The 18 Best Vacuums of 2024, Tested on Real Debris
Sep. 23, 2024
The 18 Best Vacuums of , Tested on Real Debris
Read more about the best vacuums PEOPLE Tested as well as what to consider when shopping for a vacuum for your home.
We spent countless hours testing over 350 vacuums in our lab and at home to determine specific metrics as well as gauge the ease of use for everyday vacuum users. For each vacuum, we assessed the setup, user-friendliness, and how effective the overall performance was in terms of maneuverability, cleaning ability, and versatility.
A house is hardly a home until it has at least one vacuum cleaner. But with so many vacuums on the market &#; from upright vacuums to robot vacuums &#; how are you supposed to know which one is perfect for you?
Best Cordless Vacuum
Shark Pet Cordless Stick Vacuum
PHOTO: Amazon
Our Ratings
Star Qualities
Picked up debris easily while on its lowest setting
Long battery life and cleaned for 25 minutes straight
Lightweight and cordless design makes it easy to move around, use, and store in a small home
Red Flags
Hard time transitioning from the rug to the hardwood floor
Very little beats the convenience of a cordless vacuum cleaner and the Shark Pet Cordless Stick Vacuum is one of the best we tested. It excelled at debris cleanup with impressive suction even on the lower mode (our testers didn&#;t even need the high mode). The Shark vacuum even grabbed dirt and pet hair from a Ruggable rug without separating the top layer from the bottom (a feat, trust us).
It did get stuck on the edge of the rug, but once addressed, the vacuum carried on with impressive efficiency. It easily maneuvered around furniture and into corners. Its light weight makes carrying it from room to room a breeze, and the battery lasts for 25 minutes straight on the lowest mode (11 minutes on the high mode). While this battery life isn&#;t as long as a Dyson&#;s (some can run up to an hour on the lowest setting), for a standard cordless stick vacuum, 25 minutes is a great run time. Plus, it has a HEPA filter.
Type: Cordless | Dimensions: 10.24 x 7.09 x 46.09 inches | Weight: 6.89 pounds | Filter Type: HEPA, foam | Capacity: 0.34 quarts | Cord Length: Cordless | Included Accessories: Pet multi-tool, crevice tool, battery charger
-
PHOTO: People / Dera Burreson
-
PHOTO: People / Dera Burreson
-
PHOTO: People / Dera Burreson
-
PHOTO: People / Laura Gurfein
-
PHOTO: People / Dera Burreson
-
PHOTO: People / Dera Burreson
Experts Say
Dr. Shyam Joshi, MD and CMO of Nectar finds HEPA filters to be one of the most important aspects of anyone's vacuum search. He says a vacuum should be &#;used with an appropriately designed HEPA filter and seal, thus reducing the risk of contaminants escaping into the air when vacuuming.&#; While size, price, dustbin capacity, and attachments are extra components to consider, this is one to keep top of mind throughout the process.
Best Upright Vacuum
Shark Navigator Lift-Away Deluxe Vacuum
PHOTO: Amazon
Our Ratings
Star Qualities
Works on carpets, hardwoods, and tile
Built-in HEPA filter
Large canister aids emptying process
Red Flags
Tough to manuever on carpet
Not great for stairs
The Shark Navigator Deluxe is one of those vacuums that makes the chore go by faster due to its ease of use and powerful suction. Assembly was quick &#; it only has three sections that clip in together easily. When it came to performance, this upright vacuum was lightweight to maneuver around furniture and across floors like hardwood and tile (carpet requires a little extra push). It suctioned up all stray crumbs, pet hair, and dirt. Plus, the HEPA filter grabs any pollen and other allergens. Other reasons to love this vacuum: It's quiet, simple to empty, and reasonably priced compared to other large vacuums.
How It's Held Up
Six months into testing, the Shark Navigator Deluxe continues to impress. It has some wear but suctions up pet hair and other debris without issue. It's simple to maneuver, lightweight to carry and store, and easy to clean out when you're finished vacuuming.
Dimensions: 45.5 x 15 x 11.5 inches | Weight: 16 pounds | Dirt Cup Size: 3.4 liters | Cord Length: 25 feet | Attachments: Pet brush, duster, crevice tool, long-reach hose, floor brush nozzle
-
PHOTO: People / Henry Wortock
-
PHOTO: People / Henry Wortock
-
PHOTO: People / Henry Wortock
Best Robot Vacuum
iRobot Roomba 694 Robot Vacuum
PHOTO: Amazon
Our Ratings
Star Qualities
Works well on hard flooring and carpets, and navigates around furniture
Technology allows it to effectively vacuum unsupervised
Super easy to use
Red Flags
Sensory issues at the edges of carpets and rugs
No mapping capabilities
If a list of vacuums makes you exhausted just thinking about the task of vacuuming your house, then the iRobot Roomba 694 Robot Vacuum may be the one for you. The iRobot was the crowned winner in our robot vacuum test, thanks to its effectiveness on all types of flooring, from hardwood and tile to carpeting. It took us less than five minutes to get this robot vacuum going after removing it from the box (including the app and scheduling setup on our phones).
As robots can only do so much that humans cannot, the Roomba had some issues detecting the edges of rugs and carpeting, staying away from those areas as if it sensed a drop-off or staircase. With this in mind, you may have to nudge it along when it gets to the edge of a surface, but it is fantastic at maneuvering around obstacles like chair legs and couches. This robot vacuum doesn't have mapping technology, but for an appliance that can effectively clean for you while you go about your day, we'd say this model is as good as it gets.
How It's Held Up
Our tester used the iRobot vacuum weekly for six months and continued to be delighted by how efficiently it sucked up dirt, debris, hair, and more. They disliked the chore of vacuuming so they appreciated the self-sufficient nature of the robot vacuum. They noted it was impressive and disgusting how much grime the vacuum got off their floors. Essentially, the vacuum continues to earn its best overall title.
Type: Bagless, robot | Dimensions: 13.4 x 13.4 x 3.54 inches | Weight: 6.8 pounds | Filter Type: High-efficiency | Capacity: 0.15 gallons | Cord Length: Not applicable | Included Accessories: Docking station, extra filter, Wi-Fi connectivity, app
-
PHOTO: People / Henry Wortock
-
PHOTO: People / Rachel Marek
-
PHOTO: People / Rachel Marek
-
PHOTO: People / Rachel Marek
Best Budget Pick
Dirt Devil Versa 3-in-1 Cordless Stick Vacuum
PHOTO: Amazon
Our Ratings
Star Qualities
Most inexpensive vacuum on our list, yet it still performs incredibly well
Easy to set up and maneuver around multiple floor types and furniture
Spacious dustbin, so you can go longer before having to empty it
Red Flags
Noticeably noisier than the others we tested
No included attachments
Vacuums are one of those household items that usually require an upfront investment, which is why this under-$100 DirtDevil is something to write home about. The Versa Cordless 3-in-1 Stick Vac is a powerful machine, gliding around any type of flooring effortlessly. Its lightweight frame and cordless design help you get into every corner without having to switch a cord to a closer socket.
It was extremely easy to set up, as the body of the vacuum came pre-assembled. It doesn't come with any additional attachments, but we think that's okay given its effective cleaning. As we maneuvered it around an obstacle course of furniture and a variety of floor types, we were impressed with its power and light weight &#; it glided around chair legs with ease (made easier by its cordless design).
