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How to Survive Winter Allergies

November 7th, 2008

dust_mite.JPGdust_mite.JPGdust_mite.JPGdust_mite.JPG16th – 22nd of November is Indoor Allergy Week. With around 40% of children now suffering from allergies such as dust_mite.JPGasthma and eczema, it’s helpful to understand what triggers reactions such as itchy eyes, runny nose, skin rashes, sneezing, snoring and wheezing at this time of year.
 
While many of us think of summer as allergy season, the humid conditions created by turning up the central heating in our double glazed homes in winter provides an ideal environment for mould and dust mites to breed and thrive. The average bed contains around 2 million dust mites while 10% of the weight of a 6-year old pillow can consist of mould, mildew, dust mites and their waste, which can trigger allergies.

To reduce these winter nasties, regular vacuuming of carpets, curtains and furniture using a vacuum cleaner with HEPA (High Efficient Particle Arrester) filtration is recommended. All Vax vacuum cleaners now feature HEPA filters as standard, so whichever model you choose you can be assured it’s helping to reduce the allergens in your house.

An average carpet harbours millions of dust mites and a neglected carpet can contain up to four times its own weight in dirt, mould, dust mites and their waste. Whilst dry vacuuming removes the surface layer of dirt from carpets, washing is much more effective at removing embedded dirt, dust mites and other allergens hidden deep within carpet pile.

Specialist carpet cleaning solutions are formulated to work deep into carpets, lifting dust, dirt and stains, and leaving your carpet smelling fresh and clean. Arming your home with a vacuum cleaner and carpet washer is a great way to start winning the battle against winter allergies.

Vax has some fantastic deals on carpet washers if you buy through its online shop too, so don’t miss out!

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What do shoppers look for?

October 23rd, 2008

What do shoppers look for when buying a carpet washer or vacuum cleaner?

It may come as a suprise to some to learn that the number one floorcare appliance brand in Britain is Vax Ltd.

Vax outperformed the market and sold more floorcare cleaning appliances in the month of August 2008 and the quarter June-August 2008 than any other floorcare brand. In fact Vax has been the fastest growing British floorcare brand over the past five years.

So what makes Vax machines so popular with consumers? 
 
The answer has to be value for money. Vax provides cutting edge technology, such as ‘no loss of suction’ vacuum cleaners, along with great customer service… all at highly competitive prices. This is particularly important at a time when consumers are feeling the pinch from rising costs of living.
 
The days of disposable white goods are over – in these days of credit crunch many consumers look for a quality product that is guaranteed to last, much like their grandparents did. Many of us had grandmothers who owned the same vacuum cleaner for years and years – it was regularly serviced and well looked after… and did not contribute to landfill.

With a 6-year guarantee, Vax’s ‘no loss of suction’ Mach vacuum cleaners are built to last longer, meaning less landfill, less plastic and less packaging. And the bagless design with lifetime washable filters means no replacements to buy either. If you’ve got a problem you can phone the UK based Vax Helpline on 0870 606 1248 and get through to a customer care advisor based at Vax HQ.  As around 80% of calls are resolved over the phone, there’s less disruption for the customer and less transport costs, which all helps to reduce the carbon footprint of each machine. And caring for your carpets properly, with regular vacuuming and washing, helps prolong their life too.

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Washing Carpets is Easy and Affordable!

October 7th, 2008

Deep cleaning is an ideal way to freshen up a tired-looking carpet, brighten the colour and put a spring back into the pile. It also helps prolong the life of a carpet by removing the ground-in dirt that flattens and damages carpet fibres, which dry vacuuming alone can’t reach. All the family will feel the benefit too, as washing gets rid of unwelcome guests like pollen, bacteria and dust mites that thrive in warm, humid environments and can trigger allergies.  As hiring a professional cleaner to deep clean your home can be costly – around £70-£100 for two average sized rooms – it makes more economic sense to invest in a carpet washer. With models available from under £100, upright carpet washers are as easy to use as a regular dry vacuum and provide an affordable way to wash carpets and suck up spills. 

The V-024 Rapide Classic is a lightweight, upright carpet washer with a static brushbar that gently loosens and lifts dirt from carpet pile. Easy to fill, empty, use and store, the Rapide’s handle lays flat to the floor so you can clean under and around furniture really easily. Also in this range are the V-025 Rapide and V-026 Rapide Deluxe, which both have a rotating brushbar that agitates carpet pile to lift and remove ground-in dirt and stains. The Deluxe has all the features of the Rapide, plus a wash tool and flexible hose for refreshing stairs, upholstery and car interiors. In addition to a wash tool, the V-028 Rapide PowerJet Pro has an extra wide cleaning path so it’s good for washing larger areas of carpet. It has a static brushbar that agitates pile to dislodge dirt and PowerJet technology that pumps jets of water deep into carpet fibres, and also a wash tool for cleaning stairs and upholstery. Topping the range is the V-027 Rapide XL, which features two contra-rotating brushbars to deep clean carpet fibres and groom pile, as well as extra large capacity clean and dirty water tanks.  The V-033 Rapide Compact is the newest addition to the Rapide range. It’s a portable, lightweight spot cleaner with a hand tool and hose for washing stairs, upholstery and car interiors.  

