When you’re in the market for a new vacuum, there are a surprising number of choices you have to make—do you want one you can hold or a more traditional vacuum? How much suction power do you need? Do you want a bag or not? What brand should you choose? How much should you spend? Unfortunately, many people get overwhelmed with all these decisions and end up making a bad choice on their vacuum, either spending too much on something that’s not functional or getting a poor-quality vacuum and needing a new one again in a few months.

Fortunately, though, you’re on this website, which means you are doing some research on the best brands out there before you buy. Here are just a few of the features you should be looking at before your next vacuum purchase.

1: Powerful Cleaning

One of the keys to a good vacuum is its suction power. Buying a vacuum with too little suction power means it won’t be able to pick up the dirt deep in your carpet fibers, or those stubborn hairs from your furry friends. You also want a vacuum that will retain that suction for many years to come.

2: Health-Conscious

A lesser known, but equally important, part of buying a vacuum is its ability to keep microscopic allergens and dust particles out of the air. You want these allergens will stay inside your vacuum rather than being distributed back into the air while you’re trying to clean. The best option for those sensitive to allergens in the air (or anyone, really) is a vacuum with a high-efficiency particular air filter, also known as a HEPA filter. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America recommends HEPA filters in your vacuum, so check for a high-quality HEPA filter before you buy, especially if you or family members suffer from allergy or asthma.

3: Durability

A vacuum might not sound like a very glamorous purchase, but the reality is that it’s something that you will have, and use, for many years to come. A good quality vacuum can come with a little bit higher price tag, but if it’s something that will last for years—decades, even—then it is worth the extra cost. While the cost of vacuums today can range from around $30-$50 for a cheaper brand at a big box store to more than $1,000 for a high-end brand with all the bells and whistles. You don’t necessarily have to spend that much to get a good quality vacuum, but in most cases if you buy the cheapest one you can find, you’ll get what you paid for.

There are still a few more questions to answer before you buy a vacuum, like whether you should get one with a bag or not, an upright or a handheld model, or perhaps a cordless version. Fortunately the experts at Vacuums 360 in Salt Lake City can help you find one that fits your budget and your needs. Come check out the huge selection of brands—including Dyson, Shark, Miele, iRobot, Bissell, Kirby and Oreck—in our stores today.