How to buy a vacuum cleaner

What, you're still making do with just your standard hose and bag combo? With a vast array of labour-saving attachments and multi-function models on the market, you can cut your vacuuming time dramatically, leaving you more time to make the mess in the first place.
1. Upwardly mobile
The most popular type on the market, upright hoovers are all-in-one units with waist-height handles which make them super easy to manoeuvre. Effective on large carpeted areas, uprights have beater bars which are particularlyg efficient at picking up stubborn pet hair. "Many upright cleaners have hard-floor attachments alongside carpet settings," reveals Electrolux's Elizabeth Farmer. "If you've stairs, choose a hose long enough to stretch a full flight," she recommends. This retro-looking Sebo-automatic x11 (£199) from trusty Marks & Spencer will last a good couple of decades.

2. For car nuts
Portable and versatile, cylinder vacuum cleaners differ in that the motor is separated from the nozzle by the hose. Their lightweight body and variety of on-board accessories makes them ideal for cleaning out car interiors and hard-to-reach places. But be aware; most cylinders don't have beater bars on the nozzle meaning they rely purely on suction to pick up dirt. This Morphy Richards pod cylinder (£34.99, Godfrey) is a classic, no frills cylinder option.

3. Mother's help
No longer any need to panic when you knock over a glass of juice - the wet and dry hoover can suck up soggy spills or dry dirt. Mothers of toddlers are understandably enthusiastic about these models. Several wet and dry vacuum cleaners are also able to clear blockages from pipes. The Karcher handyman wet and dry vacuum cleaner (£130, trueshopping.co.uk) is robust and sturdy.

4. Boys toy
One for the man who likes a quick whiz around the sitting room.
Handheld vacuum cleaners have experienced a renaissance due to the addition of extra features previously found only on full-size cleaners. Dyson's Daniel Crowley says: "We've actually noticed an increase in registrations from men for handhelds, compared to regular vacuums." Splash out on the sleek and sexy rechargeable Alessi handheld vacuum cleaner - a snip at £78 from Nest. Don't expect it to serve as your only cleaner but it wins hand down for small, quick jobs and is easy to store.

5. Robot man
What we all want - a robotic cleaner to do all the work for us. No longer a sci-fi fantasy, robotic vacuum cleaners achieve autonomous cleaning using sensors to find their way around. Some models are able to visit a docking station to empty themselves, and super-quiet features mean they can clean while you sleep. The space-age looking Karcher RC3000 (£599.99, trueshopping.co.uk) will even clean domestic floors when you are not at home. Beware though - convenience costs.

6. Bless you
What with all the sneezing going on, manufacturers are taking allergies very seriously (Dyson even grows it's own dustmites for research). Vacuum cleaners now incorporate filters to trap allergens and make our homes as sneeze-free as possible. Standard filters offer basic filtration whilst HEPA and S-class filters trap up to 100% of allergens and 99.7% of particles (including dust-mites). Lifetime filters can be standard or HEPA/S-class, but either way, they never need replacing. Check out the Dyson DC14 Allergy (£260, Next).

7. Stow-away
Clever manufacturing means it is now possible to buy cleaners like the neat Dyson DC20 stowaway bagless cylinder vacuum cleaner (£249, Littlewoods Direct), which will fit into tiny storage spaces without compromising on power. "People are living in smaller homes and need appliances that suit this," says Hoover Candy's Mark Barratt. "With space at a premium, vacuum cleaners need to be small but encompass all the technical innovations of full-sized cleaners," he adds.
Allergies driving you nuts? Stop sniffling with our guide to allergy-proofing your home, and give your quarters a natural spring clean with the best chemical-free products on the market.