Appliance.com

You Know You Need a New Vacuum When... 1. See tiny dust particles floating around when you vacuum in sunlight? Your vacuum is blowing dust. Slap your upholstered furniture and see the dust fly? Your vacuum may cause that airborne dust to resettle: wasted energy for you.

2. Does your upright vacuum have one motor or two? Less efficient single-motor uprights don’t clean as well as those with two motors: One turns the beater brush, one creates suction.

3. Are you changing vacuum belts every few months? Not with new-model uprights that sport high-tech automotive timing belts with gears and sprockets. Belts don’t slip or stretch and hardly ever wear out.

4. Sparks fly when plugging in, or a vacuum component—bag, roller, hose, handle, motor—damaged or missing? Safety first, plus aggravation and cost figure too. Sure, you can pay to replace, but is it worth it?

5. Are you moving to a bigger home? Chances are, you’ll need more vacuum power.

6. Have you been using your old vacuum for really dirty jobs like picking up garage dirt or cat litter? That vacuum may do more harm than good in nicer living areas.

7. Finally…If you dread floor cleaning because you dislike your vacuum or its end result, you’ll be less prone to use it and your floors (and air quality) will suffer. With so many affordable, efficient, and “smart” options available, can you afford not to invest in a new vacuum cleaner? More Editorials