A vacuum cleaner may not be the most exciting item in your home, but when the party is over it's nice to have a good floor care product on hand. When your vacuum stops working, shopping for a new one can be a hassle, but there are ways to make it simpler. Price is usually a consideration. A high performance vacuum with top quality filtration doesn't have to be expensive. You can find vacuum cleaners at a significant discount on our website,  but it can be confusing to know which one is best for your needs.

Here are some questions to ask before shopping to help match the vacuum with your lifestyle:

1. Which style do you prefer? (Upright or canister)
2. What kind of floors do you have? (Hardwood, carpeting, tile)
3. What will you be vacuuming up from the floors? (Pet hair, dirt, sand)
4. How much square footage do you need to clean?
5. Do you have pets that shed?
6. Does anyone in your home have allergies or asthma?

Once these questions are answered, prioritize the features that are important to you. For example: A list that includes allergies, limited storage space and bare floors would indicate the need for a vacuum with sealed True HEPA filtration, compact size and tools for bare floors.

The next issue is where to find vacuum with the features you want. Daltonvacuum.com offers you a convenient way in which to choose from a variety of vacuums. Other websites and department stores also offer you a selection that you may not find here.

It's relatively easy to narrow down your choices. Start with your preferred style of vacuum (upright or canister) and look for the basics like power, filtration, ease of use and cleaning reach. Then add on extras that match your needs.

Canisters range in prices on our website from $89.99 to $500.00. Top quality uprights with True HEPA sealed filtration cost between $129.99 and $799.99.

Many people prefer upright vacuum cleaners and today the prices and features on uprights couldn't be better. Of course, our 'Top Buy' recommendation is the Sanitaire Commercial or Hoover Household Upright vacuums. These vacuums are simply the best uprights you can buy for your money. They are designed to last and are easily repaired. A Sanitaire upright paired up with a MightyMite canister will meet all your vacuuming needs.

Two key phrases when shopping for filtration are "True HEPA" and "sealed filtration" system. True HEPA is the standard hospitals use. It stands for High Efficiency Particulate Air it must retain more than 99.97% of all particles to use this term. A sealed filtration system won't allow any dirty air back out of the vacuum. All air that enters the vacuum must pass through the True HEPA filter before leaving the unit. Even the motor is sealed. True HEPA vacuums on this site cover both of these features.

Finally, here are some tips on how you can get the most from a vacuum cleaner.

Set the carpet height adjustment. Turn the adjustment dial to the highest setting, turn on your vacuum and release the handle. Lower the dial one setting at a time until you hear the "tone" change. This setting is ideal for the floor surface you are cleaning. Any higher and the brush isn't making contact with the rug. If you turn it lower there won't be enough space to allow air to come in around the sides of the vacuum to pull up the dirt.

Don't use the brush roll on bare floors. Change to a bare floor tool or change the setting to protect your floor and to keep from scattering dirt around the room.

Change your filter bags frequently. If you have pets or new carpet, change them even more often. A full bag immediately reduces the effectiveness of the vacuum. If you vacuum once a week, change filter bags at least every other month...your floors will stay cleaner if you do. True HEPA filters should be changed at least every six months.

And finally, try out the tools that come with your vacuum! The extra wands, nozzles and brushes can make dusting the corners, door frames, fans, blinds and computer equipment easier and faster. Take a look at our 'Accessories' page to review the many other attachments that may not have come with your vacuum. Specialized cleaning tools like the Step Saver Hose, Crevice tool, Ceiling fan brush and the Mini tool set will expand the capabilities of any upright vacuum.