Spring Cleaning? This Decision Could Make Your Dirty Floors Pristine.

Buying a new vacuum takes more forethought than just going to the store and making the purchase, or at least it should.

David Farzinzad, 50, of Avon, knows this all too well. The owner of Avon Vacuums, LLC sees a steady flow of customers who visit his Route 44 shop, tucked next to Avon Congregational Church, to buy parts, get repairs or find a new vacuum.

"When they come in here ready to buy, I try to educate them," said Farzinzad, who loves to chat with customers and often offers them some tea.

If you have a hardwood or tile floor without carpeting, a canister vacuum – a machine with a base and a hose – will do the job of cleaning those rooms as well as bathrooms, he said. As long as they have the right motor power, canisters can also clean carpets and are good for a small apartment.

But if your house is mostly carpeted, Farzinzad recommends an upright vacuum.

Miele canister vacuums, a German brand, are favored by Farzinzad for people with allergies or asthma because he said they have better suction. The models he carries range in price from $449 to $1,600. Getting a vacuum with a strong filtration system is another important factor to consider, he said.

The price of a vacuum doesn't necessarily reflect higher quality, and customers are encouraged to pick Farzinzad's brain for recommendations. Farzinzad said it's his job to prevent customers from buying vacuums that don't fit their living environment.

He also has a trade-in vacuum program, accepting used vacuums and sending the customers home with new ones. Rather than reselling the used machines, Farzinzad uses them for replacement parts when a customer comes in with a broken vacuum.

Avon Vacuums has been at 12 West Main St. for about three years. Farzinzad calls it his "sanctuary." He bought the vacuum business about 10 years ago after working next to it in a former Persian rug store in the Edible Arrangements plaza. The vacuum store was formerly located at 304 West Main St., in the space where his wife, Nahid Farzinzad, 46, now runs Shihan spa.

More information is available on the store website or by calling 860-678-0011.