A cleaning head for a vacuum cleaner comprises a housing (10, 74) for facing a surface being cleaned, a first suction opening (38, 92), a brush bar (42, 94) operable on the surface being cleaned through the first suction opening, a second suction opening (60, 104) and means (66, 108) for switching suction air flow between the first and second suction openings as required. The second suction opening may be narrower than the first opening, to provide a higher speed of suction airflow and hence improved dust collection when the brush bar is not being operated.