All Rapide carpet washers come with Vax carpet washing solutions that are specially formulated to hygienically clean deep into carpet, lifting dirt and stains, and preventing odours. Vax solutions dry leaving a fresh fragrance without any sticky residue, helping to prevent resoiling.

Posted in Carpet Washers, Carpet Washing, Cleaning Tips | 1 Comment »

Great Results From New Generation ‘Heated Cleaning’ Carpet Washers

October 7th, 2008

Gone are the days when deep cleaning your carpets was a job you had to put aside a whole day for, thanks to a new generation of carpet washers featuring technology designed to reduce washing and drying times.  With some heated cleaning carpet washers, for exmple the premimum range from Vax, heat generated by the machine is directed onto the floor, assisting both the cleaning and drying process. This means that carpets are ready to use again in just a few hours. Regular washing helps prolong carpet life by removing the ground-in dirt that can damage and flatten carpet fibres. It is also recommended for homes with allergy sufferers, as it also removes pollen, bacteria and dust mites, which live and breed deep in carpets and are common triggers of allergies such as asthma and hayfever.  All three models in the Vax heated cleaning range have rotating SpinScrubTM brushes on the floor head that clean deep into the carpet on all sides of the fibres to loosen and lift embedded dirt, leaving carpet pile looking springy and renewed. They each have a handtool with the same SpinScrubTM technology that fits to a flexible hose, for removing spots and stains, cleaning stairs and upholstery. In addition to washing carpets and upholstery they are also great for sucking up any accidental spills. The Vax V-123 Agility is a compact and manoeuvrable upright carpet washer, with a foldaway handle to make storage easy. It has CleanSurgeTM technology to release extra cleaning solution at the push of a button, for spot treating high traffic areas. Revolutionary Dual VTM Air Path technology on the Vax V-124 Dual V delivers consistent suction across the width of the floor nozzle to reduce drying time. The Automix system mixes the cleaning solution and water for optimum cleaning results. The Dual V was awarded ‘Best Buy’ status in the September 2008 issue of Which? magazine. 

The Vax V-125 All Terrain offers the same great carpet cleaning performance as the Dual V but can also wash sealed hard floors. The hard floor mode offers a more hygienic method of washing hard floors than a traditional mop and bucket, leaving floors dry and your room ready to use again immediately. Its extra wide cleaning path makes it ideal for washing larger areas while the Auto-rinse button provides fast and easy rinsing.

Posted in Carpet Washers, Carpet Washing | No Comments »

Mach 7 with WindTunnel tops No Loss of Suction range

September 30th, 2008

Mach 7The latest addition to the Mach range of vacuum cleaners from Vax, the Mach 7 comes in at the very top of the range and is the first to feature patented WindTunnel technology. WindTunnel is designed to trap dust more effectively, so that you don’t have to go over the same patch of carpet as many times and don’t have to spend as long cleaning. 

What’s different about the Mach range from Vax? 

All the models in the Mach range, including both uprights and cylinders, are bagless and have market-leading no loss of suction technology at very affordable prices, plus a 6-year guarantee. This combination of high quality and great value is making them a popular choice with shoppers.  

No loss of suction technology works by utilising multiple cyclones to separate large and fine dust particles from the airflow, which prevents the filters from clogging. As long as the machine is maintained as instructed in the manual, then it will clean floors as good as the first time, every time, without a drop in performance. You won’t have to buy replacement filters, as they have lifetime washable filters with HEPA filtration, so are ideal for homes with allergy sufferers.

Machs are very easy to use and store, with quick release bins that let you dispose of collected dirt easily and hygienically. Some models have tools designed to pick up pet hair, clean hard floors, or clean stairs and upholstery too. 

There is a 6-year parts and labour guarantee on all Mach vacuum cleaners, plus Vax operates a UK based helpline that’s open 7 days a week. It’s staffed by Customer Service Advisors who are trained to resolve issues over the telephone if possible, but if a problem cannot be resolved then Vax will collect the machine free of charge, as long as it’s still under guarantee. They will repair and return it free of charge or send a brand new replecement, if the machine cannot be repaired.

