By Anna Wallner and Kristina Matistic

Anna Wallner and Kristina Matisic

According to one consumer association, vacuum cleaner owners are the least likely appliance owners to buy the same brand again. This is one appliance we believe in spending more for. So here's how to buy it once and buy it right.

Analyze the flooring in your home. Canisters are best for places that have more bare floors than carpet. They're also very handy in hard-to-vacuum places such as stairs.

Uprights have their weight in the base and a hefty rotating brush that loosens and sucks dirt as you push back and forth. Their heavy suction makes them great on carpets, but look for a unit that allows you to turn off the brush so you can use it on uncarpeted floors.

When shopping, don't get caught up in the number of amps. Amperage only refers to the amount of electrical current, not the suction power.

Lift up the vacuum in the store, it should be substantial. A light vacuum is built for comfort, not for durability. Heavier vacuums are usually made with heavy-duty metal parts that are made to last.

Look for metal on the bottom of the vacuum, not plastic, because your nylon carpet will eventually wear that out.

Look for a cog belt versus a flat belt. They're more reliable.

We don't recommend buying a vacuum with a HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filter unless you have severe allergies. While HEPA vacuums will stop fine, allergy-inducing particles from escaping, many non-HEPA vacuums do this job just as well.

Things like "dirt sensors" are fancy features that just jack up the price and don't impact overall performance.

Before you head to the checkout, plug in the vacuum. A good quality machine will operate quietly.

(Anna Wallner and Kristina Matistic host The Shopping Bags.)