Every week a Guardian Money reader submits a question, and it’s up to you to help him or her out – a selection of the best answers will appear in next Saturday’s paper.

This week’s question:

I’ve been mulling over buying a cordless vacuum cleaner. But I’m confused: £49 for a Russell Hobbs, £200-plus for a Dyson or Bosch, or brands I don’t know such as Gtech and Shark. Do pricey ones really pick up the dirt, and does the charge last long? Or should I stick with a conventional corded one?

Do you have a problem readers could solve? Email your suggestions to money@theguardian.com or write to us at Money, The Guardian, Kings Place, 90 York Way, London N1 9GU