Cleaning Companies Blog

The wet/dry vacuum cleaner combination is no longer just for a workshop.  Over the years, the driving technology has improved a great deal, deceasing
the loud screeching noises that the vacuums were so very well known for.

When you go out to buy a wet/dry vacuum with both wet and dry features, you’ll need to know some of the details.  The vacuums are available in a variety of different sizes and HP, ranging from 6 – 22 gallons and 1.5 – 10.5 HP.  The capacity of the wet/dry vacuum should match your needs in the following ways:
1.  Wall mount vacuum cleaners with 1.5 HP and a 1 gallon tank are available for quick and easy cleanup jobs, such as spills.  You can also hang this type on the wall as well, which will keep it out of your way.
2.  The six gallon vacuum cleaners are ideal for smaller jobs and are easy to maneuver and store than a larger model.  Keep in mind however, that the
smaller wet/dry cleaners are much louder and also more prone to tipping over.  The smaller the tank, the more often you will have to stop and empty it.
3.  Higher capacity models are recommended if you have a workshop or garage where larger spills occur.  A large capacity tank will decrease the number of times that you have to empty the tank.

When you looking for the best wet/dry vacuum for you, you should look for the following options and features:
-  The pleated cartridge filter.  It is reusable and rinseable, and provides more filtration area than the flat filter and it doesn’t need to be removed when you switch from the dry to wet vacuum function.
-  An automatic shut off device is available with most newer vacuum cleaners.  This mechanism will shut off the motor automatically once the
tank has become full of water, which will prevent it from overflowing.
-  A wide set of wheels will help to prevent the vacuum from tipping over.
-  There are some of the larger models that have the ability to convert to a leaf blower, which is great if you have a lot of trees in your yard.
-  Some wet/dry models have a built in pump attachment as well.  This type of attachment will allow the water to be pumped through a garden hose that attaches to the vacuum.
-  A handy drain valve or sprout will make emptying the vacuum cleaner a snap.  If it doesn’t have this feature, you’ll have to remove the lid and tip the vacuum to the side to empty all of the water.  Depending on how much water you have in the tank, you could easily and accidentally spill it on the floor.  The smaller types of wet/dry vacuums normally don’t have a spout or drain
option.
-  Wider hoses and floor nozzles are great to have as well.  The wider the hose and nozzle are, the less likely the vacuum will be to clog up on you.

If they aren’t provided with the vacuum you decided on, you can also purchase the following attachments:
1.  Crevice tool – this handy tool will easily get in tight corners and around floor edges.
2.  Extension wand – this will make the hose longer for hard to reach areas.
3.  Hose couplings – this will join the extension wand to the hose.
4.  Combination nozzle – this helps to alleviate the need of switching nozzles before you switch functions.
5.  Gulper nozzle – this tool is ideal for the wet vacuum function.
6.  Round brush – this nifty little tool is ideal for scrubbing.
7.  Cleaning kit – this kit will include everything you need to clean delicate upholstery and other areas as well.

Vacuum cleaners are devices that use an air pump to create a partial vacuum to suck up dirt and dust, normally from carpeted floors.  Most homes that have carpet floors have a vacuum for cleaning.  The dirt that is pulled up from the carpet is collected by a filtering system or even a cyclone for later disposal.

There are several type of configurations possible for vacuum cleaners.

Upright
Upright vacuums have the pump mounted directly above the suction intake, with the bag mounted directly on the handle, which will rise to waist height or so. The upright type designs normally employ mechanical beaters which often rotate brushes, to help disturb dust enough to be vacuumed up.  These beaters are normally driven by a belt that is attached to the vacuum motor.

Canister
Also known as cylinder vacuums, the canister type designs have the motor and bag in a seperate canister unit that connects to the vacuum head by a flexible hose.  Even though upright units have been tested as being more effective, the lighter and more maneuverable heads of the canister models are quite popular.  Some models have power heads, which contain the same type of mechanical beaters found it upright units, although they are driven by a seperate electric motor.

Wet vacs/dry vacs
These types a specialized form of the canister vacuum and they can be used to clean up wet or liquid spills as well.  They will commonly accomodate both wet and dry soilage, with some being equipped with a switch or exhaust port that reverses the flow of air.  This is a very useful function for everything from clearing clogged hoses to blowing dust into a corner for easy collecting.

Back pack vac
These types of vacuums are commonly used for commercial cleaning, as they allow you to move about quickly and efficiently in a large area.  They are basically canister vacuum cleaners, except for the fact that straps are used to carry the canister on your back.

Built in or central
These types of vacuum cleaners will move the suction motor and bag to a central location in the building and provide vacuum inlets at strategic places
throughout the entire building.  You only need to carry the hose and pickup head from room to room, while the hose is normally 25 foot long and allows
a large range of movement without changing vacuum inlets.

The plastic piping will connect vacuum inlets to the central unit.  The vacuum can either be unpowered or have beaters that are operated by an electric
motor or an air driven motor.  The bag in the central vacuum system is normally so big that emptying it or changing needs to be done less as often, sometimes only once a year.