It would be difficult to carry on a conversation while vacuuming since it's a little loud, but who's really doing that, anyway? For all of our tests, whether it be coffee grounds on carpet or hair strewn on tile, the DirtDevil rose up to the challenge (and did so at a fabulous price).
Type: Bagless, cordless | Dimensions: 2.5 x 10 x 7.8 inches | Weight: 5 pounds | Filter Type: Washable | Capacity: 0.10 gallons | Cord Length: Not applicable | Included Accessories: None
-
PHOTO: People / Dera Burreson
-
PHOTO: People / Dera Burreson
-
PHOTO: People / Dera Burreson
-
PHOTO: People / Dera Burreson
The 11 Best Vacuums Under $200 We&#;ve Tested from Kenmore, Shark, Bissell, and More
Best Shark Vacuum
Shark Vertex Cordless Stick Vacuum
PHOTO: Amazon
Our Ratings
Star Qualities
Cordless yet powerful
Good suction and maneuvers efficiently
Impressive battery life of almost 50 minutes on the low mode
Red Flags
Weighs around nine pounds so it&#;s heavier than other cordless stick vacuums
Continually impressed by this popular vacuum cleaner brand, we set out to find the best Shark vacuums and put them head to head in a series of tests. Cordless stick vacuums tend to be user-friendly and efficient, so the Shark Vertex was all but guaranteed a top spot on our list. Throughout all of our tests, the Shark Vertex received nearly perfect scores, thanks to its easy setup, incredible suction, low noise level, and more.
Plus, the battery lasts a surprisingly long time &#; 50 minutes! It&#;s also a bit of a shape-shifter because it has a series of attachments that you can interchange to grab debris in various places, like a crevice tool, a handheld attachment, an anti-allergen brush, and a multipurpose attachment to grab pet hair. It&#;s just under nine pounds, so it&#;s lighter than most upright vacuums but a little bulkier than other cordless stick vacuum cleaners.
Type: Cordless | Dimensions: 15.35 x 10.24 x 47.05 inches inches | Weight: 8.93 pounds | Filter Type: HEPA, Foam | Capacity: 0.34 quarts | Cord Length: N/A | Included Accessories: Removable handheld vacuum, removable dust cup, crevice tool, anti-allergen brush, pet multi-tool
Best Wet-Dry Vacuum
Bissell TurboClean Cordless Hard Floor Cleaner
PHOTO: Bissell
Star Qualities
Self-cleaning function is user-friendly
Lightweight to maneuver
Cleans wet and dry debris effectively at the same time
Red Flags
Challenged by large debris
Has a small water tank you have to refill often
When you live in a home with multiple floor types, a wet-dry vacuum can be a huge timesaver. The Bissell TurboClean Cordless Hard Floor Cleaner delivered on both fronts, proving equally effective at cleaning dry and wet debris. It vacuums and sanitizes (though we learned it prefers small bits of dirt to larger debris).
The wet/dry vacuum has a sleek design that's easy to maneuver around your home. Your floors will definitely have that shiny clean look to them, you just might have to stop once or twice to empty the water tank because it's small and dirties as quickly as the machine cleans.
Weight: 8.37 pounds | Dimensions: 27.44 inches x 13.03 inches x 10.67 inches | Battery Life: 30 minutes | Capacity: 17 ounces
-
PHOTO: People / Henry Wortock
-
PHOTO: People / Henry Wortock
-
PHOTO: People / Henry Wortock
Best Handheld Vacuum
Shark UltraCyclone Pro Handheld Vacuum
PHOTO: Amazon
Our Ratings
Star Qualities
Design is sleek, but it doesn&#;t sacrifice power
Incredibly strong suction and left all of our testing surfaces completely clean
Easy to clean and doesn&#;t make a mess (just empty the chamber over a trash can)
Red Flags
Suction is so strong it actually got a bit of the upholstery
More expensive than many other handheld vacuums we tested
When we tested dustbusters and handheld vacuums, this handheld vacuum blew us away with its design and functionality. First, it&#;s just pretty to look at with a sleek, seamless design that looks so nice you could leave it out. And the performance was stellar too: It easily lifted all debris from upholstery, even suctioning the fabric a little with its power.
The attachments, such as the crevice tool, simplified the cleaning process and got hard-to-reach crumbs without much effort. Once it was filled with crumbs, feathers, and more, the vacuum&#;s dustbin was simple to empty and clean, without making any kind of mess.
Battery Life: 10-15 minutes | Weight: 1.4 pounds | Bin Capacity: 0.54 quarts | Attachments: Duster crevice tool, multi-surface pet tool | HEPA Filter: No
-
PHOTO: People / Dera Burreson
-
PHOTO: People / Dera Burreson
-
PHOTO: People / Dera Burreson
-
PHOTO: People / Dera Burreson
-
PHOTO: People / Dera Burreson
-
PHOTO: People / Dera Burreson
Best Dyson Vacuum
Dyson V12 Detect Slim Vacuum
PHOTO: Walmart
Our Ratings
Star Qualities
Easy to see hidden dirt and debris with a built-in laser light on the brush head
Has a single-touch power button instead of the &#;trigger&#; button on other Dyson models
Incredibly lightweight
Red Flags
Didn't perform as well on bare floors
Some hair remained twisted in the dustbin while emptying
We've tried many of the best Dyson vacuums, with more being tested as we speak (or write, as the case may be). It's hard to narrow down a favorite when all Dyson vacuums offer such impressive power. If you're willing to spend, then rest assured, the best Dyson is the Gen5Detect Cordless Stick Vacuum. If you'd prefer to save a little, then we'd recommend the reliable V8 Absolute Cordless Vacuum. However, for the majority of daily vacuuming needs, we're sticking with the V12 Detect Slim Vacuum.
It's a solid pick with upgraded features like a single-touch power button, so you don't have to hold down a trigger button while you vacuum. At just over 5 pounds, it's super lightweight, making it easy to maneuver from one room to another during its extended 60-minute battery run time. Plus, it comes with a laser light on the brush head that illuminates dirt, dust, pet hair, and more, so that you can efficiently clean your space.
That said, even the most handsome prospects have a few red flags: While the dust bin was incredibly easy to empty, there was some hair stuck inside that had to be manually fetched out at the end of its cleaning run. And the vacuum prefers carpet to bare floors. (25 passes later, it struggled to pick up popcorn kernels and Cheerios from hard flooring.) However, for Dyson collectors who already own the Omni-Glide model for your bare floors, then this outstanding upgraded option is a worthy purchase for your carpets.
How It's Held Up
Our long-term tester was pleased with the vacuum's performance over the six months they tested it at home. They use the vacuum weekly and haven't noticed any changes in the quality, apart from occasional discrepancies with the run time monitor. That said, the vacuum cleans our tester's whole apartment without needing a charge. The suction continues to be effective and our tester hasn't needed to pull any hair from the rollers.
