Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Selecting the Right Vacuum

  • By Dave Chen
  • 09/01/19

When carpets aren’t properly maintained, the appearance degrades and they wear out quickly. The most common, and likely most important, daily cleaning activity is vacuuming. Effective dirt removal from your carpets requires a commercial grade, high-quality vacuum.

With all of the options on the market, it’s easy to end up with a low-cost but also low-quality vacuum. Follow these simple steps to make sure you don’t get stuck making the wrong choice for long-term carpet care.

1. CRI approval. The Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) scientifically tests and evaluates vacuum cleaners. A vacuum with CRI approval will deliver excellent cleaning results without damaging your carpets.

2. Powerful dirt removal. It’s amazing how many vacuums fall short of the power and performance you need to effectively remove dirt and debris from your carpets.

3. HEPA filtration. If you’re doing the work, don’t stop at dust and dirt. HEPA filters will help remove the viruses, bacteria, and allergens that are lurking in your carpets. More importantly, after they’re removed, the HEPA filter will prevent them from exiting the vacuum through exhaust air.

4. Edge cleaning. Some vacuums are effective for edge cleaning, but many aren’t. Ineffective vacuums will leave a gray, dusty edge along your walls.

5. The right style for your job. Vacuums come in a lot of shapes and sizes. Do you buy an upright? A backpack? A canister? A wide-area vac? Each is designed for a specific task, and each has its own specific strengths and weaknesses. Consult an expert to help you decide which is best for your job. With the right cleaning equipment, you can create a clean, comfortable learning environment.

This article originally appeared in the College Planning & Management September 2019 issue of Spaces4Learning.

About the Author

Dave Chen is a field marketing manager for Nilfisk (www.nilfisk.com). He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Hawaii Elementary School Reopens Following $25M Campus Modernization

    Haʻaheo Elementary School in Hilo, Hawaii, has reopened to students following a three-year, $25-million campus modernization and expansion project that significantly increases the school's instructional space while preserving one of the island's oldest educational institutions, according to local news.

  • Cleveland High School Breaks Ground on Modernization

    Portland Public Schools in Portland, Ore., recently announced that construction has begun on a modernization project for Cleveland High School, according to a news release. The existing building will be replaced with a new, 300,000-square-foot facility at the same site.

  • Minnesota District Opens New PreK–12 School

    Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop Schools in Gibbon, Minn., recently announced that construction is complete on a new, $68.9-million school for students in grades PreK–12, according to a news release.

  • St. John Fisher University

    Classroom Revitalization – Basil Hall Room 216

    Established in 1999, the Education Design Showcase is a vehicle for showing off innovative — yet practical — solutions in planning, design, architecture, and construction. St. John Fisher University's Basil Hall Room 216 Classroom Revitalization has been recognized with an EDS 2026 Project of Distinction award in the category of Spaces.