If you're shopping for a vacuum cleaner, you may be surprised at the many different options on the market. Choosing the right one for your home shouldn't be difficult if you follow these tips.

Types of Vacuums

Upright vacuums are best on carpets. They're easy to maneuver, take up little space, and usually have a reusable cloth bag.

Canister vacuums work best on bare floors (unless they come with a special attachment for rugs) and on tricky spaces such as stairs.

Back-pack vacuums are similar to canister vacuums, but they're carried on the user's back. Quiet and easy to use, they are popular with carpet-cleaning services.

Central vacuums are permanently installed in the building or apartment. The homeowner has only a hose and pickup head that can be moved from room to room and plugged into the vacuum inlets.

Hand-held vacuums are ideal for small jobs, such as cleaning up spills or vacuuming the inside of a car.

Steam vacuums are normally used to clean carpets and upholstery. They can be rented at home improvements shops and some cleaning companies.

HEPA Vacuums contain an air filter, making them ideal for households with asthma or allergies sufferers. The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) recommends Hepa vacuums to anybody living in an old house, as these vacuums can easily trap lead dust particles.

What to Look For

All the "bells and whistles." This may be one of the few instances where you want the extras: several attachments, power nozzles, full-bag indicator, etc. Draw the line somewhere, though --Unless money is no object, you probably don't need an air freshener system.

A machine that's easy to assemble and disassemble. You don’t want to have to fight with the attachments every time you vacuum or need to replace the bag.

A vacuum that's air-tight. Bag models are usually better at containing dust than bagless machines. You should look for the words "sealed system" in the manual.