Type: Bagless, cordless | Dimensions: 9.8 x 9.9 x 49.1 inches | Weight: 5.2 pounds | Filter Type: Whole machine filtration | Capacity: 0.1 gallons | Cord Length: Not applicable | Included Accessories: Laser Slim Fluffy cleaner head, Motorbar cleaner head, crevice tool, hair screw tool, combination tool
-
PHOTO: People / Dera Burreson
-
PHOTO: People / Dera Burreson
-
PHOTO: People / Dera Burreson
-
PHOTO: People / Rachel Marek
-
PHOTO: People / Dera Burreson
-
PHOTO: People / Rachel Marek
Best Roomba
iRobot Roomba i3 EVO Robot Vacuum
PHOTO: Amazon
Our Ratings
Star Qualities
Works on many types of flooring
Suctioned up 90 percent of dirt and debris with solid efficiency
Smart mapping and an (optional) self-emptying base
Red Flags
Gets stuck when faced with certain objects and corners
While we love the iRobot Roomba 694 for its quality and price, there&#;s no doubt the iRobot Roomba i3 EVO vacuum is an equally competitive option &#; especially when the two were compared in our best roombas test. Its versatile design works effectively on both hardwood floors and carpets, makes hardly any noise, and suctioned up 90 percent of dirt and debris during our initial test.
We like that the iRobot i3 EVO has smart mapping technology to help avoid dings in your furniture legs, though it did get stuck in corners and when faced with curtains, cords, and other stray objects. It&#;s fairly easy to empty, but you can also upgrade to the i3+ EVO model, which comes with a self-emptying base. iRobot has also upgraded this model on its website to the i4 EVO which has 20 minutes longer worth of battery life &#; an impressive feat considering the i3 already has a 75-minute run time.
How It&#;s Held Up
After bringing the vacuum cleaner home to test for an additional six months, we only have good things to say about the i3 EVO robot vacuum. Not only has it maintained its initial level of efficiency, grabbing all sorts of debris and maneuvering with ease, but it also has a user-friendly app that makes the entire cleaning process that much easier.
Dimensions: 13.26 x 3.63 inches | Weight: 7.44 pounds | Dustbin Capacity: 0.5 liters | Runtime: 75 minutes | Smart Mapping: Yes | Self-Emptying: i3+ only
-
PHOTO: People / Donna Freydkin
-
PHOTO: People / Henry Wortock
Best Vacuum for Pet Hair
Samsung Jet 75 Stick Vacuum
PHOTO: Amazon
Our Ratings
Star Qualities
Easy to assemble
Powerful suction of hair on all floor types
Helpful attachments, like a crevice tool for furniture
Red Flags
Short battery life
Loud volume
We love our pets dearly, but there's always going to be a trail of fur left in their paths &#; which calls for a great pet hair vacuum that can clean up after them. The Samsung Jet 75 Pet Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner worked tirelessly to scoop up pet hair across all surfaces, from tile to high-pile carpets, leaving only a clean space in its wake.
It assembled quickly and performed exceptionally well picking up hair on all flooring types. You can use it as a cordless stick model or detach the handle to convert it into a sleek, shorter handheld wand. The crevice tool came in handy when getting into those small corners, as the regular vacuum struggled to get debris at the very end of the base.
We did notice, however, that the volume was quite loud for our taste. Also, the battery lost power a bit faster than we expected, but it charged quickly, so this wasn't a big problem.
Type: Bagless, cordless | Dimensions: 8.5 x 9.8 x 44.5 inches | Weight: 6 pounds | Filter Type: Washable | Capacity: 0.21 gallons | Cord Length: Not applicable | Included Accessories: Mini motorized tool, long reach crevice tool, combination tool, soft brush
-
PHOTO: People / Henry Wortock
-
PHOTO: People / Henry Wortock
-
PHOTO: People / Henry Wortock
-
PHOTO: People / Henry Wortock
Best Canister Vacuum
Kenmore Compact Bagless Canister Vacuum
PHOTO: Amazon
Our Ratings
Star Qualities
Powerful suction lifted dirt, pet hair, and debris from all floor types
Lightweight, easy to maneuver into tight spaces, and rolls smoothly along the floor
HEPA filter reduces dust, allergens, and other irritants
Red Flags
Pet hair got stuck in the brush rollers on several occasions
Power cord is just 16 feet, which is short, comparatively
Canister vacuums offer many benefits &#; which we put to the test &#; but the primary two are powerful suction and low noise level. The Kenmore Bagless Canister Vacuum efficiently lifted dirt and debris from carpets, hardwood floors, and rugs. The canister portion rolled smoothly across all surfaces as well, which helped with the overall maneuverability. Plus, at less than 10 pounds, you can easily carry it around, too.
While the vacuum picked up pet hair easily, the fur got stuck in the brush&#;s rollers several times. Attachments like the crevice tool sucked up dirt from couch cushions quickly, and the other vacuum components were equally helpful. The bagless design made for simple cleaning &#; the dustbin can be rinsed out with water. And thanks to the HEPA filter, the vacuum also promises to reduce allergens, dust, and other irritants from your home. While we wish the cord was a little longer (it&#;s 16 feet), this bagless canister vacuum is a really good value.
Type: Bagless | Dimensions: 11.4 x 12.2 x 28.8 inches | Weight: 9.5 pounds | Capacity: 0.6 pounds | Hose Length: 9 feet | Cord Length: 16 feet | Filter: HEPA | Attachments: Dusting brush, crevice tool, bare floor tool, pet turbine brush
-
PHOTO: People / Dera Burreson
-
PHOTO: People / Dera Burreson
-
PHOTO: People / Dera Burreson
Best Robotic Pool Vacuum
Aiper Scuba S1 Pool Cleaner
PHOTO: Amazon
Star Qualities
Worked effortlessly with no navigation issues
Convenient basket traps dirt
Auto, eco, wall-only, and floor-only smart modes
Red Flags
Not equipped to skim the water's surface
While you might not think good vacuums are useful outside, we tested a handful of robotic pool vacuums that really dazzled us: specifically, the Aiper Scuba S1 Pool Cleaner. The little vacuum was fully assembled in less than five minutes. Once it's charged and placed in the pool, it will impress you with how efficiently it scrubs tile, catching debris like leaves and dirt along the way.
The cordless design simplifies everything and the four cleaning modes &#; floor-only, wall-only, eco, and auto &#; ensure a thorough and deep clean for any pool area of concern. While we wish it would skim the pool's surface, it's not a dealbreaker considering the efficiency and power of this machine.
Dimensions: 20 x 17 x 10 inches | Weight: 20.9 pounds | Pool size: Up to 1,600 feet | Filter: Basket | Cleaning time: 150 minutes | Charge time: 3&#;4 hours | Smart features: Intelligent navigation, four cleaning modes, anti-slip treads
-
PHOTO: People / Paden Reich
-
PHOTO: People / Paden Reich
Best Smart Vacuum
Tineco Pure One S15 Pro
PHOTO: Tineco
Our Ratings
Star Qualities
LED light that illuminates debris
Standing dock for easy storage
Digital screen keeps track of your floor's cleanliness
Red Flags
Most expensive model on our list
Motor head is a bit heavy
This Tineco vacuum cleaner is an amazing option for those looking to geek out on smart features or anyone who needs extra help supercharging their clean. The digital screen turns red when encountering dirt and blue when the area has been sufficiently cleaned, but this model also automatically goes into a short max power mode when it comes into contact with a big mess &#; so it's really putting in the extra elbow grease for you.
It comes with a standing dock, so you don't have to mount anything to a wall (great for renters). It also has helpful attachments and a place to store them. The LED light on the brush head helps to illuminate any pet hair, crumbs, or other debris that might be lurking in your corners or along your baseboards. However, these features come with a high price tag and our at-home tester noted that the motor portion of the vacuum gets to be a bit heavy after using it for an extended period of time.
