Yahoo LifestyleThe Best Vacuum Cleaners to Buy Right Now, According to Experts
- 1/12
The Best Vacuum Cleaners to Buy Right Now, According to Experts
Two important questions to ask when buying a vacuum cleaner are: Is it easy to handle and maneuver and can it really remove dust and dirt from all areas of my home? We wouldn't be the Good Housekeeping Cleaning Lab if the vacuums on this list didn't pass that test with flying colors.
But choosing 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 home is laid out and how much time you have for cleaning up. Immediately below are our picks for the best vacuums in key categories. Scroll all the way down to learn more about what to consider before you buy a new vacuum and how to choose the best vacuum cleaner to meet your needs.
The best vacuum cleaners to buy in 2020 are:
- Best Value Vacuum Cleaner: Hoover Reach Powered Reach Plus Bagless Vacuum Cleaner
- Best Vacuum Cleaner for Pet Hair: Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Lift-Off Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner
- Best Cordless Vacuum Cleaner for Large Homes: Dyson V11 Outsize Vacuum Cleaner
- Best Canister Vacuum Cleaner: Miele Complete C3 Vacuum for Soft Carpet
- Best Bagless HEPA Vacuum Cleaner: Shark APEX Upright Vacuum Cleaner
- Best Basic Cordless Vacuum Cleaner: Bissell AirRam Cordless Vacuum Cleaner
- Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner: iRobot Roomba S9+ Robot Vacuum Cleaner
- Best Combination Vacuum Cleaner: Dyson Cyclone V10 Absolute Lightweight Cordless Stick Vacuum
- Best Lightweight Vacuum Cleaner: Oreck Magnesium Bagged Upright Vacuum Cleaner
How we test vacuum cleaners
The Good Housekeeping Cleaning Lab tests all types of vacuum cleaners, including canister vacuums, robot vacuums, stick vacs, HEPA vacuums, handheld vacuums, and so much more. We look for how well they remove dirt deeply embedded into pile carpet and simulated pet hair evenly spread on a carpet’s surface. We look at how well they remove large and small debris from hard flooring like hardwood, tile, or linoleum, how well they clean along edges and how much suction they draw at the tools.
Our tests are based on the ASTM standard test methods the industry uses and each vacuum model is tested exactly the same way. Ease-of-use testing includes evaluating maneuverability, battery run-time for cordless vacuum cleaners, the controls, how easy the dust cup is to empty and clean or the bag is to change, and weighing how heavy the vacuum is.
Consumer testers rate the vacuums’ maneuverability by running it on a bare floor and carpet, around corners and under furniture. They rate the ease of removing the dust cup or bag, and the ease of operating the vacuums’ controls. We note and test any features like a battery charge indicator, a brush roll control button, or other tools and accessories. Keep reading to see why these vacuums made the cut to win our distinction of the best vacuums of 2020.
- Best Value Vacuum Cleaner: Hoover Reach Powered Reach Plus Bagless Vacuum Cleaner
- 2/12
React Powered Reach Plus Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner
Hoover
walmart.com
$345.98
This Hoover can go from carpet to bare floors without missing a beat. Its special FloorSense Technology automatically adjusts the brush speed to prevent scattering and damage as you move from one floor surface to the next, so you don’t even have to flip a switch or turn a dial. It has a removable canister to better reach underneath low furniture and make above-the-floor cleaning easier, too. The four included attachments are a crevice tool, motorized brush roll tool, stationery dusting brush and a soft bendable dusting brush to clean the tops of bookcases and ceiling fans.
- 3/12
Pet Hair Eraser
BISSELL
amazon.com
$179.99
This vacuum addresses all the vacuum cleaner issues that pet owners face and it comes fully loaded with features that'll suck up every last bit of pet hair. A tangle-free brush roll keeps pet hair from clogging the bristles and a hair spooling system inside the canister contains the mess so emptying is easier and cleaner. Its sealed allergen system traps fine particles and the filter uses Febreze technology to eliminate those stale odors that vacuuming up pet hair can generate.
Yahoo News is better in the app
Stay in the know at a glance with the Top 10 daily stories
- 4/12
V11 Outsize Cordless Vacuum Cleaner
Dyson
bedbathandbeyond.com
$799.99
While this new Dyson V11 Outsize bears a striking family resemblance to its V10 Absolute cousin below, it has some significant updates that are worth considering if you have a large home with expansive floor surfaces to clean. Most obvious are its extra wide cleaning head and extra large dust bin. This means you'll be able to cover more floor with fewer passes and have to empty the dust bin less often. Three power levels — eco, medium or auto, and boost — allow you to adjust the suction up or down to grab heavy dirt or protect delicate rugs you come across in your path. In auto mode, the vacuum senses whether it's on bare floor or carpet and adjusts the power and runtime accordingly. In our GH Cleaning Lab review, we found the suction impressive and the head easily maneuvered around furniture legs and into tight spaces. Between it being cordless and its back-up battery pack for up to two hours of runtime, the only reason you'll need to stop cleaning is because the job is done!
