Wet Dry Vacuum Cleaners

The wet/dry vacuum cleaner combination is no longer just for a workshop. Over the years, the driving technology has improved a great deal, deceasing the loud screeching noises that the vacuums were so very well known for.

When you go out to buy a wet/dry vacuum with both wet and dry features, you'll need to know some of the details. The vacuums are available in a variety of different sizes and HP, ranging from 6 - 22 gallons and 1.5 - 10.5 HP. The capacity of the wet/dry vacuum should match your needs in the following ways:
1. Wall mount vacuum cleaners with 1.5 HP and a 1 gallon tank are available for quick and easy cleanup jobs, such as spills. You can also hang this type on the wall as well, which will keep it out of your way.
2. The six gallon vacuum cleaners are ideal for smaller jobs and are easy to maneuver and store than a larger model. Keep in mind however, that the smaller wet/dry cleaners are much louder and also more prone to tipping over. The smaller the tank, the more often you will have to stop and empty it.
3. Higher capacity models are recommended if you have a workshop or garage where larger spills occur. A large capacity tank will decrease the number of times that you have to empty the tank.

When you looking for the best wet/dry vacuum for you, you should look for the following options and features:
- The pleated cartridge filter. It is reusable and rinseable, and provides more filtration area than the flat filter and it doesn't need to be removed when you switch from the dry to wet vacuum function.
- An automatic shut off device is available with most newer vacuum cleaners. This mechanism will shut off the motor automatically once the tank has become full of water, which will prevent it from overflowing.
- A wide set of wheels will help to prevent the vacuum from tipping over. - There are some of the larger models that have the ability to convert to a leaf blower, which is great if you have a lot of trees in your yard.
- Some wet/dry models have a built in pump attachment as well. This type of attachment will allow the water to be pumped through a garden hose that attaches to the vacuum.
- A handy drain valve or sprout will make emptying the vacuum cleaner a snap. If it doesn't have this feature, you'll have to remove the lid and tip the vacuum to the side to empty all of the water. Depending on how much water you have in the tank, you could easily and accidentally spill it on the floor. The smaller types of wet/dry
vacuums normally don't have a spout or drain option.
- Wider hoses and floor nozzles are great to have as well. The wider the hose and nozzle are, the less likely the vacuum will be to clog up on you.

If they aren't provided with the vacuum you decided on, you can also purchase the following attachments:

1. Crevice tool - this handy tool will easily get in tight corners and around floor edges.

2. Extension wand - this will make the hose longer for hard to reach areas.

3. Hose couplings - this will join the extension wand to the hose.

4. Combination nozzle - this helps to alleviate the need of switching nozzles before you switch functions.

5. Gulper nozzle - this tool is ideal for the wet vacuum function.

6. Round brush - this nifty little tool is ideal for scrubbing.

7. Cleaning kit - this kit will include everything you need to clean delicate upholstery and other areas as well.

Vacuum Configurations

Vacuum cleaners are devices that use an air pump to create a partial vacuum to suck up dirt and dust, normally from carpeted floors. Most homes that have carpet floors have a vacuum for cleaning. The dirt that is pulled up from the carpet is collected by a filtering system or even a cyclone for later disposal.

There are several type of configurations possible for vacuum cleaners.

Upright
Upright vacuums have the pump mounted directly above the suction intake, with the bag mounted directly on the handle, which will rise to waist height or so. The upright type designs normally employ mechanical beaters which often rotate brushes, to help disturb dust enough to be vacuumed up. These beaters are normally driven by a belt that is attached to the vacuum motor.

Canister
Also known as cylinder vacuums, the canister type designs have the motor and bag in a seperate canister unit that connects to the vacuum head by a flexible hose. Even though upright units have been tested as being more effective, the lighter and more maneuverable heads of the canister models are quite popular. Some models have power heads, which contain the same type of mechanical beaters found it upright units, although they are driven by a seperate electric motor.

Wet vacs/dry vacs
These types a specialized form of the canister vacuum and they can be used to clean up wet or liquid spills as well. They will commonly accomodate both wet and dry soilage, with some being equipped with a switch or exhaust port that reverses the flow of air. This is a very useful function for everything from clearing clogged hoses to blowing dust into a corner for easy collecting.

