The Best Vacuums for Cleaning Large Homes
Cleaning a large home presents challenges not found in smaller, more modest homes. After a decade of installing central vacuum systems in very large homes in Western Pennsylvania, I have seen the challenges of cleaning these homes. There are several amazing options that can help you and your maintenance team make it easier to keep your large home sparkling clean.
First off, when your home is between 5,000 and 10,000 sq. ft. you are faced with one simple restriction in maintaining your home: Time. Vacuuming 5,000+ sq. ft. of carpeting, hard floors, stairs and furnishings will take a long time. We have watched clients try and fail with trying to maintain their larger homes with a battery-operated stick vacuum. This often occurs when someone moves from a smaller condo or apartment into their first large home. You simply cannot thoroughly clean your home in the 20 minutes that a battery stick vacuum can run. I have even seen cleaners in homes that are trying to clean their clients home with a battery stick vacuum. My home is 1200 sq. ft. and I cannot thoroughly clean my home in the 20 minutes that a stick vacuum will run for, how are you going to do 8,000 sq. ft.?
Larger homes require professional grade equipment. In the same way a professional chef buys good cookware, your cleaning arsenal will need to include better vacuums for a better result. Also think about the money you have wrapped up in floor coverings alone? Wool Carpets, Oriental Rugs, Real Hardwoods, Custom Draperies, Wood Shutters, all of these items cost thousands of dollars. You simply cannot trust a $89 vacuum from the box store to maintain these items and keep them lasting their longest. Think of it like this: If you’re reading this blog post about cleaning large homes, chances are in your kitchen you have a high-end built-in refrigerator. These can range between $8,000 and $15,000, an investment you make to keep a few hundred dollars worth of food cold. Now if you add up the cost of all of your floor coverings in your home, where would that be? $15,000? $30,000? Isn’t it worth investing in a product that will keep one of your largest investments lasting as long as possible?
Once your home gets over 10,000 sq. ft. we are now in a different category of cleaning. If you have a cleaning team that comes in to maintain your home, there are several things you need to consider when selecting your cleaning equipment.
1) How many people need to be vacuuming at once?
When a house gets over 10,000 sq. ft. you really should have a quality vacuum on every finished floor of the home. In a 10,000 sq. ft. home, chances are you’re going to have multiple cleaners cleaning at once. You should have a vacuum for every cleaner working in your home at one time.
2) How many vacuums do I want? Do I want 1 or more on every level?
Having a quality vacuum on every level of your home will avoid you having to carry the vacuum up and down stairs. Having a dedicated storage spot for each machine also eliminates having to search for the vacuum since it could be upstairs, could be downstairs, who knows?
3) How will I handle the cleaning in-between there visits?
Having a “quick-clean” product that you can grab and use between full cleanings is ideal if you don’t have cleaners at the home everyday. In my home, it always seems like I spill something within the hour after my cleaners have left. Having a quality, battery-operated vacuum for quick-clean ups is ideal.
Some people have said to me when we talk about a central vacuum system for their homes “Oh I don’t need that, my cleaners have their own vacuums”. Heard. But are they using that vacuum in every one of their other clients homes? Do you really want the dog hair from the neighbors house being brushed against your custom wool rugs? What about the smell from the neighbors dog? Investing in the right tools to have ready to go for your cleaning team will save you money in the long run by ensuring your floors are being properly maintained.
Once your home is over 20,000 sq. ft. we are once again in a different category of cleaning and this has to take a different mindset. Chances are when your home is this size, you have live-in staff or daily staff that helps maintain your property. You are now cleaning a home that is the size of a commercial building, but with different demands because the furnishings are much more elaborate and delicate than what would typically be installed in a commercial setting. In this category of homes, there are very few machines that are designed to handle this type of challenge without looking like a “miniature” vacuum in its opulent surroundings. For homes of this size, we again must look at the following:
1) How Many Operators
2)How many vacuums per level do I need?
Before we could conceive of having 1 vacuum per floor for convenience sake. In this case, you might have 2 or more people on each level vacuuming at once. Plan accordingly
3) What is my staff’s plan for quick-clean ups?
Chances are if you’re the homeowner you are not going to be cleaning up at the end of each day, but someone will be. Having a battery-operated or lightweight vacuum for quick and rapid clean-ups in between the maintenance cleaning will make maintaining the home significantly easier
So now that we have gone over those things. Lets talk about vacuums:
Chameleon Central Vacuum
The ultimate in built-in central vacuums, a Chameleon Central Vacuum system is the easiest and most efficient way to clean any large home. Each inlet can have up to a 50’ Retractable Hose, that covers up to 2200 sq. ft. per valve. These valves can easily be installed in closets and other low-visibility locations to make this system inconspicuous. Simply pull, vacuum and retract. Multiple units can be installed with the home laid out in different zones, allowing for multiple operators all cleaning at the same time. Because of the power units remote location, vacuuming with a Chameleon Central Vacuum System is extremely quiet, allowing your cleaners to vacuum without disturbing someone in the other room.
