The owner, who has covered the floors with parquet boards, hopes to maintain the performance qualities and respectable appearance of this coating for as long a period of time as possible. Since it is made from valuable natural wood, its operation involves some restrictions that do not apply to some other types of flooring: for example, it does not tolerate heavy watering with moisture.
But it is not always possible to achieve the desired cleanliness only by sweeping or wiping with a dry cloth, so the owner inevitably faces the question - how to wash the floors to keep the flooring in excellent condition? A good solution would be to purchase a washing vacuum cleaner designed taking into account the characteristics of this type of product. Vacuum cleaner for parquet: significant parameters, types of models.
Washing vacuum cleaner with bubble attachment
Features of parquet boards
To determine the parameters that the device you purchase should have, you need to know how parquet structures for covering floors are constructed.
The general structure of this flooring
The peculiarity of the structure of this product can be described as follows: it is assembled from superimposed layers of wood, of which there are most often 2 or 4. The top layer is always a cut of valuable wood, has a noble appearance and attractive texture and is covered with a varnish or oil coating that performs a decorative function and protecting from moisture and temperature changes, and the bottom (base - solid board) is made of cheap softwood, responsible for strength and durability.
When composing a board from layers, the following principle is observed: the fibers of the board of each layer must be perpendicular to the underlying sections. The middle layers of multilayer boards are composed of individual dies adjusted to size. The layers are connected to each other using a special glue. If moisture penetrates between the layers of boards, this can lead to swelling of the boards and disruption of the structure - which is why the question of how to properly clean the coating is especially acute.
Accessory - nozzle with brush for cleaning parquet
Main selection criteria
So, the first thing you should know is that a robot vacuum cleaner for cleaning carpet must have a turbo brush. An alternative design can be represented by two silicone or rubber rollers. It’s just that the suction module and 2 side brushes are less effective at removing wool, hair and debris from carpets.
Brushes for cleaning carpets
The second important point is that the robot’s suction power must be high enough. The higher this indicator, the better the cleaning will be. Accordingly, if you have low-pile carpets at home, this rule can be slightly neglected. However, if your rooms have medium-pile carpeting, try to choose a robot vacuum cleaner with high suction power. A good indicator is a suction power of 2500 Pa or more.
Important! Most manufacturers do not indicate suction power in the specifications, which can make it difficult to choose the right model.
In this case, make sure that the robot vacuum cleaner has a function that automatically increases suction power on carpets. Please note that when operating in this mode, the power can be increased by 5 times, but the battery life will be reduced.
At the same time, it is also important to know that most Chinese manufacturers mislead buyers. They indicate in the passport data not the suction power, but the power consumption (up to 120 W)
As a result, the purchased robot will have poor absorption of dust and dirt on carpets.
Carpet Boost
The next selection criterion is the height of the obstacles to be overcome. The fact is that most devices are not able to overcome obstacles more than 15 mm high. If you want to choose a robot vacuum cleaner for medium-pile carpet, the height of the obstacles to be overcome must be at least 15 mm. There are devices that are capable of moving over thresholds up to 20 mm in height.
Check-in on the carpet
It is also important to understand that only a robot capable of dry cleaning is suitable for cleaning carpets. Washing robot vacuum cleaners are not suitable for use on carpets
And even models equipped with microfiber for wet wiping the floor should not be used in wet cleaning mode (but it can be easily disconnected). Only dry cleaning of surfaces with side and central brushes!
Another point is the size of the wheels with which the vacuum cleaner moves around the apartment or house. The wheels must be large, otherwise the robot will have difficulty driving onto the carpet, if at all.
Well, we also recommend paying attention to the volume of the dust collector (the larger it is, the better) and the battery capacity. The latter has special requirements
Since electricity consumption on carpets will be significantly higher, so that the robot can clean the entire apartment or house on one charge, choose models with a battery capacity of at least 2600 mAh. It is better that the battery itself is lithium-ion.
These are all the most important parameters that you should know about if you decide to choose a robot vacuum cleaner for carpets and floors. You can learn more nuances about choosing this type of equipment from this article: https://robotobzor.ru/o-robotah/vybor-robota-pylesosa.html.
External processing of parquet boards
Methods for cleaning floorboards largely depend on the characteristics of its outer covering:
- The situation is easiest if the elements are varnished. It has the property of forming a film that reliably protects wood from moisture, so this parquet can be cleaned using water;
- Wet cleaning is absolutely not suitable for waxed boards: they are cleaned with wax compounds or solvents;
- Oil-coated boards should not be washed with copious amounts of water, which is due to the nature of these coatings: they do not form a film like varnish, but penetrate between the fibers of the wood and tend to gradually wash out of it with repeated wet cleaning. Therefore, such a board should only be wiped with a soft damp cloth along the direction of the fibers of the top layer. This should be done only in those contaminated areas that cannot be removed by sweeping or cleaning with a dry cloth. For the above reason, it is recommended to periodically renew the oil layer.
