Blog

Electric Shavers v Manual Shavers

Electric shavers are more convenient. Most of them are now portable.

The different types of Electric Shaver

There are two types of Shavers, Rotary Shavers and Foil Shavers. The Rotary Shaver consists of a set of rotating blades. The Foil Shaver consists of a set of oscillating blades.

In both types of shaver, these blades are located behind a punctured metal screen with holes or slits. The blades capture and push hairs through the screen and cut by the blades.

The metal screen protects the skin from the fast moving and sharp blades.

Electrical Shavers can vary from the basic model, which may have one head or one blade. To the more expensive models which have several heads and blades.

[Read more…] about Introduction to Shavers

Vacuum Cleaner Reviews

Hello, my name is Richard and this is my website all about the vacuum cleaners. This is not a website full of technical information. Although I have included details where I consider it appropriate. Neither is this site about trying to sell you something you don’t need. This site is the result of my time spent research all kinds of cleaning appliances and products. The product reviews are a result of this work and vacuum cleaners I have brought for my own use. Below I have listed what I think are the best vacuum cleaners in each of the following categories: upright, cylindrical, handheld and stick vacuums.

Best Upright Vacuum Cleaner

In this category I would recommend the Vax U90-MA-R Air Reach. This vacuum has been specially designed to be both light weight and of have extra long reach. It is a third less the weight of conventional uprights and has a combined vacuuming reach of 30 metres. These features combined with it excellent performance makes it my top recommendation in this category.

Best Cylinder Vacuum Cleaner

Here the easily overall winner is the Numatic Henry HVR200-12. This is the vacuum you see cleaners using in offices, which is a recommendation in itself. Has a simple design, but is robust and very powerful.

Best Handheld Vacuum Cleaner

Here I choose the Vax H90-GA-B Gator Handheld. There is now a large range of handheld vacuum cleaners on the market. I have chosen this vacuum as the best handheld as it is powerful and can clean everywhere. Finally it is very reasonably priced.

Best Stick Vacuum Cleaner

In this final category I have chosen the Duronic Black VC600.  This is my top choice because it is ideal a second vacuum in larger houses. But can be used as the main vacuum in apartments and smaller flats.

Comparing different Vacuum Cleaners

So you can quickly see the best vacuum cleaners in different categories I have completed comparison tables for the best Upright, Cylindrical, Handheld and Stick Vacuum Cleaners. From these top vacuum cleaners there are links so you can navigable to a full reviews of each of the cleaners. On the right hand side under recent reviews is a complete list of all the vacuum cleaner reviews I have written. These reviews include by overall ratings of the vacuum cleaners I have reviewed.

In Conclusion

I hope you find this site useful in choosing the best vacuum cleaner for what ever cleaning job you need to do.

New EU regulations have come in force for Vacuum Cleaners from 1 September 2014. These rules designed to cut energy use. Most of the discussion in the press has focused around the new rule that vacuum power will be limited to 1600 watt from 01/09/14.  From that, date manufacturers will not be able to make or import vacuums with a motor more powerful than 1600 watts. As a result, there was a rush to buy higher-powered vacuums before the deadline.  All the major vacuum cleaner manufacturers have reported increased sales during this period. If these vacuums are in manufacturers, warehouses they can still sell them.  So there should be plenty still to buy if, you want one. The new regulations extend beyond just the power of the vacuum.  I will explain what these regulations are.  In addition, what criticisms have been made of the Ecodesign for Energy-Using Products and Energy Labelling directives.  First, I will explain what these new rules are.

 What the Regulations state

 Vacuum Cleaners will have to meet a set of minimum requirements from 1^st September 2014. These Regulations cover:

•  Power – motors in domestic vacuum cleaners will be limited to 1600w from 01/09/14.  From 01/09/17, they will be limited to 900w.
• Performance– vacuums must met minimum dust pickup standards.
• Energy efficiency –how well the vacuum uses the energy.
• Dust re-emission in the exhaust air – important if you have allergies or suffer from asthma.
• Noise level –this is important if you have pets or neighbours!
• Durability– how well vacuum parts like the motor or hose last.

All vacuum cleaners will have a label with a rating from A to G.  This rating is on the above criteria of performance, energy efficiency, dust re-emission, noise and durability. The rating label will appear on machines and on any internet product description. These labels are similar to those already found on found on fridges and washing machines. The energy label is not self-regulating by the manufacturers.  There will be National Market Surveillance Authorities. These authorities will check that the labelling on the machines is correct. If companies do not comply, they will have to issue penalties and or withdraw products.

 What the Regulations aim to achieve

 These new eco design regulations will cut energy use.  In addition, the regulations will ensure all vacuums clean well and do not waste electricity. This will help Europe and consumers save money on electricity bills. The idea is for the manufacturers to come up with more energy efficient designs.  To design machines that use less power less watts and cost less to run. This will drive up the quality of vacuum cleaners. The regulations will save a calculated 19-terra watt-hour per year by 2020.  This is the electricity produced by more than 4 power stations or consumed by 5.5 million households.

 Criticism of the New Regulations

 There had been criticism of the new rules in the press. This is mainly driven by the opinion that the more powerful the motor the better the suction. The regulations have been also been criticised because as the machines use less power this will mean that customers will have to clean for longer.  As a result, there will be no overall saving in electricity.  However, this equates power with cleaning efficiency when factors such as design are more important.  Currently the average vacuum cleaner on themarket is 1800w.  There are also more powerful motors on the market up to 2,200w. The amount of watts indicates how much power the vacuum uses.  This does not automatically indicate how well a vacuum cleans. High wattage or power is used to market new machines.  Often with no corresponding increase in suction power. This result in wasted electricity and cost to the consumer. Manufacturers have known this new directives was coming for several years. “Industry as a whole welcomes the regulation, as it is good for the competitiveness of European manufacturers” The idea is for the manufactures to come up with more energy efficient designs.  To design a machine that uses less power and cost less to run.  The consumer group Which says that 5 out of 7 of its Best Buy models since 2013 have motors that exceed the new limit of 1,600 watts. However, the German equivalent of Which – Stiftung Warentest states that only one of its twenty top rated products will be banned under the new regulations.  This suggest German manufacturers had already been anticipating the new regulations

 James Dyson

 James Dyson said that overall he is in a favour of the new regulations.  He explains that Dyson has never made a vacuum over 1,400 watts.  That it is efficient engineering that increased cleaning performance. He has made a legal challenge against these rules.  Because they discriminate against Dyson’s bagless vacuum cleaners. Dyson states that the regulations ignore how well a vacuum works over time. As the vacuum are only tested when they are new. Vacuums with bags lose performance over time as they use filters, which clog with dirt. He explains that the regulations overstate the energy efficiency of bagged vacuums. Also that they do not take into account cost of waste of vacuum bags ad filters. He stated that as many as 126 million end to landfill last year. No account of the cost to the consumer or the environment appears in the new labelling of vacuum cleaner. James Dyson does have a good argument here so it will be interesting to see the outcome of his legal challenge.

 Summary

 Therefore, if you still want to buy a vacuum with a higher power vacuum there are still stocks about.  They out this link to Amazon.