The time has come to retire your old vacuum cleaner and replace it with something brand new. You’re looking for one that’s easy to use and practical, and something that can suck the tiles off the floor - if that’s what you want.
Have you considered a cordless vacuum cleaner?
In days gone by, many cordless vacuums were kind of clunky and underpowered; certainly not the best choice for a house-proud individual determined to keep their space spotless.
Today, however, technology has waved its magic wand over these essential appliances and created some pretty awesome products.
We’re taking a closer look at five features of the best cordless vacuum cleaners in South Africa.
Unpacking the Best Cordless Vacuum Cleaners
Before jumping in and buying the biggest, strongest, or shiniest vacuum, we’d like to encourage you to first determine your needs. When choosing the right vacuum cleaner for your home, you need to at least consider the below:
Your carpet type
Other flooring material
Use frequency
Who will be using it
The size of your home or office
The presence of pets in your space
Now you’re in the best position to filter through the available products and make the right choice.
Powerful
Are cordless vacuum cleaners powerful enough to offer a good clean? In short, yes. But let’s find out why.
The topic of power when it comes to vacuum cleaners is often a little vague. We may think that the higher the wattage the better the result, which sounds reasonable, right? There are several factors that come into play when determining the “power” of these appliances.
First off, the wattage of an appliance refers, not to its power, but to how much power it uses. For example, a 1000W product uses 1000 watts of power in an hour. That’s interesting, but it doesn’t give us any idea of how well it sucks.
Suction & Airflow
Therefore, we need to examine suction and airflow - the two essential concepts that will tell us how effective it will be.
Cleaning company X02 helps us to understand how these two work together. “Suction (very basically) is what picks up the dirt (and creates the velocity/speed of airflow), and the airflow (volume of air on the move) is what moves the dirt away.
“Suction is ultimately what gives a given volume of air its speed or velocity by the vacuum motor. The more suction you have, the quicker a given volume of air is moved.
“Airflow is what moves the dirt along, that suction has picked up. (Much the same way as the wind carries away the dust). Hopefully, you can see that it is this interconnection of both suction and airflow that gives us vacuum cleaner performance. One cannot exist without the other.”
With that out of the way, when you’re shopping for the best cordless vacuum cleaner, be sure to look at the suction power (measured in AW or air wattage) which will give you an indication of its effectiveness.
One source gives us some figures to help us compare products saying:
An upright vacuum cleaner will do a great job at 180-200 AW;
An efficient canister vacuum cleaner should feature 300+ AW;
If you are into cordless vacuum cleaners, pick one with AW ranging between 80-100 AW.
A budget-friendly cordless vacuum cleaner that sits a little lower on the AW range is perfect for you if you have hard flooring surfaces. It will cost less upfront and use less electricity during its life. If your home is carpeted, aim for a higher AW.
Battery Type
The best thing about cordless vacuum cleaners is their range; we don’t have to worry about grabbing extension leads or moving furniture to get to an elusive plug point. The pick-up-and-go functionality is brilliant and made even better with the technical advances in batteries.
Lithium-ion batteries are the go-to solution for cordless products for several good reasons.
Healthier Alternative
Lithium-ion batteries are a healthier alternative to other types of conventional batteries. They contain low levels of toxic heavy metals which makes them safer for use and disposal.
User-Friendly
Lithium-ion batteries are much lighter and more compact than their older counterparts. Lithium is a highly reactive element with the ability to release and store large amounts of energy, allowing li-ion batteries to pack high levels in small sizes. This translates into longer-lasting times between charges for your device while being lightweight and easy to manoeuvre.
Long-Lasting
Lithium-ion batteries are very durable. They last about 1000 full charge cycles, which means that you can use your battery until it is almost completely discharged and then recharge with no issue.
Batteries are not all created equal. Many of us have found that older batteries can suffer from what is called the "memory effect." They would lose their charging capacity if you repeatedly used them before being fully charged, or they might only give out whatever power was drawn during partial discharges after some time.
Li-ion batteries don’t do this which makes for a longer-lasting battery and zero impact on performance.