Example of a vacuum cleaner for cleaning parquet
How to choose the right vacuum cleaner for cleaning parquet
Almost every day, innovative products from world-famous manufacturers appear on the market of household appliances for cleaning purposes - various types of vacuum cleaners designed for the care of laminate and parquet floors, these are:
- traditional dry cleaning units;
- specialized devices for wet cleaning;
- maneuverable and compact robotic vacuum cleaners for parquet.
Each of these types has its own advantages and disadvantages. But the most important thing is the significant difference in cost. It is quite clear that an ordinary vacuum cleaner of the traditional type with a parquet brush included will cost much less than a unit for wet cleaning. Let's look at each type in more detail.
Criteria for choosing a vacuum cleaner for parquet boards
Before you start searching for the most suitable vacuum cleaner, you need to identify the main criteria that you should focus on when considering different brands and types of products:
- The presence of soft rubber protective cushions mounted on the wheels: this is necessary to prevent the appearance of cracks and other damage that can be caused by wheels made of metal and even plastic;
- As high power settings as possible. This requirement is based on the presence of chamfers (bevels) on parquet units, in which dirt and dust tend to accumulate, therefore the vacuum cleaner must have sufficient power to remove dust, including from designated hard-to-reach places. If you purchase a unit for wet cleaning of a varnished floor, power is also very important, because even for such a floor, excessive and prolonged wetting is not advisable, and the vacuum cleaner must be able to suck all the liquid back;
- Availability of different types of nozzles – soft, wide and hard, more compact sizes. The first is needed for basic cleaning, the second is for cleaning corners and board joints.
Compact model of vacuum cleaner for parquet boards
Types of vacuum cleaners
Vacuum cleaners for natural wood flooring can be oriented strictly towards dry cleaning, or combine dry and wet functions. Also, these products have certain differences in design. Which vacuum cleaner to choose is determined by the characteristics of your board.
Vacuum cleaners for dry cleaning of parquet boards and parquet
These models differ in the criterion of where the collected dust goes:
- The most conservative are models with a dust collector in the form of a linen bag. They are disposable and reusable, paper and fabric. The advantage of paper bags is that, after being removed from the vacuum cleaner, without opening them, they are immediately sent to the trash bin, which protects household members (especially allergy sufferers) from unnecessary contact with dust. Fabric bags, alas, lack this property, but they last a long time. The disadvantage of this model is that the buyer must restock new bags from time to time;
- Models equipped with a cyclone filter collect filtered dust in a transparent plastic container (which allows you to monitor its filling level). Unfortunately, due to the high speed of dust processing, they generate a lot of noise, but they are quick and easy to work with, and they are usually small in size;
- Model with a water container: in this case, the dust enters the water and settles there. Wet cleaning cannot be done with such a device. The advantages are a large capacity, no need to purchase new filters, quick absorption of spilled liquid, saturation of the air with moisture vapor (at the same time, dust from the air falls on the floor and the vacuum cleaner sucks it up from there). The downside is that filter maintenance is quite labor-intensive: the container must be constantly washed and dried after use.
Nozzle with steaming effect, suitable for washing marble and colorful surfaces
Washing vacuum cleaners
The vacuum cleaners under consideration are partly similar to models that collect dirt in a container of water, and also have the ability to suck up water, but, in addition, they are also equipped with a container for clean water, with which wet cleaning is carried out. It is permissible to add a little foaming agent to the liquid to carry it out.
Water collects dust and forms it into pieces, and the device sucks it in and directs it into a filter container. The downside is that such devices do not always perfectly collect spilled water, so their use is only indicated for products that have a varnish treatment. It is also worth mentioning the significant weight and dimensions of these models.
Types of vacuum cleaners by design features
Models differ in the control method - they can be simple wired with a button (they make up the majority of this market segment), with infrared control and radio control (these are expensive and rare models). They also differ in the structure of the body, being divided into the following groups:
- Conservative container wire models on wheels;
- Vertical “mop” vacuum cleaners without wheels are the lightest and most convenient;
- “backpacks” hung on the cleaner’s back, with only the nozzle in contact with the parquet;
- Remote control robotic devices.