A quality central vacuum motor has a 1500+ hour life span, 5-6x longer than most portable vacuums. These motors are designed to clean veterinarian hospitals and commercial factories, so they are right at home in your large estate. The large disposable bag holds 6-gallons of debris, meaning that even in a large home, with lots of traffic and shedding pets, the machine only needs attention 2-3x per year. With practically unlimited options for attachments, a Chameleon Central Vacuum can be customized to clean any floor coverings. Plus inlets in the garage make it easy for your team to keep your cars and garage sparkling clean as well.
It’s easiest to install a central vacuum when your home is being built, but systems can be retrofitted without much mess or hassle in most instances. Call us today to discuss all of the options available for your large home.
2. SEBO D4 Canister
Want a central vacuum on wheels? The SEBO D4 is the ultimate canister vacuum for large homes. The SEBO D4 features a 40’ retractable cord that when combined with the extra long hose w/ 270 degree swivel, you can clean up to 50’ away from your power outlet. Most canister vacuums have a retractable cord that is only 20’-25’ in length, which makes cleaning large rooms extremely frustrating. Despite its’ large capacity, the machine is remarkably lightweight, but built to withstand even the heaviest use. The large 1.5 gallon bag holds large amounts of debris while being easy and economical to replace. The large AirBelt Bumper protects your valuable furnishings and baseboards while the machine is being pulled along. 3 attachments are stored on-board for easy cleaning along baseboards, furniture, stairs and more.
The Famous SEBO ET-1 Powerhead is the same powerhead we sell to use with commercial central vacuums in churches and office buildings. The brush is remarkably easy to maintain and extremely effective on all carpeting and area rugs. Special delicate brushrolls can be swapped in for gentle cleaning of wool rugs without damage.
Made in Germany, the SEBO D4 features a 10-year parts warranty and 7-year labor warranty when purchased from Keystone Vacuum. Finally consumables for your SEBO D4 are reasonably priced, with 8 Disposable Filter Bags costing only $34.99, Compared to $22.99 for 4 on some competitor products.
The SEBO X7 is the ideal upright for your large home. The X7 has a proven record of long-life cleaning hotels, offices and churches. The large 1.4 gallon bag holds more debris, while the S-Class Sealed Filtration System keeps the dust, dirt and allergens that are picked up, locked tight inside the machine.
The X7 features a 40’ power cord, a Quick-Draw Wand and Hose for easy detail cleaning, Smart-Automatic Height-Adjustment, and Computer Controller that protects the vacuum….Wait. A what? Yeah the X7 features a computer controller that constantly monitors the brush speed and bag levels to protect the vacuum. If a cleaning rag, or the edge of an area rug is accidentally picked up, the machine will automatically shut down to protect the belts. This belt monitor can also detect when a brush is wearing down and no longer cleaning effectively. The same computer controller also monitors the airflow going through the machine and will warn the user if there is a clog or a full bag. If the user ignores the warning, the machine will automatically shut down after approximately 60-seconds, preventing motor burn-out.
The X7 is the ideal vacuum for large homes that prefer an upright cleaner. Combine an X7 with a D4 for an unbeatable cleaning combination.
For the quick cleans, the Miele HX2 TriFlex is the ideal cordless vacuum. Although the machine can be configured 3 different ways, my preferred set-up is in the traditional upright configuration. This set-up allows the machine to be free-standing, similar to a regular upright vacuum. This eliminates needing to lean the vacuum against the wall or a piece of furniture and having to pray that it doesn’t fall over and damage something. The HX2 also features removable batteries so with an additional battery, you can easily double your run time for extended cleaning range.
The HX2 can also be set-up as a hand vacuum for easy above the floor cleaning as well.
Wrap Up
Finally, the most important thing to consider is that your cleaning tools are only as good as the support system to take care of them. Here at Keystone Vacuum, we are happy to provide local annual maintenance on your machines to keep them working in tip-top shape. If you have a house manager, we can easily keep them supplied with all the necessary supplies like bags, filters and replacement brushes. Ready to talk about cleaning? Give us a call today and we can discuss your individual cleaning needs and make custom recommendations for your home. Keystone Vacuum offers free shipping on all new vacuums, and free local, same-day delivery within 45 miles of Butler, PA, Call for full details.