Two critical questions to ask when purchasing a vacuum cleaner are: Is it easy to handle and maneuver, and can it truly remove dust and dirt from all areas of my home? We wouldn't be the excellent housekeeping cleaning lab if the vacuums on this list didn't pass that test with flying colors.
But selecting the best vacuum cleaner for you and your home means thinking about more than just that. Consider what surfaces you'll be vacuuming, how your house is laid out, and how much time you have for cleaning up. Immediately below are our picks for the best vacuums in the main categories.
if your home is mostly wall-to-wall carpeting and all on one floor. In our cleaning lab tests, upright vacuum cleaners do the best work removing ground-in, embedded dirt from carpeting since they are usually heavier than other styles, and the weight of the nozzle helps it reach deep into the carpet pile for better cleaning. Uprights can weigh anywhere from 10 to over 20 pounds, which can also make them heavy to carry up and downstairs. If your home has more than one level and you prefer an upright, contemplate keeping one on each floor.
Most uprights feature on-board hoses, wands, and tools for vacuuming crevices and upholstery and cleaning above-the-floor spaces such as door frames and crown mouldings. If you'll use an upright vacuum to clean bare floors and low loop or pile rugs, we recommend choosing a model where you can adjust the height of the nozzle and switch off the rotating brush to avoid scattering debris and damaging flat and delicate surfaces.
if your home has lots of stairs and bare floors and only a few carpets. Most full-size canister vacuums come with a power nozzle that has a rotating brush to mimic that on an upright. We recommend this attachment if you choose a canister and have deep pile carpets in, say, just the bedrooms. Otherwise, you'll see a long flat attachment or brush than can be utilized on bare floors and low, flat rugs.
Canisters can be weighty, too, but are easier to pick up and carry with two hands. All have tubes and attachments for dusting, upholstery, and crevices. Since the motor and canister are behind you, these vacuums are more comfortable maneuvering into tight spaces and using on stairs than uprights.
if you are looking for a lightweight, quick picker-upper for bare floors and low pile rugs. Most are slim enough to stash in a corner or closet close to the kitchen for speedy after-dinner clean-up. They come corded or cordless, though, in our cleaning lab tests, we've found rechargeable ones typically run anywhere up to one hour, so you'll want to keep them plugged into an outlet, so they stay fully charged and ready to go.
Some have rotating brushes for better rug cleaning and most converts to or have a hand vacuum on board, so it's like having two vacuums in one. Some come with attachments, such as dusting brushes and crevice tools and charging stands for storage.
if you need to get your cleaning done while you're out of the house or doing something else. Robot vacuums employ cameras and lasers to map their way around your rooms, so they don't miss a spot.
The current robots are more sophisticated than ever. Most can be controlled with an app on your mobile, and some are even voice-enabled. They can return to the house base for a recharge and then go back to cleaning wherever they left off. Robot vacuums are good maintenance cleaners. Send them out often enough, and you may never have to pull out your entire size vacuum. Of course, they go under the bed and behind furniture to clean the spots you probably skip.
if you require a compact tool to quickly pick up dry spills on bare floors and surfaces or nab lint, pet hair, and other surface debris on fabrics or carpeting. Some come with tubes and attachments, and others can pick up wet spills, too. Handheld vacuums come corded or cordless and can be taken outside easily to clean the car.
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