Back pack vac
These types of vacuums are commonly used for commercial cleaning, as they allow you to move about quickly and efficiently in a large area. They are basically canister vacuum cleaners, except for the fact that straps are used to carry the canister on your back.

Built in or central
These types of vacuum cleaners will move the suction motor and bag to a central location in the building and provide vacuum inlets at strategic places throughout the entire building. You only need to carry the hose and pickup head from room to room, while the hose is normally 25 foot long and allows a large range of movement without changing vacuum inlets.

The plastic piping will connect vacuum inlets to the central unit. The vacuum can either be unpowered or have beaters that are operated by an electric motor or an air driven motor. The bag in the central vacuum system is normally so big that emptying it or changing needs to be done less as often, sometimes only once a year.

Vacuum Cleaner Bags

Everything that a vacuum picks up, no matter what type it may be, needs to be deposited somewhere - normally in a vacuum cleaner bag.

Back in 1920, the Air Way Sanitizer Company of Ohio introduced the first vacuum cleaner with a disposable vacuum bag. Until that time, the bags for vacuum cleaners resembled the type of bags that golfers used to carry their clubs. They were somewhat heavy and awkard devices made out of thick, stiff canvas, designed to be very flexible and still keep dust and debris from the carpets from escaping out into the air.

The improvements made by the Air Way Sanitizer disposable vacuum bag went a long way toward improving the effectiveness of the vacuum cleaner. Made out of paper, the bag was designed to fit inside of the cloth bag. Not only did it make cleaning the vacuum easier, but it also kept the insides of the stationary bag clean at all times so that less of the dust and debris could be blown out of the vacuum and make its way through the home again.

In the beginning, each manufacturer designed their own disposable vacuum cleaner bag made out of different types of paper. You couldn't interchange the bags from one machine to the next, as the fittings were different sizes with different configurations for the opening of the intake. Manufacturers who were once very dependant on the sales of their machines had now discovered an entirely new territory for the disposable bags, and once again sales went through the roof.

Before, a housewife had her vacuum cleaner and the only thing it needed was to be cleaned and serviced every now and then. If the man of the house was around, the job normally went to him. After a while, repair shops that specialized in vacuum cleaners began to pop up all over the place.

These days, there are very few vacuum cleaners that use bags. Bagless is the way to go these days, and for good reason. What was once a revolution in household cleaning, is now rapidly fading away and fast.

Models such as the Cyclone or Dirt Devil, are now using cylinder technology to store the dirt and dust. When you have finished vacuuming, you simply empty the cylinder into the trash. Vacuum bags can be very frustrating, which is why millions of people are using bagless vacuums.

If you own a vacuum cleaner that uses bags, you should look into upgrading it. Bagless vacuums will save you time, money, and replacement. If you've grown tired of the bags, now is the time to get a better vacuum.

Not only do the bagless models have more power, but they will also save you quite a few trips to the store and the closet. They don't cost a lot of money either, and they are the perfect addition to any household.

Types Of Vacuum Cleaners

If you are planning to really clean your home, car, camper, or job site, you'll want to check out one of the many types of vacuum cleaners. There are several out there, with each one offering you an array of special uses and features.

The ideal thing to do is make a list of your price range and budget and what you need your vacuum to do. Then, you can start shopping around and narrow your list down until you find the vacuum that is perfect for your needs.

There are several vacuum machines on the market today, and you'll have no problems finding one that will complete your tasks with ease and durability.

Vacuums are available in several different colors, sizes, and prices. Basically, there are two types of vacuum cleaners - wet and dry vacs, and there are even companies out there that have found ways to combine both features. You can choose from cordless, handheld, and even bagless models. If you are feeling really lazy, you can even purchase a robotic vacuum cleaner that will vacuum your entire house for you while you watch.

Normally, vacuum cleaners are made of either durable plastic or aluminum. They range in colors, from red to silver and white to blue. For the models, you can choose from upright, canister, stick, hand held, and shop vac models.

There are some vacuum cleaners that are specifically designed to help get debris and dirt out from under your car seat and others that are made to help you clean your hardwood floors. Other features can include extra detachable extension tools, retractable power cords, a HEPA filter, and an easy to reach power switch. There are even models out there that will pick up nails and even glasses of water.

