And when the S11 senses a big mess, it automatically turns up the suction. We wrote in 2020 that it didn’t feel like a life-changing feature, but it has actually grown on us over time. Most of the time, the advertised battery life is about the same as the real-life run time. We confirm this for each model by running the vacuum with no breaks on medium-pile carpet . On bare floors, we test each stick to see how well it does with Cheerios, cat litter, and a thin layer of flour.
Many models are suitable for different floor types and can start and stop via Alexa or Google Assistant. The battery is the most delicate and expensive part of any cordless vacuum, so it’s wise to do what you can to maintain battery health. Companies also tend to recommend that you avoid overusing the maximum suction setting on your vacuum, as well as to let the battery pack cool off for a few minutes after use before you plug it in to recharge. Tacony makes cordless vacuums under its Simplicity and Riccar labels, but none of them are standouts.
You can store the cordless vacuum upright, and it folds away to not eat into your cupboard space. I actually own a Dyson V11, and when vacuuming the lounge and dining room have to bend my knees and back to allow the vacuum head to reach the harder to get-to areas, but the Shark had no trouble whatsoever with this. I was able to stay upright while the vacuum did all of the bending, saving my back in the process. Shark vacuums tend to be reconfigurable into a smaller, handheld mode so you can access more difficult-to-reach messes.
Before you set out to buy a vacuum, it’s helpful to understand the different types of vacuum cleaners out there and the key differences between each. Dyson takes models returned by retailers and customers, inspects them, and then disassembles them into sub-components. A representative of Dyson’s US-based Reliability & Engineering Team told us that some items are immediately disqualified if they are too old or in poor condition, while others are passed on to the refurbishment irobot vacuum cleaner line. Minor defects are repaired, and parts are replaced as needed, including batteries that fail Dyson’s testing. Dyson sells its refurbs through the Dyson Outlet as well as through its eBay storefront and at retailers like Walmart, and all refurbished units come with either a six-month or one-year warranty depending on the item. To see whether reconditioned vacuums are worth seeking out, we asked the manufacturers of some of our picks how they handle refurbished models.
The traditional self-standing design is easy to steer and store. Hoover has switched most of its lineup, including the Evolve, to a unified battery pack system, so finding replacement batteries should be easy for at least the next few years, and they’re reasonably priced, too. LG sells loads of CordZero variants, but the higher-end options aren’t as compelling as the low-end versions that we like. They are all essentially the same vacuum with the same cleaning power. In our last category test of stick vacuums alone, we collected 890 data points from just 12 vacuums.
Kärcher’s portable Wet & Dry Vacuum Cleaner features a specially designed cartridge filter that enables you to switch between dry and wet pick up, without the inconvenience of changing the filter. An ideal choice for your car, it also comes with a crevice nozzle and upholstery nozzle. Small but mighty, Shark’s Cordless Handheld Vacuum Cleaner is lightweight, powerful and ready when you are. Engineered with a high-efficiency motor for impressive suction, once you’re done simply place it on the sleek charging station, so it’s good to go when you need it next. Choose additional tools absolutely free with auto-registration on select vacuums. To choose your free tools, see the accessory selector page after you add to cart.
While this ROIDMI vac doesn’t have the size or attachments of some of the handheld picks in our guide this is still a fantastic choice for those smaller areas. Also a top pick for cars and upholstery thanks to its powerful suction. The Anti-Odour technology will feature in all five vacuum cleaners in the new Stratos range with launched this month. They all also feature Sharks Anti Hair Wrap Plus, ideal for pet owners and Anti-Allergen Complete Seal, which promises to trap 99.9 per cent of dust and allergens inside the vacuum.
Although they’re quite light, their trigger-style power switch can feel uncomfortable because you need to keep it squeezed constantly to make your vacuum run. Their battery lives are about average and, we think, ample for most uses , but they use built-in (or screw-in) battery packs, so it’s impractical to swap in a spare battery as some owners would like to be able to do. The shark pet cordless stick vacuum features deep-cleaning suction making it ideal for homes with pets. Nozzle technology includes a self-cleaning brush roll and powerfins engineered to pick up more hair with no hair wrap (vs. Shark bristle nozzles). Its ultra-lightweight design and removable handheld vacuum add to its cordless convenience for floor-to-ceiling cleaning. Shark is one of the best upright vacuum manufacturers out there, and, luckily, the brand is giving customers early discounts on some of its most sought-after models.
The Powerseries Extreme is also one of the few stick vacuums that let you turn off the brush roll to help prevent debris scattering on bare floors. However, a lot of popular cordless sticks are top-heavy, with the bulk of the weight resting in your hand rather than near the floor. Most Dyson models in particular have long used trigger-style power switches that you need to squeeze constantly to keep the vacuum running.