Tech improvements are making cordless vacuums just as powerful as a corded upright. The Dyson V11 Animal is the top-of-the-line cordless vacuum with double the suction power of all its competitors. However, the battery is only capable of running for 60 minutes maximum, with shorter time results reported from customers. “Pet hair eraser” is an accurate way to describe Bissell’s hand vacuums. I’ve used a few different models and have always been impressed by how quickly and efficiently they’re able to get hair off surfaces like carpets, pet beds, wood floors and car seats. This cordless handheld vacuum gives you up to 17 minutes of run time on a single charge.
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.
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.
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 bissell vacuum cleaner 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.
The table below tells you the average percentage of sand each vacuum was able to remove from each of our three test surfaces. The vacuums are listed in order of overall sand removed in total, from the most to the least, so feel free to think of this as something of a sand test leaderboard. All of that adds up to a great cordless vacuum at a price that won’t clean out your bank account. There aren’t many viable alternatives to a vacuum when you need a good cleaning of your floors. They only work on one level, which could pose a problem if you live in a multi-story home. While they can be useful, they’re best for maintenance and as an accompaniment to a quality vacuum — unless all you need is a quick sweep.
We talked to experts about how to shop for vacuums when getting rid of pet hair is your main concern. They shared tips for narrowing down your options, which we used to recommend a handful of corded vacuums, cordless vacuums, handheld vacuums and robot vacuums across budgets. Neumann also recommends purchasing a vacuum with an automated brush roll. Automated brush rolls spin while you’re vacuuming to pick up pet hair quickly on fabrics, while no-spin brushes only rotate as you manually push your vacuum along the floor. The benefit of automated brush rolls is their ability to pick up pet hair quickly on fabrics, but they can be too harsh for hardwood or tile floors, he says.
As you can see, the Dyson V15 Detect is our top overall cleaner in these sand tests, but note that the Samsung Jet 90 actually outperformed it by a considerable margin on thick, plushy mid-pile carpet. Consistently cleaning your vacuum is important to maintain its performance over time, and that’s even more the case when dealing with pet hair, Mock says. Doing so helps prevent clogs and ensures that the vacuum is working at its maximum capacity. She recommends cleaning the vacuum’s filter and brush rolls after every use, and emptying the dustbin or bag as soon as it gets full — not doing so weakens suction power. Be sure to read the manufacturer directions on cleaning your specific model, too.
Versatility was essential — only vacuums that could serve double duty by cleaning bare surfaces such as wood and tile, as well as carpet or rugs, made the cut. All of the cordless vacuums we tested were between 4 and 7 pounds, but none was so heavy that it affected our recommendation. All of the vacuums on this list were also very similar in height and overall size. The Dyson models are both roughly 49 inches, while the Tineco A11 is shorter at just 43 inches tall. Other factors considered were how easy the vacuum is to handle and store.
Shark’s powerful suction is excellent for deep cleaning all floor surfaces. However, vacuums with heavy suction often drag on carpets and rugs, making them difficult to maneuver. Plus, it’s built with Advanced Swivel Steering which allows the vacuum to pivot effortlessly for better control. BISSELL builds a wide variety of vacuums to suit different needs, ranging from cordless handheld vacuums for spot-cleaning countertops and furniture to bulky corded upright vacuums that you can use to clean large carpeted areas. BISSELL vacuums tend to be affordably priced and use bagless designs that keep recurring costs down.