Most of the cheaper vacuum cleaners we’ve tested (so far) are too compromised in too many ways for us to throw our word behind them. But unlike our main pick, every inexpensive model we’ve come across needs its belts or filters, or both, replaced at regular intervals to maintain the cleaning performance. You’ll need to pay for those replacements and do the maintenance yourself, too.
CANISTER BODYThe canister has two large switches on top – one to turn the vacuum on/off and another to retract the power cord. They are designed to be operated with your foot which is convenient as you don’t have to bend over to use them, just tap them with your toe. During our testing, we could easily maneuver this lightweight vacuum, as it trailed us around the room as we collected debris and cleaned. It was also quiet even in its loudest setting, so you can clean without disturbing the entire house.
Overall, we think it’s a versatile supplementary cleaning tool for small homes or apartments. Solomon recommended Dyson’s cordless vacuums because they’re great for “compact apartments with minimal storage space.” This model from Dyson is one of the lightest vacuums on this list, weighing just a little over 6 pounds. It has a run time of up to 60 minutes on a single charge and the time remaining is displayed on the vacuum’s LCD screen, according to the brand. It comes with various useful attachments, including a crevice tool, dusting brush and a mini-motorized tool for removing pet hair. For larger spaces, the similar Dyson V11 Outsize has a larger dust bin and features up to 120 minutes of run time, Dyson says. Similar to the Navigator series, this early Rotator design from Shark is a great option if your home has lots of carpeted areas.
“Canisters have an advantage for cleaning stairs because you’re not lifting the whole vacuum, plus the wand and hose give you a longer reach,” says Frank Rizzi, a senior CR lab technician who tests vacuums. “They’re also easier to maneuver than an upright.” Read on for details of how we test canister vacuums, and which ones perform the best. The biggest advantage of a canister vacuum is the long reach offered by the hose, but compared to the best upright vacuums or stick vacuums, that’s also a downside when you need to put it in the closet. As a consolation, most of these canister vacuums offer collapsing wands and retracting power cords to keep the storage as simple as possible. They call this a “DuoClean” brush system, and it works effectively on all the floor types we’ve tried. We look at how well the vacuums remove large and small debris, like gritty sand and dried orzo pasta, from hardwood, tile and linoleum flooring, how well they clean along edges and how much suction they draw through the tools.
For example, one can bend the wand in the middle which makes it easier to get under low furniture without bending over too far. The wand can be essentially folded in half reducing the height of the vacuum. At about 17 lbs we’d have to say the vacuum isn’t really lightweight, however the canister is pulled along on wheels so you don’t feel the full weight of the machine when vacuuming. But if you lift the entire vacuum (carrying it up stairs for example) you will feel that the unit is not particularly light.
Use the hose of the vacuum and the appropriate attachment to reach elevated areas of your home and clean them thoroughly. The Shark Rocket Ultra-Light Corded Stick Vacuum used to be our Best Stick pick, and we think it’s still a great option even if it doesn’t have the latest technology or slimmest design. This model impressed us with its maneuverability and effective suction shark canister vacuum on all types of flooring. However, it was nimble and flexible when navigating our living room obstacle course. However, the Shark vacuum does feature a flexible wand that is a real game changer for reaching under furniture. You can stop ignoring the dust bunnies under your sofa because Shark designed this vac with a hinge that gives the floor head greater reach.
For example, some vacuums can bunch up area rugs, and others are too heavy or clunky to steer around tight corners. Still other vacuums have trouble transitioning from bare floor to carpeting, and some have dustbins that are relatively more difficult to empty. Our testers vacuumed parts of the ceiling and a medium-pile and high-pile carpet, and they maneuvered the machines into corners and tight spots. Buying a plug-in vacuum is like saving for retirement or sorting your laundry—a boring but sensible endeavor that should pay off in the long run. Cordless sticks and robot vacuums are convenient, but the best plug-in uprights and canisters clean better and last longer. We’ve tested dozens of plug-in vacuums over the years, and the Shark Navigator Lift-Away NV352 has been our favorite since 2014.
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. The floor head uses replaceable mop pads that include a unique chamber for collecting debris, and it features an easy-release button so you don’t have to touch the dirty pad when your cleaning session is done, too. The Shark Canister Pet Bagless Corded Vacuum earned perfect scores for its noise level and ease of emptying during our testing and received our award for the best canister vacuum for hardwood floors. This vacuum glided across our floors to suck up every mess, from kibble to pet hair.
The foam and felt filters reside under the dust canister and are very easy to access. They can also be rinsed in water when dirty (Shark says do this every 3 months or so). It is designed to be pulled out through the bottom of the dust canister and you will sometimes have to clean it off. Large debris testWe placed Fruit Loops on low pile carpet and ran the cleaner head over them. We were able to pick up the Fruit Loops but there was a lot of back and forth and the vacuum had a tendency to push some forward (front of the cleaner head is low).