Small but powerful: Anne Shooter tries out the Dyson CityWhen I told people I was testing vacuum cleaners, everyone had a view – and a vehement one at that. In one corner, were those who swore allegiance to the smiley-faced Henry. In the opposite corner, were the supporters of the bagless, brightly-coloured, hi-tech Dyson. Then there were those who backed outsiders - Hoovers and Sebos. So, which of brand them really cleans up in the battle of the vacuums?HOOVER FREEJET 3 IN 1 4/5£99, Amazon.co.uk, Comet and other electrical retailersThis is not as powerful as some vacuum cleaners  - but are pretty efficient given it is not plugged into the mains. It charges rapidly on a little stand and then gives you 20 minutes of cleaning, with no tiresome cord to stop you whizzing round at high speed. is incredibly lights (just 2.8kg), very easy to manoeuvre and has a detachable handheld unit for cleaning upholstery.  £99.95, John Lewis and electrical retailersThis

claims to pick up 20pc more than other upright cleaners while using 30pc less energy  - and its motor is only 800W compared with theIt certainly did the job when I tested it on hair, crumbs and glitter – and the price is great. Despite its right-on credentials it is a bit plasticky, clunky and ungainly. I found it heavy and noisy compared with others – and I needed a screwdriver to assemble it. energy-saving Electrolux Envirovac, the Miele Cat and Dog Upright which isn't just for pet owners and the cordless Hoover Freejet MIELE CAT AND DOG S7260 UPRIGHT CLEANER 4/5You don’t need a pet to own one of these – kids or any other reason for mess will justify buying it. is a very powerful machine. It has an 1800W motor and you can reallyIt sucked up everything in its path. suction levels for different surfaces, which you choose using a dial on the front, and attachments for cleaning curtains, sofas and window is that it is big, so you have to use an attachment to go under pieces

of furniture, where other cleaners would fit. it has some clever wheel elevation system that means it glides around as if on ice, making using it a real pleasure. Plus it has won a Which? Dyson City: Worth the expensive price tag £249.99, John Lewis, amazon.co.uk and other electrical retailersJames Dyson says in his autobiography that his one wish is that 'one day, Dyson will replace "Hoover" and become a noun, a verb...long after I am forgotten'. carpet cleaning machines perth waI have to admit I was not a Dyson fan, finding them clunky and heavy and not as family friendly as my Henry. best automatic pool vacuum above groundThen I tried the Dyson City. automatic pool vacuum hoseIt was designed to appeal to the Japanese, who generally have small homes, and it is tiny, it can fit on a piece of A4 paper.

I have handbags bigger than this. And it weighs less than some laptops at just over 7lb. But it has no less suction than an ordinary Dyson – which means it sucks hard - there are no bags to worry about, and it is energy efficient. Yes, it is expensive, but it looks cool, it can live in the cupboard under your sink and it removes glitter from carpet. What more do you want? IRobot Roomba: Switch it on and leave it to clean iROBOT ROOMBA VACUUM CLEANER 3/5This magical little device could not be easier to set up and use  - basically you press a button and leave it to sweep your rooms while you go and do something else. It can tell when a room is clean and then go back to its charging base. You can set up a virtual wall to keep it out of certain areas or stop it falling downstairs. I was impressed – though I think it would work better in a minimalist, modern apartment rather than in my cluttered house with lots furniture and toys scattered everywhere Anyway, it’s a very cool thing to show your friends after a dinner party.

The Samsung Navibot is a similar device with a few more bells and whistles and will be available soon at £399. It has a mapping system so it takes photos of the room and uses them to create an electronic path. But after 20 minutes in my living room the pile of crumbs I had left to test it remained untouched.SEBO CYLINDER AIRBELT K1 KOMFORT 4/5I discovered that the Sebo is smart, quiet, efficient and well made – so it's no surprise that's German. The BMW of vacuums, it manouevres well, is light, has great suction and is particularly good at cleaning stairs. It has a five-year guarantee. The only thing I don’t like is that I found it irritating to change its bags. From left: The smart Sebo K1, the incredibly powerful Bissel Opticlean and the ever reliable HenryThis machine is very small, light and neat with a usefully long cord. It is also incredibly powerful for a machine of its size, with a 2000W motor. It sucked up crumbs, glitter and hair easily and made my sofas look really clean.

