Hard as we try, all manner of dirt, debris, dust, and especially unseen allergens manage to make their way into our homes, cars, and recreational vehicles. And vacuum cleaners are still the most efficient way to clean these spaces quickly.
When shopping for a new vacuum, you'll find a wide variety of styles and features, as well as prices. Our guide should provide some insight and help you determine your best choice. Please use the following list to quickly navigate to specific topics.
Upright | Canister | Stick & Handheld | Robotic
- The Touchless Vacuum
- HEPA Filtration
- Who Needs a Sealed System?
- Bagged or Bagless
- Special Features
- Maintenance
- Additional Help
Cleaning Performance
Vacuum performance is a key question most often asked by consumers. We want to know just how much suction power a particular model has. This measurement can be expressed in airflow (CFM), water lift (inches), or power (watts). Generally speaking, when a manufacturer measures a vacuum's power, the higher it is—the greater the suction.
What's My Type?
While you may start this process with a particular preference or even a strong view, where and how you will use your vacuum and the type of flooring in your home will be factors in choosing the best machine for you.
Upright Vacuums
In homes with a lot of carpeting, especially medium and deep-pile carpets, upright vacuums perform well. They are equipped with a rotating brush (beater bar) at the intake port, which pushes into carpet fibers loosening dirt, hair, and debris. Their wider cleaning paths make them a very efficient means of effectively cleaning large areas, while their upright configuration enables easy storage.
Most include various cleaning tools and a flexible hose for reaching up to ceilings and taking care of upholstery and drapes. Look for convenience features like variable suction levels, height adjustment (if you have multiple floor types), and brush roll on/off control for easy transitioning from carpets to hard floors.
Canister Vacuums
These vacuums have a main housing which contains the motor, filters, and dust bag or bin. Various cleaning tools and floor nozzles are attached to it by a flexible hose and wand. Canister vacuums are usually more maneuverable than uprights and can easily move from floor to surface cleaning by simply using the appropriate attachment, and many models feature on-board tool storage for quick access.
Canisters have a low profile that make cleaning tight or awkward places like stairs, bathrooms, and underneath furniture easier. While they're primarily used for bare flooring and low to medium-pile carpets, some are equipped with motorized floor nozzles that work very well on deep-pile carpets.
Stick and Handheld Vacuums
Sometimes you simply don't want or need an upright or canister vacuum. A Stick Vacuum can be just the right fit for compact living spaces like condos, apartments, and tiny homes. Even if you do have a large home, these vacuums make a handy addition for quickly taking care of spills or contained messes wherever they occur.
Most stick vacuums are cordless and use Lithium-Ion batteries which provide longer cleaning times. However, there are models with a power cord, should you prefer it. Many feature HEPA filtration, so even those with allergen sensitivities can benefit while enjoying the ease of using a stick vac. Lightweight and maneuverable, these easy-to-store vacs usually come with at least one floor nozzle plus basic tools for multi-surface cleaning. Most are easily converted to handheld for portable cleaning.
Robotic Vacuums
Something of a novelty when they were first introduced to consumers, robotic vacuums have been refined and improved, offering new designs and technology that have improved performance, making them a great choice for busy folks.
Use navigation systems to map a pathway around your home, avoiding furniture and stairs; most include some type of boundary markers for keeping them away from off-limits areas. Many have both a brush roll and spinning side brushes for sweeping dirt away from edges and pushing debris into the vacuum, and some even have mopping capabilities.
An ever-increasing number of models can be controlled using Wi-Fi and a smartphone app, with remote scheduling capabilities from wherever you happen to be. Most have a recharge and resume feature, which allows the robot to return to the charging station as needed and then resume cleaning at the point it left off. Be sure to consider the running times and charging time needed when making your choice.
The Touchless Vacuum
We couldn't leave types of vacuums without mentioning a couple of special machines which use vacuum technology to suck up dirt and debris in a different way. These “un-vacuums” are stationary and have an entry port into which you sweep accumulated dirt.
Designed for mounting in the kick-space under your kitchen or mud room cabinets, the Sweep-o-Vac is super for quick clean-ups. Simply grab your broom, touch the kick-plate with your toe to turn it on, and it will pull in everything from dropped cereal, spilled pet food, or tracked in leaves and dirt. Also great for RVs.
The EyeVac is a freestanding, touchless machine that uses a sensor to detect refuse as you sweep toward it to activate operation. This vacuum boasts suction that is powerful enough to suck in scattered nails and screws, not to mention hair, fur, and other debris. This machine is great for hair salons, pet grooming businesses, and veterinary offices, as well as homes.
