You could be forgiven for thinking that canister vacuum cleaners were born out of the electronic revolution of the 20^th century but research has chronicled some legendry efforts to bring an efficient carpet cleaner into being as far back as the mid nineteenth century.

Chicago saw the birth of the first vacuum cleaner back in the year 1868 in the US city of Chicago. Believe it or not, the cleaner was a mechanical device which had to be cranked as the operator simultaneously swept the floors. This first cleaner already incorporated the notion of a ‘whirlwind’ action, sucking particles upwards to be collected in its interior in much the same way that cleaners do today.

But while the designers understood the concept of easy of portability in the creation of this lightweight mechanical cleaner, this first effort lacked any true concept of filtering with the result that much of the collected dust filtered outwards and back from whence it came. Despite such drawbacks, the earliest vacuum cleaner was market at around $25 with the obvious aim of attracting middle income house owners.

While not alone in being credited as the man who invented the canister vacuum cleaner, Ives W. Gaffey is seen as the most influential in the building and manufacture of this new domestic appliance. As an employee of the American Carpet Cleaning Co, Gaffey acquired the patent on June 8^th 1869 for the first canister cleaners and much of the work associated with new carpet cleaning is linked with his work.

Perhaps more familiar, however, is the name of Bissell, another well-known early engineer of the canister vacuum whose name remains a brand seller in the showrooms of today. Melville Bissell invented a hugely successful cleaner, boasting the ability to pick up sawdust as it swept over carpets.

The action of the early Bissell cleaner varied from the whirlwind. The Bissell cleaners used the sweeping motion itself to activate the vacuum suction and in this way drew dust and particles into the canister. The original model of the very first canister vacuum cleaner still stands today and can be seen at the HooverHistoricalCenter.

We’ve come a long way since those early attempts at harnessing vacuum in designs of successful mechanical carpet cleaners. Design of vacuum cleaners has been liberated from it mechanical crank and push by the introduction of electrical connections and air pressure technology. Air pressure itself forms the basis of many of today’s cleaners, creating efficient sucking or blowing action which can either draw up dirt particles or, conversely, blow out shampoo.

Today’s automatic electric canister cleaners incorporate this dual action and can be operated in both wet and dry conditions, the electrical points being protected within the design from contact with all substances, even water. It is the strong force of this suction and pump action that has increased the popularity of canister cleaners in dealing with spillages and ridding carpets and furnishing of unwanted smells or infestation.

Most modern canister vacuum cleaners feature a number of options that are designed to make life easier around the home and office, such as length extensions, different heads to tackle different fabrics and smooth flooring, stair carpet accessories, not to mention different rates of suction and pump power.

Again, each new design tries to incorporate recent innovation and floor fabric fashions. There are different ways of moving the canister around and of lifting and transporting and each is considered against a backdrop of modern interior design and cupboard storage space.

Attachments for the tube running into the canister are packed efficiently into the canister casing to minimize loss and maximize efficient access. Filters and tube accessories are designed to be removed and cleaned by the house owner and to be swiftly replaceable if ever damaged. HEPA filters are promoted to deal with household allergens and drive home the importance of maintaining clean air around those who suffer from house-dust allergy and associated ailments.

It is the suction power and versatility of these canister vacuum cleaners that makes these models so popular in comparison with other vacuums which for many people far outweighs any inconvenience found around drawing the cleaner along as your move forward. The power of the vacuum canister cleaner enables the operator to cover vast tracts of carpet and plain floors and with the added bonus of being able to both sweep and wet clean to a pristine condition.

Take a look around online to find listings for canister vacuum cleaners. There are hundreds of sites that will give you excellent deals on cleaners as well as great warranties. With expertise dating back of many years of tried and tested technology the canister is likely to be around for a while with its continued reputation as the strongest and sturdiest of household cleaning appliances.