An upright surface cleaning apparatus has an upper section that is moveably mounted to the surface cleaning head between an in use position and a storage position. The upper section is rotationally mounted to the surface cleaning head. The upright surface cleaning apparatus has an alignment mechanism comprising a first cooperating alignment member associated with the surface cleaning head and a second cooperating alignment member associated with the upper section, the first and second members guiding the upper section to a particular orientation or range of orientations when the upper section is moved into the storage position.