We tested each on tile, high- and low-pile carpet (aside from hair, which was only tested on carpet). Lastly, we followed the manufacturer’s cleaning and emptying instructions, noting any difficulties in the cleaning process and the effectiveness of the suggested cleaning methods. We recommend looking for vacuums with a HEPA filter, particularly if anyone in your home is prone to allergies. To meet HEPA standards, a high-efficiency particulate or HEPA filter must filter 99.97% of airborne particles.
A manual boost function bolsters its performance when faced with especially high carpet or big pieces of debris. Overall, it’s a bit of a bust on extremely hairy floors (hair tends to collect and wrap in the brush roll), but for households without pets its a solid pick. The whole point of a handheld vacuum is that it’s compact and easy to use and store. Sure, Shark’s run time could be longer and its dust cup could be a bit bigger, but handheld vacuums are most often used for quick pickups, and we think the Shark’s lightweight and slim design give it the edge here. Plus, it’s less than half the price of the Dyson, and if you already own a stick vac, you can convert that to a handheld for jobs that need longer run times or more power.
But unlike you, we have an extra 10 hours a day to spend geeking out over kitchen tools because it is literally our job. We don’t only use our recommended products in controlled settings, we bring the best ones into our own kitchens to help us put dinner on the table on a Wednesday night for our families, or to throw a dinner party for 12. When we recommend a product, you should trust that we’ve used it—a lot—just like you will. My budget pick, the iFloor3, doesn’t have nearly as many features as my top pick, but it cleaned better, more quietly, and more efficiently than vacuum mop combos from other big brands.
They are designed to allow clean air to pass through the motor without impeding suction or clogging. Instead of collecting in a bag, the debris collects in a reusable dustbin that can be easily emptied after each use. When cleaning your whole house, you want a machine that is light enough to carry from room to room and up and down stairs, about 10 to 15 pounds. For smaller jobs, you want a handheld vacuum that isn’t a strain to hold for several minutes, under 5 pounds.
When you’re considering a vacuum for your home, Micetich suggests thinking about the areas where you plan to use the machine. If you have carpeted stairs, it’s worth considering if you’d benefit from a stair tool. And, if you plan to use your vacuum on your couch and curtains, an upholstery tool is likely a good option. “From there, you’ll have a good idea of which attachments and accessories you’ll want to come with your vacuum,” she says.
However, a cordless vacuum cleaner may not be the best choice if you have lots of carpet or a large area to clean. Corded upright and cylinder vacuums aren’t limited by battery life, and in most instances they have more powerful suction. This vacuum is easy to assemble, has three cleaning modes (min, mid and max), ran for one hour and 20 minutes on the min setting and works with the SmartThings App, shark stick vacuum which is available for iOS and Android. The only downside is the new model only comes with one battery and no attachment caddy. While it is pricey, I think the convenience of a self-emptying dust bin, the advanced artificial intelligence, sensors and long battery time makes this vacuum a worthy upgrade. Plus, its powerful HexaJet 2.0 motor provides amazing suction power to clean all sorts of debris.
It also still vacuums as it mops, which saves sweeping beforehand. The steam mop comes with an automatic cleaning station that cleans and dries the microfibre cloths after use, which saves sticking them through the washing machine after every use. After giving it a shark handheld vacuum good go on a crumby floor, it left the kitchen spotless and shiny. I was slightly disappointed to learn that it didn’t have any sort of anti-hair wrap technology, especially at this price point. I did have to cut long hair out of the brush head a couple of times.
There’s a crevice tool for cleaning tight spots, an upholstery tool for cleaning furniture, and its Anti-Allergen Dust Brush, which has a set of soft bristles to clear away dust from delicate surfaces. Most variants use the same 1900 mAh battery as the Shark Rocket Pet Pro. It yields a max runtime of about 40 minutes when used in its bare floor mode with no attachments. Using it in its ‘MAX’ power mode drains its battery in about 15 minutes, making it best-suited for quick clean-ups.