We also conducted a ‘flour test’ on a grey rug, spilling flour and then hoovering it up to test performance (you can see one result above). Carolyn Forté has tested and reviewed hundreds of vacuum cleaners, carpet cleaners, mops and other major (and small) home appliances as executive director of the GH Institute Home Care and Cleaning Lab. She is an active member of the ASTM Committee on vacuum cleaners and chairman of the consumer shark handheld vacuum information sub-committee. Other nice touches for the price include a tangle-free brush roll, lighted crevice tool, dusting brush tool and a flexible extension hose for better reach, which can help to clean the stairs. Plus, the sealed system better traps dust and allergens, though we’d have loved to see a HEPA filter included on this model. There’s even a parking brake that keeps it from sliding down when resting against a wall.
Our favourite feature, however, is the antimicrobial treatment on the brush bar, which helps protect your bristles from bacteria and fungi, by preventing their growth. If you’ve ever had to vacuum up something unsavoury left behind by kids or pets, it’s a relief to know the bacteria is cleaned up and you’re not accidentally spreading it to other areas of your house. Superficially, it’s extremely easy on the eye, too – the silver and mint design looks fresh and modern.
And to learn more about how I tested mop vacs, how they work, and which models didn’t make the shortlist, keep reading. Though the breadth of the brand’s offerings in the vacuum mop combo category can be a bit overwhelming (more on that later), I highly recommend two Tineco models at different price points. Designed with convenience in mind, the Shark Rocket Cordless Stick Vacuum allows you to move freely without being limited by cords or outlets. The lightweight and compact design make it easy to maneuver around furniture and reach tight spaces.
A major drawback with cordless vacuums is they have a limited runtime, so might not quite stretch to a full house clean before they need charging. This smart white stick vacuum neatly solves the problem by arriving with two batteries. Each one lasts for around 40 minutes on low-power mode, so you can carry on cleaning for 80 minutes without interruption, if you really want to.
Our testing team has three years of combined experience testing and evaluating everything from the best toasters to the best flower delivery services. Our product testing experts spend around 40 hours conducting firsthand research in our Testing Lab, including sourcing and researching products. We strive to recommend the very best products using honest and fair testing practices and never recommend a product we don’t love, regardless of how popular it is or how big the brand is. While the Shark Stratos performed the best overall, it also comes at the highest price point.
Mine came with hard and soft motorised heads for carpet and hard floors, a Pet Pro motorised head with rubber bristles, which really worked, and various crevice and brush tools. Halo claims it can last up to 60 minutes, although I found it didn’t shark handheld vacuum last that long. However, the recharge time is an impressively short two hours, much less than most cordless batteries and Halo has introduced interchangeable batteries so you can continue vacuuming even after the first battery runs out.
Experience the convenience of cordless cleaning without compromising on performance. Enjoy a clean and tidy home with the power and versatility of Shark technology. The advanced swivel steering allows for easy maneuverability, ensuring you can navigate around furniture and obstacles effortlessly. The LED headlights illuminate hidden debris, making it easy to spot and clean even in low-light areas. As standard, you get a crevice tool, a dusting brush and an upholstery tool. Among the Shark’s other clever features is the flexible stick, which means you can bend the vacuum in half to reach underneath sofas and beds without getting on your hands and knees.
For that reason, it makes sense to streamline the process as much as possible. Instead of being tied to a power socket when you’re vacuuming, a cordless vacuum cleaner enables you to move without restriction and reach every edge without thinking about how far a cord can stretch. Just like the Stratos, the Shark Cordless Pro easily converts to a handheld vacuum. This is super handy for tackling shelving and eliminating debris from couches and crevices. 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.
There’s no need to rely on your eyesight, either – the Dyson has an eye-safe laser to magically reveal even invisible dust on hard floors. We love the LED highlights that helped us make the most out of every use, showing us where dirt had piled up and illuminating under furniture. It was also super easy to convert into a handheld vacuum for cleaning staircases or car upholstery. Developments in vacuum cleaner technology also mean cordless models have longer battery lives than ever before.