Several companies out there produce vacuum cleaners, including Oreck, Simplicity, Dyson, Hoover, Bosch, Sanyo, Bissell, Eureka, and Kirby. If you are looking for a vacuum cleaner, you have a large selection of discounted and refurbished vacuums out there waiting for you.

One of the greatest things about vacuum cleaners is the fact that the sky is limit. There are literally hundreds to choose from, giving you everything you need to complete your task. The most popular types of vacuums on the market today are bagless, as there are no bags to change, all you need to do is empty the cylinder after you vacuum.

Whenever you are shopping for a vacuum, you should always compare prices. This way, you'll get the best deal for your money. They range in prices from 30 dollars to 500, making it more than worth your time and money to shop around. Before you know it, you'll have a vacuum cleaner that will making cleaning your home or business both fun and exciting.

The Great Vacuum Cleaner

A vacuum cleaner is an absolute must have home appliance these days. All of us rely on our vacuum cleaner to help keep our homes free of dirt and dust, although how we go about it sometimes, doesn't give a lot of thought as to how efficient the vacuum cleaner really is.

Before electric vacuums were created, home cleaning was a tedious task. Back then, floors had to be cleaned with brushes, mops, and brooms. Rugs and carpets had to be removed from the floor, hung up outdoors, and beaten to get the dust out. Doing things this way involved a lot of time and effort and caused many health complaints.

The earlier inventions of non electric floor cleaning devices made home cleaning much easier. People started to look for ways to improve on the efficiency of these machines, which caused all types of contraptions to be invented.

Throughout the 100 year history of the vacuum cleaner, there have been all sorts of improvements. The very first electric vacuums were created in the early 1900s. In 1908, the Hoover Company built the first electric vacuum cleaner that used a cloth filter bag and cleaning attachments as well.

During the years that followed, many different designs and models were created, each one varying in weight, size, suction power, performance, and other features. With all of the designs that came out, the upright vacuum cleaner remained to be the most popular.

The latest upright vacuums that are available today will make cleaning a whole lot easier. They are very light and versatile, and come in both bagged and bagless designs. They also include tools that will help you remove dust from drapes, upholstery, and even get tricky and hard to reach places.

By owning a bagless vacuum, you won't ever have to buy vacuum bags again. When it comes time to empty the dirt container, you can empty it right into your garbage can.

You'll want to do this out in your yard or on the street in order to prevent the dust from getting back into your house. If you suffer from allergies, it's best to stay with a bagged unit. With bagged vacuum cleaners, the dust will stay in a sealed bag and then when it gets full, you can easily
dispose of it without being exposed to dust.

When you buy a vacuum cleaner, it's very important to choose the best vacuum that will fit your home cleaning needs. You'll also need to think about carpets and rugs, hard floors, even stairs before you purchase your vacuum. This way, you'll be able to get the right vacuum with the right accessories for the job - which will save you a lot of time and effort when the time comes to clean your home.

The Essential Vacuum Cleaner

The vacuum cleaner is a truly amazing piece of equipment, as it would be very hard to cope without one. There are many people out there who prefer domestic vacuum cleaners for carpeted floors in their home.

No matter how you look at it, the vacuum cleaner is an ingenious piece of equipment. It has an air pump that creates a partial vacuum to suck up the dust and dirt, which it collects by a filtering system or a cyclone to dispose of later.

Vacuum cleaner types
Based on their configurations, there are many types of vacuum cleans. The following are some of the most known types of vacuum cleaners.

Bagless
Bagless vacuum cleaners, as the name implies, don't use bags. They collect the dust in a compartment which you can quickly and easily empty. This will save you from the headache of dealing with messy and frustrating vacuum bags.

Upright
Upright vacuum cleaners have the pump mounted directly above the suction intake, with the bag mounted on the handle that will normally rise to waist height. The designs of upright vacuum cleaners will normally employ mechanical beaters, which are often rotating brushes, to help dust that has yet to settle be vacuumed up. An attached belt to the vacuum motor will drive these beaters.

