Are Canister Vacuum Cleaners Better Than Upright Vacuum Cleaners?

Since there's no real limit to engine size, canister vacuum cleaners are generally more powerful than upright vacuum cleaners. They usually have better suction and flow rates leading to easier and faster cleaning, particularly when cleaning uncovered bare floors. A good quality canister vacuum cleaner will usually clean carpets just as well as an upright vacuum cleaner.

So should you select an upright vacuum cleaner over a canister model? While upright vacuum cleaners have for a long time been the most common type of vacuum cleaners in the US, more and more house holds now prefer canister vacuum cleaners instead.

Get Free Estimates From Local Maid Cleaning Services

So let's get down to the Pro's and the Con's for each vacuum cleaner type in order to help you make the best decision based on what your needs are.

Upright Vacuum Cleaners
Upright vacuum cleaners generally have a popular & traditional design with the motor and the suction head in the same unit and the user pushes and pulls in front of him or her.

Advantages
>>  In general, upright vacuum cleaners tend to be less costly compared to canister vacuum cleaners.
>>  Uprights usually use motorized brushes so they are efficient especially for cleaning rugs and thick carpets.
>>  With upright vacuum cleaners, changes between cleaning bare floors and carpets can usually be controlled simply with your foot.
>>  Uprights usually don't require you to bend your back unless you're using the hose attachment.
>>  Storing uprights is generally easy because there aren't any accessories to dismount and put away. Uprights can also be operated without undue preparation.
>>  Upright vacuum cleaners usually have a wider cleaning path so you csn get the vacuuming completed quicker.

Disadvantages
>>  Upright vacuum cleaners only rarely have a good sound insulation so they are generally noisier than canister vacuum cleaners.
>>  Uprights are often heavy reaching up to 10 kilos and they're difficult to drag back and forth in the whole house. Think about carrying one up and down your staircase!
>>  Uprights are usually efficient when cleaning corners or hard-to-reach places. However some models are now equipped with small hose addons for these purposes.

Canister Vacuum Cleaners
Canister vacuum cleaners have the cleaning nozzle at the end of a wand and it's linked to the vacuum unit through a hose. The canister contains the engine, the filter and the dust bags and the unit has wheels so it can be easily dragged around by the user.

Advantages
>>  Because there is no limit to the size of the engine, canister vacuum cleaners tend to be more powerful than upright vacuum cleaners and they possess better suction power and flow rate. This generally results in faster and easier cleaning especially when it's used for bare floors.
>>  Canister vacuum cleaners are usually easier to carry around and they are less heavy.
>>  Canister vacuum cleaners are easier to maneuver around and due to the hose they are more practical for cleaning staircases and other hard to reach places for upright vacuum cleaners like upholstery, drapes, blinds or under/behind furniture. Canisters are also easy to operate because you only need to move the wand, not the complete vacuum cleaner so you can maneuver easily on stairs or in tight spaces.
>>  Canister vacuums make less noise which is because there's more room in the canister housing for good sound insulation.
>>  Canistervacuum cleaners can be equipped with various tools. E.g. crevice nozzles, upholstery brushes and even mechanized brushes are available for increasing efficiency on rugs and carpets. These add-on tools are often conveniently placed either on the canister itself or directly on the wand which makes them very versatile. And a good canister vacuum cleaner will clean carpets just as well as upright cleaners.

Disadvantages
>>  Canister vacuum cleaners aren't immediately operational because usually there's some assembly needed before you are able to use them. An example would be putting the accessories in place, consequently they aren't as practical as an upright cleaner for a quick and immediate use.
>>  Because of the hose and wand, canister vacuum cleaners can be more bothersome to store compared to upright vacuum cleaners. But once disassembled canister vacuum cleaners can fit in a small storage space or cupboard.
>>  Some users don’t like draging the canister behind them. Also there can be bumps on the walls or furniture as you move around, but this is usually less of an issue if you have a protective rubber casing on the sides of the canister. Furthermore if the canister wheels are too small. it's possible for them to get stuck in thick carpets and power cords.
>>  An important issue with many is that canister vacuum cleaners require you to bend over more often which can be a problem if you have a back complaint. Some brands have tried to resolve this problem by having wand hand controls or else with controls on the canister which are big enough for foot control. Nevertheless the arm motion you need to do during cleaning still requires that you bend down somewhat.

Conclusion : Are Canisters Better Than Upright Vacuum Cleaners?

Some years ago upright vacuum cleaners were the preferred choice for cleaning rugs and carpets and canister vacuum cleaners were generally the best choice for bare floors.

Both types are now fighting to bridge the gap with upright vacuum cleaners adding small hoses and canister vacuum cleaners including motorized brush accessories.

So distinctions between their preferred uses is becoming less clear. So an upright vacuum cleaner may be the best choice if your house or apartment has mostly carpets or rugs, especially thick ones.

That's because the rotating brushes of upright vacuum cleaners are better at extracting dust and dirt from thick carpets than a classic floor cleaner.

But overall canister vacuum cleaners have a clear advantage over upright cleaners. They are more less noisy, more powerful and easier to use making a canister vacuum faster at cleaning and with less nuisance.

If your home has mostly bare tiled or wood floors, a combination of bare floors and rugs or if is a two story home, then a canister vacuum cleaner would almost always be a better investment.

You just need to ensure that the canister you choose as well as its accessories are well adapted to the range of floor types you have.

Finally it's also a matter of personal preference - some folks are more comfortable pushing an upright in front of them while others prefer the moving around with the two different parts of a canister vacuum.