We rated each design on how durable it is, as well as simplicity of emptying, how loud it is during use and how long the battery lasts – if it has one. Robot vacuums are good for regular cleans, however with suction that can’t match the best cordless vacuums they’re not suitable for a deep clean, and struggle to suck up dust embedded in carpets. On test, it offered powerful suction that whipped away discarded biscuit crumbs, ground-in dirt, cereal and cat biscuits almost instantly. However, we found the larger size made the vacuum cumbersome to use in handheld mode. Performance is top-notch but it’s also the most expensive vacuum we’ve tested, putting it out of reach of some. Shark has become one of Dyson’s best rivals, especially in cordless cleaning.
That also means that she has a lot more avenues to explore in terms of understanding how tech can improve the different aspects of our lives. It comes with two attachments and a base that ensures it’s always charged when you need it. It performs well, feels nice to use and I like the clever features it includes.
While we can’t include them all in this article, the following are some notable models that didn’t quite make our best-of cut. The cord is also longer than the other upright picks on this list, at 30 feet. This length means I can pick one outlet and almost clean an entire floor shark stick vacuum of my split-level home, or make it up and down a flight of stairs, without having to switch outlets. If I could change anything about this machine, I’d make the handle adjustable, or just a bit shorter, since I’m 5-foot-4 and it feels a bit cumbersome to me at times.
It’s able to register large, split rooms and will continue learning even after the initial setup phase. The IZ300UKT runs for 60 minutes on a full charge and excels shark stick vacuum on both carpet and hard floors. Other brands of cordless cleaners worth looking at for picking up human and pet hair are Vax, Hoover, Samsung and Gtech.
We buy most of the products we test ourselves, but occasionally we are provided samples by companies if buying isn’t an option. In these cases, we use the same testing criteria we use to test the purchased products. She also consulted Melissa Homer, cleaning expert and Chief Cleaning Officer at MaidPro; Becky Rapinchuk, cleaning expert and owner of Clean Mama; and Alvin Pullins, CEO and founder of Nerd in the House. In addition to consulting with Homer, we also tapped into the expertise of Becky Rapinchuk, cleaning expert and owner of Clean Mama, and Alvin Pullins, CEO and founder of Nerd in the House.
“Pets are wonderful companions, but sloppy roommates, as they tend to leave a trail of fur wherever they go,” says Melissa Homer, cleaning expert and chief cleaning officer at MaidPro. Don’t spring for an expensive vacuum without a warranty to back it up. While the Shark Cordless Detect Pro is good for small spaces, you should make sure that you have a dedicated spot where the vacuum can go.
This battery-powered vacuum can run for up to 50 minutes on its lowest setting, and it has a handy flexible wand that makes it easy to clean under furniture. You can remove the wand portion of the vacuum to transform it into a handheld model, and it comes with a crevice tool, pet multi-tool, and dusting brush for increased versatility. The only negative we found is that the Vertex DuoClean is a bit heavier than some cordless vacuums, weighing just under 9 pounds. Most upright vacuums are fairly heavy and cumbersome, but not the Shark Navigator Freestyle — a cord-free version of the regular Shark Navigator. This affordable upright vacuum has a battery-powered design, making it quick and easy to move between rooms, and it weighs less than 8 pounds, so virtually anyone can use it. In our testing, we loved its swivel steering and easy-to-empty dustbin, and we found that it does a superior job picking up pet hair from both carpeting and hard floors.
We did find it more effective on tile or concrete floor—it can scratch vinyl, so keep that in mind if you have vinyl flooring in your home. These vacuums will clean pet hair, kibble, and other messes with ease. We run each vacuum in a straight line across three different surfaces (hardwood, low-pile carpet and midpile carpet). My two small kids and my clumsy self often sprinkle fine, gritty shark stick vacuum substances like coffee grounds, powdered sugar, flour, and sprinkles all over the kitchen floor. The Vertex’s soft front roller is designed specifically to pick up these items, but in my experience the large vacuum head seems to only push the grit around. According to our price trackers, this vacuum hasn’t ever dipped lower than it’s currently on sale for, making it a smart time to buy.