Floorcare buying guide

The higher the voltage of the cleaner, the more powerful it is and the more dirt it will be able to pick up. More powerful models can also power a rotating brush bar more effectively ensuring you get a great clean on your carpets.

Measured in Litres (l), Cordless vacuums tend to have smaller capacities than upright or cylinder vacuum cleaners as they are designed to clean smaller areas. This means they will need to be emptied more often.

Many last 15-20 minutes, providing ample cleaning time for a small area, but others can last up to 60 minutes on a single charge.

As cordless vacuum cleaners can be easier to move around the home than upright or cylinder vacuum cleaners, they can be more suited to use for those with pets, allowing you to clean pet hair from all around your home. Some cordless vacuum cleaners include tools that make it easier to pick up hair.

Cordless vacuum cleaners can include tools that help with specific jobs. This can include crevice tools for cleaning small spaces and dusting brushes that can be used for cleaning delicate items. Some cleaners have brushes with stiff bristles, helping to dislodge the ground in dirt.

The greatest cleaning power is provided by 'no loss of suction' (NLOS) technology, which uses multi-cyclonic action to prevent the filter from clogging, keeping the suction power at its maximum. The new Dyson Cinetic models feature cyclone technology that mean no maintenance of the filter is required.

Bagged cylinders tend to have a larger capacity, collecting dust and dirt in a bag, which should be disposed of when full and replaced. Some bags seal the dust away for cleaner disposal whilst some bagless cylinders use powerful cyclone technology to remove bacteria and allergens from the airflow and trap dirt in a chamber. These models are better for asthmas and allergy sufferers. Bagless cylinders are cost effective and kinder to the environment, as you don't have to replace bags which reduce the suction power as the bag fills.

Many Upright vacuums are designed to be easy to steer and manoeuvre around the home with specialist technology per manufacturer. Upright vacuum cleaners weigh between 1 kg to 9.5 kg, so it can be important to consider where you will be using your vacuum cleaner. Heavier vacuum cleaners can be difficult to carry up and down stairs, so it may be important to consider a lighter model if this is a requirement.

The dust capacity of vacuum cleaners is measured in litres (l), ranging between 1 and 4 litres. Larger capacity cleaners can clean more of your home before needing to be emptied, so you don't need to empty the container as often. These are ideal for larger homes with more substantial areas to clean (Or if you just fancy emptying less often!)

Most cylinder vacuums range in weight from 4.3 kg to 8 kg, which makes them easier to move around your home than upright vacuums. Their compact size is an advantage when moving them, and some include handles so you can easily carry them to where they are needed, so you can move them from downstairs to upstairs without struggling.

Pet hair can not only be difficult to remove from your carpets and other areas around your house but also leave odours. Some cylinder are Pet models, which are specially designed to lift hair and fluff from surfaces. These use a combination of high speed brush bars, which pull pet hair from carpet pile, and strong suction power.

The greatest cleaning power is provided by 'no loss of suction' (NLOS) technology, which uses multi-cyclonic action to prevent the filter from clogging, keeping the suction power at its maximum. The new Dyson Cinetic models feature cyclone technology that mean no maintenance of the filter is required.

Bagged cylinders tend to have a larger capacity, collecting dust and dirt in a bag, which should be disposed of when full and replaced. Some bags seal the dust away for cleaner disposal whilst some bagless cylinders use powerful cyclone technology to remove bacteria and allergens from the airflow and trap dirt in a chamber. These models are better for asthmas and allergy sufferers. Bagless cylinders are cost effective and kinder to the environment, as you don't have to replace bags which reduce the suction power as the bag fills.

The dust capacity of vacuum cleaners is measured in litres (l), ranging between 1 and 4 litres. Larger capacity cleaners can clean more of your home before needing to be emptied, so you don't need to empty the container as often. These are ideal for larger homes with more substantial areas to clean (Or if you just fancy emptying less often!)

The heating time is the time it takes for the steam cleaner to heat up and be ready to use.

The time it takes for a steam cleaner to heat up depends on the type of the cleaner. Many steam mops heat up quickly in as little as 20 seconds as they provide steam on demand. A cylinder steam cleaner can take around 6 to 8 minutes to heat up as it uses a pressurised steam chamber. The benefit of this is it provides high power steam more consistently.

The steam time is the time the steam cleaner can produce steam for before it runs out of water and needs refilling and is directly linked to water capacity.

Handheld steam cleaners have smaller capacities and so can only produce steam in short bursts and will need refilling more often. This makes them suitable for spot cleaning and other short tasks.

Larger steam cleaners such as cylinder cleaners generally have longer steam times thanks to the larger capacity of their water tanks. This means you can use them for longer without needing to refill them.

The capacity of steam cleaners is measured in litres (l). Higher capacity steam cleaners mean that you need to refill them less often.

Cylinder steam cleaners have the largest capacities, making them ideal when you have a large surface to clean. However, this also means they can take longer to heat.

Although steam mops have smaller capacities, they will also heat up quickly. Many also have removable water tanks, so you can fill the tank directly from a tap without needing to use a cup and funnel.

Steam mops can be used for hard floors such as tiles and some models have variable steam control making them suitable for laminate and wood floors as well. Some models are detachable allowing you to clean hard to reach surfaces.

Cylinder steam cleaners are more versatile and are suitable for not only mopping floors but for cleaning kitchens and bathrooms. Cylinder steam cleaners tend to offer longer steaming times than steam mops due to their larger water tanks, but they are not as quick to use. They can come with a variety of tools that allow you to clean grouting, ovens and floors, as well as steam creases out of clothes and curtains.

Handheld steam cleaners are cheaper and more portable. They come with a variety of tools for doing jobs around the home, however they have relatively small tanks which need re-filling more often.

Steam mops often include washable mop pads, which can be cleaned in the washing machine after you have used them. Steam mops that come with two pads mean you can always have a clean one to use while the other is being washed. Some models allow you to use both sides of the pad without switching it over giving you double the cleaning area.

A heating function maintains the temperature of heated water in the carpet cleaner, making it easier to break down dirt and grime in your carpets so you can enjoy excellent results. Not all models have a heat function.

Capacity is measured in litres (l). Carpet cleaners have both clean and dirty water capacities as the water is separated during use. The clean water tank holds the clean water that is used to clean the carpet. The dirty water tank holds the water and dirt particles taken up from the carpet. The clean water capacity is often larger than the dirty water capacity, as dirt particles from the wash fill up space in the dirty water compartment.

The performance of carpet cleaners is measured in watts (W). The higher the wattage of the carpet cleaner, the more powerful it will be. This means that it will have more power to extract dirt from your carpets for a deep clean.

Carpet cleaners require detergent to be able to clean your carpet. Most brands recommend a solution to be used with their carpet cleaner. The instructions will tell you how much solution is needed, and how many times you will need to go over each section of carpet for clean and even results. Some solutions are specially formulated to remove stains from your carpets.