Vacuum cleaners – soon two in every home

How would we actually manage without a vacuum cleaner and which ones have sold best in 2021? In this week's APPLiAnytt, we look at the latest statistics that indicate that the number of vacuum cleaners in each household is increasing as we want to supplement our classic floor vacuum cleaner with more alternatives.

The most important thing in the home!

Try to imagine a life at home without a vacuum cleaner? Well, I thought so… no one would think that such a life would work very well. And spring cleaning in Swedish homes would definitely be more tiring without this helper!

Many people probably think exactly the same thing – because in Sweden, around 830,000 vacuum cleaners of various types were sold in 2021. This means that almost two out of ten households in Sweden purchase a new vacuum cleaner of some type during the year.

Different types

The largest share of the vacuum cleaner market is still the traditional 'cylinder type' (industry parlance) floor vacuum cleaner with a bag. They account for over 60 percent of units sold. Floor vacuum cleaners without a bag, so-called 'bagless', have increased from low numbers in recent years, but do not reach more than 3-4 percent of total sales in the Swedish market. Rechargeable/electric stick vacuum cleaners have increased the most in percentage terms in recent years, now accounting for 25 percent of total vacuum cleaner sales in Sweden.

Soon two vacuum cleaners in every home?

The statistics for the number of households in Sweden are based on the population registration. A household consists of people registered in the same residence. The most recent figure from 31 Dec 2021 shows that there are now a total of 4,831,811 households in the country. Almost 2 million of these households consist of one person living alone without children.

A quick math shows that in these 4.8 million households, there are already an average of 1.5 vacuum cleaners if we assume an average lifespan of ten years for these products. For example, how many older vacuum cleaners are still in use in garages to vacuum cars and workbenches or holiday homes? And this trend towards two vacuum cleaners in each household is also supported by the fact that more robot vacuum cleaners and handheld stick vacuum cleaners are being purchased to supplement the 'regular' traditional vacuum cleaner in the home. Many people find this convenient.

Kent Oderud

APPLiAnytt