Category: Laundry

Is it time you bought a new vacuum cleaner but can’t decide between an upright or barrel model?  Different types of vacuum cleaners are better suited to different cleaning needs, lifestyles and individual preferences.  Here are some pros and cons about barrel and upright vacuums to help you make your purchasing decision.

Upright Vacuum Cleaners

These type of cleaners consist of a long handle and bag that are attached to a cleaning head in an upright configuration. They remove dirt using a rotating brush-roll or beaters that sweep and vibrate dust from the floor surface before sucking it up into the unit.

Upright Vac Pros

• Some people find uprights are easier to use because you push them in front of your body rather than towing them around behind you.
• The brushes of an upright cover a larger cleaning area than a barrel vac head, enabling you to cover more ground with each motion.
• Since uprights are adjustable to different heights, they are suitable for cleaning all different types of carpets, including delicate pile.
• Most upright models include accessories that are stored on board the unit.

Upright Vac Cons

• They tend to have weaker suction power than barrel vacuums.
• Since upright cleaners are generally bulkier than barrel vacuums they tend to take up more storage space.
• If you live in a two-storey home, you may find it difficult to carry the heavy unit up and down stairs or to clean the stairs using an upright’s large cleaning head.
• Uprights tend to be best suited to carpets, with only some models featuring settings to suit hard floors.

Barrel Vacuum Cleaners

Also referred to as canister or cylinder vacuum cleaners, barrel vacs have light, compact wheel-mounted bodies consisting of a motor and dust collection unit that is connected to a long, flexible hose with a cleaner head.

Barrel Vac Pros

• This type of vacuum cleaner is versatile – different heads can be attached to suit particular tasks, including mechanical beaters similar to those used in upright models.
• Barrel vacs are lightweight and compact, making them more portable than an upright cleaner.
• Barrel vacuum cleaners glide smoothly over hard floors, cleaning without scratching.
• With their flexible cleaning heads, barrel vacs are ideal for handling confined and hard to reach spaces such as under the bed, on top of shelves, stairs or your car’s interior.
• Barrel vacuums have more powerful suction power and therefore offer a better clean.

Barrel Vac Cons

• Cylinder vacuums are generally not as effective at removing stubborn pet hair from carpet as the rotating motorised head of an upright.
• Accessories such as brushes, hoses and rods may be awkward to store since they cannot be housed on the unit itself.
• The various cleaning tools need to be manually changed over as needed.

If you are still unsure about which type of vacuum cleaner is best for you, don’t be afraid to ask a Bing Lee expert for advice.  While you are there, “test-drive” a few different cleaners to see how easy and effective they are for yourself!

While clothes dryers have long helped us to save time on laundry, modern clothes dryers now come with several handy features to make our lives even easier.  Here are some of the great new features to look for when shopping for your new clothes dryer.

Electronic controls

Some makes and models feature electronic dials or buttons that enable you to select temperature, dryness levels, fabric type, cycle duration and more, simply at the push of a button. When shopping for a new dryer, check the electronic controls for user-friendliness.  Controls should be easy-to-read, arranged in a logical order and simple to operate.

Sensor drying

Many modern dryers have drums containing sensors that detect the amount of moisture in a load, stopping the tumbler when it is dry.  Most large machines will offer pre-programmed auto-dry cycles that will stop dryer when the set level of dryness is achieved.  The types of cycles generally offered are an extra-dry setting for complete dryness, a normal or medium-dry setting and an iron-dry setting allowing for damp ironing.

Anti-wrinkle features

An increasing number of dryers feature a steam setting to reduce wrinkles and eliminate odours from garments.  Some machines have an anti-crease cycle, which aims to make ironing easier or even unnecessary. These models reduce wrinkles by continuing to tumble the load once the drying cycle has been completed until such time that you remove your clothing from the machine.

Timer functions

Most dryers give you the option to manually set the dryer to operate for the length of time you desire.  Another function is the delay timer feature that allows you to set your dryer to start operating at a time that is convenient to you.  Some dryers, particularly those with electronic displays will show you the length of time remaining before completion of the drying cycle.

Warning indicators

Most dryers have indicators that will buzz or light up to tell you when your lint filter needs cleaning, the water container needs refilling or that your vent is blocked.

