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Glossary of Wet & Dry Cleaners Terms
A
Airflow
This parameter measures the suction performance of the cleaner. Measured in litres / second or cubic feet / minute. The higher this value the higher the suction performance of your cleaner.
Accessories
Available accessories depend on the model purchased, but typically include a wet floor tool; a dry floor tool; and one or more extension tubes.
Automatic Cable Wind
This saves you bending down to manually wind in the power cable. In most cases you simply press a button with your foot and the cable rewinds itself and disappears out of sight inside the cleaner's casing.
B
Bagged Models
These use a bag inside the collecting bin to collect the dust. This makes it easier to dispose of the dust, with many people finding it cleaner and healthier as very little dust tends to escape into the atmosphere when removing the bag.
Bagless Models
These will save you money in the long term, as you don't need to buy dust collection bags on an ongoing basis. They also offer the advantage that suction power remains consistently high because there is no bag to become clogged with dust particles. The disadvantage is that the dirt / dust has to emptied from the bin and some of the fine dust can escape into the atmosphere around you as you are emptying it.
Barrel Cleaner
These are very easy to manoeuvre as they are almost invariably on wheels and simply need pulling along behind you as you clean.
Blow Function
This can be a must-have feature for hard to reach areas. In some cases this will require you to remove the hose from the usual suction position and re-attach it to the cleaner's air exhaust / outlet. In other models, you can simply switch the cleaner to reverse the air flow. In blow mode, you can then aim the nozzle at the area in question to blow the dust away into a more accessible place in which it can be vacuumed up. Do bear in mind that in doing so, dust and allergens will be released into the atmosphere.
C
Compact Cleaner
Compact models, as the name suggests, are designed to minimise space requirements if storage room is tight. Inevitably they come with reduced waste bin or bag sizes and in some cases, smaller motors resulting in reduced suction and more frequent bag or bin emptying.
Cleaning Range
This is determined by the length of the cable and the length of the hose added together. The longer the range, the further you can clean away from a mains socket without the need for an extension cable. This can save you time and effort as you will not have to use an extension lead or constantly change sockets.
Corded / Cordless Cleaners
Corded cleaners require a mains supply to operate at all times. This has the advantage that they will not run out of power but the disadvantage of a mains lead and the need for a mains socket. Cordless cleaners have a rechargeable built-in battery and can be used when either plugged into a 240V mains socket or running on their own 12V, 14.4V, or 18V battery for more portable use. Being able to work from a battery also makes this type of cleaner ideal for outside use. Run times vary widely but are not overly long because the high power draw associated with a motor powerful enough to create decent suction.
Cord Length
A model with a long cord or mains lead will allow you to work further away from the mains socket without the need for an extension cable. See also cleaning range.
Cut Out Facility
When the maximum fluid capacity is reached in the dirt collection tank this cut out facility will activate, preventing an overflow of the liquid from the tank and thus potential mess and damage to the cleaner.
D
Drain Port / Hose
This makes the emptying of liquids from the tank, safer, cleaner and easier, especially if your cleaner has a large capacity tank. This is normally only found on professional level cleaners.
Dry Capacity
This is the volume of dry dust / debris that the dirt container / tank or bag can hold before it needs emptying. Capacity varies between model size.
Dual Purpose Filter
A single filter that copes with both dry dirt and liquids.
E
Edge Cleaning
The cleaner will clean the edges of the carpet / floor surface right up to where it meets a wall. Non-edge cleaning models may leave a gap of a few centimetres uncleaned.
Extension Tubes
These can be plastic, chrome or steel, depending upon the model purchased. Some models will only have one extension tube and others will offer two or more, allowing you a longer reach when cleaning. If purchasing a cleaner with steel extension tubes, be sure that they are made of good quality stainless steel to avoid corrosion when regularly used for liquid cleaning and that they are not too heavy.
F
Filtration
Some models come with a 5 stage filtration system, with some filters now trapping nearly 100% of dust particles as small as 0.3 micron. This is particularly important if there are any allergy / asthma sufferers in the family.
H
Handle Controls
Controls mounted on the handle of the cleaner removes the need to repeatedly bend down to use them.
HEPA Filtration
A HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filter has screens containing microscopic pores that capture the particles that the air is forcing through them. HEPA filters are widely held to be among the most effective filters currently available. HEPA filters can greatly assist people with allergies because they capture allergen particles including dust and pollen together with the particles found in cigarette smoke and even household cleaning products.
