Dan's Papers - February 29, 2008

Hard as it may be to consider vacuum cleaners luxury items, they actually were invented to give people a taste of living large - no dustpans and no soapy buckets. With a push of the arm, the fabulous tool brought a breath of fresh air to the home.

But as time passed, the requirements became more complicated with the wide variety of floor surfaces, and the design and function of vacuums rose the occasion.

The first manual vacuum cleaner, called the Whirlwind, was invented in 1868. Though lightweight and effective, it operated with a crank that had to be turned for the vacuum to function. This may have simplified the sweeping process, but it had its own complications. H. Cecil Booth invented the first powered vacuum cleaner in 1901. Booth was inspired when he saw a cleaning device on a train that blew debris off of the seats. He thought it would have been much more effective had it sucked up the mess instead of dispersing it. Booth started the British Vacuum Cleaner Company, and his products still exist today.

But the vacuum to beat all was created by James Murray Spangler. A janitor, Spangler created an electric vacuum cleaner using a fan, a box and a pillowcase. He added a rotating brush into the equation to help break up debris. Spangler patented the brush in 1908, then sold the patent to his cousin, Hoover. The rest is vacuum history.

Even in the early 1900s, vacuums were selling for $60, which is about the same price today for some models. After World War II, with the rise of the middle class, the vacuum cleaner became much more commonplace in American households.

Today, of course, the options for vacuum cleaners are endless, but not all vacuum cleaners are created equal. Some are better than others as general house cleaning tools, others work best on a specific type of flooring.

Vacuum cleaners fall into two categories - upright and canister. Canister vacuums are usually more versatile. With a variety of attachments, they can work well on hardwood floors as well as carpeting. Uprights are most effective for carpets.

But there are other options, some amusing, some amazing. For those looking for the ultimate in luxury and ease of use, robotic vacuums are the best. After all, if the point of vacuum cleaners is to minimize household cleaning, why not choose one that does the job without any effort whatsoever?

The iRobot Roomba, a disc about 13 inches in diameter, cleans the floor without any human intervention. It is equipped with AWARE Robotic intelligence system - a technology that involves dozens of sensors. The Roomba's activity may be adjusted up to 67 times per second, using its sensors. It travels around the room by itself, picking up dirt and grime on both carpets and hardwood floors, and can be recharged by plugging it into a wall socket. Over 2.5 million Roomba units have been sold.

A souped-up vacuum cleaning option is the Dyson - a sleek machine that picks up allergens on all surfaces. Dysons have patented "root cyclone technology," which means they have fantastic suctioning abilities. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, Dysons are certified asthma friendly. The company prides itself on creating a product that helps to reduce allergens in the air, making it healthier to breathe.

There are a lot of options when it comes to vacuum cleaners, from the old reliable Hoover to the hands-free Roomba to the health-promoting Dysons. In short - there are a lot of ways to clear the air.