Canister types
Canister vacuum cleaners have the motor and the bag in a separate cylinder unit that is connected to the vacuum head by a long flexible hose. Even though the upright units have been tested as being more effective, the lighter and more maneuverable heads of the canister are also popular. There are some canister models on the market that feature power heads which contain the same type of beaters as found with upright units, even though those types of beaters are driven by a seperate electric motor.

Backpack
Backpack vacuums are a great tool for commercial type cleaning. Backpack vacuums will allow you to move around rapidly in a large area. It is basically a canister vacuum cleaner, except for the fact that the straps are used to carry the canister unit on your back.

Central vacuum
A central or built in vacuum cleaner has the suction motor and bag based in a central location of the building, providing vacuum inlets at strategic places throughout the building. This way, you only need to carry the hose and pickup head from room to room. The hose is normally 25 foot long, allowing a large range of movement without having to change vacuum inlets.

A plastic pipe will connect the vacuum outlets to the central unit. The head of the vacuum may either by un-powered or have beaters that are operated by an air driven or electric motor. The dirt bags in central systems are so big that you only need to change or empty them once or twice a year.

Robotic
Robot type vacuum cleaners will move around your home, cleaning as they wish. They are compact and powered by batteries.

Hand held
Hand held vacuum cleaners are very small and powered by either batteries or electricity, and very popular with cleaning up small spills.

Wet or dry vacs
Wet or dry vacuum systems can be used to clean up both wet and dry spills and dirt.

Vacuums are very helpful with protecting yourself and your family from dust particles. They are also helpful for those who suffer from allergies that result from dirt and dust. Before you buy a vacuum cleaner, you should always read some reviews and find out other information to ensure that the vacuum cleaner you buy will meet your needs.

Steam Cleaner Vacuum

A selection of hot water extractors are being marketed that range from the large or small canister types with hose and nozzle to those that look more like an upright vacuum cleaner. The basic operation of the steam cleaner vacuum involves spraying a mixture of warm water and detergent into the carpet, washing the fibers and then extracting the solution mixture back out. There are some models that include rotating or revolving brushes that will agitate the carpet for better cleaning.

The earlier styles that were sold consisted of a special wand and nozzle that was used to on wet/dry utility type of vacuum cleaner. The long hose was connected to a nearby hot water source. The detergent came in a small bottle on the wand and was mixed with hot water before being sprayed on the carpet. By using a finger controlled valve, you should control how much water was sprayed in the carpet. Even today, this type of vacuum is still being used.

The more modern designs are more self contained in the sense that water and detergent mixtures are placed into a tank on the machine. This will free you from the long water supply hose.

The main part of an extractor will consist of a cleaning solution tank, recovery tank, suction motor, cleaning nozzle, and some sort of solution spraying system. If there is a hose that is used, there will also be a motor or turbine driven pump that will force the solution on to the end of the hose.

Upright steam cleaners
These types of vacuums look like uprights also have the tanks, suction motor, main nozzle, and other features built into one. The entire vacuum unit is pushed around much like using an upright vacuum cleaner. Normally, the solution is gravity fed to the spray nozzle which is directly behind the suction nozzle.

Most types have brushes mounted in the same area to agitate the carpet for overall better cleaning. For cleaning upholstered furniture and carpeted stairs, most types will have a special hose and smaller nozzle that will come with stationary brushes that can easily detach.

Canister steam cleaners
This type of steam cleaner will come with a separate hose and nozzle and has the tanks and suction motor built directly into a case that is pulled along with you. The nozzle at the end of the hose and the wands are moved back and forth across the carpet to clean it.

There are some deluxe models that have a drive motor style revolving brush in the nozzle that will help you with the process of cleaning. These types of nozzles are much lighter to move acros the carpet than the upright types of steam cleaners.

The only disadvantage is that they aren't as convenient to set up and store as the self contained upright type. Therefore, having to pull them around with you can be a pain in the neck. The smaller portable extractor is a variation of the canister type in a small package. Even though this may sound great to have for stairs and furniture, the effectiveness they offer is actually quite poor.

Steam cleaners work the best when they used on a periodic basis to clean carpets that are very lightly soiled. If you use them on carpet that is very heavily soiled or stained, it can be very disappointing to say the least.

If you have the need for heavy duty cleaning, you should look into the professional cleaning services that are offered in your area. They have heavy duty commercial equipment that is far more powerful and able to produce much better results.