There is variable suction for hard floors and upholstery, and an easy to empty dirt container – so no irritating bags. And it's great value. My only complaint – and it lost a point for this – it has a really annoying high pitched background squeal as well as the normal motor noise, which could drive you crazy. HENRY HVR200 BAGGED CYLINDER VACUUM CLEANER 5/5 £99.97, Tesco and electrical retailersHenry is compact and light and rolls behind you while you hold out the tube as it is cleans everything in its path. It is no surprise that builders use it – I’ve even used it to clean debris from the patio. The 8m cord is fantastic too, meaning you don’t have to stop too often to keep plugging it in at different plug points – and it rewinds by itself really fast. I’m not a big fan of bags usually, but Henry’s other good points make up for it. I’ve had mine for ten years now and I’m sure it’s got another ten in it. Sorry Dyson fans – but it’s a draw. The housing market continues to thrive.

All aspects of construction lead to a huge volume of dust. Many people want to know how to clean a new construction home.One definite option is to hire a dedicated professional cleaning service. This will be sure to get results. If you want to take this route do your research. Read reviews of the company. Settle on a firm you are confident will deliver.For many people, though, the process of building a new home is so expensive that any saving is valuable so read on and discover how to do it yourself! We will give some handy hints here to help you with this final stage of the process before you enjoy your new home. What Do You Need?Starting OutThe Main EventWhat To Do If You Want To Hire a Professional Cleaner Page ContentsWhat Do You Need?Starting OutThe Main EventWhat To Do If You Want To Hire a Professional Cleaner First, assemble these essential cleaning supplies. Vacuum cleaner and attachments Vacuum bagsDust maskRubber gloverPaper TowelsFeather DusterDustpan and BrushBucketSoapSponggeRagsRubbing AlcoholCleaning solution

Starting OutGet all your supplies and take them to the garage.Being prepared is a large part of the battle won.Once you have everything in place, it’s time to systematically attack the whole house and restore order.Follow these basic steps, take your time and do the job thoroughly. Do not rush things and follow the steps in order. Put on your rubber gloves and grab a dust mask. Dust will be everywhere so don't let it get in your nose and mouth as well Wipe down all of the ceilings in each room with a dampened sponge.Take off all the labels attached to the windows.Vacuum all the window tracks next.Clean all of the windows both inside and out. Perhaps for this stage you will want to use your regular window cleaning service. If so, plan in advance so that they can be here on time. Make sure you wipe off any drips from the sills, frames and tracks as you go along.Vacuum all of the drawers and cupboards. Take out the bottom drawers so that you can vacuum under them. Be methodical so that you remove all dust.

Get a bucket filled with cleaning solution and lots of soft rags. Wipe down all surfaces in the house. Focus on drawers, shelves, doors, windowsills and baseboards. Again, being methodical is key. Make sure not to neglect the tops of doors and the molding. Take care to regularly rinse the rags as you clean.Use a cleaning solution to clean everything in the bathrooms. Rinse surfaces and polish them up with a towel or rag. Use a window solution to make the mirrors shine. Mop all of the floors in the bathroom now.Pop to the kitchen now and wipe then polish all surfaces and appliances. Be very careful with stainless steel. Do not use ammonia-based products on marble either. Scrub and polish the sink and fixtures until gleaming.Time for more vacuuming. Take care of the heating and cooling ducts. Take the hose off and reach in as far as you can. If you neglect this step then lots of dust will be blown out when the system is switched on.Vacuum all the carpets throughout the house. The hose attachment is great for the edges of walls and baseboard edges.

Micro-dust will settle everywhere so wipe down the tops of the electrical outlet covers. Details like this matter.Wipe down and dust all of the light fittings. You can gently vacuum inside some light fixtures. Rubbing alcohol is fantastic for any chrome which needs polishing up.Clean the thresholds thoroughly.Take a mop into the kitchen and clean the floor nicely. Mop as you back out of the room for the best finish. Adding some lemon oil to the water promotes a wonderful sheen.Sweep and then vacuum the garage after packing away all of your supplies. There are two main choices you have if you want to call in a professional cleaner.One option is to use a recruitment agency. The benefit of this approach is that the workers will come pre-vetted. There is little responsibility or hassle for you. Place a call and the employees will arrive, clean your home and you will pay by the hour. The disadvantage is that sometimes the worker will not put in much effort so select a reputable agency.

Be clear about your requirements.The other route to take is a specialist cleaning company. If you decide to do this then research several companies first. Ask friends and family for their recommendations. Referrals always allow you to be confident in getting a job well done. Websites are a good indication of how an organization does business. Look for a site which offers lots of general information, has clear rates and ample details of the services offered. Get a feel for the company by calling them or sending an email. Remember that price is a factor for most people but the cheapest is not always the best. Look for the cleaning company that best suits all of your requirements and make the best choice for you.ConclusionIf you choose to clean your new construction home yourself, taking your time and being highly meticulous will lead to a job well done.For those who decide to contract the services of a professional, take the above advice in mind and do not rush into choosing the first company you come across.