- 5/12
Complete C3 Vacuum for Soft Carpet
Miele
williams-sonoma.com
$999.95
This Miele earned our Good Housekeeping Seal for its ability to effectively clean every type of flooring. It's equipped with a telescoping wand, dusting brush, upholstery tool, and a crevice tool to tackle any type of flooring. Even hard-to-clean plush carpets are no match for the power nozzle and brush roll that adjust to five different levels to make easy work of powering through dense pile to lift up dirt, dust, and pet hair. Allergy sufferers will love the high filtration bag and HEPA AirClean filter prevents dust from being released back into the air.
- 6/12
APEX Upright Vacuum Cleaner
Shark
amazon.com
$372.00
If you prefer bagless vacuums, but still want a model that filters out tiny particles, the Shark APEX is a great option. In our last Cleaning Lab test, it exhibited very good cleaning performance on both carpeting and bare floors and was one of the quietest models we tested. Because it converts from an upright to a canister with the press of a button, tackling stairs and nabbing pesky dust bunnies lurking in corners or hiding behind furniture is easy to do without missing a step. We like that the entire vacuum is sealed for better dust retention and that the HEPA filter, unlike others that need replacing, is washable. Pet owners will appreciate the brush roll that's designed to minimize messy hair tangles.
Yahoo News is better in the app
Stay in the know at a glance with the Top 10 daily stories
- 7/12
AirRam Cordless Vacuum Cleaner
Bissell
amazon.com
$224.37
This GH Seal-holding cordless stick vacuum ran for an impressive 37 minutes in our lab tests and was among the quietest we tried. We also like that the handle lays flat on the ground (by rotating it at the base), which makes it easier to vacuum under furniture and other tough-to-reach places and the dust cup is well-placed and easy to empty. Just keep in mind that it doesn’t come with any attachments or convert to a handheld vacuum, but for simplicity and performance, it's a winner.
- 8/12
Roomba s9+
iRobot
amazon.com
$899.00
In our Cleaning Lab tests, the 9+ picked up 99% of the uncooked oatmeal, sand, baking soda and small nuts and screws we spread on hard floors. It can map and remember multiple rooms and floor plans and it beat all other robot vacuums for quickly and effectively spot cleaning a small area. It detects carpet automatically to ramp up suction only when needed, and its double rubber roller brushes won't clog with pet hair like bristles have a tendency to do. When it's finished cleaning, the vacuum returns to its charging base and dirt is automatically transferred into a large-capacity bag for mess-free disposal: it seals completely before you toss to keep dust and dirt contained.
- 9/12
Cyclone V10 Absolute Lightweight Cordless Stick Vacuum
Dyson
amazon.com
$669.00
Despite its slim look, this 2-in-1 cordless machine rivaled the full-size upright vacuums in our test when it came to pulling embedded dirt out of carpets. The Dyson stick vac is super easy to use and it comes with two heads — one for carpets and one for bare floors. This model is super lightweight and with the wands removed, it converts to a handheld vacuum for even more versatility. It has three power modes and includes a crevice tool and a combination dusting/upholstery tool, a mini soft dusting brush and a mini motorized tool with a rotating brush for cleaning fabric and carpeted stairs.
Yahoo News is better in the app
Stay in the know at a glance with the Top 10 daily stories
- 10/12
Magnesium Bagged Upright Vacuum Cleaner
Oreck
amazon.com
$349.99
Many of the visitors to our GH Cleaning Lab complain that upright vacuum cleaners are just too heavy to push and carry. Our recommendation to them is the Oreck Magnesium. This vacuum was tops in our test of lightweight cleaners and weighs in at just under 8 pounds. Fortunately, what it lacks in heft doesn’t compromise its cleaning performance. It did a great job deep cleaning our test carpets and bare floors. The Oreck does use a self-sealing bag to contain allergens but doesn’t come with any attachments on-board. The speed of the brush roll is adjustable — fast for carpets, slow for bare floors — via a switch on the handle. We like its low profile and that it lays flat to more easily clean under furniture and the bed.
- 11/12
Which is better, a bagged or a bagless vacuum cleaner?
When it comes to cleaning performance, our Lab tests show that both types clean equally well. So, which you choose comes down to personal preference.
- Vacuums that take bags require less emptying and cleaning. All you have to do is change the bag when it’s 2/3 full (let it go too far and you can compromise suction) and remember to keep bags on hand. Bagged models are generally the preferred type for allergy sufferers.
- Bagless vacuums don’t require bags — you simply empty the dust cup after every few uses. Doing so can be messy, however, and the filters and cup require frequent cleaning to keep them working up to par. Bagless is a good choice if you hate having to remember to buy bags.
Do I need a HEPA filter?
High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter vacuums are a great way to trap the most microscopic particles, like pollen, pet dander and dust mites, so they are important to have if your family members have allergies.
But having a HEPA filter alone is not enough. For the best defense against allergens, a vacuum must also be “sealed,” meaning no air escapes from other cracks and crevices and everything that comes out of the vacuum passes through the HEPA filter. Check the box or the manufacturer’s website to find out if the entire vacuum you are considering is sealed. HEPA-type or HEPA-like filters don’t trap particles as well as true HEPA filters do.
- Vacuums that take bags require less emptying and cleaning. All you have to do is change the bag when it’s 2/3 full (let it go too far and you can compromise suction) and remember to keep bags on hand. Bagged models are generally the preferred type for allergy sufferers.
- 12/12
The Best Vacuum Cleaners to Buy Right Now, According to Experts
Unlock exclusive content and money-saving deals with our all-access membership program. LEARN MORE