Posted in Uncategorized, Vacuum Cleaner Technology, Vacuum Cleaner Types | 2 Comments »

Top Carpet Care Tips: Faster Cleaning & Dealing with Spills

September 22nd, 2008

How to Wash and Dry Carpets Quickly 

First vacuum carpets thoroughly with a good vacuum cleaner, such as one of the models in the Mach range from Vax with ‘no loss of suction’ technology. For the best results use the Mach 7, which features patented WindTunnelTM technology that traps dust effectively, leaving your carpets cleaner, quicker. Next wash carpets using a dedicated carpet washer, for example the V-124 Dual V from Vax, which has a market leading 6-year parts and labour guarantee. SpinScrub BrushesFor fast, effective cleaning the Dual V features SpinScrubTM brushes on the cleaner floor head and a powered SpinScrubTM hand tool that fits to the flexible hose, for removing spots and stains, and cleaning stairs and upholstery. These rotating brushes gently loosen embedded dirt on all sides of carpet pile, ensuring deep down cleaning that leaves pile looking renewed.  Patented Dual VTM Air Path technology delivers consistent suction across the width of the floor nozzle. Combined with heated cleaning technology this reduces drying time so rooms are soon ready to use. The Dual V’s hygienic Automix system mixes the cleaning solution and water for optimum cleaning results, and is less messy and time consuming than pre-mixing yourself. Any solution remaining in the tank after washing can be used again. Finally, leave windows and doors open to help carpets dry quickly.

Dealing with Spilt Drinks on Carpet

For best results deal with spills on carpet immediately, as sticky fluids left in carpet fibres attract dirt and cause stains. Ideally suck up the spill straight away with a carpet washer, such as one of the wide range of models available from Vax:

  • Step 1: Suck up the spill

  • Step 2: Apply the water and cleaning solution mix

  • Step 3: Suck up the dirty water.

    However, if you don’t have a carpet washer at hand, lay paper towel on top of the liquid to soak it up and then wash the carpet as soon as you can. Don’t rub the spill with a cloth as this will work the liquid deeper into carpet fibres making the spot more difficult to remove and could potentially result in a stain.

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Which Carpet Washer?

September 5th, 2008

V-124 Dual V

If you want trustworthy buying advice then a good place to look is Which? magazine, with its independent reviews of everything from ice-cream makers to burglar alarms. The September 2008 issue focuses on carpet cleaning products with in-depth tests of a number of carpet washers, including the new Vax V-124 Dual V. As one of the highest scoring washers in the tests, the Dual V is recommended as a Which? ‘Best Buy’.

The tests cover sixteen domestic carpet washers that are scored on criteria such as tools and accessories, as well as cleaning and drying performance. According to Which?, their ‘Best Buy’ carpet washers “wash brilliantly and suck up a lot of the water used for cleaning, so your carpets dry quickly.”

Washing carpets effectively then having them dry again within just a few hours is a major advantage of the Dual V, which is one of the first of a new generation of Vax carpet washers with the following technologies:

Dual V Air Path

  • Dual VTM Air Path

Delivers consistent suction across the width of the floor nozzle to suck up more dirty water.

  • Heated Cleaning

Heat generated by the machine assists the cleaning process and speeds up drying time.

  • SpinScrubTM Brushes

Five rotating SpinScrub brushes on the floor head clean deep into the carpet pile to remove embedded dirt. A powered SpinScrub handtool attaches to the hose for the same great cleaning performance on stairs and upholstery.

The result is market leading cleaning and drying performance at a great price, making the Dual V a clear ‘Best Buy’.

Need To Wash Hard Floors Too?

Vax V-125 All Terrain floorhead

Also in Vax’s new heated cleaning range, the V-125 All Terrain is scored highly in the Which? report, placed fourth out of sixteen. The All Terrain has the same features as the Dual V but also washes hard floors, so is ideal for households with a mixture of floor types.

Both the Dual V and All Terrain are supported by a 6-year parts and labour guarantee and a UK based helpline open 7 days a week. They are widely available through major retailers, but if you don’t want to spend time and money getting to the shops and back, you can buy your new washer online at the Vax website and have it delivered direct to your door.

Posted in Carpet Washers, Carpet Washing | 3 Comments »

Tips for buying Spare Parts for your Vacuum Cleaner

August 14th, 2008

Shopping for vacuum cleaner spares is something that you shouldn’t need to do very often. And whether you need to replace a broken part, or just want spares for emergency purposes, a quick search on the Internet will lead you to a huge number of companies able to provide you with the vacuum cleaner spares you need. But while there’s no shortage of companies selling spares, buying from suppliers may differ a little to buying direct from the manufacturer.

