Yahoo LifestyleThe Best Vacuum Cleaners to Buy Right Now, According to Experts
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The Best Vacuum Cleaners to Buy Right Now, According to Experts
We updated this article in June 2022 to ensure all picks tested and vetted by the Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab were in stock and correctly priced.
Buying a new vacuum cleaner can be a confusing proposition. There are so many brands, styles and models to choose from, all claiming to be the best at cleaning up after families and tackling pet hair. And they come in prices that range from less than $100 to well over $1,000. Choosing the best vacuum cleaner for you and your home means thinking about more than just how easy it is to maneuver, what tools it comes with and how much suction it has. Consider what surfaces you’ll be vacuuming, how your home is laid out and whether you prefer a model that's bagged or bagless, corded or cordless.
Thankfully, the Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab is here to help. We have tested hundreds of different types of vacuum cleaners, including canister vacuums, robot vacuums, stick vacs, HEPA vacuums, handheld vacuums, vacuums for hardwood, vacuums for pet hair and so much more. Because we test each model three times for cleaning performance and suction, our latest test of 20 models quickly multiplied into 320 separate tests. Read on for details on how we test vacuum cleaners and for our top picks for the best vacuums.
Our top vacuum picks:
Good Housekeeping - 2/12
APEX Upright Vacuum Cleaner
Shark
amazon.com
$377.88
If you prefer bagless vacuums, but still want a model that filters out tiny particles., the Shark APEX is a great option. In our most recent 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.
• Weight: 16 lbs.
• Cord Length: 30 ft.
• Battery Life/ Run Time: N/AShark - 3/12
1984 Air Ram Cordless Vacuum
Bissell
amazon.com
$258.01
This GH Seal–holding cordless stick vacuum ran for a full 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 in other tough-to-reach places. The dust cup is well-placed and easy to empty. Keep in mind that it doesn’t come with any attachments and isn't able to be converted to a handheld vacuum, but for simplicity and performance, it's a winner.
• Weight: 7.75 lbs.
• Cord Length: Cordless
• Battery Life/Run Time: Up to 40 minutesBissell - 4/12
Pet Hair Eraser Turbo Plus Vacuum
Bissell
amazon.com
$222.19
This vacuum cleaner addresses all of pet owners' greatest woes, and it comes fully loaded with features that'll suck up every last bit of unwanted 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.
• Weight: 13.75 lbs.
• Cord Length: 30 ft.
• Battery Life/Run Time: N/ABissell - 5/12
Complete C3 Vacuum for Soft Carpet
Miele
amazon.com
$1421.99
This Miele earned our Good Housekeeping Seal for its ability to effectively clean every type of flooring. It's equipped with a telescoping wand, a dusting brush, an upholstery tool and a crevice tool to tackle stairs, lamps shades, ceiling moldings and more. 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 rug or carpet pile to lift dirt, dust and pet hair. Allergy sufferers will love the high filtration bag and HEPA AirClean filter that prevent dust from being released back into the air. In Good Housekeeping Institute tests, Miele vacuums do the best job of picking up and trapping dust and dirt.
• Weight: 19 lbs.
• Cord Length: 24 ft.
• Battery Life/Run Time: N/AMiele - 6/12
Jet 90 Stick Cordless Lightweight Vacuum Cleaner
SAMSUNG
amazon.com
$427.79
Selected as the Good Housekeeping Institute’s best overall stick vacuum, Samsung's Jet 90 Stick Vacuum impressed us with its three levels of pick-up power as well as its great design and wide assortment of useful tools. Use it on low for area rugs, medium for bare floors and max for deeper pile carpets. It even cleans lightweight throw rugs and mats that other vacuums we've tested get stuck on.
The Samsung also comes with a free-standing charging base that can be tucked into any corner for out-of-the-way storage.The package includes a fluffy brush roll head for wood floors, a small turbo tool for upholstery and mattresses and a flexible attachment for greater reach in addition to the usual crevice tool and dusting brush. The wand telescopes, and we found the dust cup and filter easy to empty and clean. Only thing it's missing is a second battery, but you can buy one separately and charge it on the same base.
• Weight: 6.17 lbs.
• Cord Length: Cordless
• Battery Life/Run Time: Up to 60 minutes (120 minutes with second battery)Samsung - 7/12
Roomba s9+ Robot Vacuum
iRobot
amazon.com
$999.00
In our Cleaning Lab tests, the Roomba 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 dual 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).
• Weight: 8.15 lbs.
• Cord Length: Cordless
• Battery Life/Run Time: 75 minutesamazon.com - 8/12
20V Cordless Cube Compact Vacuum Cleaner
Worx
amazon.com
$96.00
Not your typical handheld vac, the Worx model has a unique compact, boxy shape, removable battery that fits into other Worx tools and a top handle. Its crevice and brush tools store right on it, and a built-in flexible hose reaches four feet.
A top performer in our cleaning tests and a 2021 Good Housekeeping Best Cleaning Product Awards winner, this model easily picked up all the debris and pet hair we put down, even without using the max power setting. The hose makes it easy to reach into tight spaces, and it ran for 23 minutes at standard power on one charge. Although it's a little heavier than other handheld vacuums, you don't need to hold it up to use it.
• Weight: 3.0 lbs.
• Cord Length: Cordless
• Battery Life/Run Time: 10 minutes (high speed) or up to 25 minutes (low speed)worx - 9/12
S7 Robot Vacuum and Mop Cleaner
roborock
amazon.com
$649.99
Robots that vacuum and mop are all the rage, but the Roborock S7 stood out for how thoroughly it covered our test areas — barely missing a speck of the debris we put down and navigating smoothly around obstacles we placed in its path. It's fully featured and easy to use. The smartphone app was helpful and easy to navigate. In mopping mode, the Roborock uses sound waves to scrub stuck-on stains from bare floors, and the pad automatically lifts when it senses carpet to keep from wetting it as it vacuums.
Features like a child lock and cleaning controls are easily accessible on the robot's top, and it even responds to voice commands. Bottom line? The Roborock S7 does what robots are supposed to do: It does the cleaning for you. And it does it so well it's a winner in our 2021 Good Housekeeping Best Cleaning Product Awards.
• Weight: 8.20 lbs.
• Cord Length: Cordless
• Battery Life/Run Time: Up to 180 minutesamazon.com - 10/12
V15 Detect Cordless Vacuum
Dyson
amazon.com
$922.49
While the Dyson V15 Detect bears a striking family resemblance to other Dyson models we have recommended, it has some significant innovations that earned it a 2021 Good Housekeeping Cleaning Award.
Selected as one of the best stick vacuums, the V15 conquered dirt and microscopic dust. In our review, we were very impressed with the bare floor brush that beamed a laser on the floor to spot and pick up even the tiniest bits of debris that were otherwise invisible to us. We also liked the assortment of cleaning tools that accompany the vacuum as well as the clear LCD display that indicates battery life and real-time performance like particle pick up.
Three powerful suction modes — eco, medium or auto and boost — allow you to adjust the suction up or down to grab heavy dirt or protect delicate rugs as you move through your house. In auto mode, the vacuum senses whether it's on bare floor or carpet and adjusts the power and runtime accordingly. It's cordless and has a 60-minute run time, so the only reason you'll need to stop cleaning is because the job is done!
• Weight: 6.61 lbs.
• Cord Length: Cordless
• Battery Life/Run Time: Up to 60 minutesDyson - 11/12
The Best Vacuum Cleaners to Buy Right Now, According to Experts
Jodhaira Rodriguez/Good Housekeeping - 12/12
The Best Vacuum Cleaners to Buy Right Now, According to Experts
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