Both types of vacuums can deliver a deep clean on both carpets and bare floors, but a canister vacuum is usually easier to control. Upright vacuums are one unit on wheels and typically can only move in one straight direction. A canister vacuum consists of a long handle with a cleaning head attached to a canister on wheels. It gives you more freedom to move around and roam without having to carry around the entire unit as you clean. Most vacuums will start losing power when the filters need cleaning or replacing.
Suction power and overall cleaning performance is based on the vacuum’s airflow, which relies on good filtration and the vacuum cleaner’s design. If you’re in search of a light-use vacuum for quick clean-ups and bare-floor touch-ups, the Bissell Featherweight Stick or Dyson V11 Animal are the easiest to operate. For pet hair or homes where allergies are an issue, Dyson’s V11 or Shark S2 Navigator both offer a high level of filtration, trapping 99.99% of particles. We looked for vacuums that had the most customer reviews for their ability to powerfully clean surfaces.
Versatility was essential — only vacuums that could serve double duty by cleaning bare surfaces such as wood and tile, as well as carpet or rugs, made the cut. All of the cordless vacuums we tested were between 4 and 7 pounds, but none was so heavy that it affected our recommendation. bissell cordless vacuum All of the vacuums on this list were also very similar in height and overall size. The Dyson models are both roughly 49 inches, while the Tineco A11 is shorter at just 43 inches tall. Other factors considered were how easy the vacuum is to handle and store.
Dirt Devil has figured out how to bypass this common issue, promising a maximum loss of 5%, which is barely noticeable. It’s possible due to the vacuum model’s patented three-stage filtration system that captures varying levels of fine dirt and debris. Keeping the Endura Max running well is easy — simply dump out the canister’s contents by pressing on the release button while you’re over a trash bin. Occasionally remove the foam sleeve and the inner pleated filter that catch fine dirt and give them a good shake to get rid of most of the debris or a rinse if they’re extra soiled.
The IEC is a global standards body responsible for managing testing procedures, among other things, for vacuum manufacturers. BISSELL has a diverse lineup of vacuums, and their naming convention can sometimes be confusing. Cleaned my stone tile very well, but you need to understand if your tile is filthy it will require more than one to make them look like new. You also need to understand that the slower you go the better it will clean.
In that time, we’ve refined our testing methods and assessments in a controlled environment to measure the proficiency of robot vacuums, full-sized models and cordless stick vacuums alike. For more check out this detailed article on how we test vacuums at CNET. You typically hear about HEPA filters in regard to air purifiers, but vacuums also rely on them to clean your home’s air. In that time, we’ve refined our testing methods and assessments in a controlled environment to measure the proficiency of robot vacuums, full-sized models and cordless stick vacuums alike. Pet hairs find their way into every nook and cranny of your home, and different areas require different cleaning attachments.
Most of the vacuums on our list feature a runtime of 40 minutes before needing another charge, though a growing number of models are starting to offer higher-capacity batteries with runtimes of 60 minutes per charge. In truth, it’s a rare occasion that one would need more than 40 minutes of runtime for a single vacuuming session, and the prevalence of charging docks makes it easy to recharge in between cleaning runs. Because of this, battery life was not weighted as heavily as other features.
Still, those are fair tradeoffs at this price, especially considering how well it cleans. At $400 or less, it’s the first cordless vacuum we’d recommend for just about anyone in need of a new one. The dustbin is a cinch to empty and clean, and the battery is removable, too. Replacements are priced at $80 each, which is pretty reasonable by cordless vacuum standards. There’s also a handy trigger lock lever to keep the vacuum running without constant finger pressure. If you’re prone to allergies or have other respiratory issues, running the vacuum can trigger them as it blows particles around.
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Experts say the following four are particularly useful, although “any attachment can do a good job of picking up pet hair, as long as the vacuum’s motor is powerful enough,” Prouty says. Credit to Dyson for pioneering the cordless vacuum category with a series of capable — yet pricey — Cyclone V series stick vacs. Many years and many models later, Dyson remains a fixture of the category in 2023, but it’s not quite as dominant in our cleaning tests as it was five or 10 years ago. At this point, there are multiple competitors with top models that can go toe to toe with Dyson on our test floors.