How It's Held Up
We continued testing this vacuum for six months to see how it held up in a real-world setting. Our tester appreciated the consistency of the battery life and the convenience of the docking station &#; which charges the vacuum and holds all the accessories. It's a great vacuum for hardwood floors and quick cleanups. Plus, you can make changes manually or use the auto-pilot functions, and the vacuum will adjust its action based on the level of dirt present.
Type: Bagless, cordless | Dimensions: 11 x 11.4 x 45 inches | Weight: 6.8 pounds | Filter Type: Magnetic filter and 5-stage filtration | Capacity: Not listed | Cord Length: Not applicable | Included Accessories: Mini power brush, 2-in-1 dust brush, crevice tool, stand
-
PHOTO: People / Dera Burreson
-
PHOTO: People / Dera Burreson
-
PHOTO: People / Dera Burreson
Quietest Vacuum
Kenmore Elite Cordless Stick Vacuum
PHOTO: Amazon
Our Ratings
Star Qualities
Super lightweight at just 3 pounds
Extremely quiet, clocking in at only 65 decibels
Easy to maneuver around any obstacle
Red Flags
A bit difficult to empty
Hair stuck in the dustbin from our first testing day despite our efforts to clean it
We'd go as far as to say that the Kenmore Elite Cordless Stick Vacuum was the quietest vacuum we've ever used. Clocking in at only 65 decibels, it was incredibly easy to carry on a conversation while the vacuum sucked up everything in its path. On top of its quiet operation, it only weighs three pounds. We were impressed with how easily it maneuvered around corners, furniture, and any obstacle that stood in the way.
Even though it was an effective, quiet, and easy-to-use vacuum, the size and shape of the dustbin made it difficult to empty. We also had to manually fetch some of the hair out of the dustbin, and unfortunately, we weren't able to retrieve all of it. But if you don't live in a household that's constantly shedding, that might not be a dealbreaker for you, so we're still including this quiet vacuum on our list for those who like to clean while babies are sleeping or while they simultaneously conduct FaceTime calls.
How It's Held Up
At the six-month mark of testing, our team was still really pleased with the performance of this vacuum. It picks up most debris with ease, including dog hair, and has been a tried-and-true resource for quick daily cleans. The battery still doesn't last as long as we'd like, but it's not a dealbreaker.
Type: Bagless, cordless | Dimensions: 15.75 x 5.71 x 21.46 inches | Weight: 3 pounds | Filter Type: HEPA | Capacity: 0.2 gallons | Cord Length: Not applicable | Included Accessories: 2-in-1 combination dust-crevice tool, wall mount
-
PHOTO: PEOPLE / Dera Burreson
-
PHOTO: PEOPLE / Dera Burreson
-
PHOTO: PEOPLE / Dera Burreson
-
PHOTO: PEOPLE / Dera Burreson
Best Self-Emptying Vacuum
Shark WS642AE Wandvac Self-Empty Cordless Stick Vacuum
PHOTO: Amazon
Our Ratings
Star Qualities
Maneuvers easily around furniture
Slim, lightweight design
Works well on upholstery
Red Flags
Requires multiple passes to fully suction up debris
Not as powerful as its volume implies
What's better than a vacuum that will do the dirty work (i.e. emptying the dustbin) for you? The Shark Wandvac Cordless Stick Vacuum does just that, emptying itself into a HEPA filter bag every time it's attached to the charging base. And because it's cordless, you can move this lightweight vacuum from room to room with ease. You can even remove the wand from the base to get into all of those hard-to-reach spots, like between couch cushions and behind furniture, for a deeper clean.
Though we loved this model for its easily mobile functions and conveniently slim design (which makes for easy storage), we did notice that it took a few passes to fully vacuum all of the messes we made &#; and it was considerably louder than the other Shark vacuums we tested. However, it effectively performs on upholstery, making this a great option for cleaning up after popcorn movie nights in the family room.
Type: Bagless, cordless | Dimensions: 8.75 x 11 x 43.5 inches | Weight: 13.85 pounds | Filter Type: Washable HEPA | Capacity: 0.03 gallons | Cord Length: Not applicable | Included Accessories: Duster crevice tool, pet multi-tool, self-emptying charging base
-
PHOTO: People / Dera Burreson
-
PHOTO: People / Dera Burreson
-
PHOTO: People / Dera Burreson
-
PHOTO: People / Dera Burreson
Best Vacuum for Hardwood Floors
Dyson Omni-Glide Cordless Vacuum
PHOTO: Dyson
Our Ratings
Star Qualities
Quieter than most models we tested
Lightweight and easy to maneuver
Small swivel head makes it easy to get in corners and under couches
Red Flags
No storage compartments for attachments
Canister fills up quickly
The Omni-Glide + was a standout for us when testing vacuums for hardwood floors, due to its sleek design, lightweight feel, and easy mobility. And because it detaches from the base to become a handheld vac, you can reach heights like never before (i.e. tops of bookshelves and cabinets) to get an even deeper clean in your home.
Though we didn't test this model on carpets or rugs, we thought it performed fabulously on tile, hardwood floors, and even stairs. In under one minute, each mess of hair, popcorn, and other pieces of debris were effectively sucked up into the machine's canister. Not to mention that its noise level was considerably lower than others we've tried, making this a huge plus in our book.
We think this is the perfect vacuum for small spots and quick cleanups because of its agile design. (You can fold it flat to fit under low furniture!) However, its slender canister can only hold about 0.2 liters of debris. So, you'll have to empty it more frequently when vacuuming large areas, but its quick cleans and maneuverability make the trash visits well worth it. You also get a cleaner head, mini motorized tool, combination crevice tool, light pipe crevice tool, docking station, and charger in the mix &#; just without built-in storage.
For a slightly cheaper option, the original Dyson Omni-Glide model is available for about $50 less at Target and Walmart. Expect the same stellar performance, but note that the Omni-Glide+ comes with an additional attachment and a slightly different color scheme than the original Omni-Glide model.
Type: Bagless, cordless | Dimensions: 42.4 x 8.89 x 3.62 inches | Weight: 4.19 | Filter Type: Whole-machine filtration | Capacity: 0.2 liters | Cord Length: Not applicable | Included Accessories: Cleaner head, combination crevice tool, docking station, mini motorized tool, light pipe crevice tool, charger
-
PHOTO: People / Henry Wortock
-
PHOTO: People / Henry Wortock
-
PHOTO: People / Henry Wortock
-
PHOTO: People / Henry Wortock
Best Dyson Alternative
Eureka Cordless Vacuum
PHOTO: Amazon
Our Ratings
Star Qualities
Similar features to the Dyson but at a more cost-conscious price
LED headlights illuminate dust and debris
Lightweight and effectively cleaned upholstery
Red Flags
Struggles with high-pile carpeting
While Dyson might be a household name when it comes to high-quality tech products, it comes at a high cost. So, we found a series of vacuum cleaners that are good alternatives to this popular brand with more budget-conscious pricing. If you like the Dyson V12 Detect for its LED headlights, you&#;ll be happy to know the Eureka Lightweight Cordless Vacuum has them too. The cordless design is lightweight, easy to maneuver around tight spaces, and the battery life lasts 30 minutes.
We loved the removable attachments, which allowed us to quickly and easily clean upholstery. It thrived on hardwood floors and tile but wasn&#;t the most effective on carpeted floors. Once you&#;re finished cleaning, the vacuum is easy to empty and clean.
