When I started this cleaning company, one of the best investments I made was buying a vacuum cleaner that does a great job of making sure that all debris and dirt are removed. Today, vacuum cleaners are still one of the most in-demand cleaning tools present in each homeowner’s list of essential cleaning products, with prices ranging for as low as $50 to as much as $1,500. The question is, how do you pick the right vacuum for you? Here’s how:
If your home is mostly wall to wall carpeting and all on one floor, an upright vacuum cleaner is the best. It is best in removing ground-in, embedded dirt from carpeting since it is heavier than other styles so the weight of the nozzle allows it to reach deep into the carpet pile for optimum cleaning. However, since it usually weighs about 10 to 20 pounds, you might want to have one on each floor if your house has more than one level.
If your home has many stairs, bare floors, and a few carpets, a canister vacuum cleaner will suit your household. The motor and canister are behind you so it will be easier to maneuver in tight spaces as well as to use on stairs. Most of canister vacuum cleaners have a power nozzle attachment too that has a rotating brush to mimic that of an upright vacuum cleaner.
If you are looking for a vacuum cleaner as a light picker-upper for bare floors and low pile rugs, a stick or pole vacuum cleaner will be your handy helper. These types of vacuums come with cord or cordless and are usually so slim you can stash it in a corner in your kitchen for a quick and easy after-dinner clean up. Some have rotating brushes for better rug cleaning and some are convertible to a hand vacuum so it’s almost like you have two vacuums in one.
If you’re one busy mom like myself, get yourself a robot vacuum cleaner. Mine can clean while I am out and comes with an app that I can control from my phone. Robot vacuum cleaners usually have cameras and lasers to map their way around your house and even cleans under the beds and behind the furniture.
If you need a compact tool to quickly pick up dry spills on bare floors and surfaces or grab pet hairs and other surface debris, a handheld vacuum cleaner is the right one for you. It comes corded or cordless so you can also use it outside to clean the car.
Now that you know what to consider when choosing a vacuum cleaner, take a look at our pick of the best vacuum cleaners to buy in 2020:
Best Upright Vacuum Cleaner
Miele Dynamic U1 Maverick
Anyone in your home suffering from asthma and frequent allergies? This vacuum is the right one for you! It comes with HEPA filter and keeps the dirt trapped inside the vacuum. It has a self sealing bag keeps the dusts out of the air when it‘s time to remove and replace it.
Customer ratings by feature
Maneuverability 5.0
Suction power 4.5
Easy to use 4.1
Durability 3.7
2. Best Cordless Vacuum Cleaner
Dyson V11 Animal Cordless Vacuum Cleaner
V11 has extra wide cleaning head compare to its predecessor Dyson V10, allowing you to cover more floor with fewer passes and lesser frequency on emptying the dust bins. This cordless V11 can sense whether it’s on bare floor or carpet and adjusts the power and run time accordingly, even when it is on auto mode!
Customer ratings by feature
Suction power 4.7
Maneuverability 4.7
For stairs 4.6
Battery life 4.4
3. Best Bagless HEPA Vacuum Cleaner
Shark APEX Upright Vacuum Cleaner
Shark Apex is a great option if you want a model that filters out tiny particles but prefer a bagless vacuum. This is also one of the quietest models we tested so far. In terms in cleaning performance on carpeted and bare floors, it is just superb!
Customer ratings by feature
Suction power 4.7
Easy to assemble 4.6
For cleaning up hair 4.6
Durability 4.5
4. Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
iRobot Roomba s9+ (9550) Robot Vacuum with Automatic Dirt Disposal- Empties itself, Wi-Fi Connected, Smart Mapping, Powerful Suction, Anti-Allergen System
This sophisticated robot vacuum is so smart it can map and remember multiple rooms and floor plans while effectively cleaning your floors. This can also automatically detect carpet and ramps up suction when needed. When it has done its job, s9+ returns to its charging base, automatically emptying the dirt into a large capacity bag for mess-free disposal. Love it yet?
Customer ratings by feature
Suction power 4.2
Easy to clean 3.9
Battery life 3.8
Tech Support 3.1
5. Best Handheld Vacuum Cleaner
Dirt Devil Gator Lithium Cordless Hand Vacuum Cleaner, BD30055B
Exhibiting good performance and run time, this handheld vacuum cleaner makes deep cleaning carpeted stairs and furniture easy. What’s more is that it comes with a dust cup for easy and messy-free emptying.
Product Highlights
Cordless Fade-Free Power
XL Easy-Empty Dirt Cup
On-Board Crevice Tool
6. Best-Rated Vacuum Cleaner
Shark Navigator Lift-Away Professional NV356E
This vacuum cleaner is such a crowd-pleaser because of its versatility and power. It gained 6,700+ 5-star reviews and the homeowners are raving about how easy the transition is when they clean hardwood floors, carpeted areas, furniture, and removing pet hairs.
Customer ratings by feature
Suction power 4.5
For cleaning up hair 4.4
Quality of material 4.3
Versatility 4.2
7. Best Value Vacuum Cleaner
Hoover UH73510 React Powered Reach Plus
This vacuum’s FloorSense technology allows it to go from carpet to bare floors without missing a beat! It automatically adjusts the brush speed to prevent scattering and damage as you move from one surface to the next. Its removable canister will allow you to clean under the furniture as well as above-the-floor cleaning.
Customer ratings by feature
Easy to assemble 4.5
Suction power 4.5
For cleaning up hair 4.0
Easy to clean 3.8
8. Best Large Canister Vacuum Cleaner
Eureka Mighty Mite 3670G Corded Canister Vacuum Cleaner
This vacuum cleaner can hold up to 2.5 liters and is best for homeowners with large homes. It may surprise you just how versatile it is. This vacuum is lighter, more compact, and less expensive that its Dyson counterpart but just as powerful.
Customer ratings by feature
For hardwood floors 4.5
Suction power 4.4
For stairs 4.4
Versatility 4.0
9. Best Vacuum Cleaner for Pet Hair
BISSELL Pet Hair Eraser Lift-Off Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner
This vacuum cleaner comes fully loaded with features that a pet owner may face. It comes with a detachable canister which provides you an option to clean tight spaces, even under the bed, under and behind furniture, and even in between stair rails and inside your car. The best thing? It utilizes Febreeze technology eliminating stale odors that vacuuming pet hairs can generate.
Product Highlights
Every Purchase Saves Pets!
Includes Lift-Off technology
Tangle-free brush roll
Patented cyclonic pet-hair spooling system for a hands-free empty
10. Best Lightweight Upright Vacuum Cleaner
Eureka PowerSpeed Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner
This vacuum cleaner is so light weight, has great suction, and easy to assemble. The only draw back is that it is too noisy, with a little bit of whistling sound.
Customer ratings by feature
Easy to assemble 4.7
Suction power 4.3
Versatility 4.2
For cleaning up hair 4.2