What Level of Filtration Do I Need?
This consideration is especially important if you, or someone in your home, suffers from asthma or allergies. The air exiting your vacuum is flowing through all the debris sucked in with it. The better the filtration, the cleaner the air released back into your home. Almost all vacuums offer some kind of air filtration, from thin washable filters to multi-step filtration systems.
HEPA filters capture 99.97% of particulates from inflowing air down to 0.3 microns. When applied to vacuums, this means the air exhausted from the vacuum is usually cleaner than the ambient air, a key feature for allergy sufferers. Many vacuum manufacturers offer HEPA filtration either as a standard type or as an upgraded filter.
One note about filters—to be effective, they need to be replaced on a regular basis as recommended by the manufacturer or indicated on the filter itself. For more info, check out our article on HEPA vacuums.
What Is a Sealed System?
A sealed system is one that has been tested to verify that there are zero to minimal air leaks from cracks or seams in the vacuum cleaner's housing. A sealed system provides the highest quality filtration for a clean home environment and is often featured in vacuums at the upper end of the price range.
To Bag or Not to Bag?
This decision depends on your views on dirt & dust containment vs. ongoing cost. Bagless vacuums have a dust bin that can be emptied, cleaned, and replaced, designed to last the life of the vacuum. Newer models feature an ejection-type mechanism used to empty the bin, which helps minimize escaping dust.
Vacuums that use dust bags, especially those that have self-sealing multi-layer filter bags, are better at containing all the accumulated debris and dust so nothing is released back into the air. A good choice for households where allergen sensitivity is a concern. The downside here is the cost of replacement bags.
Considering Special Features
All other things being equal, sometimes it comes down to features that fill a special need or level of convenience for cleaning. Different vacuums offer differing varieties of tools, features, or capabilities to consider.
- Attachments: Most residential vacuums, even stick vacs, provide at least basic cleaning tools or attachments, such as dusting brushes, crevice tools, and upholstery nozzles, in addition to floor nozzles. Additional tools can be purchased separately and include floor nozzles, specialized surface tools, mini-motorized surface nozzles, micro-tools for cleaning computers, and even pet grooming tools.
- Suction Control: This allows you to adjust the suction of the vacuum and can be as simple as a sliding control on the wand to a choice of electronically controlled suction levels for specific tasks like upholstery, rugs, and curtains.
- Full Container and Filter Alerts: Since your vacuum's ability to clean well is directly affected by a full bag or a dirty filter, these can be very handy. An alert lets you know when it's time to change the bag or empty the dust bin or that the filter needs cleaning or changing.
- Height Adjustment: Many upright vacuums, as well as some canisters with electric floor nozzles, provide either manual or automatic adjustment of the brush roll height to maximize cleaning of various carpet depths as well as bare floors.
- Odor Control Filter: There are manufacturers that offer a filter that includes some level of charcoal filtration to help control bag odors as well as odors in exhausted air. This is a great feature for pet owners.
- Soft Carpet Cleaning: Soft Carpet vacuums usually have larger, more maneuverable rear wheels and a gentler suction and brushroll speed, so the fibers aren't torn or shredded.
- Automatic Shut-Off: This is especially useful if you have children or pets who can leave items underneath furniture that could clog the vacuum. Machines with this feature will automatically shut off or stop the brush roll when a stray sock or toy is sucked into the nozzle.
Many other special features abound for the consumer's consideration, so having the major decisions about filtration, vacuum type, and your top 2 or 3 special features will make the process of elimination easier and more effective.
Maintenance
Taking care of the machine that helps take care of your home is one final consideration. If you're going to invest in a quality vacuum cleaner, you will want it to last a long time and run at top performance. A good place to start is with the owner's manual for the manufacturer's tips about regular cleaning, filter replacement, and other maintenance procedures.
Changing the bag or emptying the dust bin as soon as needed keeps the airflow at its most powerful & efficient. Replacing or washing filters regularly is important for safeguarding the motor from fine dust, and extending its life. And, if you're trying to help control allergens by using a HEPA filter, replacing it on a regular basis is essential for allergy and asthma relief.
Need A Bit More Help?
If this has raised a few more questions or you would just like some assistance navigating the many vacuum choices, we can help. Contact our product experts at 1-800-934-9194 for more detailed information. For more ways to improve your indoor air, take a few minutes to explore our extensive selection of air care products. Our goal is to help make your indoor environment healthy and comfortable.
