My goal is to help you find the best vacuum for your cleaning needs. Firstly, we assess general pick-up using our special formulation of dust. We lay down a designated volume, before weighing exactly how much each vac has collected after a set number of sweeps. Its dust capacity is small, but its slim design makes it a breeze to pack away and the charging dock’s tool storage space makes it a smart choice for compact homes.
Previously, she was the senior product reviews writer for Dotdash Meredith with published guides on Better Homes & Gardens, Real Simple, Southern Living, Health, and Food and Wine. She has also contributed wellness and lifestyle pieces to USA Today, Make It Grateful, and Greatist. Erin earned a Bachelor of Science degree in journalism from Middle Tennessee State University.
The suction is more powerful than you would expect, and it does a good job of picking up debris on bare floors and low-pile carpet. One of the most prevalent issues in handheld vacuums is a lack of suction power. Some also feel a bit unwieldy, either due to their weight, poor ergonomic design or the overall size preventing you from cleaning in tight spaces.
It clears away most fine debris like baking soda, though you may need to make another pass to clear it all. It performs adequately well in dealing with larger materials like sand too. That said, it’s worth noting that debris can bypass the pre-filter and get stuck on the fabric filter, so you’ll probably need to wash it after cleaning.
The nozzle rotates to any angle, making it easier to clean around obstacles and in tight spaces and the dirt receptacle is easy to empty and can be washed out at the sink. Black+Decker claims the vacuum can hold a charge for up to 18 months, so it will always be ready to go, even if you don’t leave it plugged in when it’s not in use. It comes with a charging base so you’ll need to sit it on a shelf or counter to charge and it tops off in under four hours. It easily cleans pet hair and small debris on bare floors as well as low and high-pile carpet and has a fabric filter that provides a good layer of air filtration for fine particles like pet dander. It’s also solidly built, easy to maintain, and incurs practically no recurring costs, which is great. That said, it doesn’t come with a turbo brush to help clear pet hair on fabric-lined surfaces.
You can also clean shelves and tight spaces with the combination extension wand. Unfortunately, it can be a little tricky to push forward on upholstery due to its strong suction power. If it’s run continuously, it’ll drain its battery in under 10 minutes, shark robotic vacuums meaning you need to work quickly while clearing larger messes. There’s also no way of modulating its suction power, with no low-power mode to help conserve charge. However, it recharges much faster than comparable vacuums like the eufy HomeVac H11.
Some vacuums appeared to suck up debris only to let it drop back out of the intake after we turned off the power. Capture dry debris and spiff up your hard floors with a multi-purpose vacuum like the Shark VACMOP. It is designed for use on sealed hardwood, tile, or laminate floors, and glides effortlessly on them all. A tank for Shark cleaning solution, which is included in your purchase, is built into its body. How We Picked the Best Handheld VacuumsTo determine the best handheld vacuums, listed below in alphabetical order, we filtered models based on their Overall Score, which is based on our rigorous lab tests. In our ratings of handheld vacuums, you can find more details about how each model scored for cleaning ability, noise, and other criteria, as well as how other models fared.
The Max Flex Handheld Vacuum looks like a mad scientist shrunk a full-size vacuum, thanks to the extendable hose that wraps around the unit when you don’t need its full length. In other words, you can use this one-handed—like a regular handheld vacuum—or two-handed, extending the business end up to four feet away. The dirt bin is suitably shark canister vacuum oversized at 17 ounces and empties easily by unclasping one clip. It’s also washable for easy cleaning with a three-stage filter that’s designed to keep dust from escaping. The Max Flex includes a flip-up brush for dusting, a long crevice tool and a pet hair brush for cleaning fur and other stubborn debris from upholstery.
Use the hose of the vacuum and the appropriate attachment to reach elevated areas of your home and clean them thoroughly. This vacuum’s anti-allergen seal and HEPA filter effectively trap dust—a major win for families with pets and allergies. You’ll also enjoy the clear dust bin that allows you to see what you’re capturing in real time, and it releases very easily with the help of built-in latches.