Best Vacuum Cleaners – Is There A Best One?
Which Vacuum is Really The Best?
You’d think being able to select the “best” vacuum would be relatively easy. Consumer Reports does a great job of thoroughly putting vacuums through their paces. Based on a number of criteria, they rack and stack the various models and pick the winner. Easy peasy- right?
Well, if you read customer reviews you sometimes wonder if Consumer Reports is evaluating the same models when they pick the best vacuum cleaners! CR may not think highly of a particular model but the owners of said vacuum love it. Go figure.
With that said, there are some basics to keep in mind when conducting your research. First off, how long will the manufacturer warrant the product? A naturally, the longer the better because vacuums can break down. Especially the El Cheapo models. Unless a bargain-priced vacuum is covered under an extensive warranty, it might not be much of a bargain if it needs to be replaced in a year or two.
Other details to pay attention to when vacuum cleaner shopping is things like the hose. Is it long enough for tackling jobs like doing the curtains, or the stairs, or even detailing the car? Are there sufficient attachments to accomplish those cleaning tasks?
If you have hardwood floors, you want to be sure the roller brushes can be turned off or disengaged. Those spinning brushes may just scratch and mar your wood floor’s finish.
Speaking of spinning brushes, does the model have some along the edge? If not, you won’t be able to vacuum right up to the baseboard and might leave as much as an inch of carpet not properly cleaned.
If you like the convenience (?) of a bags, make sure your local store carries the appropriate size for your model of vacuum. There are a plethora of shape, sizes, makes, and models of vacuum cleaner bags on the market.
You want to be sure your local retailer stocks the one you’ll need. (Caution: some models’ bags are a bit on the pricey side)
Even if you decide to go ‘bagless’, there’s still some cost involved. You want to check to see if there are expensive filters that will need to be periodically changed. And you’ll need to find out where you can get replacement filters too.
Best Vacuum Cleaner Models
Vacuum cleaners come in several shapes and sizes depending on the job at hand. These are the most popular models:
- Canister vacuum cleaner
- Upright vacuum cleaner
- Small vacuum
Best Canister Vacuum Cleaner
Canisters vacuum cleaners really shine when it comes to cleaning bare floors. And on stairs. But carpets? That’s where canisters have a hard time. And full-sized canisters are usually heavy and bulky and tend to cost more too. If you have to lug your vacuum up and down stairs, this is something to keep in mind.
Consumer reports gave the thumbs up to the Kenmore Intuition 28014. The Intuition’s brushes can be turned off, you can ‘dial-in’ the height adjustment, an indicator when the bag’s full, and the cord is retractable. To keep the air clean in your home, this model is equipped with a HEPA filter. The Intuition 28014 weighs 26 pounds and costs around $600.
This bag-equipped Kenmore canister has a brush on/off switch, manual pile-height adjustment, retractable cord, full-bag indicator, and HEPA filtration. It weighs 26 lbs. and is a recommended model.
Best Upright Vacuum Cleaner
Just like canister models, uprights do a dandy job on bare floors. The challenge is deep cleaning carpets and providing enough power through the hose for effective cleaning with the hose attachments.
The top rated and recommend upright vacuum cleaner is the Hoover WindTunnel Anniversary Edition U6485-900.
This Hoover has a bag for collecting nasties off the floor and its self-propelled which is a great feature and is easier to maneuver around the house. The brushes can be turned off for hard floors and the pile adjustment height can be adjusted as well. Equipped with HEPA filtration, the WindTunnel has an indicator to let you know when it’s time to change the bags.
Hoover WindTunnel Anniversary Edition U6485-900 clocks in at 21 pounds and Consumer Reports rates this upright vacuum as a Recommend Buy. You’ll have to shop around as prices for this unit ranged from $180 up to over $280.
Best Small Vacuum
You can’t expect a small vacuum to compete head-to-head with an upright or a canister but these little numbers do have their moments. But for small jobs, steps, or cleaning out the car, a small vacuum can be a great tool for quick spot cleaning.
In the Stick Vacs, the top honors to go the Bissell Versus 76T8. The price for this unit is around $80.
Hand-Held vacuum cleaner: The top rated model of this type is the Bissell Pet Hair Eraser 33A1; it sells for $25-$45.
Sweeper Brooms: The vote goes for to the Dirt Devil Broom Vac MBV2030
There are many situations where one vacuum cleaner outshines the others. And even after rigorous testing, consumers often prefer a different model! So choosing the best vacuum cleaner often comes down to personal preference.