Which vacuum

Another dry soil that won't abrade your fiber but is one of the most pervasive is dog and cat hair. Pet hair is best removed by using a revolving brush with stiff, densely packed brushes. If your home has low traffic and no special soiling conditions, you can choose a less aggressive vacuum cleaner and maintain your home perfectly well.

However, the general rule of thumb is to choose the most aggressive vacuum cleaner that your carpet and rug fibers can safely tolerate. Carpet Fibers As important as the traffic and type of soil is the type of fibers that your carpet or rugs are made with. Most carpeting today is made of synthetic fibers, primarily nylon, though olefin and polyester are also used.

Synthetic fibers are very durable and you can use the most aggressive household vacuum cleaner without fear of fiber damage. Natural fibers, however, must be treated more gently. Where wool is very popular, however, is in Oriental and other area rugs. Wool is a very durable fiber and has been used for thousands of years around the world to create rugs, but it must be vacuumed with care.

A revolving brush can be used on wool, but the bristles must be flexible and forgiving, and not as densely backed on the brush roll, so as not to fuzz the yarns and prematurely wear the carpet. While Oriental rugs are most often wool, they also can be made with silk. These rugs can vary in value from a few hundred dollars to tens of thousands of dollars and more. Many are sold for everyday use and can be cleaned with a good household vacuum cleaner with the type of flexible and forgiving bristles just mentioned.

High value rugs often see very little traffic and are protected from heavy soiling. You may want to consider cleaning such rugs using a carpet and rug tool, one that cleans only by suction and without a revolving brush. Other fibers and materials used in area rugs include sisal, sea grass, mountain grass, bamboo, coir, cotton, jute, viscose, and even leather!

Many of these rugs are woven and quite durable, but they still require softer bristles on the vacuum cleaner used to clean them.

Specialty brushes are available for these materials, and we recommend consulting with a floor care expert for the best advice which one is best suited for your rug. Always check the manufacturer's recommended care instructions before purchasing a new vacuum cleaner or using your current machine on a new rug , but here are some rules of thumb to follow:. If you have wool or other natural fiber carpeting or rugs, you'll need a power brush with flexible and forgiving bristles to properly vacuum without damaging the fibers.

The option of softer, more flexible bristles is available primarily on power team canisters but there are some uprights available with less aggressive bristles. Most homes have just one or two types of carpet, but if you have a variety of different types of carpeting and bare floors, be sure to choose a vacuum that has tools available for the most delicate rug you own.

Once you have identified the type of vacuum cleaner you want and matched it to the amount of traffic and the types of soiling in your home, you can begin look at other considerations to help narrow down your choices even further.

Vacuum Cleaner Performance You will certainly want to evaluate the performance, or cleaning ability, of the vacuum cleaners you are considering. While this requires evaluating a range of vacuum cleaner specifications, the most important are water lift or sealed suction and airflow.

Many manufacturers tout the watts or amps of their vacuum cleaners. On canister vacuum cleaners with or without power heads airflow of CFM or more or water lift of 90 inches or more is recommended. Upright vacuum cleaners come in a wide variety of configurations, but there are two basic designs that affect airflow and water lift.

Dirty air uprights are only rated in amps. The second basic design is one that features a by-pass motor where unfiltered air does not go through the motor. The smartphone app was helpful and easy to navigate. In mopping mode, the Roborock uses sound waves to scrub stuck-on stains from bare floors, and the pad automatically lifts when it senses carpet to keep from wetting it as it vacuums.

Features like a child lock and cleaning controls are easily accessible on the robot's top, and it even responds to voice commands.

Bottom line? The Roborock S7 does what robots are supposed to do: It does the cleaning for you. While the Dyson V15 Detect bears a striking family resemblance to other Dyson models we have recommended, it has some significant innovations that earned it a Good HousekeepingBest Cleaning Product Award. Selected as one of the best stick vacuums , the V15 conquered dirt and microscopic dust. In our review, we were very impressed with the bare floor brush that beamed a laser on the floor to spot and pick up even the tiniest bits of debris that were otherwise invisible to us.

We also liked the assortment of cleaning tools that accompany the vacuum as well as the clear LCD display that indicates battery life and real-time performance like particle pick up. Three powerful suction modes — eco, medium or auto, and boost — allow you to adjust the suction up or down to grab heavy dirt or protect delicate rugs as you move through your house.

