They’re good as desk or snack vacs for midsize debris such as cookie crumbs, and they’re easy to store on countertops or desks and convenient for quick cleanups. But they can’t easily pick up and properly filter dust and other fine particles, and bigger debris fills up the small dustbin too quickly. This portable vacuum from Worx tied at number one for highest overall score in our handheld vacuum category test. It easily picked up all the debris and most of the pet hair we put down in our Lab tests, even without using the max power setting, though some pet hair clung to the brush attachment during use.
The pivoting dust brush and crevice tool make getting into corners and crevices simple. Its three-year warranty is one of the strongest among the vacuums we tested. Eufy’s HomeVac H30 Infinity Cordless Handheld Vacuum is an excellent, ultra lightweight choice for cleaning up pet hair from furniture, carpeted stairs and car seats. With its mini motorized pet brush and rubber seal around the filter that removes pet hair from the device as you remove the dust bin, no hair is left behind after cleaning. In lab tests, we found this model easy to use and especially liked that the charging dock has space for attachments too. Removing pet hair from the floor with a handheld vac isn’t very practical.
Its 4-foot hose made it easy to reach into tight spaces, especially in the car, and it ran for 23 minutes at standard power on one charge. Our tester called this hand vac “very comfortable to use,” giving it perfect scores in six of the seven ease-of-use evaluations, including for handle comfort and for the thoroughness of the owner’s manual. At just 1.4 pounds, this Shark vacuum is one of the lightest cordless handheld models money can buy, and it looks pretty distinctive, as well. Despite its narrow silhouette, it does a surprisingly good job cleaning difficult debris like pet hair and is easy to empty with the press of a button. Plus, it won’t pose an eyesore if you’re limited on space and have to store it on your counter; the base holds the Wandvac’s accessories, as well. Despite the low price, this model brings a lot to the table, including a pull out crevice tool and flip-up brush for all-purpose dusting and upholstery cleaning.
This vacuum easily empties into the garbage can with the push of a button, and the size of the dust cup was another perk, too. It was roomy enough for us to only need to empty it twice during the entire testing process. And speaking of room, with the built-in crevice tool, you’re saved the trouble of storing extra parts and pieces.
In addition to standard included attachments like a crevice tool, this vacuum comes with a pet hair tool that was we found to be amazingly effective at sucking up hair during our tests. When it’s not in use, the whole vacuum can be placed on its included charging base, which has spots to hold the nifty attachments. This vacuum is bagless, so all the dirt and hair gets sucked into the main compartment, which is see-through so you can bissell vacuum cleaner tell when it needs to be emptied. There’s a filter inside, and clumps of hair tend to get wrapped around it—fairly common with handheld vacuums and even standard vacuums. The power button is on the main handle, making it easy to push during use, and the Bissell Pet Hair Eraser has a fairly large opening, making it easy to suck up all sorts of debris. When the dust bin is full, you simply press the release button and dump it out.
When she’s not managing testing data, you’ll find Lynn photographing jazz musicians, dancing and traveling to experience new cultures and food. Carolyn Forté brings more than 40 years of experience as a consumer products expert to her role as executive director of the Good Housekeeping Institute’s Home Care and Cleaning Lab. She holds a bachelor’s degree in family and consumer sciences from Queens College, City University of New York. I also have not felt the need to clean or replace the filter, and aside from the very first time, the Pet Hair Eraser has never died on me—likely because I use it for short bursts. Anything that requires more than 20 minutes of continuous cleaning I save for my upright vacuum.
That’s not surprising; few companies have more experience making cordless handheld vacuums, since they pioneered the product back in 1979. Handheld vacuums are a diverse group, with some models designed for the awkward angles of a car’s interior and others purpose-built for pulling pet hair off carpeted stairs or upholstery. Others serve as “snack vacs,” allowing for the quick pickup of spilled cereals and countertop crumbs. You’ll find one of BISSELL’s handheld vacuum cleaners are a convenient alternative to a full-sized vacuums when it comes to smaller everyday tasks. Best suited to smaller vacuuming tasks on rugs and carpets, upholstery and car interiors.
It has a runtime of up to 20 minutes on eco mode and has a replaceable filter that can be washed between cleanings. In Lab tests, we found this model easy to use and especially liked that the charging dock has space to hold the attachments (though not the wands). bissell vacuum cleaner Handheld vacuums are a great option if you’re looking to clean small spills around the home. They’re lightweight and portable, and due to their small size, they’re handy when tackling more difficult or uneven terrain, like inside your car or on your stairs.
Although you can buy accessories to turn it into a stick vacuum, in that case we think you’re better off buying one of our cordless stick vacuum recommendations. But if you have hand or wrist issues, or if you’re planning to spend a lot of time cleaning your car, you may prefer a hand vacuum with an extendable hose and useful attachments. The Worx 20V Power Share Cordless Cube Vac WX030L and the Black+Decker 20V Max Lithium Flex BDH2020FL are the best examples of this type, with slightly different strengths and weaknesses. They are similarly priced and have long, flexible hoses that you can use with one hand while setting the vacuum’s body on the ground. In our testing, the CHV1410L had no trouble sucking up crumbs and dirt off bare surfaces like countertops and windowsills.
To empty the dustbin, you simply remove the dustbin from the unit, open the latch on the bottom over your trash can, and let everything drop out. To clean the filter, you gently wash it under warm water and let it dry out completely before replacing it. Though I recommend reading the safety precautions in the manual, the vacuum is intuitive enough that I was able to start using it immediately after a short initial charge without any instruction. I tried out every attachment that came with the Pet Hair Eraser, as well as used it on its own to compare functionality. I also used it from full charge until it was dead to track the battery life. This article is brought to you by The Pet Collective, the happy place for animal lovers.