Vacuum power

With the help of vacuum cleaners and the correct attachments, cleaning is never a chore, writes Sushma Veera

WHEN was the last time you thoroughly cleaned every nook and cranny of your house? For many, cleaning the house is a daunting task that can’t be avoided. But help is at hand.

“Today, vacuum cleaners have evolved into sophisticated and intelligent devices for home use that have properties and uses beyond simple cleaning,” says Niko Ng, Samsung Electronics product manager (digital appliances business).

The vacuum cleaner is said to be one of the best inventions but many people find vacuuming a chore. Could it be because people fail to realise that the vacuum can be used for many other tasks other than cleaning the floor?
Ng explains that most vacuum cleaners are suitable for multiple surfaces, including carpeted and non-carpeted floors. Samsung vacuum cleaners are suitable for wood floor, marble, tiles, cement, carpeted and even fabric surfaces.
“The right vacuum cleaner makes it easier to have a cleaner home without much hassle,” she says.

Vacuum cleaners come with different nozzles and attachments to clean different home surfaces.

For example, the rug and floor tool comes with a retractable brush that can either be used on rugs and bare floors. Also available is the upholstery tool, a solid and superior quality tool to dust and clean thoroughly furniture, armchairs, sofas and rugs.

“Meanwhile, the crevice tool cleans narrow, hard-to-reach areas and the dusting brush thoroughly removes dust accumulated on furniture and decorative pieces around the home.”
Then there is the Mini Super Turbine Brush that comes with the Samsung Aquatic vacuum cleaner. This is a specially designed brush to efficiently remove pet hair, especially within carpeted surfaces with its dual drum system.

BUYING A VACUUM

With so many different vacuum cleaners in the market, what should we look out for when buying one?

 Ng says: “Today’s homeowners consider their homes to be an extension of their personality, so when new products are designed, we make sure that they not only work well but also look great too.”
There are four major attributes to consider before purchasing a vacuum cleaner. These are:
Type: Vacuums come in five types that include canister, robotic, stick, wet and dry, and handheld.

Bag or bagless: Vacuum cleaners with bags are generally less expensive, but there is the cost of replacing the bag regularly. In comparison, bagless vacuums offer better suction power with advanced chamber technology.
Filtration system: Vacuum cleaners with filtration systems are generally effective in reducing allergens in the home. For example, High Efficiency Particulate Absorbing (HEPA) filters remove dust, pollen, mold and bacteria.
Brushes and attachments: Most vacuum cleaners come with three attachments — a crevice tool, an upholstery brush and a dusting brush.
“Regular vacuuming not only keeps your floors clean and your carpets looking great, it also helps to minimise dust mites in your home.”

INTELLIGENT DEVICES

Samsung has developed three SMART vacuum cleaners that have unique features and benefits to optimise their use.
• Samsung NaviBot-Silencio is a visionary robotic cleaning device that provides hands-free automated floor cleaning. The unit comes equipped with unique Visionary MappingTM System that allows the device to perform cleaning activities via an intelligent navigation programme.
• Samsung Aquatic is an aqua multi-chamber vacuum cleaner, which removes allergens via the revolutionary Aqua Cyclone, an innovative technology created for allergy care.
• Samsung FlexSlim comes in a slim design that provides ease of storage in a limited space. It features the Twin Chamber System that enhances dust collection and abstraction due to the uniquely designed cyclone air flow, which generates strong centrifugal force separating dust from the air.

Read the manual

With proper care, a vacuum cleaner can last for years without breaking down, says Nico Ng “Users should read the manual for the care and maintenance instructions.”
She shares a few tips on maintaining a vacuum cleaner:

• Do not vacuum large objects.
• Unplug your vacuum cleaner before performing any maintenance on it.
• For vacuum cleaners with bags, check the bag regularly and replace it when it is full.
• For bagless vacuums, empty the bin or tray regularly.
• Remove any large accumulation of debris from the air passages and the brush roll housing.
• Clean any filters on the vacuum.

Five myths

Myth #1 — All filters are the same.
No. The High Efficiency Particulate Absorbing (HEPA) filter is a type of air filter that can remove dust, pollen, mould and bacteria.

Myth #2 — Amps mean performance.
Amps is measurement of electrical current. It doesn’t affect how well a vacuum cleaner performs.

Myth #3 — Cyclonic systems do not use filters and require less maintenance.
Virtually all cyclonic or bagless vacuuming systems use a final filter to collect dust. The final filter will require regular cleaning or replacement to ensure optimal performance.

Myth #4 — All vacuum cleaners have similar design features and are equally easy to use.
Vacuum cleaners, such as Samsung NaviBot-Silencio, Aquatic and FlexSlim, come with ergonomic design, weight and other factors affecting ease-of-use.
For example, Samsung NaviBot-Silencio is a robotic cleaning device that provides hands-free automated floor cleaning. The unit comes equipped with an upgraded Visionary Mapping System that allows speedy and smooth movements.

Myth #5 — Suction alone makes a “vacuum” work well.

There are four benchmarks to evaluate a vacuuming system:

• Airflow — this is the amount or volume of air moving through the “vacuum” and affects the amount of dust particles, dirt and debris that can be picked up and contained in the vacuum cleaner’s filtration.
• Lift — also known as static lift or water lift, it is the ability of the vacuum’s airflow to lift dirt. It is measures in “inches of lift” determined by how many inches the vacuum cleaner’s airflow can pull the water up from a lab tube.
• Filtration — captures fine dust particles and is mainly responsible for reducing “particles out”. Filtration must be designed to work with the vacuum’s flow and lift.
• Design — bad design can defeat good vacuuming potential.

 

Vacuum cleaners come with different nozzle attachments for different functions

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