In auto mode, the vacuum senses whether it's on bare floor or carpet and adjusts the power and runtime accordingly. It's cordless and has a minute run time, so the only reason you'll need to stop cleaning is because the job is done! In the Good Housekeeping Cleaning Lab , all vacuums are tested exactly the same way for more accurate performance comparisons, and our tests are based on the ASTM International industry standard test methods. For each model, we evaluate the following:. We even have a separate machine to clean the carpets between test runs so one result won't influence the next.

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. We also factor in the weight of each model. All special features and claims are assessed, and we even give the owner's manual a grade. In our Cleaning Lab tests, upright vacuum cleaners do the best job of removing ground-in, embedded dirt from carpeting because they are usually heavier than other styles and the weight of the nozzle helps them reach deep into the carpet pile for better cleaning.

Uprights can weigh anywhere from 10 to over 20 pounds, which can be heavy to carry up and down stairs. If your home has more than one level and you prefer an upright, consider keeping one on each floor.

Most uprights feature on-board hoses, wands and tools for vacuuming crevices and upholstery and cleaning above-the-floor spaces like door frames and crown moldings. Many full-size canister vacuums come with a power nozzle that has rotating brush to mimic that of an upright. We recommend this attachment if you prefer a canister and have deep pile carpets in, say, just the bedrooms. Canisters can be heavy, too, but are easier to pick up and carry with two hands.

All have hoses and attachments for dusting, upholstery and crevices. Because the motor and canister can be placed out of the way, these vacuums are easier to maneuver into tight spaces and to use on stairs than uprights are. The cleaning performance of this type of vacuum is getting better and better, and it may be the only vac some homes require.

Most are slim enough to stash in a corner or closet for speedy clean-ups. Second batteries are also helpful so you always have a back-up. Most come with attachments, like dusting brushes and crevice tools and charging stands for storage. Most can be controlled with an app on your phone, and some are even voice enabled. They can return to the home base for a recharge and then go back to cleaning wherever they left off. Note: CR does not currently test central vacuum cleaners.

Video Buying Guide Watch our video below for more. Vacuum Cleaner Ratings. Feature Fundamentals Some vacuum cleaner features improve performance or take some of the drudgery out of cleaning. Add-On Cleaning Tools Most vacuums come with basic tools shown that should suffice for most cleaning jobs: a narrow tool for crevices, a small upholstery brush, and a round brush for dusting. Bagless Some upright vacuums and canisters use bags; some collect dirt in a bin. Bare-Floor Options These include equipment and features that help when cleaning hardwood, vinyl, and other uncarpeted floor surfaces.

Carpet Pile-Height Adjustment and Suction Control This feature adjusts the height of the machine's brush roll to a carpet's pile height to allow for easy movement and thorough cleaning.

Filter A growing number of vacuums are claimed to filter the fine particles that could pass through the machine and escape into the air through the exhaust. Cord Control More common in canisters, it lets you rewind the cord with a slight tug or the push of a button.

Self-Propelled This feature typically uses a transmission and drive system to assist the pushing and pulling of the vacuum, thereby requiring less effort by the user. Robotic Vacuum Buying Guide Check our video buying guide for robotic vacs as well.

Vacuum Brands. Bissell vacuums are available at a variety of mass merchants, including Target and Walmart. Bissell also makes hand and stick vacuums, canisters, steam mops, and deep carpet cleaners, and it recently entered the robotic vacuum market.

Dirt Devil floor-care products are focused on affordability and convenience. Some of the brand's upright vacuums are among the lightest models sold. Dirt Devil also makes canister vacuums, and hand and stick models.

Colorful styling, innovative features, and national advertising featuring its namesake owner and designer helped Dyson become a major player in the U. Canisters have joined that lineup, as have hand and stick vacuums. Eureka sells a wide array of models marketed to address different needs, including pesky pet hair. You'll find this national brand in a variety of mass merchants, including Target and Walmart. Eureka also makes hand vacuums and canisters. Hoover introduced its first vacuum in and established itself as one of the most recognizable consumer brands in America.

Once exclusive to Sears, Kenmore uprights are also available on Amazon. This German appliance manufacturer is family-owned and -run, and has been making vacuum cleaners since the late s.

