Self Propelled Vacuum Cleaner – Should You Get One?

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Vacuuming is one of those necessary evils. Nobody wants to do it, but we all have to, at least if we want our homes to be decently clean. Of course, what does help is having a great vacuum cleaner. The right one can make life a whole lot easier when it comes to sucking up all that dirt and dust from your floors.

There are of course many different vacuums out there: upright vacuums, shop vacuums, canister vacuums, and highly portable mini ones too. However, they all take quite a bit of work and muscle to get the job done. If you have a very large home, you know just how tiring it really is to push a big old vacuum around for even just 30 minutes. It’s not something that is enjoyable, but luckily there is a solution.

This solution is the self-propelled vacuum cleaner. Vacuums are much more efficient than the broom, but a self-propelled vacuum takes things to a whole other level. We’re here to take a closer look at these cool cleaning gizmos, and then we are going to take a look at some of the best self-propelled vacuums out there right now, so let’s get right to it!

What Is a Self Propelled Vacuum Cleaner?

A normal vacuum cleaner usually comes with wheels, and hence, you need to push it around manually in order to get to all of that dirt on your floors. It can be quite a chore, especially if you have a heavy vacuum that takes some muscle to get from point A to point B.

A self-propelled vacuum on the other hand, is one which uses a small motor and drive mechanism to turn the wheels automatically. In other words, you don’t have to push it around.

You can save effort and energy by using a self-propelled vacuum cleaner. Simply turn it on and let it move forward on its own. Sure, you still have to steer it to get where you need it to go, but pushing it around is something of the past. It’s definitely a nifty invention, something that comes in handy, especially for the elderly or people with physical disabilities. Everybody can use a self-propelled vacuum with ease, which is one of the highly attractive aspects of them.

How Does It Work?

Self propelled vacuum

This is where the self-propelling cable on the vacuum cleaner is usually located

The key difference in this type of vacuum's build is the self-propelled motor. Most vacuum's contain a single motor for powering the fans and belts for suction and cleaning but a self-propelled vacuum cleaner has a second motor that deals with the propelling. 

Is A Self Propelled Vacuum Suitable For You?

Self propelled vacuum cleaner

They're not for everyone - make sure you know if a self propelled vacuum is for you before you buy

You guessed it... It depends. These vacuums are only suitable for certain types of flooring, primarily carpet. If you have wood floor or marble or something similar they are not appropriate. Never use a self propelled vacuum on a bare floor as you will likely damage it.

So the suitability is similar to that of a standard upright vacuum cleaner; if your home is mainly carpeted then these may be a good choice. Otherwise you might be better off with a different vacuum type. Check out our Ultimate Vacuum Buying Guide to assess your needs against the options.

Whether you need the self-propelled feature largely comes down to personal preference and if you would find its assisted movement beneficial.

The other thing to bear in mind is that this type of vacuum cleaner usually requires more maintenance than your average vacuum. There are extra belts that drive the self-propelling wheels that will need to be replaced and also more mechanical moving parts such as bearings that could fail.

HOOVER ANNIVERSARY WIND TUNNEL Self-Propelled Vacuum

If you need a great vacuum cleaner for hardwood floors and for carpeting, and you need a really deep clean that gets all of the dirt around, the Hoover Anniversary Wind Tunnel Self Propelled Vacuum Cleaner is a great option to keep in mind. Not only does it have a little propulsion mechanism so you don’t even have to push it around, but it also comes with some other pretty nifty features. Let’s take a closer look at it right now.

Self Propelled Vacuum

BEST FEATURES

  • Self-propelled
  • Wind Tunnel Tech
  • Bag check Indicator
  • Headlights
  • Dirt finder
  • Edge cleaning bristles
  • No-scuff bumper
  • Comes with lots of accessories

Let’s take a closer look at the Hoover Anniversary Wind Tunnel Self Propelled Vacuum Cleaner so you know exactly what you are getting here.

Bag check indicator

A lot of people like bag-free vacuums, but some do still like the models with bags. This is a bag model, which some people like due to easy dirt disposal. The good thing here is that there is a bag check indicator included, which tells you when the bag is full and needs to be replaced. It’s nice and simple.

Good suction power

One of the best features of this particular self-propelled vacuum cleaner is that it has good suction power that works great on all kinds of flooring. It features patented Wind Tunnel technology, which creates a super strong current of air that can pick up lots of debris, even fairly large debris. It’s a good option if you live in place where there is a lot of dirt and dust.

Finding dirt

Another really great feature which the Hoover Anniversary Wind Tunnel Self Propelled Vacuum Cleaner comes with is the dirt finder. This vacuum can literally sense the dirt in your carpet. When the sensor light is red, it means there is still dirt that needs sucking up, and when the light goes green, it means that all dirt has been removed. It really could not be more convenient. This is combined with the headlight, a strong and bright headlight, so you can see all dirt with ease.

Accessories

What is also nice about this self-propelled vacuum cleaner is that it comes with a handful of accessories that you might find useful. For one, it comes with 2 extension wands to increase your reach by many feet. Next, it also comes with an air-powered hand tool for quick cleanup jobs. Furthermore, here you also get a crevice tool, an upholstery tool, and a dusting brush. It comes with more than enough accessories to get your whole home clean.

Final feedback

Some people don’t like the Hoover Anniversary Wind Tunnel Self Propelled Vacuum Cleaner because it uses a bag, and some say that it could also use a HEPA filter, both of which may be true. However, it does have strong suction power and it knows where the dirt is at, plus you don’t have to push it around either.

Another self propelled option you could consider is the Kirby Avalir 2, although this is much more than just a vacuum cleaner and comes at a significant cost.

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