Houses with pets need a certain kind of vacuum cleaner over one where kids run around throwing crumbs all over the floor. While apartments or small households can do with a handheld model, a good dirt cleaner at an affordable price remains the bagless option. Ease of use, suction power, accessories… all these can make a difference. Let’s make things simpler for you.

Philips PowerPro FC9352/01 Sourced by The Telegraph

Philips PowerPro FC9352/01

It’s among those few options available out there that are affordable, long-lasting, versatile to a good degree and easy to use. Even though the PowerPro does have a few disadvantages, one can live with them. Being a bagless option, there is zero worry about spending every month on purchasing cleaning bags.

There are a few cleaning heads in the box, ones that are necessary for everyday use. The universal floor head is easy to maintain and cleans carpets and hard flooring equally well. The TurboBrush does a good job on sofa sets while the integrated brush manages to pick up dust from corners and whatever gathers on electronic gadgets.

Having a 1900W motor is a blessing, especially when furry creatures roam the house. In way of praise, here’s one more — the automatic cord winding option. But there are two things to remember. First, bagless models are great but keep an eye on how the container empties out. Having to pour out the content, fine dust particles may escape. Second, check out the extension pipe if you live in a house with high ceilings.

An alternative to this could be the LG MK-Lite VK53181NNTY.

Making it friendly: Versatile, bagless and does a good job with hair from furry creatures.

Price: Rs 7,930 on Amazon.in

Eureka Mighty Mite 3670G Sourced by The Telegraph

Eureka Mighty Mite 3670G

Even though it doesn’t come cheap but there are some advantages to this one. There are a number of extensions that come with the machine and it does a fantastic job cleaning hard floors as well as carpets. The best thing about Mighty Mite is the size. The machine is compact but the power cord is really long so taking the machine around an apartment is not an issue. Plus, the primary hose is also very long and sturdy. Add to it the extension wand and floor tool. You should be able to clean an old house with high ceilings. Being somewhat light, it can easily be moved up and down the staircase.

There is no complaint about the suction power but the machine can be on the louder side. Also, you need to buy cleaning bags, which is an extra cost besides being a hassle.

Making it friendly: Extra-long cord and equally long primary hose and extension wand.

Price: Rs 17,534 (Amazon.in)

Dyson Cyclone V10 Absolute Pro Dyson

Dyson Cyclone V10 Absolute Pro

You must be wondering why one would suggest a vacuum cleaner that comes at the same price as a top-end television set. The unit can be used in standing mode or handheld mode. But both ways, it’s a light machine, powered by a lithium ion battery with up to 60-minute run time and takes a little over three hours to charge up.

The best thing about Dyson vacuum cleaners is the number of accessories that come in the box. The primary cleaning head is something that one would use often and it suits all kinds of floors. And then there is a soft-roller cleaning head. For the handheld mode there is a combo of upholstery tool and dusting brush. There is another dusting brush with firmer bristles. A crevice tool is there for the handheld. There is more and all in the box.

What makes a Dyson cleaner great is the way it cleans up every surface and collects all kinds of dirt. All the dirt gathers in a jar but you can easily empty it out into a dustbin.
The price is on the higher side but then, what is the correct price of a meaningful experience?! If you need to worry about anything that would be replacement parts.

Making it friendly: Comes with a wide range of accessories and cleans every corner without fail.

Price: Rs 39,900 on Dyson.in

Black+Decker VH802 Sourced by The Telegraph

Black+Decker VH802

In case you are looking for something really compact, meant to do specific tasks, this is it. The handheld vacuum cleaner is not for cleaning hard floors or conduct heavy-duty cleaning around the house. There is a powerful 800W motor which is enough to clean upholstery, carpets and electronic gadgets. The box includes a turbo brush, multi-purpose brush, crevice-plus-upholstery brush, two extension tubes and flexible hose. It’s that simple.

Making it friendly: Cleans upholstery, carpets and gadgets.

Price: Rs 2,599 on Amazon.in

iRobot Roomba i7 Sourced by The Telegraph

iRobot Roomba i7

Hang on, it’s pricey but it’s easily one of the most advanced gadgets out there. The controls are absolutely simple — Clean (to start cleaning), Home (to send the device to the power base) and Spot (spot cleaning). Turn the machine around and you would notice a spinning brush, three wheels, navigation sensors and a vent that is used by the machine to automatically empty itself (the bag can be cleaned easily; also, the onboard dust container is washable but do remove the filter).

The Roomba can return to the base station as and when needed as well as empty out the dust it has gathered. The base can hold a lot of debris and allows the machine to clean your house for weeks.

To set it up, just plug in the base and put the Roomba on the base to power up. Next, press ‘Clean’. You can also control the device from the app. The machine uses cutting-edge technology to map the apartment. It can remember where it has been and what remains to be cleaned. No, it can’t automatically go down a staircase!
The size (and round shape) of the Roomba makes it easy to get under beds and around furniture. This is something for folks who want to keep their apartments clean all the time. It ensures there is no pet hair around the flat or morsels that land on the kitchen floor.

Making it friendly: Self-charging base, automatically empties itself and cleans tough-to-reach spots.

Price: Rs 79,900 on Amazon.in

Before making a purchase...

Buying a vacuum cleaner is no longer easy as there are rechargeable models, automated options, plus upright or cylinder. Then there are considerations like pet hair and tough-to-reach corners.

• Affordable bagless upright models can clean most debris and pet hair while working on all kinds of floor types. Maintenance cost is minimal. But do remember that light dust particles can start flying while emptying out the container.
• Consider a canister cleaner if you want the machine to last a long time. The bags inside these are tightly sealed and don’t irritate people in the house.
• Cordless sticks are brilliant for apartments and houses. It helps if you don’t want to be bothered with cord length.
• Robot vacuum cleaners are expensive but these clean well and constantly. It can take care of most of the mess in an apartment.