This is the day Melville Bissell invented the carpet sweeper in 1878. It was hand-powered and the forerunner to today's vacuum industry and the company that still bears his name. The wet/dry shop vac is the handyman's choice. Don't just buy peak horsepower or be swayed by gee-whiz lifting. Most sold today are fine for home duty, but you should comparison-shop by using the method of multiplying sealed pressure times airflow. If the result is 5,000 or higher, you're OK. Most have plastic tanks, which are lightweight and dent-resistant. Ten to 16 gallons are fine for most uses. For dry debris, use pleated paper filters, and for wet pickups, use flat paper or foam. Some models use both, and offer accessories that make them even more valuable. And that's the On The House tip for today.