Essentially, the vacuum cleaner operates using a pump system. The pumping device sucks up air from a house, which in turn sucks up the dust and dirt from anything in front of the house opening. Inside the vacuum cleaner is a filtering system that collects the dust and dirt that can later be placed in the garbage outside.

Currently there are seven main types of vacuum cleaners; the upright vacuum cleaner, the Canister vacuum cleaner, the back-pack style vacuum cleaner, the built-in vacuum cleaner, the robotic vacuum cleaner, the hand held vacuum cleaner and the wet/dry vacuum cleaners. These different types of vacuum cleaners are available in different styles, sizes and have various voltage/power potentials.

One of the most significant developments in carpet cleaning machines has been the invention of the cyclone carpet cleaner. Unlike previous carpet cleaning machines, the cyclone carpet cleaner collects dust and dirt in a large cylinder type container. The cyclone carpet cleaner operates using a central air force and a number of filters. These filters filter the dust and dirt into stages, so that the air being sucked up into the cylinder container can then be cleaned and re-released into the air through a central outlet.