They might not be the most glamorous of household accessories but, in the never-ending war against dust and grime, no weapon is more valuable than the vacuum cleaner.And with new powerful models sucking up everything from dog hairs to biscuit crumbs in seconds, it’s never been easier to keep our homes clean. Yet, thanks to a ruling by bureaucrats in Brussels, domestic goddesses among us may soon be robbed of the most vital tool in our arsenal.As of September 1, some of the finest, high-powered models will no longer be manufactured in Britain, or be allowed to be imported, as part of an eco-drive to reduce energy consumption that will see all cleaners with motors exceeding 1600watts outlawed.Worse is to come. From 2017, the maximum wattage will be lowered still further, to just 900watts, sounding the death knell for some of the most popular vacuum cleaners.This is worrying because, the higher the vacuum’s wattage, the more powerful the motor, which means it picks up dust and dirt more quickly and with greater suction, reaching deeper-seated muck.
The average vacuum is currently 1800watts so getting used to lower wattage machines is likely to feel like stepping back decades, to a time when household chores were more back-breaking and time-consuming.So, if you like your vacuum cleaners to have some va-va-voom, here are ten to bag before the ban comes into force.Miele S5281 Allervac Sensor 5000, 2200wattsThis stylish, white vacuum cleaner has a built-in traffic light system to let you know when your floor is spotless: red for filthy, amber for almost there and green for clean.Its large cylinder stores 7.9 litres, so you can do lots of cleaning between bag changes, while its 6.5m power cord lets you move without unplugging. Domestic: Devotees praise its suction power and compact size of the Miele s5281 Allervac Sensor 5000The cord rewind and on/off buttons are operated by foot, making it easy on the back. but at 7.9kg, it is heavier than most models. The different settings governing suction strength are all relatively quiet.This model has onboard tool storage for a dusting brush and crevice nozzle, and attachments for upholstery and mattresses, so you can keep furniture free of dust and allergens.
Devotees praise its suction power and compact size.BUY IT: Applianceworld.co.uk (£235.04), Buywise (£249.99) and Debenhams (£279).As well as being high-powered, this dinky grey-and-purple Hoover Spirit is bagless, which makes emptying it easier, with less mess.Its washable High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter traps dust, pet allergens and pollen, making it a good choice for allergy sufferers and asthmatics. Friendly: It has handy tools, including one for powerful spot-suction — useful for spills — and a dusting brushExtension tubes extend the hoover’s reach, so getting into corners and under furniture is easier.It has handy tools, including one for powerful spot-suction — useful for spills — and a dusting brush that works on different surfaces and gets into nooks and crannies.One of the most affordable high-wattage models on the market.BUY IT: Currys (£64.99), Robert Dyas (£69.99) and Amazon (£86.42).Samsung Cyclone Force Sensor, 2100wattsThis state-of-the-art red-and-silver cleaner boasts settings for different floor surfaces, making it as effective on wood and tiles as carpet.
There is also a furniture brush to keep upholstery dust-free.Its dust sensor means you pick up every speck — a red light flashes when it detects a dusty spot.Once the dust is sucked up, it lights up green. Perfection: The suction is adjustable but, on full power, it is so intense it can pick up even the tiniest dog hairThe HEPA filter sucks in allergens, and only dust-free air is expelled.Accessories include a ‘force brush’, good for tackling ground-in dirt, and a ‘turbo brush’, perfect for removing pesky pet hairs.The suction is adjustable but, on full power, it is so intense it can pick up even the tiniest dog hair — and also sucks up the rug, if you’re not careful!BUY IT: PC World (£109.98), Currys (£109.99) and John Lewis (£199.95).Bosch BSG8PR01 Home Professional, 1800wattsOne of the pricier models, this elegant, charcoal-grey model will impress the neighbours.It combines great suction with good gliding ability and, at 6.6kg, is also lightweight. It’s relatively quiet, even on full power, and has plenty of tools, including turbo, dusting and upholstery brushes and a long crevice nozzle to get underneath furniture and into corners.
It’s relatively quiet, even on full power, and has plenty of tools, including turbo, dusting and upholstery brushesIt has HEPA filters, and there is a light to let you know when the dust bag needs changing (not too often, given its 6-litre capacity).With a 13m operating radius, long suction wand and ergonomic grip handle, which makes it easy to carry, you can whizz through the house with minimal effort.BUY IT: Electrical Discount UK (£300.79), Amazon (£320.71) and John Lewis (£349.95).Hoover TSXP2206 Sonix Power Cylinder Bagless, 2200wattsThis silver and black hoover is so compact and lightweight, at just 4.9kg, it’s hard to believe how powerful it is.It comes with a ‘pet turbo tool’ to rid your carpet and furniture of hairs, and the power can be turned down to clean delicate upholstery and curtains. It comes with a ‘pet turbo tool’ to rid your carpet and furniture of hairs, and the power can be turned downIt has a HEPA filter to remove dust and allergens, on-board telescopic extension, crevice tool and dusting brush, to reach into corners and tackle stubborn spills, although these do not feel as solid as those with other vacuums.