In the U. Shark also has robotics, uprights, stick vacuums, and steam mops in its line. Tineco vacuums are fairly new to the U. Like Dyson, they are considered a high-end brand, and the prices reflect that. You can find them for sale at Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, and other major retailers.

When you shop through retailer links on our site, we may earn affiliate commissions. Learn more. Sharing is Nice Yes, send me a copy of this email. Send We respect your privacy. Oops, we messed up. Try again later. More From Consumer Reports. This means it has excellent reach under furniture and easy overhead cleaning.

It performed well in our tests too, with excellent pick up across the board. This powerful vacuum cleaner copes extremely well on a range of floor types. Cylinder vacuums are typically lighter and more portable than an upright as the main body sits on the floor behind you for you to pull as you vacuum. They can be bagged or bagless, depending on your preference, and often come with a good selection of tools.

They also tend to be better for reaching under and around furniture, and make cleaning a flight of stairs simpler with their long, flexible hose. Some designs can also be a bit bulky and more awkward to store than other types of vacuums, especially those with a long hose. Scoring top marks for pick up on carpeted floors, this vacuum cleared pet hair in one sweep and has a boost mood for extra power.

Designed for pet owners, this vacuum picks up pet hair in one easy sweep when using the rotating brush. It also scored top marks for hard floor pick up using the included floor head, but dust pick up on the carpet was disappointing.

It manoeuvres easily around furniture and features a useful bumper system. The crevice tool and upholstery tool slot neatly into the main body for storage. It picks up pet hair well, and its long hose offers a good cleaning range. It's bulky and a little unstable on stairs, but reliable overall. For bigger homes, consider this extra-large capacity cylinder. It scored highly for dust pick up across all surfaces, but can be unwieldy and uncomfortable to use.

The dust bag filter for deodorising pet smells gets a big thumbs up, though. If you've got a furry friend in your family, this bagless cylinder banished pet hair in a single sweep during our tests. It picks up powerfully across all floor types, but it struggles a little at edges and corners, and the stair tool only reaches a maximum of six stairs. Cordless otherwise known as stick vacuums are becoming increasingly popular thanks to their cordless design and more powerful technology, which almost rivals corded models.

At the core, their design offers convenience, typically featuring a lightweight "stick" body and a smaller canister to be regularly emptied. They also tend to come with attachments such as a crevice tool, upholstery tool and in some instances even a motorised pet brush for pet hair. They are dependent on battery life, so be prepared to have it on charge when not in use. On auto mode, it cleverly adapts the suction level as you move between hard floor and carpet, helping the battery last longer.

Forget going over and over the same grubby patch of carpet — this featherlight Hoover scored top marks in almost all of our pick up tests, sucking up both fine dust and larger debris like biscuit crumbs with ease.

The rotating brush in its floorhead efficiently nips out pet hairs too, making it a savvy buy for pet owners. This scored top marks on almost all pick-up tests. In carpet mode, the rotating brush collects all pet hair in one quick sweep and the small turbo brush does the same even as a handheld. It aced every challenge, attaining perfect scores in almost every one of our pick-up tests. We loved the headlights on the brush head and how easy it is to empty the canister.

This vacuum scored top marks for its pick up on carpet and hard floors, scoring well as an upright and a handheld and removing pet hair in a single sweep. Despite preceding the V11 Absolute , it felt lighter and easier to manoeuvre. It lasts just over eight minutes on maximum power but it runs for much longer on lower settings. The little machines use sensors to avoid bumping off furniture and map where they've been around the room, ensuring no area is left neglected.

Robot vacuums have come a long way in recent years and are more high-tech than ever with greater pick-up power and larger dust canisters. A great performer for heavily carpeted homes, this robot picked up all large crumbs and particles, and most dust. On test, the D4 did a great job of cleaning large particles, crumbs and pet hair. It cleans an entire room carefully and thoroughly, manoeuvring around tough spots with ease.

The Eufy model cleans quickly and efficiently, picking up pet hair and small and large crumbs with ease. A handheld vacuum cleaner is ideal for cleaning quick spills as well as tight and awkward spaces such as car interiors and staircases. As a general rule, look for at least 20 minutes of battery life this will give you ample time to get around a car and a dust capacity of at least 0. It may feel light at first, but it can feel heavy and tiresome after a short while.

The weight should be around