Abstract: An upright vacuum cleaner has a hose assembly (10, 10?) attached at one end to the base (1, 1?) of the cleaner. The hose assembly is stowed alongside the handle (6, 6?) and is retained by the free end (19) of the assembly engaging a fixture (21) on the handle. The hose assembly (10, 10?) comprises a rigid wand (12, 12?) and a flexible hose (11, 11?) with a natural extended length. The hose can be retracted to a shorter length using the power of the vacuum cleaner by closing a valve (20, 20?) on the wand (12, 12?) to prevent air flow along the hose assembly and produce a reduced pressure. The wand (12, 12?) is stowed by sliding inside or outside the hose (11, 11?) and has a flange (18, 18?) at one end that engages and seals with a flange (15, 15?) at the free end of the hose when the wand is extended.

Abstract: A vaccum cleaner has a hose (10, 30, 30′) that is retractable in length by the application of reduced pressure from the vacuum cleaner. After use, the free end (14, 21, 33) of the hose is occluded so that pressure falls within the hose and it is retracted in length. The hose is restrained in its shortened length before suction is turned off. The hose in its retracted state may be stored on or off the vacuum cleaner.