Bagless Cleaning
We love bagless vacuum cleaners! Having all your dirt and debris stored in a canister for effortless disposal is one of the best features of cordless cleaning. While this aspect stands on its own, the following video will highlight several other ways the Beko cordless vacuum cleaners make cleaning so easy, even your children can do it. How many can you spot?
Design & Flexibility
It’s hard to deny that traditional vacuums are incredibly practical. While vacuuming your carpet it’s simple to whip off the floor attachment and pop on a crevice tool to get behind the door or up against the skirting. The best cordless vacuum cleaners do all this - and more.
Lighting
LED lights mounted on the vacuum head offer a practical solution to cleaning in hard to reach corners, under furniture and other places where lighting is low.
Agility
A stick vacuum should be more than, well, a stick. Take for example Beko’s RT 94929 VI: Rocket PowerClean Vacuum Cleaner.
The ActiFlex™ function activates with the touch of a button allowing you to get under sofas or in-between furniture with minimal effort. A quick switch of the head created another appliance entirely, cleaning in between sofa cushions, on top of shelving, and whipping away stubborn pet hair in an instant.
Various Floor Surfaces
A good quality cordless vacuum can tackle all flooring types. Hard surfaces such as tiles or wooden floors benefit from soft rollers or agitators which help to pick up and channel dirt without spreading it around. However, carpets - particularly deep pile carpets - benefit from a flatter head with stronger suction power to really pull up the dirt.
Check whether the vacuum you’re buying will work well effectively on all surfaces.
Convenience
The minimal storage requirements needed by cordless vacuum cleaners is probably one of their best features. Whether you prefer to hang them in a cupboard or set up their compact docking station in a corner of the kitchen, they become all but invisible. For home offices or smaller apartments where space is at a premium, this feature offers real value.
Another major benefit of upright vacuum cleaners is the reduced stress and strain on your back and legs. Your posture remains good while cleaning, a fact which any home executive will applaud!
The canisters are quick to empty and rinse out, the various pieces all pack away compactly, and each change merely requires a click off and a click on. It couldn’t be easier!
Are Cordless Vacuums Worth It?
The short answer is yes, cordless vacuums are getting stronger and more versatile as technology advances.
The exciting features of the best cordless vacuum cleaners are growing all the time: they’re lightweight, powerful, practical, agile, and convenient - what’s not to love?
If you’d like to find out more about Beko’s range of appliances, please take a moment to scroll through our home products.
FAQs
What is suction power, and why is it important in cordless vacuums?
Suction power refers to the force with which the vacuum cleaner pulls in dirt and debris. Higher suction power translates to better cleaning performance, especially on carpets and other surfaces that require more suction. In cordless vacuums, suction power can be limited due to the size of the motor and battery, so it's essential to choose a model with adequate power for your needs.
What is dustbin capacity, and how does it affect cordless vacuum performance?
Dustbin capacity refers to the volume of dirt and debris that the vacuum cleaner can hold before it needs to be emptied. In cordless vacuums, the dustbin capacity can vary widely, depending on the model. A larger dustbin capacity means you can clean for longer before needing to stop and empty the bin, which can save you time and make cleaning more convenient.
What is run time, and how long should it be in a cordless vacuum?
Run time refers to the amount of time that the vacuum cleaner can operate on a single charge. In cordless vacuums, run time can vary widely, depending on the battery capacity and power settings. A longer run time can be helpful if you have a large home or need to clean for an extended period. Look for cordless vacuums with run times of at least 30 minutes or more.
What is a filtration system, and why is it important in cordless vacuums?
A filtration system refers to the components in the vacuum cleaner that trap dust, dirt, and other particles. In cordless vacuums, filtration systems can vary widely, depending on the model. Look for vacuums with HEPA filters, which are highly effective at trapping small particles and allergens.
What are attachments, and why do they matter in cordless vacuums? Attachments are additional tools that can be used with the vacuum cleaner to clean different surfaces and areas. In cordless vacuums, attachments can include crevice tools, upholstery brushes, and more. Having a variety of attachments can make cleaning more efficient and effective, as you can use the right tool for the job at hand.