The loyal vacuum cleaner is a trusted friend when it comes to keeping your home clean. For much of the 20th century and all of the 21st century, they’ve proved to be a reliable ally for getting rid of dust, dirt and more from carpets, tiles and hardwood floors.
Modern vacuum cleaners are packed with innovation and features too – including those in the Hoover range that feature extended battery power, anti-twist hair removal features and extra maneuverability
But how did we get this far? Who first invented the hoover and what developments happened along the way? We’ve put together this blog to answer those questions and more:
What people did before hoovers
The precursors to hoovers were, of course, the humble broom and brush which served – and still do serve – families across all generations.
But as civilisation progressed, houses got bigger and electricity became introduced, the opportunity for a new machine that covered all of the floor cleaning became more and more possible.
This is what saw the invention and success of the first vacuum cleaners.
The first vacuum cleaners
The first vacuum cleaner actually wasn’t powered by electricity at all.
It was built by an American engineer from Iowa, who called it the ‘carpet sweeper’. This sweeper used a rotating brush that was operated by hand via a set of bellows. The operation created suction that pulled up dust from carpets.
These, along with the ‘Whirlwind’, another basic hand-powered vacuum cleaner, were sold commercially, but they were held back by awkward operation and their bulky size.
The next innovation was powered vacuum cleaners that worked on their own, without human action. Unlike modern vacuum cleaners, these models would blow the dirt into a receptacle – much like what you would do with a hand brush and a broom. Instead of being sold commercially, they would generally be operated by a door-to-door professional, who would offer vacuum cleaning as a service.
The first suction-powered vacuum cleaner
The first vacuum cleaners to use suction to suck up the dirt and dust were pioneered by two men on different sides of the Atlantic. British inventor Hubert Cecil Booth and American David T Kenney came up with the idea of using combustion engines to pump air through a filter to provide suction.
These were enormous vacuum cleaners compared to what we have today – large enough to be taken from door to door by a horse and carriage, and using a complicated system of tubes to ensure a thorough clean.
As before, they were offered as part of a house cleaning service rather than sold as independent devices for household use.
The introduction of domestic vacuum cleaners
1905 saw the first ever vacuum cleaners introduced to the household market that were feasible for everyday use.. It was invented by Walter Griffiths from Birmingham and bears a surprising resemblance to the models we use today – and it even came with different accessories for different surfaces and tasks.
It was James Murray Spangler of Canton Ohio however, who first came up with the electrically powered vacuum cleaner that was portable enough to use in the home. He called it the Electric Suction Sweeper and it used an electric fan to create suction – Spangler sold the idea to William Henry Hoover in 1908 who redesigned it and sold it under his business to great success.
Over the next few decades, vacuum cleaner innovation really began to take off, with new additions like new accessories, filter bags and upright models taking to the market and finding their own success. The 1940s and 1950s in particular saw hoovers become truly a part of the modern home, both in America and in Europe.
Other forms of vacuum cleaner
Innovation continued throughout the latter half of the 20th century, including the building of new models which could perform different functions.
- The first handheld vacuum cleaner models came in around the 1970s and 80, which gave much more flexibility to something that could easily reach hard-to-reach spots in their home.
- The first robotic vacuum cleaner – vacuum cleaners that could perform cleaning duties independent of their owners – came in the early 2000s and have continued to develop to offer more ease and quicker cleaning.
Why you should chose a Hoover vacuum cleaner
At Hoover, our collection of vacuum cleaners is packed with functional, practical and ergonomic options to suit any household or organisation.
With both upright models and bagged options, these are vacuum cleaners that are perfectly designed to keep your carpets and floors clear of dust and debris.
ANTI-TWIST capabilities keep the brushes free of hair and other tangles, while a range of brush accessories are ideal for homes that have pets that shed hair. Better yet, our models are lightweight and easy to maneuver, so you can always stay a step ahead.
Find out more here.