Battery Life: 30 minutes | Weight: 7.15 lbs. | Attachments: Removable battery stick vacuum, LED headlights, crevice tool, dusting brush, wall mount
-
PHOTO: People / Dera Burreson
-
PHOTO: People / Dera Burreson
-
PHOTO: People / Dera Burreson
-
PHOTO: People / Dera Burreson
-
PHOTO: People / Dera Burreson
Best Car Vacuum
Ridgid Hand Vacuum
PHOTO: Home Depot
Our Ratings
Star Qualities
Expert-recommended and works with impressive efficiency
Picks up everything and doesn&#;t have to be emptied often thanks to the large chamber
Filter is washable; can clean even the grimiest debris without worry
Red Flags
Little bulky
Battery and charger are sold separately
Cars hold many memories, but if we&#;re being honest, they also hold a lot of crumbs, dirt, and debris from every outing. That&#;s why it&#;s good to have a car vacuum so you can keep your car not only tidy but really clean. We love the Rigid Hand Vacuum for many reasons, and we&#;re not alone &#; this vacuum comes expert-recommended.
Between the high suction and huge debris chamber, there&#;s no mess too messy for this vacuum. The design allows for a comfortable grip so you can hold it for extended periods of time and the filter is washable so now matter how much grime it suctions up, it&#;s easily cleanable.
Since it has such a large chamber, it&#;s a little bulky to store, but you can easily keep it in the trunk of your vehicle or in your garage, so this isn&#;t a dealbreaker. If we have one gripe, it&#;s that the battery and charger are sold separately, but it&#;s a one-time inconvenience, so we&#;ll let it slide given the high quality of this machine.
Type: Cordless | Dimensions: 22.13 x 9.02 x 7.44 inches | Weight: 3.06 pounds | Filter Type: Cloth | Capacity: 3 pounds | Cord Length: Cordless | Included Accessories: N/A
-
PHOTO: People / Dera Burreson
-
PHOTO: People / Dera Burreson
-
PHOTO: People / Dera Burreson
After Years of Testing Vacuums, These 9 Are the Best
Editor&#;s Note: This review was revised in August to include updated buying considerations for our top nine vacuums.
Each type of vacuum helps you target a different kind of clean (which we get into more below with each of our picks), and offers a different cleaning experience. We're here to help you find your match, whether that's a robot vacuum , upright vacuum , canister vacuum , stick vacuum , or budget vacuum that costs under $200.
I've personally been covering vacuums since , helping to design and lead our tests and try out models from Shark, Dyson, Bissell, Hoover, Levoit, Tineco, Kenmore, and more. To date, The Spruce has tested over 350 vacuums, in both The Lab and our own homes, and I can tell you this: picking the right vacuum for your space will depend on your specific needs.
Best Overall Vacuum
Levoit LVAC-200 Cordless Stick Vacuum
What We Like
Battery charges quickly and can be easily removed
Cleans carpet, hardwood, tile, and stairs well
Super lightweight
Easy to empty and clean the filters
What We Don't Like
Wish it came with a self-emptying base
Stick vacuums are the most nimble, lightweight, and easy-to-use vacuums out there. In recent years, this style has become extremely competitive with traditional upright models, because stick vacuums have begun to offer the same amount of suction power, in addition to helpful features like a battery pack and wall mount.
The Levoit LVAC-200 Cordless Stick Vacuum is our latest and greatest selection for the best overall vacuum, because it's just as good as (if not better than) more expensive and high-tech models from innovative brands such as Dyson or Tineco (it just lacks the smart features that you don't totally need) and is the full package.
My household vacuums daily&#;and sometimes multiple times per day to pick up my toddler's snack leftovers&#;and every time I use this vacuum for a whole-house clean, the dust bin is packed full afterwards. It humbles me, a vacuum expert and avid cleaner, and wraps up each 30- to 45-minute clean with battery life to spare. I can usually clean my house completely twice before needing to plug it in to charge, which is also a quick and easy process since the battery pack pops right out; you don't need to plug in the entire vacuum.
Meet the Tester
Marisa, a senior editor at The Spruce, lives in a split-level home with her husband and toddler. Her home has a mix of carpets, hardwood floors, and tile&#;plus, so many stairs&#;and her vacuums are regularly tasked with deep cleaning rugs and picking up cereal puffs, tiny pieces of spaghetti, and toast crumbs lovingly dropped around a high chair.
A common complaint with stick vacuums is that they don't offer the same suction power, particularly on your carpets, as an upright or canister vacuum. The Levoit LVAC-200 leaves behind noticeable carpet lines when I clean, though&#;and all that dust in the dust bin really speaks for itself.
Some hair will wrap around the filter, but you can easily pop the dust bin out of the cleaning machine when it's full, and twist the filter out to remove any tangles with your hands. (Or, I like to use a wooden appetizer skewer to help remove the tangles; the skewer is always strong enough for the job.)
The manual recommends cleaning the pre-motor filters (the felt filter and the foam filter that are visible when you remove the dust bin) once per month, and replacing them every three months. In my time owning this vac, I've honestly washed them once&#;but I can't stress how easy it was to do. The filters are easy to remove with a little tug, and rinsing them with water and squeezing them out makes a noticeable difference in their look. And, you can get a pack of two post-motor filters and four pre-motor filters for under $25&#;which is a real steal when compared to the price of a single air purifier replacement filter.
-
PHOTO: The Spruce / Marisa Viglione
-
PHOTO: The Spruce / Marisa Viglione
-
PHOTO: The Spruce / Marisa Viglione
-
PHOTO: The Spruce / Marisa Viglione
-
PHOTO: The Spruce / Marisa Viglione
I love how easy this vacuum is to navigate and lift, too. At 3.2 pounds, it's well within our limits for a lightweight vacuum (15 pounds or less)&#;and that weight includes the battery pack, which can add some noticeable heft to other vacuums. The vacuum is quiet; my toddler isn't scared of it. Plus, you don't have to hold the power button down continuously, and the light on the floor head nicely illuminates areas under kitchen carts or on stairs.
Honestly, this vacuum is a steal&#;and while fashion is not as important as functionality when it comes to your vacuum, I love that the Levoit LVAC-200 feels and looks nice. At $200, I can't recommend it enough, and only wish that the brand offered it with a self-emptying base, but that's if I'm being really picky.
Weight: 3.2 pounds | Battery Life: Up to 30 minutes (45 minutes in our experience) | Attachments: 2-in-1 crevice tool, 2-in-1 pet tool
Best Upright Vacuum
Shark Navigator Lift-Away Deluxe Vacuum
PHOTO: Amazon
What We Like
HEPA filtration system
Comfortable to use on carpet
Lift-away pod
Spacious dust bin
What We Don't Like
Feels rough to use on hardwood
Heavy and bulky
Upright vacuums offer the most suction power of any vacuum, making them a great option for cleaning your carpets and rugs of all piles. Before cordless stick vacuums came into the picture, the upright vacuum was the fan-favorite vacuum cleaner because of its effectiveness, even though its build was (and still is) bulky, heavy, and hard to navigate and store.
Our favorite is the Shark NV360 Navigator Lift-Away Vacuum. It's the perfect example of what an upright vacuum is: powerful, carpet-oriented but effective on multiple surfaces, and bulky yet spacious.
