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FeaturesFebruary 4, 2015

They come with names like Shark, Neato, Sunburst and AirRam. Color choices include black cherry fizz, purple passion and Bordeaux pearl. Before you buy, you may want to talk to an expert or do a test drive. And, before investing, you may want to take to the Internet for product reviews...

Vacuum cleaners on display at The Golden Needle Sew and Vac in Cape Girardeau. (Photo by Fred Lynch)
Vacuum cleaners on display at The Golden Needle Sew and Vac in Cape Girardeau. (Photo by Fred Lynch)

They come with names like Shark, Neato, Sunburst and AirRam.

Color choices include black cherry fizz, purple passion and Bordeaux pearl.

Before you buy, you may want to talk to an expert or do a test drive. And, before investing, you may want to take to the Internet for product reviews.

In the market for a new car?

No, but a new vacuum cleaner is needed.

If the range of product types is extreme -- uprights, canisters, sticks, robotic, hand vacs and central vacuum systems -- the variety of models is dizzying. And they can range in price from $49.99 to $1,000 and more.

Experts suggest a good look at your floors before you buy, and a trip to the store to pull and push, turn and carry -- and listen. Can you handle its noise?

The traditional upright, especially with a filter bag, seems to do best on carpet. While an upright can weigh as much as 20 pounds, it easily stores in a closet or pantry.

Canister vacuums seem to be more versatile -- cleaning carpets, but also doing the job on bare floors, draperies and upholstery and beneath furniture. They work well on stairs, whether carpeted or bare.

"My first question is, 'What kind of floors do you have? Hardwood? Carpet? Ceramic tile?" says Sheryl Winschel, owner of The Golden Needle Sew and Vac, whose store at 300 S. Kingshighway in Cape Girardeau sells sewing machines, yes, but also has a considerable portion of floorspace devoted to vacuum cleaners in a range of models.

"Then, I might ask if your house is on a single level or multiple levels. Do you have pets? Do you have teenage children? Understanding the cleaning situation lets me help you find the right equipment," Winschel adds.

Winschel, who started the business in 1981 in Perryville, Missouri, opened a store in Cape Girardeau in 1991 and then consolidated the business 10 years ago at the current location, which includes The Sewing Basket, selling fabric and notions and offering classes.

The store is a dealer for the line of cleaners from Riccar -- whose plant is in St. James, Missouri, and is one of the few vacuum manufacturers in the United States. It also is an authorized dealer of the German-designed Lindhaus vacuums, which are known for extreme filtering capability and extensive warranties.

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Robotic vacuum cleaners, which hit the market about 10 years ago, are a convenient hands-free way to clean floors.

Consumer Reports says the robotic category is growing, although robots can face difficulty with fringed rugs and electrical cords.

"In an uncluttered room, a robotic vacuum can fill in between regular vacuuming sessions. The better models can find their way out of tight spots and around extension cords," Consumer Reports says, adding, "No robotic vacuum can match the deep cleaning you'll get from the best uprights and canisters."

Alternatives to traditional vacuum cleaners are the Rainbow Cleaning System, which uses a combination air and water filtration system, and central vacuum systems, which have the power unit located away from the living area and a hose that plugs into vacuum inlets throughout the house.

Morris Owens of Owens Enterprises in Jackson has sold the Rainbow system since 1969; the product is available only from independent distributors and is not sold in retail stores.

"The Rainbow is a canister-style machine with a power nozzle with revolving-brush edge cleaners," Owens says. "It's healthier to use ... because it produces pure, breathable air by removing 99.9999 percent of dust, dirt and other debris."

Noting that the Rainbow is certified as asthma and allergy friendly by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, Owens says some customers run the machine overnight to filter the air, and may add a fragrance such as eucalyptus, lemon or vanilla. A refurbished unit with a warranty may cost $600; new units sold by a distributor and carrying a manufacturer's warranty are in the $2,000 range.

Gary Heuer, through his company Beam Central Cleaning Systems in Cape Girardeau, has been installing central vacuum systems for 30 years. A number of manufacturers make the central systems, and Beam is manufactured by Electrolux.

A central vacuum system contains three major components: a power unit, a filtration system with a canister to collect the dirt and a network of pipes behind the walls and floors and at inlets where users plug in the vacuum hose.

Heuer says the best time to install a central system is during a home's construction or renovation, and he has installed the system in existing homes, adding that a site survey and estimate generally are free.

Heuer says "Ninety-nine percent of particulate matter is removed," through the help of a permanent, non-replaceable, self-cleaning filter.

"The popularity of the central systems has increased drastically" in recent years, Heuer says, citing its convenience and efficiency.

Winschel sums up the cleaning quest this way: "The issue should be finding the right equipment that's the least physically demanding on you and that keeps your home clean and healthy."

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