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Carpet-hard floor head
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The standard head for many vacuum cleaners, this head can be used on either carpet or hard floor, and usually has a foot-operated switch to adjust between the two modes. It usually has brush edges that lower in hard floor mode to protect the floor.
- Yes
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Power head
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Has a motorised brush and is a good option for quickly cleaning up pet hair and lint as well as extracting dirt from carpet.
- No
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Turbo brush
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Has a rotating brush driven by the vacuum's air flow. Good for picking up pet hair and lint, though generally less effective than a power head.
- No
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Hard floor tool
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A head or tool attachment specifically for cleaning hard floors.
- No
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Crevice tool
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A long, narrow attachment for cleaning narrow gaps (e.g. between sofa cushions).
- Yes
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Upholstery tool
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An attachment for cleaning soft furnishings such as curtains, sofa cushions and so on.
- Yes
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Dusting brush
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An attachment for dusting and vacuuming hard furniture, along skirting boards and architraves, and so on.
- Yes
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On-board storage
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It's more convenient to store the tools and attachments in or on the body of the vacuum cleaner than to have to keep them separately elsewhere. Some models only have storage for one or two of the supplied tools.
- No
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Wand suction control
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A small hole with a sliding cover on the wand that allows you to reduce the suction for delicate cleaning jobs by letting some air escape through the hole.
- Yes
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Variable power
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A control on the body or handle of the vacuum cleaner that lets you set different power levels for different jobs, from delicate cleaning of upholstery to more powerful suction for carpet or hard floors.
- Yes
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HEPA filter
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High-Efficiency Particulate Air filtration - a filter for trapping very fine dust and pollen. Useful if you have allergies or asthma. Some are washable, others need to be replaced every year or so.
- No
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Washable HEPA filter
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A washable HEPA filter means you won't need to buy a replacement, but remember to clean it regularly for maximum performance.
- N/A
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Dust bag full or clear bin indicator
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An indicator that the bag is full and needs replacement (or a clear bin that lets you see when emptying is needed).
- Yes
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Blower facility
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The vacuum can switch from suction to blowing out air. Handy for inflating things like airbeds and balloons, or for blasting dust from hard-to-reach areas.
- No