How to Buy An Upright Vacuum – Think Quality, Durability
by Allen Rathey

Dr. W. Edwards Deming, the statistician and quality control expert who taught the Japanese – namely companies like Toyota - about quality, once was asked the price of his new shoes. His answer? "How could I know? I haven't finished wearing them yet."

The true cost of a product depends on its long-term performance - that is, the value provided over time. Vacuum cleaners are no exception.

How do you choose a durable upright vacuum that performs well and is cost-effective over time? Answer these key questions:

1. How effectively does it clean?
   
   Though an obvious question - since soil removal directly affects a carpet's longevity, appearance and related long-term costs, and indirectly affects the health of building occupants - it's a vital one.
   
   Don't rely on superficial marketing claims: the proof is in third-party testing. The Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) tests vacuums for soil removal as part of its voluntary Green Label Program, and soon will apply NASA Space Shuttle technology called XRF (X-Ray Fluorescence) to determine even more precisely how much soil remains in cleaned carpet, and thus how well equipment performs.
   
   One motor or two? Two motor uprights generally clean better than single motor uprights because one dedicated motor creates suction, while the other drives the rotating brush. It's applying the “Team Cleaning” principle to uprights: workloading using “specialist” motors enables applying focused energy to each function for better, faster results.
   
   Under furniture and around edges? Does the vacuum's footprint, edge and airflow design enable it to get deep under furniture and close to walls and corners?
   
   Does the rotating brush beat dust into the air or into the vacuum? While agitation bounces soil into the vacuum's airflow it can also drive dust airborne instead of removing it when airflow and lift at the floor are inadequate; which also leads to our next question…
   
   
   


2. How well does the vacuum filter?
   
   Filtration should be measured by overall dust capture from all possible escape points (filters, body seams, vacuum tools, point of contact with cleanable surface) rather than just the actual filter media.
   Uprights have one unique point of vulnerability: the interface between the beater brush opening and the carpet. When the carpet is “beaten” or agitated, dust can become airborne if the airflow, lift and air speed does not remove it. The wide orifice that accommodates the beater brush can lower air velocity and cleaning ability if the ratio of airflow factors to orifice-width is not optimal.
   Does the vacuum have HEPA media? Great. Microfilter media? This can work equally well in non-cleanroom applications. Remember, the entire system needs to be considered to determine overall dust capture, not just the type of filters.
   Similarly, are airflow and suction balanced to enable the filters to trap the dust without blowing it through the media?
   How are the body integrity and seals? Is the machine engineered using close tolerances and good seals to prevent dust from escaping where it shouldn't?
   Testing is important. Has the manufacturer used a credible third-party testing lab to measure dust capture efficiency at the vacuum's airflow rate? Has the vacuum also been tested in a chamber to determine overall emissions from the entire machine, not just the filters?
   
   
   
   
3. How durable is it?
   Upright vacuums take a pounding. They need to be well-built, but the material used in the parts is equally critical.
   
   Have you heard of engineered thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs)? Likely not, but high-quality high-use vacuum parts are now fashioned from this remarkable substance, sometimes known by the trade name Santoprene™ TPE.
   
   Santoprene TPE is a modern thermoplastic rubber engineered and manufactured by ExxonMobil Chemical that is ideal for vacuum cleaner wheels (a.k.a., where the “rubber meets the floor”), since it can withstand extreme cold, impact, abrasion, and chemicals, while still staying flexible and fully functional. Wheels made of Santoprene TPE are virtually indestructible in normal use.
   
   Handle design and construction are also crucial to durability and ergonomics. Newer high-strength synthetic materials enable molded one-piece vacuum handles that are strong, flexible and light weight.
   
   How about belts? Are they the “rubber-band” type that stretch and wear out quickly, lowering performance and needing frequent replacement? Or are the belts designed like automotive timing belts, geared or sprocketed with woven fibers running their length to provide strength in the same way steel re-bar does in modern skyscrapers?
   
   
   
   Conclusion
   
   There are, of course, other performance factors to consider in selecting a quality upright vacuum, but armed with this primary info, you can make a wise choice in a high performance, durable machine. Then, when someone asks the price of your vacuum cleaner, you can smile and reply like Deming, “I do not know. I have not finished using it yet.”