I&#;ve owned this vacuum for four years, in addition to testing it in the lab, and it&#;s a cleaning powerhouse. It has two cleaning modes (one for hard floors and one for carpets), and is most satisfying to use on carpets. When you&#;re pushing it around, you have a lot of control and flexibility thanks to its swivel steering, but the vacuum also works for you by gently pulling forward as if to say, &#;Look! There&#;s a mess over there!&#;
The vacuum is quite noisy, though&#;I wouldn&#;t use it while my daughter is napping. However, the noise level matches the power of the vacuum, combining the machine&#;s typical hum with the crackling of crumbs being picked up.
Notably, it's just as good with the debris and dust that you can't see, too. This vacuum has a HEPA filter, the same kind of filter that's found in air purifiers. It's able to capture 99.97 percent of particles with diameters of 0.3 microns or less, including pollen and dust mites.
Meet the Tester
Marisa, a senior editor at The Spruce, lives in a split-level home with her husband and toddler. Again, her home has a mix of carpets, hardwood floors, and tile&#;and so many stairs. Her vacuums are regularly tasked with picking up messes big, small, crunchy, and soft lovingly dropped around a high chair on a daily basis, and whole-home cleans.
On hardwood floors, you can switch the vacuum&#;s mode to its slower, softer mode. It&#;s equally as effective, however operating it doesn&#;t feel as smooth. I tend to reach for our best overall pick when I'm cleaning my hardwood floors and stairs instead. While the Shark NV360 has never left a scratch or dent in my flooring, my stick vacuum is just more comfortable in this scenario&#;especially since it&#;s cordless. I&#;m a little over 5 feet tall and exercise a few times per week, and it&#;s a chore to lug the vacuum up and down the stairs.
That being said, the Shark NV360 can handle multiple cleaning sessions within a house, and it still won&#;t need to be emptied. In our testing, hair did get wrapped in the beater bar, a part of the brush roll at the head of the vacuum that agitates carpet to better remove debris. However, it was easy to cut it off with a pair of scissors. Shark tried to remedy the vacuum's bulky design with a lift-away pod, too. The pod is just the handle and dust bin detached from the rest of the vacuum, and does make stair cleaning easier.
Overall, Shark is a top vacuum and appliance brand that pairs quality with friendlier price points. You&#;ll find this pick and others in the Navigator line on sale during the holidays and Prime Day, but it&#;s worth the original price tag, too. The main reason it got bumped from its former best overall spot? It's becoming harder to find since it's an older model that frequently goes on sale&#;but it's still one of our favorite Shark vacuums and vacuums, period.
Weight: 16.96 pounds | Cord Length: 25 feet | Attachments: Crevice tool, upholstery tool
-
PHOTO: The Spruce / Phoebe Cheong
-
PHOTO: The Spruce / Phoebe Cheong
-
PHOTO: The Spruce / Phoebe Cheong
Best Canister Vacuum
Miele Blizzard CX1 Cat & Dog Canister Vacuum
PHOTO: Amazon
What We Like
Self-clean function
Cord automatically rewinds
Great for pet hair
What We Don&#;t Like
Not a good option for those with allergies
When it comes to canister vacuums, we&#;ve historically been fans of Miele products, given the quality and durability of its models. They&#;re investment pieces, but you&#;re paying for what you get: a reliable workhorse.After recent lab tests, we&#;re loving the Miele Blizzard CX1 Cat & Dog Bagless Canister Vacuum.
There are essentially two parts to every canister vacuum: the canister and the handle. The canister is usually situated on wheels so you can roll it with you as you clean, and houses the dust bin or bag. The handle is then attached to the floor head, and connected to the vacuum via a hose, which transfers the debris from the floor head to a bin or bag.
The design gives you more flexibility and portability when cleaning, and more space for dust, debris, and fuzz, making canister vacuums a good choice for households with pets. They're also great for anyone who wants the navigation of a stick vacuum paired with the power of an upright vacuum&#;say, to clean up messes behind and under couches, or in a well-loved playroom.
The Miele CX1&#;s most notable feature is its self-clean function which cleans the canister of dust and keeps it in tip-top shape. The bagless design also means you won&#;t have to budget for replacement bags&#;a perk since, as noted, this vacuum is what we&#;d call an investment.
The Spruce / Rachel Marek
Now, the cord doesn&#;t auto-pull as you vacuum farther away, so be sure to pull out how much cord you need for your cleaning session from the start. (It does automatically rewind later on.) There are several settings you can make use of and all will be effective at picking up messes on hard floors and carpeting, so you can expect to cover your entire living room in one go.
A HEPA filtration system and five attachments come in the box: a crevice tool, upholstery tool, parquet twister floor head, handheld mini turbo brush, and electro plus floor head. So each time you clean, you have a toolbox of sorts at your disposal.
Our only complaint after six months of using it is that emptying it isn&#;t easy or necessarily tidy&#;there&#;s really no great way to empty the bin without causing a ruckus at the trash can. For that reason, this pick is not the best for those with allergies. (Though, we do have plenty of recommendations for vacuums for allergies, too.)
There are several versions of the CX1, but we tested and loved the cat and dog version. In our experience, it's the best option for those with animals&#;and any vacuum that&#;s suitable for picking up pet hair and kibble is suitable for households without pets, too (my hot take).
Weight: 19 pounds | Cord Length: 21 feet | Attachments: Crevice tool, upholstery tool, parquet twister floorhead, handheld mini turbo brush, electro plus floorhead
Best Lightweight Vacuum
Kenmore Elite Cordless Stick Vacuum
PHOTO: Amazon
What We Like
Bends under furniture
Evenly distributes its weight
Pretty good at picking up pet hair
What We Don't Like
Battery seems to die quick
Assembly is easier with two people
Not good for deep cleaning
I&#;d define a lightweight vacuum as anything weighing less than 15 pounds, ideally 10 pounds. Most upright and canister vacuums don&#;t meet this requirement, but stick vacuums and smaller iterations (like dustbusters and handheld vacuums) absolutely can&#;and provide other elements that make them easier to navigate on carpet, hard floors, and more.
After several rounds of testing, the Kenmore Elite Cordless Stick Vacuum is our favorite in this category, and not just because it weighs about the same as my two MacBook Pros (just six pounds!). This vacuum operates so quietly, and can actually bend in half to reach under furniture, so you don&#;t have to.
Setting up the Kenmore Elite is easier with a friend, though. While you could do it by yourself, putting it together is a bit challenging since the vacuum needs to be upright the entire time.
In comparison to other stick vacuums we&#;ve tested, this model evenly distributes its weight once you&#;re up and running. Since it's cordless, you're also free to roam for up to 40 minutes&#;less if you use the vacuum on max mode versus its eco mode. (It does sometimes feel like the battery dies quicker than we'd like).
Meet the Tester
Jennifer lives in a one-story ranch with her husband and corgi. She uses this vacuum for both quick pickups (lots of dog hair), and more in-depth cleaning of both hardwood floors on the main level of her home and carpet on her finished, lower level.
Like other stick vacuums, Kenmore&#;s Elite Cordless Stick Vacuum can turn into a handheld version. We found that it picks up pet hair pretty well, too, which is a real, true signal of vacuum effectiveness, as we said above.
In our experience, it&#;s best for everyday cleaning, but not necessarily deep cleaning or sprucing up a couch cushion. There is only one attachment in the box: a combination crevice and dusting tool. You&#;ll also find a wall mount, which makes the vacuum easy to store and reach for, but we&#;d love to see more tools included for tackling different tasks.
