As a result, that weight doesn’t need to be supported by your arm as you are vacuuming. It doesn’t have the laser on the floorhead to reveal hidden dust – but it does have LEDs, and it’s very capable and easy to store. Weighing less than 6 pounds—about as much as the Dyson V12 Detect Slim and considerably less than the Ryobi 18V One+ HP vacuum—the DS4095 feels almost buoyant to use. First, you have to mentally prepare to tackle floor to ceiling messes, then you have to actually do the muscle work to clean overhead, under furniture, and everywhere in between. Shark’s included its high-performing Anti-Allergen Complete Seal on the Stratos too. In poorly sealed vacuums, dust and finer particles can literally make their way back out of the vacuum as opposed to being captured inside it.
This Dyson model was a star in our recent test of 22 cordless stick vacuums. It aced all of our cleaning tests with its powerful suction and great brush action, removing virtually all of the pet hair we spread across our test carpets in just one pass. We applaud Dyson for switching from its trigger on/off switch (something many users complained about) to a traditional on/off button for this model. The laser light on the fluffy floor head is a game changer when it comes to cleaning in dark corners and other places where dirt is difficult to see.
The best vacuums are lightweight and easy to maneuver, making it easy to tackle your entire home with getting an upper arm workout. Cordless models are great for their wire-free design, though they can be hard on your wrist due to their weighty dustbin and battery. Conversely, upright vacuums are great because they put more weight directly on the ground but are bulky and require cumbersome wired connections. We took into account both types of designs and looked at products that best hide these drawbacks. For a mix of bare floors and rugs, the surest bet is to get a vacuum that lets you turn the brush roll on or off.
We found that it transitions smoothly from floors to carpets to furniture, and it uses its powerful suction to pick up plenty of hair on the way. After six months of use, it’s just as powerful and easy to use as ever. But after hours and hours of testing models priced from $140 to $750, I confirmed that nothing performed better than my cordless Tineco Floor One S5 Combo.
When we tested out this vacuum, we loved that it was able to be set up in seconds, with each part clicking into place. You just need to add in the cleaner and pad (both of which are included), and then you’re good to go. The vacuum glides smoothly (and quietly!) dyson robot vacuum across the floor, thanks to its lightweight design, and the powerful suction gets both hair and dirt easily. Additionally, the cleaning spray has a lovely fresh scent, and the vacuum features LED headlights to help you see all areas clearly as you go.
At their best, cordless stick vacuums are versatile, shape-shifting creatures that transform into different configurations with the help of useful attachments. Most cordless models are lithe and comfortable to use, even in cramped spaces or on stairs. Because cordless vacuums are compact and often packaged with either a wall-mountable charging dock or a floor stand, it’s common to store them within arm’s reach in plain sight. This is a simple vacuum without lights or other fancier features, but we do love that it comes with anti-allergen features to keep the air clean, and that both the suction power and dust bin size are seriously impressive. When vacuuming, the robot is great at not getting caught in any tricky corners, and we found in testing that its powerful suction and spinning brush successfully gets pet hair in addition to regular debris.
And you’ll typically find that the best models are more powerful and more lightweight than their cheaper counterparts. We know from experience that buying the best vacuum cleaner is a confusing proposition no matter what brands or models you are considering. In fact, I’m often asked by friends, relatives and visitors to our Good Housekeeping Institute Home Care and Cleaning Lab to recommend the best vacuum cleaner for pet hair, the best stick vacuum or the best robot vacuum. And inevitably, I’m also asked my opinion of two very specific and very popular vacuum cleaner brands, Shark and Dyson.
On the downside, the cords can get tangled, and they tend to be heavier, bulkier devices. I’ve included my full review of my new top pick below, along with a recommendation for a much more budget-friendly alternative. To read more about how I tested mop vacs, how they work, and which models didn’t make the shortlist (I’ve now tested 12), keep reading. The first time I put on my reviewer hat to officially determine which vacuum-mop combo was the best mop vac money could buy, I tested nine models to see if anything would compare to the Tineco I was already using at home. We’ve already mentioned its versatility in terms of its Lift-Away mode.
But, the latter are more lightweight and maneuverable, and are often cordless and more convenient for anyone living in a small space or with lots of stairs. In our tests, this Shark stick vacuum had great run time and was comfortable to hold, easy to use and very maneuverable. irobot vacuum cleaner The battery can be charged separately, though we wish it had a light to alert you when charging is complete. Nice extras that we didn’t see on other stick vacuums included a capsule to neutralize odors and a wand that flexes in the center to reach under low furniture.
The Fluffy head swallowed everything we presented it with, aside from a large mound of Cheerios (which it choked on) and a huge cockroach (which got stuck in the brush housing). Getting back to the price component of value, while the Stratos Cordless is expensive, competing models by Dyson, Samsung, and others are at the same price point if not higher. When comparing the Stratos dyson robot vacuum Cordless to the Vertex, what’s interesting is that despite their very similar weight and size, Shark is able to deliver so much more performance with this new model. In comparison, the Stratos Cordless had more airflow at both the base and the head. It also had significantly more suction power at the base as well as a higher score with the unsealed suction test at the head.