To Bag Or Not To Bag? A Vacuum Cleaner Quandry

The search for a new vacuum cleaner is a modern test of one’s patience. Choosing one from the crowded field of good, better, best can seem overwhelming. Here’s a starting point to make your decision easier: bags or bagless vacuum?

Some vacuum cleaners require you to buy specific bags that collect the dirt. When the bag is full, you remove it, throw it away, and replace it with a fresh bag. Upside: no exposure to the gross mess inside the bag! Downside: must continuously purchase bags.

Other vacuums have a canister that you need to empty and clean. When the canister is full, you remove it from the body of the vacuum and empty the contents into your trash. Upside: save money and reduce waste by not buying bags! Downside: during emptying, can be difficult to avoid exposure to the dirt and mess you just cleaned up.

While you’re mulling over your choices, why not set a robot vacuum loose in your house to help keep things tidy? My understanding is that the placement of your furniture makes a difference on how pleased you will be with the results.