It’s cheap, but its relatively short 5m retractable cord and 2-litre capacity mean reviews are mixed.BUY IT: Currys, Tesco and Amazon (all £79.99).Miele S8310 Power Plus Cylinder, 2200wattsDinky enough for easy storage, this model has one of the most powerful motors, which may be one of the reasons it found its way onto the Which? Its black-and-silver design is easy on the eye. Strong suction ensures great cleaning on all surfaces, and its Air Clean filter minimises dust during and after cleaning. Strong suction ensures great cleaning on all surfaces, and its filter minimises dust during and after cleaningAt 7.1kg, it’s not the lightest model, but it comes with a selection of tools, and is operated by a foot switch. It has a one-touch rewind button for its 6.5m cable, which is not as long as some.But it receives rave reviews for its suction which ‘lifts’ carpet pile and removes dirt that is invisible to the eye.BUY IT: Currys, John Lewis and Amazon (£159.99, reduced from £199.99).
Hoover Smart Pets SM1901 Bagless Upright, 1900wattsThis comes in attractive combinations of white with red or purple —but the pristine surface might look less appealing when covered in the dust and debris of family life.Thanks to its built-in turbo brush, this bagless hoover, which has a 3-litre capacity, is good at removing stubborn hairs from carpets and cleaning to the edges of rooms. Pet owner's dream: It is good at removing stubborn hairs from carpets and cleaning to the edges of roomsFor an upright, it is relatively light at 6.1kg. But, at 6m, the cord is very short, and there is no automatic rewind button.It comes with just a basic crevice tool, to get into corners, but no attachments for cleaning upholstery and mattresses.It does have a HEPA filter to reduce dust, but the 3-litre dust compartment is small for such a large machine, so it will need emptying fairly regularly.It’s also noisier than some. but, as one of the cheapest high-power models, it’s good value.BUY IT: Asda Direct and Amazon (£60) and Hoover (£89.99).
Miele Power Plus Cylinder, 2200wattsThis sleek model is so stylish, it’s a shame to put it away. Proven in some tests to last up to 20 years, this solid cleaner has 11 separate layers of filtration to tackle dust and a dust bag that closes automatically to prevent dirt escaping.Its party piece is the ‘silence’ setting, so you can vacuum while the rest of the family is asleep without disturbing anyone. Its party piece is the ‘silence’ setting, so you can vacuum while the rest of the family is asleepIt has a 4.5-litre capacity and comes with dusting brush, crevice and upholstery nozzles and a telescopic tube to clean those tricky corners.It’s easy to change the power settings for when you’re moving from carpets and upholstery to wooden floors.BUY IT: The S5211 Power Plus is available at Amazon and Robert Dyas, (£199.99). the S5212 Power is available at Currys (£149.99).VAX Power 3 U88-P3-B Upright Bagless, 2000wattsThis silver-and-orange upright vacuum has a space-age feel and is probably best kept tucked away in the cupboard.
But, with its long, 10m cord, it’s easy to manoeuvre.The 2000watt motor means it has decent suction power, plus a HEPA filter. This silver-and-orange upright vacuum has a space-age feel and is probably best kept hidden in the cupboardIt comes with an extension tube, crevice tool and dusting brush. It’s good at picking up hairs but, like many powerful models, it is quite noisy.BUY IT: Asda Direct (£89.96) and Currys (£89.99). sold out at Tesco, Robert Dyas, Appliances Direct.Hoover BR2205 Breeze Upright Bagless, 2200wattsThis black-and-silver bagless upright looks less like a vacuum cleaner and more like something you’d find in Batman’s cave, or a bachelor pad.With its 3-litre capacity, no dust will escape its powerful motor (pet owners rave about its ability to get rid of hairs), although the strong suction means it is quite noisy. It looks less like a vacuum cleaner and more like something you’d find in Batman’s cave, or a bachelor padIt comes with a range of tools, including a turbo brush for pet hairs, an extension tool, a long crevice tool for hard-to-reach spots, and a dusting brush/furniture nozzle.