What drives this pick into the top spot for best lightweight vacuum is what it offers at its price. The under-$200 price tag is incredibly fair for a vacuum that covers the basics and then some, all while being light. It's a tough combination to get right, but it manages to do it.
Weight: 6 pounds | Battery Life: 40 minutes | Attachments: Combination crevice and dusting tool
-
PHOTO: The Spruce / Dera Burreson
-
PHOTO: The Spruce / Dera Burreson
-
PHOTO: The Spruce / Dera Burreson
Best Vacuum for Pet Hair
Dyson Ball Animal 3 Extra
PHOTO: Amazon
What We Like
Pet grooming and stair tools
Detangles hair itself
Great suction power
What We Don't Like
Can spit larger debris out
Unclear instructions
Very heavy and bulky
Pets come with their own cleaning challenges, and not every vacuum is up to the task. Pet hair tends to stick to fabrics, can be fine, and can easily tangle in your rugs&#;not to mention, your vacuum&#;s brush roll. The Dyson Ball Animal 3 Extra is a corded upright vacuum that&#;s made for this sort of challenge, though.
It gives you 35 feet of cord (longer than other picks we&#;ve tested and loved) to roam your house and four helpful attachments to truly tackle hair, kibble, or even non-pet-related messes. It&#;s also a pro at deep cleaning rugs, hard floors, and more. Its effectiveness just happens to be wrapped up in a heavy package.
A turbine tool picks up hair, keeping it detangled so there&#;s no need to break out the scissors and get rid of the suction-killing tangles yourself. A stair tool helps you navigate inclines, a thoughtful addition since this upright vacuum is bulky and not going to sit nicely on the stairs with you while you clean, like our favorite stick vacs do. The combination tool is a brush tool and crevice tool in one, and you can attach it to a long wand to clean those tough-to-reach baseboards or corners.
Meet the Tester
Jenni lives in a 1.5-story farmhouse with her partner and three dogs. There are lots of hardwood floors. She's owned this vacuum for almost a year and a half.
The pet groom tool is made for exactly that&#;grooming your pet&#;and Dyson claims it is best for medium to long-haired pets. This attachment is not a common one and certainly pushes this pick over the edge for this category.
Pets aside, the Dyson Ball Animal 3 Extra lives up to Dyson&#;s stellar reputation and has great suction power. The vacuum has a slight tendency to spit out larger pieces of debris&#;you may find yourself chasing after an already-vacuumed popcorn kernel&#;but the dust bin is spacious (as we&#;d expect with an upright vacuum). You will want to take some time to learn how to use the pet-hair-friendly vacuum, too, since there are many pieces and the instructions aren&#;t straightforward.
Weight: 17.3 pounds | Cord Length: 35 feet | Attachments: Tangle-free turbine tool, stair tool, pet groom tool, combination tool
-
PHOTO: The Spruce / Dera Burreson
-
PHOTO: The Spruce / Dera Burreson
-
PHOTO: The Spruce / Dera Burreson
-
PHOTO: The Spruce / Dera Burreson
Best Vacuum-Mop Combo
Bissell CrossWave HydroSteam Plus Wet Dry Vac
PHOTO: Amazon
What We Like
Doesn&#;t leave behind residue
Steam clean function
Comes with trial formulas and extra filters
What We Don't Like
Comes with no attachments
Very noisy
Lots of maintenance required
Vacuum-mop combos (also referred to as wet-dry vacuums) wrap two appliances into one convenient and upright-style package, saving you storage space, time, and money. While wet-dry vacuums can cost more than stick vacuums and upright vacuums (they tend to start at $250 and go up from there), you have to remember that you&#;re paying for two cleaning tools at once.
Our top pick is Bissell&#;s Crosswave HydroSteam Plus, because there are three settings in total for hard floors, rugs, and steam cleaning, and it operates smoothly no matter which one you're using. The steam clean function is a rare find and does the job of a steam mop, loosening stuck-on spills in your kitchen or bathroom. On hard floors, the mop feature doesn&#;t leave behind any sticky or overly wet residues. You can enjoy a (mostly) streak-free, dry finish in just a few minutes.
Meet the Tester
Megan and her four cats live in a two-story home built in , with original hardwood floors, area rugs throughout, and tile in the kitchen and bathrooms.
It may be surprising to hear the Bissell CrossWave comes with zero attachments. However, you will receive a few extras: three trial-size formulas, two washable filters, and an auto clean-out tray with spots for accessories like the extra filters. The cleaning formulas go into the water tank and mix with the contents to help mop your floors.
Bissell has many different formulas available, such as ones for pet owners or sanitizing&#;and this wet-dry vacuum has two different tanks to keep your clean formula and water mix separate from the dirty contents it picks up. (Just keep in mind that cleaning formulas do add to the overall cost of this pick.)
In our experience, moving the vacuum-mop around is a breeze since the handle pivots in the direction you&#;d like it to go, making it easy to pick up crumbs next to table legs or heating vents. It's corded so you have to be plugged in while you're cleaning, and you&#;re absolutely going to disrupt your household when using it&#;it's loud.
Vacuum-mop combos can also notoriously be difficult to maintain, since you need to clean the components to ensure they don't smell, ideally after every use. That said, if you use and maintain this vacuum-mop right, then it can easily become a cleaning tool you swear by.
Weight: 12.5 pounds | Cord Length: 25 feet | Attachments: None
-
PHOTO: The Spruce / Henry Wortock
-
PHOTO: The Spruce / Henry Wortock
-
PHOTO: The Spruce / Henry Wortock
-
PHOTO: The Spruce / Henry Wortock
Best Vacuum for Carpets
Levoit VortexIQ 40 Cordless Stick Vacuum
PHOTO: Amazon
What We Like
Works quickly on carpets and rugs
Gets into tight corners well
Lightweight
What We Don&#;t Like
Average battery life
Vacuuming carpets and rugs&#;whether they&#;re low, medium, or high-pile&#;can be a tough endeavor. Unlike hard floors, carpets and rugs can have debris and dust hidden in their fibers or ground into their intricate designs. Having a vacuum at your disposal that&#;s ready to agitate the fibers (massage them) and loosen the debris is essential.
The Levoit Vortex IQ 40 Cordless Stick Vacuum is our go-to vacuum for everyday carpet cleaning. It can get into the tight corners and crevices under cabinets, and won&#;t spit out what it&#;s picked up. On carpets, it&#;s a menace for messes, working quickly and accurately.
We also found this pick to be equally effective on hard floors; it's simply quicker in its carpet and rug cleaning, which is why we&#;ve named it the best vacuum for carpets and rugs. We barely noticed its weight when lifting it around from one surface to another.
The Levoit Vortex IQ has a handheld iteration like many other stick vacuums&#;plus two attachments (a crevice tool and a dusting brush tool). However, you don't need the attachments to get the results you&#;re after.
Meet the Tester
Erin lives with four other people plus kids and a dog in a four-bedroom house. Her house has three levels and she's been using this vacuum to spot clean tracked-in dirt, mud, food crumbs (including kibble), fireplace ash, and dog hair throughout the house.
