Is it a ‘Hoover?’ The Myth Behind the Name of Vacuum Cleaners

Do you call your vacuum cleaner a hoover? It turns out that in England and Ireland, people still use the word ‘hoover’ to refer to vacuum cleaners. Not just this — they would also say that ‘we are hovering the carpet’ when they clean their rooms. Britishers are often confused about what certain words mean because it’s hard to understand each region’s unique terminology and customs when speaking internationally. So the term “hoover” is a genericized trademark that has been around for decades — despite Hoover no longer holding on as Britain’s top seller of vacuum cleaners during this period. So let us unveil the myth behind the name of vacuum cleaners. Read on to find out the answer to this question.

Why Are Vacuum Cleaners Called Hoovers?

When you think of the 1970s, what comes to mind? For many people, it is a time where they constantly experimented with new electronic appliances. This includes vacuums and other household items like irons that started being manufactured in large numbers for daily use by everyone around them. However, the 1970s was a time of rapid technological change.

Vacuum cleaners became more popular in the world. There were only a few brands to choose from as Hoover is a company that was the first one to manufacture vacuum cleaners. Therefore people started associating vacuum cleaners with Hoover because the company hoover was manufacturing vacuum cleaners.

What makes this even more interesting is that the first vacuum cleaner came out in 1900s England by Mr. Hubert Cecil Booth. Way before World War I. People were looking for ways to be cleaner and healthier than ever before. The general public couldn’t help but refer to Hoover with cleanliness. In fact, if you type ‘hoover’ into Google Images right now, you will mostly see pictures of vacuum cleaners.

William Henry Hoover in Ohio founded the Hoover company. Surprisingly, it soon became very successful, and they were considered the pioneers of electric vacuum cleaners — a US-based startup with an impressive base across Europe, along with the UK. It was making them popular among many households across this region.

Even though several brands specialize only in these machines. When it comes to talking about vacuums, Hoover is the king. However, other competitors like Kenmore Progressive or Eureka make comparable products with their unique features. But none can come close when referring back to its originality and effectiveness for cleaning purposes. Gradually the Hoover became a countrywide brand providing top-quality electric vacuums in the UK. Meanwhile, many other vacuum brands were diverting public attention from Hoover worldwide, mainly in the USA. So what makes us call our cleaners’ hoovers’? Basically, there’s not much of a fundamental difference between both terms. But it is an interesting tidbit about how cultures influence language use across borders.

With the legacy of Hoover vacuums still with us. It’s no surprise that people are calling any vacuum cleaner a “hoover”. But what do you call your portable sweeper? The answer is clear. Just have some fun with language and refer to them all as either “vacuum cleaners”. Or even something more creative like “My Sleek Dirt-Sucking Machine”. Not sure if they will know how silly this sounds in America. But I’m pretty sure most Britishers would find my choice humorous.

If you want to learn more about vacuum cleaners. Or you are looking to buy one and cannot decide which one is right for you. Shark is also one of the top brands manufacturing an impressive range of high-quality vacuum cleaners built for every home. Especially if you have pets at home, vacuum cleaners by Shark can be your best friend.

And now, some Lesser Known Facts about the Hoovers/Vacuum Cleaners

The history of the vacuum cleaner is quite interesting, but it’s not just for show. Here are some surprising facts about these inventions that have changed our cleaning styles.

1. The vacuum cleaner is a modern innovation that has been around for more than 100 years now. Ives McGaffey created one of these early vacuums, which used human power and required two people to operate it because there was no motorized fan available at the time. But it never made it onto store shelves because there just wasn’t enough demand at that point for such an item. Things sure have changed since then, though, haven’t they?

2. The first vacuum was created by Englishman Hubert Cecil Booth. His invention — “Puffing Billy” ran on gasoline and required an entire horse-drawn wagon to move it. Mr. Booth had left a great impression on Lord Chamberlain with his invention that he bought two from Mr. Booth. One for Buckingham Palace, where it still resides, and another for Windsor Castle.

3. The first hooded hairdryer was invented by a man who wanted to make housekeeping more effortless and more effective. The vacuum cleaner technology laid the foundation for this invention way back in 1920.

4. William Henry’s Boss’ Hoover is considered by many to be the father of modern-day vacuum cleaners. He not only paved their way. But also helped design and introduce some features we still see today in our homes. In 1930s America, people were using various homemade tools for cleaning. From feather dusters or brooms made out of old newspapers. But all this changed when Mr. Hoover brought home an electric sweeper which used suction instead. The aesthetics of this innovation were improved later on by someone else — Henry Dreyfuss!

5. The vacuum cleaner is still a significant player in our lives, with 98% of homes having one. These days there are various kinds of vacuum cleaners — and for everyone. They are a blessing for people who love to clean their homes regularly but hate doing it with their hands. Or just want an easier way of staying on top of things around the house by regularly cleaning their floors. Robotic vacuum cleaners are the way to go if you are lazy to even drive the machine yourself.

6. John S. Thurman, a man with an ingenious mind, invented the first cleaner powered by the machine. He was an American inventor from Massachusetts and was known for his ground-breaking work on the first cleaner powered by an engine that was so big that it had to be moved in a horse-drawn wagon.

7. The first museum of vacuum cleaners was opened in St. James, Missouri, to celebrate the wide-ranging and indispensable invention that has changed our world forever! Visitors to the museum will learn about vacuum cleaner history, from its inception in 1869 up until the present day. The museum was relocated to Rolla in 2019.