Hose Diameter
This can be an important factor to take into account when purchasing a wet / dry cleaner. You need to think about the specific cleaning job/s for which you are buying the cleaner. Simply stated, the larger the diameter of the hose, the larger the size of the debris it will be able to vacuum up.
I
In Line Volume Slide
This allows you to control the level of suction, usually from the handle of the tool. This can be a handy feature to have when cleaning more delicate items.
Integrated Tools
Here, the tools are contained on the side on in the casing of the cleaner, so they will always be to hand when you need to use them.
N
Noise Level
This is measured in decibels, and indicates how noisy the machine is when turned on and working. Noise levels can change dramatically depending on what type of substance is being vacuumed up. Cleaners are inherently noisy so unless you are purchasing for use in, perhaps, a nursing home or hospital where minimal disturbance is required, this isn't one of the major selection criteria for most people.
O
On Board Tool Storage
See integrated tools above.
Over Run Facility
This feature will continue to run the motor, typically for around 5 seconds, to ensure that the hose is clear after switching the cleaner off. It prevents the current contents of the hose from dropping back onto the cleaned surface.
P
Portable Models
Portable and compact and lightweight, these cleaners are suitable for domestic use and are also ideal for car interior cleaning. Portability is usually achieved at the expense of suction power and dirt / liquid capacity.
Power
The higher the wattage of the motor, the more powerful the motor will be for managing heavier or higher volume debris.
R
Rechargeable Models
See corded / cordless cleaners above.
S
Safety Float Valve
When hoovering up liquids, if the tank reaches full capacity, this valve will close and shut down the cleaner to prevent overflow. See also cut out facility above.
Stair Hose Length>
Here, the longer the better, as a decent length will allow you to vacuum a full flight of stairs (normally regarded as being 13 steps) without the need to move the cleaner.
Stand by Mode
A safety feature whereby the cleaner will automatically switch to a standby mode when not used for a set time period.
Stainless Steel Tanks
Stainless steel tanks are robust, corrosion-proof and are held to be ideal for sucking up most types of liquid; coarse or fine debris; for cleaning out drains; mopping up after a flood such as a washing machine leak or even vacuuming up broken glass bottles. Plastic tanks are also a valid option and tend to be lighter but a little less robust, suffering from abrasion over time if used to clean sharp debris.
Suction
Suction is determined by the power of the motor, together with the diameter of the hose and the efficiency of the filtration system. The more powerful the suction on your cleaner, the quicker it will deal with spills and dirt. See also air flow above.
T
TACT
TACT (Triggered Air Draft Cleaning Technology) is an automatic filter cleaning device that maintains constantly high suction power while dealing with large quantities of dust. Models with this technology are more suited for workshop use than for the domestic market.
Tank Capacity
The larger the tank capacity the less often you will need to empty it. Tank capacity will vary between models. It is worth bearing in mind that the larger the tank's capacity, the heavier the cleaner will be to use.
Twin Motors
Twin motors are generally to be found on the more industrial level cleaners. They offer greater vacuuming power for dealing with most types of solids from fine dust particles to larger bits of debris. A twin motor machine may be ideal for the DIY enthusiast with their own workshop.
W
Washable Filters
Washable filters will save you money on replacement filters as you simply need to remove them from the cleaner, wash them and allow them to fully dry before replacing them in the cleaner ready for the next cleaning job.
Weight
The lighter the machine the less tiring it will be to use and the easier it will be to carry upstairs. That said, you need to take into consideration the size of the area you are cleaning as a lighter weight cleaner will have a smaller dirt / liquid capacity, requiring you to empty the dirt container / bag / tank more frequently. Lighter cleaners also tend to come with less powerful motors and thus reduced suction power.
Wet Capacity
This is the total volume in litres that the tank can hold before the liquid inside needs to be emptied. Capacities vary significantly between models.
Wheels
Most models have two / four wheels although some barrel types have five wheels for superior manoeuvrability. Wheeled cleaners are invariably easier and less tiring to use than hand-held models for larger jobs but, due to their size, may struggle in tight spaces.
Wrap Round Storage
Instead of the automatic cable wind feature (see above) where the cord is stored inside the cleaners body, the cord is simply wrapped around the outside of the cleaners casing or on the upright handle of the cleaner around dedicated cord holders.
Working Length
See cleaning range above.
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