The IEC is a global standards body responsible for managing testing procedures, among other things, for vacuum manufacturers. BISSELL has a diverse lineup of vacuums, and their naming convention can sometimes be confusing. Cleaned my stone tile very well, but you need to understand if your tile is filthy it will require more than one to make them look like new. You also need to understand that the slower you go the better it will clean.
To simulate small particle size, we use a mix of play sand and landscaping sand. To see how vacuums deal with pet hair, we use a mixture of clippings sourced to us through our local pet groomer. To get started, we hauled in 15 of the latest models from leading vacuum brands with high user ratings and reviews, and ran them through a series of tests designed to measure overall proficiency. We also tested cordless vacuums in a range of prices to see how much of a difference you can expect when you opt for a pricier model over a budget pick.
Kenmore’s canister vacuum has a two motor system to provide extra powerful suction, according to the brand. Its swivel head helps you maneuver around furniture and it has a built-in telescoping wand that extends up to 10 feet to help you clean small spaces. The vacuum has a 28-foot cord and the motorized brush head lifts grime off surfaces while preventing hair from tangling around it. You can turn the rotating brush head off while cleaning hard floors and store the included attachments inside the vacuum.
To start off, the Shark NV356E S2 Navigator is the best vacuum for households where allergies and asthma can be an issue. The entire vacuum is sealed and integrated with HEPA bissell cordless vacuum filtration so that 99.99% of particles are captured — and remain in the vacuum until disposal. This alone is critical to keep allergies and respiratory issues to a minimum.
If you’d prefer to have a spare battery on hand, it’ll cost you an extra $90, which is at least $60 less than you’d spend for a second battery from Dyson or Samsung. Miele is made in Germany, and the company has been producing powerful, reliable vacuums for years. The bissell handheld vacuum C1 is on the traditional side — it requires vacuum bags and doesn’t come with flashy features such as LED displays or clear parts. It can be too much when you’re vacuuming a deep pile carpet, but you can adjust the strength by turning the six-setting rotary dial.
That said, there are plenty of other perfectly capable cordless vacuums that we can recommend, too. To find them, we’ve spent countless hours testing the top models from brands like Shark, Bissell, Dyson, Tineco, Eureka and Samsung at the CNET Home product testing lab in Louisville, Kentucky. Specifically, we run a rigorous slate of tests to determine each cleaner’s capabilities when it comes to picking up a variety of messes on a variety of different floor types. This corded option from the brand has an anti-tangle brush roll that automatically removes hair that gets wrapped around it as you clean (you can shut off the brush roll when you’re vacuuming hard floors). Notably, this vacuum comes with a dog grooming tool to remove loose hairs, dead skin and other allergens directly from long-haired pets.
From Dyson and Samsung to Tineco and Shark, here are the top models that cleaned up in our tests. It’s usually on the lower back or bottom of the machine (for Lift-Off® models, remove the Lift-Off pod to find label) or behind the cleaning tanks. Depending on the issue, having your vacuum serviced after the warranty has expired might not be worth the cash. To suss out any potential lemons, we dig through buyer reviews on multiple retailers to see if any vacuum brands or models have consistent breakage issues, either with the motor or external parts.
In these cases, it’s best to swap out the rotating brush roll for a no-spin option if your vacuum comes with one, or turn off the rotation feature if your vacuum allows. Apart from being a strong performer in our pet hair tests, the A11 Hero was near flawless on hardwood floors, vacuuming up 97% of sand and 98% of black rice. It finished just outside the top 5 on low-pile carpet, removing a respectable 83% of sand and a near-perfect 99% of black rice — and every vacuum that did better in that test costs hundreds more. With all of those extra fibers for dirt to cling to, mid-pile carpet was more of a struggle, as the A11 Hero’s sand score fell to 73%, but it still nailed the black rice test, sucking up 98% of the stuff. The brush head on Black+Decker’s Furbuster vacuum has motorized anti-tangle rubber brustiles that lift pet hair off surfaces and prevent it from creating knots that can cause a clog.
Both types of vacuums can deliver a deep clean on both carpets and bare floors, but a canister vacuum is usually easier to control. Upright vacuums are one unit on wheels and typically can only move in one straight direction. A canister vacuum consists of a long handle with a cleaning head attached to a canister on wheels. It gives you more freedom to move around and roam without having to carry around the entire unit as you clean. Most vacuums will start losing power when the filters need cleaning or replacing.