Lint filter

This feature captures the loose fibres from your clothes as they exit through your dryer’s vent. On some dryers, the lint filter is inside the drum, while it is on top of the machine in others.  They can be easily removed which enables you to easily remove the trapped lint, then re-insert the filter before drying the next load.  The lint filter can effect the machine’s efficiency and when blocked is a potential fire hazard.

Condenser dryers

People who have used a tumble dryer in a confined area know that they tend to steam up, soaking the walls and floors in the absence of sufficient ventilation to expel the humidified air.  Rather than exhausting heated air like conventional dryers, condenser dryers cool it, condensing and trapping the water vapour within it for draining through a pipe or to a collection tank.  This type of dryer is an excellent option for those who do not have the necessary ventilation to run a tumble dryer.

Eco-friendly dryers Heat pump dryers use heat from surrounding air to dry your clothes while gas dryers use air heated by the power of gas rather than electricity. Using around half the energy of conventional electric models, gas and heat pump dryers are also quieter, gentler on fabrics and dry your clothes faster.  So if you want to continue enjoying the conveniences clothes dryers offer while minimising your carbon footprint and energy costs, consider investing in a heat pump or gas-powered dryer.

Heat pump dryers use heat from surrounding air to dry your clothes while gas dryers use air heated by the power of gas rather than electricity. Using around half the energy of conventional electric models, gas and heat pump dryers are also quieter, gentler on fabrics and dry your clothes faster.  So if you want to continue enjoying the conveniences clothes dryers offer while minimising your carbon footprint and energy costs, consider investing in a heat pump or gas-powered dryer.

With such an such extensive array of floor-care appliances on the market, it can be difficult to know for sure whether the vacuum cleaner you are buying is really the right one for your floors. The most popular types of floor cleaning devices are:

• Canister or cylinder vacuum cleaners. These are light, compact units that have a long hose with a cleaner head.
• Upright vacuum cleaners are erect units consisting of a motor, hose and beater.
• Broom or “stick” vacs are like upright cleaners in shape, but are thinner, light-weight and do not contain rollers or beaters.
• Handheld vacuums are small, light, cordless vacuums.
• Steam vacs use steam to clean and sterilise both hard surfaces and carpets.
• Shampooers use their rotating heads to massage the shampoo into the carpet.

Different floor-care appliances are suited to different types of floor coverings. Carpet Since uprights are adjustable to different heights, they are suitable for cleaning all different types of carpets. For cut pile carpets, cylinder cleaners with a turbo brush attachment are also appropriate. If you have loop pile carpets, either upright or cylinder cleaners can be used, however the turbo roller should be removed to avoid damaging the pile. For heavily soiled or stained carpets such as high-traffic areas, a carpet steamer or shampooer will deliver a deeper clean than a vacuum cleaner alone. Hard Floors Steamers, cylinder and stick vacuum cleaners are ideal for tiled, wooden or vinyl flooring. Cylinder and stick vacs are lightweight, provide great suction and are capable of gliding smoothly over bare floors without scratching. As well as removing surface debris, steamers remove stubborn residue and grime while killing bacteria. Confined and Hard-to-Reach Spaces The slender design and portability of stick vacs means they can easily access hard-to-reach areas such as stairs, round corners, edges and under furniture. Cylinder vacuums are also suitable for the task as their flexible cleaning heads make them ideal for handling difficult spaces. If storage space is an issue at your place, go for the more compact and easy to store stick cleaner over a cylinder model. For cleaning even tighter spaces like car interiors, a handheld vacuum cleaner is your best option. These vacs are also convenient for quickly cleaning small messes. Multi-Surface Cleaners If you have different types of flooring throughout your home, buying several appliances is not necessary. Most quality upright and cylinder vacs come with adjustable settings or attachments enabling them to clean anything from hardwood floors to shag pile carpets without damaging them. If you choose to go with a multi-surface cleaning unit, make sure that you read the user manual to ensure that you are using the appropriate setting or attachment properly. Pet Owners Upright vacuum cleaners are equipped with rotating motorised heads, which are great for removing pet hair. Since cylinder vacuums use only a suction-powered hose they are not as effective, even with a turbo brush attachment. Some manufacturers produce machines specifically catering to the needs of pet owners. These vacuums are designed to remove pet shedding, odors and stains from carpets.