly the unique combination of unbeatable carpet cleaning performance, innovative design and good after sales care that make the Dual V such a success. One of it’s biggest selling features is that it has a 6-year parts and labour guarantee, which is unmatched in the market.

In addition, the Dual V has a number of patented technologies including twin air path extraction, heated cleaning and unique spinning SpinScrub brushes that lift embedded dirt trapped in carpet pile to give fantastic deep cleaning performance. Its Dual V air path gurantees consistent suction across the whole width of the floorhead, so your carpets dry quickly and you can walk across carpets again without getting soggy feet.

It’s also designed to provide faster, more hygienic cleaning as it’s got separate water tanks and an Automix system that mixes the cleaning solution and water for you. You can use it straight out of the box and removable brushes mean it’s very is easy to clean.

The Dual V is very versatile too, with a powered SpinScrub hand tool that’s great for tackling stubborn stains, for cleaning stairs or for upholstery. 

Posted in Carpet Washers, Reviews | 1 Comment »

Need help changing your vacuum cleaner’s belt or filter?

June 19th, 2009

There’s nothing more frustrating than a broken belt or a dirty filter getting in the way of you and your clean carpet. What’s even more frustrating is buying a replacement for your vacuum cleaner and then having to hunt around for the instruction manual to find out how to fit it. And then once you find the manual the next job is to make sense of the instructions, which often only have a diagram or two to help you work out which way round everything goes. It can be a time consuming and fiddly task, especially for those of us who aren’t the most mechanically minded.

That is why some companies have started putting videos on their website or on YouTube designed to show customers how fit a new belt or filter.  It always makes so much more sense when you can see somebody else demonstrate the process in front of you, rather than following a set of written instructions.

 It’s worth searching on YouTube for your make and model of vacuum cleaner and see if there are any relevant videos that show you what to do. A quick search of ‘vacuum cleaner spares’ on YouTube will show you just how many help videos there are available these days.

Vax has their own YouTube channel where they host help videos, along with infomercials, video reviews and TV adverts. These can be a valuable source of information, both for vacuum cleaner owners needing help with changing spares and for shoppers who want to see exactly what a machine looks like in action before parting with their cash. You can, judge how loud it is, see how easy it is to push around the carpet, how well it picks up dirt and read other people’s opinions on how they think the vacuum cleaner performs.  All without leaving the comfort of your home!
 

Posted in Cleaning Tips, Vacuum Cleaner Maintenance, Vacuum Spares & Accessories, Video Tutorials | No Comments »

Amazon Reviewers rate the V-123 Agility from Vax

May 18th, 2009

The V-123 Agility carpet washer has gained plenty of recommendations at Amazon.co.uk over the past few weeks, with all new customer reviews awarding it full marks. This model is one of a new generation of upright carpet washers from Vax that have heated cleaning technology and revolutionary SpinScrub brushes that clean deep into carpet pile. The result is carpets that look as good as new and are dry again within just a couple of hours. It’s versatile too, with a SpinScrub hand tool for cleaning upholstery, stairs and car interiors, and a handy CleanSurge button to release extra solution when you need it – ideal for tackling those stubborn stains and high traffic areas.

One reviewer tried out her new Agility on a piece a carpet that had recently been cleaned with a hired machine that had given her a lot of trouble. She was over the moon with the results: “the amount of dirt that came out was unbelievable, the colour of dark chocolate. The carpet was left nearly dry and we almost needed sunglasses, it was so bright!” As well great cleaning results, she loves the convenience of having her own machine at hand to use whenever she needs. Unlike hiring a machine, there’s no need to rush to get all the rooms in the house done at once.

Another Amazon reviewer chose the Agility to clean up their filthy carpets rather than another model they were considering that had some negative reviews. So they decided to spend a bit more on the Agility instead. Was it worth the extra money? This reviewer definitely thinks so: “that old saying is true ‘you get what you pay for’! I am SO glad I did buy this carpet cleaner.”

One lady had such good results from the Agility that their “husband now says we don’t need new carpets”. This demonstrates perfectly how washing your carpets can be a great way to save money and avoid the hassle having to buy and fit new ones. She adds that the Agility is “easy to use and excellent value for money”.

Another reviewer agrees: “This is really worth the money. Brought me 3 year old carpets up like new. Easy to use on carpets and furniture. The fact that the water is heated meant that the carpets were dry within a couple of hours.”

Customers that have previously only used a canister style of carpet washer are often amazed at how quick and easy to use the latest generation of upright models are. For instance, this reviewer says: “The last home carpet cleaner we had was the orange cylinder Vax many years ago – it worked well and lasted a long time but was pretty hard work.” After buying an Agility upright, the reviewer writes: “Just used this for the first time on a carpet in real need of cleaning – amazing. Easy to set up, easy to use and so very efficient!”

Another Agility user agrees: “We used it to clean a very dirty cream carpet – it’s much easier to use then the old orange VAX carpet cleaner! Just fill up the tank & plug it in & off you go.” They add that while the machine is heavier and bulkier than a canister, so you need a bit more storage space for it, “it did a brilliant job & left the carpet only slightly damp… it’s a brilliant thing to have.” Unlike many other upright models, the Agility has a folding handle to make it as easy to store away as possible.

Posted in Carpet Washers, Carpet Washing, Reviews | No Comments »

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