Difference between vacuum cleaners by power
For the quality of floor treatment, it is not so much the power consumption that matters, but rather the suction power. For monitored boards it should be at least 350 watts. This parameter is especially important when considering devices equipped with a water filter.
Types of washing units and their features
When deciding which vacuum cleaner is best to purchase for parquet, try to evaluate the design features and operating principles of the most common equipment on the household appliances market.
Vertical Assembly Models
The vertical layout is considered classic.
Assembly Features:
- the motor is located above the cleaning compartment, consisting of containers for filling with cleaning solutions and filtering equipment;
- such a device allows you to install working units that can hold up to 28 liters of waste liquid and up to 8 liters of fresh solution.
For reference! Vertical models are often used for professional cleaning of large areas. Their weight and large dimensions are hardly suitable for home use.
Washing vertical vacuum cleaner
Horizontal Assembly Models
The horizontal layout involves the location of the electric motor, liquid tanks and filters on the same level.
Advantages:
- compact dimensions;
- ease of movement;
- ease of maintenance.
- easier access to internal devices, which makes it easier to keep them properly clean.
Models of this type are better suited for everyday use. They usually fill the container for clean water with 2 to 10 liters of liquid, and the tank for the waste solution rarely exceeds 20 liters.
Washing vacuum cleaner for laminate and parquet
For reference! The horizontal assembly model cleans a smaller area in one cleaning than vertical units, but for a private home this is quite enough.
Aquafiltration
Models with aquafiltration are characterized by a special method of trapping dust using moistened surfaces or passing gases through a layer of liquid. Water effectively contacts small particles, preventing them from flying out of the vacuum cleaner outlet. Such devices are installed on equipment for both dry and wet cleaning.
Their undeniable advantages include:
- stable suction power, since the filter elements never become clogged;
- high-quality dust collection;
- the ability to additionally humidify and ionize the room air;
- high reliability.
Vacuum cleaner with aqua filter
Helpful information! Such devices collect hair and fur well. A model with a water filter is the best vacuum cleaner for cleaning parquet floors in areas where there are pets.
Robot vacuum cleaner
Robotic units for cleaning parquet operate in accordance with the program embedded in them. They do an excellent job of keeping large rooms clean that are not cluttered with furniture or office equipment.
With their help, dust collection occurs automatically, which reduces household worries, but does not guarantee the absence of dirt in hard-to-reach places. This technique is not cheap, but in some situations it justifies the costs incurred.
Robot vacuum cleaner for parquet
Reviews about models
“The lightweight and compact Bosch BCH6ZOOO handheld device does an excellent job of collecting dust and cat hair. The design of the device and its high power allow cleaning to be carried out in a very short time. It works silently and the dust collector is cleaned quickly. But the price is quite steep - it cost us 18,000 rubles.”
Anna, 36
“I chose Thomas Mistral XS with a water filter for dry cleaning of oiled parquet. The device works quickly, removes all excess liquid from the floor, there is no need to replace the filter. But, unfortunately, there is a need to thoroughly rinse the hose and filter after each use.”
Yulia, 43
We have reviewed the main types of vacuum cleaners that are acceptable for use when caring for parquet flooring, and, based on the characteristics of a particular board, you can choose the most suitable unit.
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Thomas PARKETT PRESTIGE XT
The most gentle wet cleaning of parquet
+ Pros Thomas PARKETT PRESTIGE XT
- copes well with the full cleaning of parquet floors - cleans and washes without damaging the coating;
- the presence of an Aqua-Box type aquafilter;
- there is a liquid collection function - a guarantee that after wet cleaning there will be no excess moisture left on the floor;
- electronic adjustment of suction power;
- fine filter;
- soft bumper;
- high maneuverability;
- nozzles for all types of surfaces - parquet, laminate, carpets, tiles, textiles plus an nozzle for hard-to-reach places with built-in CleanLight LED lighting;
- there is a compartment for storing accessories;
- The cleaning radius is 11 m.
– Cons of Thomas PARKETT PRESTIGE XT
- noisy – noise level is 81 dB;
- quite large dimensions - 318 x 485 x 306 (mm), which must be taken into account when cleaning small-sized housing;
- high price.
Due to the use of our own innovative technologies that raise home cleanliness to a whole new level, the price of the Thomas PARKETT PRESTIGE XT vacuum cleaner may exceed the cost of other cleaning models. However, it is worth considering that this unit most delicately cares for natural wood, which means that in the future you can save considerable money on repairing or replacing parquet boards.
Parquet floors are very popular because they look attractive and are easy to maintain. But to preserve the beauty of the coating, you need to learn how to properly clean parquet, including special requirements for a vacuum cleaner.
