Best upright vacuum cleaners to give your home a thorough clean

Vacuuming your home should not be a heavy chore these days, with a range of cleaners available that offer all that your home might need, from long flexes, extendable hoses and rechargeable batteries to a range of additional tools that target specific tasks.

Your vacuum cleaner does have a lot to do, as most of us go over our floors at least once a week – more often if we have pets or kids who track dirt into the home and shed hair.

Choosing the best upright vacuum cleaner for you can make the chore go far more smoothly, so think about what kind of cleaner would best suit you, your floor types and your home. Do you need a cylinder vacuum cleaner, a stick or an upright? Do you prefer to plug in or are you happier with a cordless, rechargeable model? Do you want a big, all-purpose cleaner plus a smaller, handheld model for quick clean-ups? Or would a robot vacuum cleaner be the right choice for you?

Upright vacuum cleaners have many plus points. If you have a larger home, they are good for cleaning big spaces and if they have a generous cord, you can do the whole room without having to move the plug or use an extension lead.

A cordless model allows you to reach additional areas and those that have plenty of additional tools can mean you only need to buy one cleaner, rather than a couple. An upright vacuum cleaner is easy to manoeuvre and quite stable and because you push the machine in front of you, rather than pulling it along behind, you have more control and there’s less strain on you and the machine. Some can feel heavy, however, so if you have back problems or are petite, look for a lightweight model.

The cleaning head-on is often more thorough than a cylinder’s, with brush rolls as well as impressive suction. They also usually have a good capacity for your dust and rubbish, so don’t need emptying as often.

New features such as HEPA filters and bagless models, lights and variable power settings mean that there are lots of great features on offer for all.

What to look for in an upright vacuum cleaner:

• Weight: If you are petite or have back or joint problems, a super lightweight machine may be perfect. Just bear in mind that you might compromise on engine size, and therefore power and bag size.
• Appearance: if your machine needs to be left in a corner, will it look out of place? Many new vacuum cleaners are designed to fit with your décor.
• does it pack down into a smaller size when you’re not using