A vacuum cleaner is a device used to clean floors, blinds, curtains, ceilings and skirting boards as some examples. A vacuum cleaner normally has an air pump which creates a partial vacuum to suck up debris, dust and dirt. The dirt is collected by a dust bag or cyclone, to be disposed of later.
Workplace solutions and adjustments
There are different vacuum cleaners available to meet varying industrial or domestic needs. Individuals needing to use vacuum cleaners that have reduced upper or lower body strength have a wide variety of models to choose from such as:
Upright vacuum cleaners
An upright vacuum cleaner has the body of the vacuum directly above the vacuum head. An upright vacuum cleaner has the pump (single/dual motor) directly above the vacuum suction head and the bag is attached to the vacuum body. The handle rises up to about waist height. The upright position of the vacuum can be more effective at cleaning and reduce the need to maintain a stooped position.
Canister or cylindrical vacuum cleaners
A canister vacuum cleaner has the vacuum body enclosing the motor and bag in a separate cylindrical unit which is normally mounted on wheels. A flexible hose is used to connect the vacuum head to the body. These models are generally lighter, easier to manoeuvre and more compact to store but require dragging and stooping to operate.
Wet vacuum cleaners or wet/dry vacuum cleaners
Wet or wet/dry vacuum cleaners can be used to clean wet surfaces or a combination of wet/dry surfaces. They are a specialised type of canister vacuum so once again require dragging and stooping to operate.
Backpack vacuum cleaners
A backpack vacuum cleaner has straps which fixes the vacuum canister to the user’s back, while a long flexible hose connects to the vacuum head. They are easily transported over large areas and over different floor heights. They are commonly used by commercial cleaners and reduce the need for stooping, however require the user to have the capacity to manoeuvre the pack onto their back and support weight through the shoulders.
Drum vacuum cleaners
Drum vacuum cleaners usually have a large upright drum mounted on wheels, which collects waste. These vacuums are normally used in industrial settings.
Built-in or ducted vacuum cleaners
Some workplaces or homes have built-in vacuum inlets within the walls, where the vacuum hose/head can be fitted in different rooms. This eliminates the carrying or pushing/pulling of vacuum drums, and these units are often less noisy than standard vacuum cleaners.
Robotic vacuum cleaners
Robotic vacuum cleaners automatically clean floors once they are manually switched on or have a timer which can be set so that they can clean at specific times. Some functions of robot vacuum cleaners include; virtual walls which tell them where to clean, automatic adjustment when moving from vacuuming carpets to hard floors, more thorough cleaning when they sense dirtier areas and the capacity to avoid getting stuck on cords or carpets. Robot vacuums automatically return to their home base to dock and recharge between cleanings. A limitation of the robotic vacuum cleaners is that they may not clean corners well and some furniture may need to be moved to ensure a thorough clean.
Small hand held vacuum cleaners
These are small and light weight vacuum cleaners, ideal for cleaning up small areas of dirt or spills.
Vacuum cleaner accessories
There are numerous vacuum accessories that come with each vacuum cleaner, including different nozzles, brushes and tools for cleaning edges, upholstery and dusting of furniture. There are also telescopic wands to minimise bending or overreaching while vacuuming.
Information on other cleaning products can be found at:
References
Wikipedia Foundation 2011, Wikipedia Free Encyclopaedia, St Petersburg, viewed 19 March 2011, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vacuum_cleaners.
iRobot (no date specified), iRobot Roomba 530, iRobot, Victoria, viewed 19 March 2011, http://www.roomba.com.au/roomba530.php.
Sydney Morning Herald 2011, Review: Navibot robot vacuum cleaner, Fairfax Media, Sydney, viewed 19 March 2011, http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/hometech/review-navibot-robot-vacuum-cleaner-20100715-10ci3.html.