Abstract: The invention provides a vacuum cleaner (10) comprising dirt and dust separating apparatus (52) for separating dirt and dust from an airflow and having an inlet (59), and a cleaner head (22) having an outlet (32) communicating with the inlet (59) of the dirt and dust separating apparatus (52). The dirt and dust separating apparatus (52), or a part (58) thereof incorporating the inlet (59), is movable into an alternative position in which the outlet (32) of the cleaner head (22) is not in communication with the inlet (59) of the dirt and dust separating apparatus (52) and in which an alternative dirty air inlet (100) may be connected to the inlet (59) of the dirt and dust separating apparatus (52) characterized in that the inlet (59) of the dirt and dust separating apparatus (52) is adapted to cooperate releasably with the outlet (32) of the cleaner head (22).