Uprights are the best selling vacuums on the market, mainly because they're lighter, less bulky, easier to push, and easier to store than canisters. Great for carpets and effective on hard floors, the main drawback to uprights is that they are awkward for vacuuming stairs and under low furniture. Canisters are well suited for hard floors, vinyl, and tile. Get the right type, and cleaning will be easier. Above, the four basic types of vacuum.
Compact vacuums are another option.
Stick vacs , which look like skinny uprights, and hand vacs can be whipped out quickly for small jobs. While both types work well on bare floors, stick vacs are better at picking up surface dirt from carpets, and hand vacs are better at cleaning along wall edges, in nooks and crannies and on furniture. You may want to buy a full-sized upright or canister for general cleaning and a smaller stick or hand vac for spot cleaning and quick pickups. Once you've decided what type of vacuum you want, it's time to think about the surfaces you clean. Most homes have at least two types of floor surface, such as tile in the kitchen and carpet in the living room.