Ratings for Best Vacuum Cleaners
This report covers upright vacuums, which are generally best for those with a lot of carpet. Depending on your needs, however, another type of vacuum may be a better choice. Many reviewers say it’s hard to clean under beds and other furniture with uprights, because the heads (which house the brush) are too tall. If this is a problem, experts advise looking for a vacuum with a low-profile head or using a stick vacuum for cleaning under furniture.
Experts recommend upright for homes in which most of the floors are carpeted. Upright vacuums are less versatile than canisters, but many folks say they feel more comfortable pushing an upright than they do maneuvering a canister vac. However, canister vacuums can be easier to carry and to use on stairs and upholstery. See the Consumer Search report on canister vacuums for information on these.
Handhelds are convenient for picking up small spills and cleaning car interiors. Those with revolving brushes work well on pet hair. Stick and handheld vacs come in a variety of corded and cordless (rechargeable) models. We cover stick vacuums and handheld vacuums in separate reports.
Reviewers say to consider the following when buying an upright vacuum:
• Look for a filter. High-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters have excellent filtration properties, but other types of filters can be equally effective. Reviews say that most vacuums control emissions fairly well; unless you have severe allergies, most filters will be adequate.
• Choose between bagging and bag less. Bag less models eliminate the ongoing expense of buying new bags, but emptying the dirt cup can be messy. Bagging vacuums generally hold more dirt and may be preferable if you have allergies, because emptying a dirt bin can expose you to a cloud of dust. Either type will do a decent job of cleaning.
• Look for a model with a revolving brush roll that you can turn off if you plan to vacuum bare floors with your upright. Uprights generally have a tougher time cleaning bare floors because the revolving brush, which digs dirt out of carpets, often spits dirt from hard surfaces back out of the machine before it can be sucked up. Many vacuums have this feature, but some less expensive models do not.
• Don’t bother with a dirt sensor. Sometimes you’ll see vacuum manufacturers advertising this feature, which is supposed to sense when dirt pickup slows, presumably meaning that the area is clean. However, reviewers say dirt sensors have nothing to do with performance.
• Longer cords (30 feet or more) and longer hoses (7 feet or more) are desirable. A longer cord allows you to clean a bigger area without having to plug the machine into a different outlet. A longer hose makes it easier to clean high places with an attachment, and it’s less likely that the unit will tip over when doing so.
• Think about the weight. Most upright vacuums weigh between 13 and 30 pounds. If you’ll need to carry it up and down stairs, you might be happier with a lighter vacuum. These usually have fewer accessories but might be worth the tradeoff. In user reviews, weight is a big complaint.