We didn&#;t mind the 40-minute runtime on this vacuum because the smaller battery pack seems to make the appliance lighter. We could carry it up and down stairs freely, especially since it doesn&#;t have a cord&#;a true win for those who, like me, live in a split-level home. The lightweight design does include a dust bin that can require frequent emptying, but just how often will depend on your home and vacuuming habits.
You can easily store this pick on its charging dock and reach for it for everyday cleans, and it's ultimately quite similar to our best overall vacuum pick, the Levoit LVAC-200. The main difference? The Levoit Vortex IQ 40, at 7.1 pounds, is 4 pounds heavier. This pick also has an LED display at the top of the handle, and the power button is more of a trigger than a button on the handle. The LVAC-200 also has a five-stage filtration system, while the Vortex IQ is outfitted with a four-stage filtration system; so the LVAC-200 may be slightly better for those with allergies or pets.
Weight: 7.1 pounds | Battery Life: 40 minutes | Attachments: Crevice tool, dusting brush tool
-
PHOTO: The Spruce / Rachel Marek
-
PHOTO: The Spruce / Dera Burreson
-
PHOTO: The Spruce / Rachel Marek
-
PHOTO: The Spruce / Rachel Marek
-
PHOTO: The Spruce / Dera Burreson
Best Robot Vacuum
ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+ Robot Vacuum and Mop
PHOTO: Amazon
What We Like
Great object avoidance
Good suction power
Mapping and scheduling
What We Don&#;t Like
Large items can cause jams
Robot vacuums offer a more hands-free cleaning experience, which is arguably the most intriguing and necessary feature any vacuum could offer. While they may not be suitable for a house like mine with lots of stairs (since they can't climb them), through testing, we've found there is a time and place for a robot vacuum.
We recommend the Ecovacs T9+ Robot Vacuum and Mop Combo, with a few caveats. This cleaning machine will work best if your home has an open floor plan, if you&#;re not intimidated by smart features, if you&#;re looking for a vacuum that can maintain your floors in between larger cleans, and if moving obstacles and getting the vacuum unstuck occasionally doesn't bother you.
To start, setting up this vacuum isn&#;t as intimidating as it could be. You have to add the dust bag to the self-emptying station, attach the side brush to the vacuum, and insert the air freshener. Once these physical components are complete, you can begin setting up the app connection, which is simple thanks to a QR code located under the top lid.
The code quickly syncs your vacuum to the app. From there, you can begin the initial mapping process&#;your vacuum will clean while drawing a diagram of the space, so it knows exactly where to go in the future. In our experience, this process took two hours and the instruction manual was a very handy guide.
Meet the Tester
Daniela, a senior editor at The Spruce, lives in a one-story ranch with her fiancé and a dog. For a year, she relied on this vacuum to reliably pick up dog hair from her hardwood floors and prevent it from tracking onto her socks.
The Ecovacs T9+, once set up, leaves very little behind. We found it can (and will) vacuum up screws, zip ties, hair ties, bobby pins, and dog hair. You can schedule its cleaning so it can tidy up while you&#;re sleeping or at work, and it&#;s super quiet compared to others we&#;ve tried and owned. It&#;s not in the business of waking you (or your pup), especially thanks to its expert object avoidance skills. When it encounters a table, wall, or pet, we&#;ve seen it change course instead of going back to its base.
Like many other robot vacuums nowadays, this pick includes a mop, too. While the mopping feature uses disposable pads instead of reusable ones, it&#;s a convenient addition for those with hard floors. You can activate it whenever someone tracks in mud or spills a drink, or to keep your house clean for a little one who loves to crawl. Just keep an eye out for any larger debris getting stuck in the vacuum, since strong suction power can lead to jams and clogs.
After over a year of use, we did notice that the dust bag fills up frequently, and we need to replace the brush and filter since they&#;ve expired (something to add to the cost). It&#;s also gotten a bit noisier. You can trust this vacuum to get the job done with very little interference from you, though&#;and that just can&#;t be said for every robot vacuum, even other ones at this price point.
Self-Emptying: Yes | Battery Life: 180 minutes | Smart Capabilities: Programmable schedule, object avoidance, flooring identification, 3D mapping, mobile fragrance
-
PHOTO: The Spruce Home / Dera Burreson
-
PHOTO: The Spruce Home / Dera Burreson
-
PHOTO: The Spruce Home / Dera Burreson
-
PHOTO: The Spruce Home / Dera Burreson
-
PHOTO: The Spruce Home / Dera Burreson
We Also Recommend
Tineco Pure One S11 Vacuum
PHOTO: Tineco
What We Like
LED display with digital readout
Four-stage HEPA filtration system
Doubles as a handheld vacuum
Quiet and lightweight
What We Don&#;t Like
Requires frequent charging
Requires frequent emptying
After years of testing, the Tineco Pure One S11 Tango still stands out to us. It rivals any Dyson counterpart, and we really love its mix of basic functionality and futuristic features, including a digital readout of what you have captured from your carpet.
Tineco&#;s original claim to fame was its Floor One S3 wet-dry vacuum, which expertly handles wet spills and dry crumbs on any hard flooring, and it remains a favorite among influencers and our editors after testing and real-world use. This pick, the Pure One S11 Tango, is purely for dry messes, but offers expert-level cleaning on hard and soft surfaces. It only struggled with larger debris like cereal.
You don&#;t need to put in much elbow grease, even if you are transitioning from an area rug to a hardwood floor. You don't even have to bend over to see if the brush roll is tangled from your dog&#;s hair. The LED display at the top of the vacuum will read out the facts (battery level, suction power) and give you a heads up if something is malfunctioning. It may not feel necessary, but you can also connect the vacuum to a smartphone app via Wi-Fi for more details on your cleaning endeavors.
Notably, these features don&#;t seem to add much to the price tag, which can&#;t be said for other stick vacuums with smart elements, such as Dyson's Gen5detect. While the Dyson is also a standout in our experience, it costs about $600 more than the Tineco, with many of the same features.
Meet the Tester
Cecily lives in a two-bedroom apartment with her husband, toddler, and a long-haired cat. This vacuum gets a workout daily, picking up stray Goldfish crackers, cat litter, kitchen detritus, and hair.
Intuitiveness aside, the Tineco Pure One S11 covers all the basics and then some. For larger debris (like that cereal), you can use one of its four attachments, each more complex than the last: crevice tool, 2-in-1 dusting brush, mini power brush, and full-size LED multi-task power brush. You can also turn the vacuum into a handheld one by detaching the handle and using it with an attachment; this process was seamless for us.
Notably, the vacuum was quiet enough and light enough for us to use while holding a 20-pound baby, too, and it didn&#;t die out over the course of our testing. (The 40-minute battery life is about average, and may diminish quicker if you use the max mode.)
In the box, you'll find a pre-filter cleaning tool and an extra microfiber pre-filter for the four-stage HEPA filtration system, in addition to a hair cleaning tool to get tangles out of the brush roll. There&#;s a wall mount, too, for the vacuum and two of your favorite attachments.
Weight: 5.84 pounds | Battery Life: 40 minutes | Attachments: Crevice tool, 2-in-1 dusting brush, mini power brush, full-size LED multi-task power brush
-
PHOTO: The Spruce / Henry Wortock
-
PHOTO: The Spruce / Henry Wortock
-
PHOTO: The Spruce / Henry Wortock
-
PHOTO: The Spruce / Henry Wortock
If you are looking for more details, kindly visit Heavy Duty Vacuum Cleaner.
25
0
0
Comments
All Comments (0)