Given that there are so many makes and models of vacuum cleaner on the market nowadays, the more information you have about the spares you want, the easier it will be to shop for them. Make a note of the make and model of your vacuum cleaner, and, if possible, the correct names of the spares you want to buy. There’s nothing more frustrating than ordering vacuum cleaner spares, waiting for them to arrive, and then discovering that they’re not the right ones! That’s why, when buying spares online, most suppliers ask for details including the name of the manufacturer, model/spare part number, and a description of the part.

When providing this information, the model name or number on the front of the vacuum cleaner may be sufficient, but for many brands this is not the number the manufacturers use to identify the specific cleaner. There should be an information plate at the back of the vacuum cleaner, or on its bottom, detailing the full model number. Most model numbers usually consist of numbers only, or a combination of numbers and letters.

For example, when shopping for Vax spare parts, note the model number and check out the site for advice and diagrams.

The advantage of ordering vacuum cleaner spares online is that you have a good chance of being able to find the spares you need and having them delivered to your door within a couple of days. Suppliers have stock spares for most makes of vacuum cleaner and offer an online ordering service that makes finding and buying the spares you need easy.

However, if you are having trouble locating specific vacuum cleaner spares, perhaps because your particular brand of vacuum cleaner isn’t that well-known, then you may want to order direct from the manufacturer. Not only will the manufacturer be able to provide you with the exact spares you need, but if you’re unsure as to which spares you actually do need then their customer help line will be able to give advice and help locate the spares for you.

It should be easy to shop for spares for the more popular brands of vacuum cleaner from suppliers, as they stock spares for these brands of vacuum cleaner; although, if you prefer, you can buy spare parts direct from the manufacturer.

When deciding which vacuum cleaner to buy, always bear in mind the availability of spares for your particular model of cleaner. Buying a well-known brand means you should be able to locate and buy vacuum cleaner spares without any difficulty.

Posted in Vacuum Spares & Accessories | No Comments »

HEPA Filtration Explained

August 10th, 2008

What is HEPA Filtration?

HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Arrester) filters deliver a high level of filtration, which traps smaller dust and dirt particles, preventing contamination of the environment. This type of filtration is better for homes with allergy sufferers. All Vax dry vacuums are fitted with HEPA filters.

HEPA Filtration

What is HEPA Anti-Microbial Filtration?
Anti-bacterial/anti-microbial filters have a treatment impregnated in the filter that is effective against bacteria that comes in contact with it. However, this treatment is not a pesticide so it does not kill dust mites. The treatment is impregnated in the media of the filter so it’s not lost when the filter is washed.

HEPA FilterWhat is a Carbon Filtration additive?
A filtration system featuring a Carbon Filtration additive features an additional layer of filtration that helps to neutralize odours, so is great for homes with pets.

It’s easy to remove the HEPA filter for cleaning. Filters can just be gently tapped on edge of bin to loosen dust to clean. They’re also easy to re-install in the machine.

Some questions to ask yourself before deciding which dry vacuum to buy:

Does anyone in your home suffer from allergies?

Allergy sufferers in particular benefit from a vacuum fitted with a HEPA filter as they greatly reduce household dust and pollen that can trigger allergies.

Allergy sufferers should also consider getting a machine that can wash carpets in addition to just dry vacuum cleaning your home. This is because washing carpets is a more effective method of keeping them clean than just dry vacuuming, which only strips off the top layer of dirt and debris. Washing carpets helps remove the trodden-in dirt, allergens and dust mites that live and breed deep within carpet pile. Vax offers a range of dedicated carpet washers and multi-function machines at its website.

Do you have pets?

A vacuum with anti-microbial filtration that is effective against bacteria is ideal for homes with pets, and a filter with a Carbon Filtration additive would also help neutralize pet odours.

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Posted in Dry Vacuum Cleaners, Vacuum Cleaner Types, Vacuum Cleaning Tips | No Comments »

Vax Dual V TV Advert (2008)

August 8th, 2008


The new V-124 Dual V carpet washer as seen on TV!

The Dual V is packed with cutting edge features including:

  • Dual V Air Path technology provides consistent suction across the width of the floor head for improved carpet drying.
  • Heated cleaning.
  • SpinScrub hand tool for stairs and upholstery cleaning.
  • 5 SpinScrub brushes gently and effectivly loosen dirt from carpet pile.
  • Automix cleaning system provides the correct mix of solution and water for optimum cleaning results.
  • Sucks up spills.
  • Fingertip controls.
  • Separate clean and dirty water tanks.
  • Removable nozzle for quick-rinse cleaning.
  • 2.3m hose.
  • Includes 473ml Vax Ultra carpet and upholstery cleaning solution – Vax’s toughest cleaning solution.

You can buy the Dual V Upright Carpet Washer online from Vax for £299.99.  It comes with a 6 year parts and labour guarantee for extra peace of mind

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Posted in Carpet Washers, Vacuum Adverts | No Comments »

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