Vacuum cleaners are devices that suck dirt out of carpeting. Typically vacuum cleaners are motorized and require electricity to operate. Older vacuum cleaners consist of a bag attached to a handle that can be pushed forward and pulled back over the area needing cleaning. Once the bag gets full, it should be thrown away and replaced with a new bag. The size and style of bag needed depends on the manufacturer and model of the vacuum. Vacuum cleaners have evolved to include several different styles and attachments. Some vacuum cleaners are hand held and are better suited for steps and hard to reach places. Typical attachments include long handles, thin nozzles or brushes to aid with reaching high up places, tight corners, or other areas needing special attention.

Many people prefer to get bagless vacuum cleaners nowadays. Bagless vacuums do not require the use of a bag. They contain a dirt chamber that can be dumped into the trash when full. Many bagless vacuum cleaners also contain a filter to help clean the air while they vacuum. The filter should be changed every 6 months to a year depending on the frequency of vacuuming.

Vacuum cleaners are usually used on carpeting. Some people use vacuums to clean tile or other flat surfaces that have debris that is being missed by the broom. Vacuum cleaners are useful for getting up stubborn pet hair that otherwise would not come up easily. Restaurants will sometimes use sweepers as alternatives to vacuum cleaners. Sweepers are not motorized and will suck up small areas needing cleaning quickly. Vacuum cleaners come in a wide variety of styles, models, and brand manufacturers. Prices range from as low as $50 dollars to over $2000 dollars. The saying "You get what you pay for" is true in the case of vacuum cleaners. A $2000 dollar vacuum will tend to have a lot more cleaning power than a $50 dollar vacuum.

A relatively new concept is the self-operating vacuum cleaner. These machines are considered to be small robots that do not need to be pushed to work. With one click of a button, the machine takes off on its mission around the room. Once it hits a wall or other obstacle, it will turn and go in a different direction. It has special sensors that will keep it from falling down stairs. Some come with invisible walls, which send a signal to the robot that keeps it from passing through the wall. Others can be programmed to vacuum on a set schedule every day. It is important to empty the dirt receptacle occasionally as it will not pick up debris very well once its full. The self-operating vacuum cleaners clean better than one might expect given how small they are. It is, however, recommended to use a normal upright vacuum cleaner on occasion to achieve a deeper cleaning. The manufacturers who produce self-operating vacuum cleaners also have similar products to mop the floor or clean the pool. As time goes on, more and more machines similar to the self-operating vacuum will be created to make life easier.