Vacuum Cleaners

Buy effective and powerful vacuum cleaners online now at Cromwell. We stock a wide range of vacuums to suit your requirements, including industrial vacuum cleaners, general purpose cleaners and wet and dry vacuum cleaners.

We carefully choose all the products in our range from reliable, market-leading brands, like Kächer®, Nilfisk Alto®, Numatic®, Kobe®, Makita® and more.

What are vacuum cleaners?

Also known as hoovers, vacuum cleaners replaced the traditional dustpan and brush and, like many powered cleaning tools, revolutionised domestic and professional cleaning alike. Typically mains powered, the vacuum cleaner creates suction which sucks all dust and dirt into a dust bag or other type of storage compartment.

Why buy a vacuum cleaner?

Vacuum cleaners make quick work of dirt and dust removal on a range of flooring. They're extremely effective on carpets and upholstery, helping to combat a build-up of dust mites and other debris that has become ingrained into carpet fibres. And, while some vacuums are dust only, dual vacuums that will clean both wet and dry surfaces have taken this humble little machine to new heights and placed it firmly at the top of the must-have cleaning essentials list.

Vacuum cleaner types

Vacuum cleaner technology has advanced significantly over the years, producing cyclone hoovers, wet and dry hoovers and a range of high-powered options to keep homes and offices dirt-free.

• Upright vacuum cleaner   -   This traditional push and pull type of vacuum cleaner is widely used in domestic and commercial setting and prevents the need to frequently bend down.

• Cylinder vacuum cleaner   -   This style of vacuum cleaner is bagless with dust and dirt collecting in a transparent cylinder which can be emptied once full. The most well-known cylinder hoover is the Dyson® brand of vacuum cleaner.

• Handheld vacuum cleaner   -   These small cleaners are often reserved for in-car cleaning and are a quick, lightweight alternative to a full-sized cleaner.

• Wet & dry vacuum cleaner   -   This type of vacuum cleaner is suitable for dry and wet waste. Some models feature a separate bucket for liquids to allow for easy disposal, while others require the removal of the dust bag to store fluids.

• Robotic vacuum cleaner   -   A programmable, automated cleaner, this type of vacuum utilises sensors and vacuum technology to clean al types of surfaces but must be emptied regularly due to its limited capacity.

Considerations when choosing a vacuum cleaner

• Application - take time to think about the style of vacuum that will most benefit you. Will you need to reach high areas, or clean tight spaces? Do you need a model that will protect your back from bending and strain?

• Filter type - depending on the brand, hoover filters can offer a different range of collection. Standard vacuum bags are typically made from porous materials such as paper or cotton. While HEPA filters, like those used in Numatic® Henry™ vacuums are made from glass fibres and activated carbon to collect and hold even finer particles of dirt and dust.

• Weight - having to lug a heavy vacuum cleaner up and down flights of stairs is not a fun task, however, there are lightweight and 'backpack' options available. Check the overall weight in the technical data sheet for more information.

Vacuum cleaner jargon buster

We want to make it easy for you to choose your vacuum cleaner, so we've outlined a common quality standard to help you better understand our product range.

What does BS EN IEC 62885-4:2020 mean?

This quality standard specifies the required operational performance of cordless, dry vacuum cleaners for use in domestic and other similar settings. This publication outlines performance test methods, which are used by manufacturers and suppliers to ensure consistent product quality.

Let's break it down...

• BS - This stands for British Standards and is controlled by the British Standards Institute, or BSI as its commonly known.

• EN - This abbreviation means European Standards from the German translation of Europäische Norm, which means European Norm. These initials after a BS means the standard has been adopted in the EU and is controlled by their standardisation committee (CEN).

• IEC - The International Electrotechnical Commission produces and publishes standards for all international electrical and electronic technology.

• 62885 - The legislation number.

• 4 - This highlights the part of the standard which refers to domestic, dry vacuum cleaners.

• 2020 - This is the year that this first edition standard was first published.

FAQs

How do vacuum cleaners work?

Vacuum cleaners feature an exhaust port, an intake port and a propeller fan with angled blades. When spinning these blades push air particles towards the exhaust, increasing these particles in front of the fan, which sees the air particles drop behind the fan. This drop in air pressure behind the fan also drops ambient air pressure outside of the vacuum housing, which creates a partial vacuum. The lower air pressure inside the vacuum automatically draws air into the intake valve to replace it with the higher-pressure air from outside, creating a cycle of airflow.

This cycle of air interacts with dirt and dust on the floor creating enough friction to lift and carry it into the vacuum where it is stopped and held by the filters in the dust bag, while the airflow continues to cycle through tiny pores in these bags.

Which vacuum cleaner is better, corded or cordless?

Cordless vacuum cleaners are lightweight and allow for free movement when cleaning without the limitations of a cord. They're ideal for cleaning stair treads and for moving easily around a domestic setting. However, a cordless hoover isn't as powerful as its corded counterparts and won't be able to shift heavier, more ingrained dirt and dust. While the battery life of a cordless hoover is limited depending on its size, a corded vacuum cleaner can perform for as long as required but is much heavier.