The 5 Best Bagless Vacuum Cleaners – Summer 2023: Reviews
- Table of Contents
- Intro
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Best Vacuum
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Best Upright
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Best Upper Mid-Range
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Best Mid-Range
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Best Budget
- Notable Mentions
- Recent Updates
- All Reviews
- Discussions
Updated May 24, 2023 at 12:42 pm
By Evan Jakab
If you don’t want to deal with the hassle of replacing a dirtbag in your vacuum, there’s no shortage of bagless options on the market. Unlike bagged models, these vacuums have plastic dirt compartments and use filters to prevent dusty air from drifting back into the environment as you clean. They usually have low or virtually no recurring costs, depending on whether or not they use disposable filters. That said, they can vary significantly in shape and size, all to be better suited for different kinds of cleaning tasks.
We’ve tested over 130 vacuum cleaners, and below are our recommendations for the best vacuums that don’t use a dirtbag. We selected these picks based on their performance and their design, ease of maintenance, and price. For more, see our lists of the best vacuums and the best cordless vacuums. If you’re looking for a robot vacuum, which is usually bagless by design, you can see our picks for the best robot vacuums.
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Best Bagless Vacuum Cleaner
Dyson V15 Detect
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Finding Store
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Finding Store
Bare Floor
8.3
Low-Pile Carpet
8.2
High-Pile Carpet
8.4
Pets
8.
0Stairs
8.9
Cars
8.5
Workshop
6.1
Vacuum Type
Stick/Handheld
Bagless
Yes
Cordless
Yes
Anti-Allergy Filter (HEPA)
Yes
Wet Compatible
No
See all our test results
The best bagless vacuum cleaner we’ve tested is the Dyson V15 Detect. This cordless stick vacuum delivers superb performance on various surfaces, easily cleaning pet hair and small and large debris on everything from linoleum to high-pile carpet. However, its strong suction force can cause it to drag around some lighter rugs. Its surface detection system enables it to automatically change its suction power depending on what you’re vacuuming.
It also has a built-in particle sensor that counts and measures debris you’re sucking up, which is handy if you want to know about the presence of fine allergens in your home.This vacuum can run for up to 70 minutes, but you need to work fast when vacuuming stubborn messes, as it only lasts for about 10 minutes when using it in its high-power ‘Boost’ mode. It doesn’t feel especially robust, which is disappointing for a vacuum at this price point. The Samsung Bespoke Jet is a good option if you want something more sturdily-built. However, its twin-roller floorhead makes it less maneuverable, and it doesn’t have the Dyson vacuum’s automatic power adjustment feature.
See our review
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Best Bagless Upright Vacuum
Dyson Ball Animal 3 Extra/Complete
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Finding Store
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Bare Floor
8.
2Low-Pile Carpet
8.3
High-Pile Carpet
8.7
Pets
8.4
Stairs
6.6
Cars
7.1
Workshop
6.2
Vacuum Type
Upright
Bagless
Yes
Cordless
No
Anti-Allergy Filter (HEPA)
Yes
Wet Compatible
Mopping Only
See all our test results
If you prefer using a corded vacuum with a greater debris capacity, the Dyson Ball Animal 3 is the best bagless upright vacuum we’ve tested.
It’s more challenging to deploy than a stick vacuum like the Dyson V15 Detect, but it’s a better option for heavy-duty cleanups. Its powerful suction motor helps it clear away debris across various surfaces. Its floorhead also features three levels of surface adjustment and built-in plastic fins to capture long hair before it can get tangled in its brushroll. You can clean hard-to-reach areas by decoupling its hose from its body and using any of its attachments, including a miniature turbo brush, a telescopic wand, and even a dedicated pet grooming tool. Its five-stage filtration system helps trap allergens too.Unfortunately, it’s a heavy, bulky vacuum that’s a hassle to set up. It’s loud by the standards of less powerful cordless vacuums, and while its power cord is long, you have to wind it back up manually. If you’re looking for an upright vacuum that’s easier to deploy, look at the Shark Vertex Pro Powered Lift-Away. It uses a simpler floorhead than the Dyson, with no height adjustment, and has a maximum battery life of about 40 minutes when used as an upright.
However, its lighter cordless design could make it a better option for short cleaning sessions on hard surfaces.See our review
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Best Upper Mid-Range Bagless Vacuum
Shark Stratos Cordless
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Finding Store
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Bare Floor
8.3
Low-Pile Carpet
8.0
High-Pile Carpet
8.3
Pets
7.4
Stairs
8.6
Cars
7.8
Workshop
6.
0Vacuum Type
Stick/Handheld
Bagless
Yes
Cordless
Yes
Anti-Allergy Filter (HEPA)
Yes
Wet Compatible
No
See all our test results
The best bagless vacuum in the upper mid-range price bracket we’ve tested is the Shark Stratos Cordless. This cordless stick vacuum is noticeably heavier than the Dyson V15 Detect and doesn’t exert quite as much suction force, but it’s got its share of strengths. It feels noticeably more solid, mainly built from thicker plastic. At 0.65L in capacity, its dustbin is also roughly 30% more spacious than the Dyson’s, so you won’t have to empty it quite as often. While its twin-brushroll head makes it a little trickier to maneuver in cramped quarters compared to the Dyson vacuum’s slimmer single-roller head, some of that added bulk is offset by the inclusion of a hinged wand, which allows you to clean under most tables and chairs without having to bend too deeply.
A replaceable cartridge in its floorhead emanates a detergent-like scent as you clean to mask any unpleasant odors.The Shark’s Clean Sense IQ system also allows it to ramp up its suction power depending on how much debris is sucked up. However, unlike the Dyson vacuum’s system, it won’t necessarily respond to changes in surface type. Performance on bare floors is superb, and it does a great job cleaning carpets. That said, while it does have two surface settings, they only change the speed of its brushroll, not its height, so it’s still liable to get bogged down in thick carpeting. Its main brushroll isn’t removable, making it a challenge to clean.
See our review
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Best Mid-Range Bagless Vacuum
Samsung Jet 75 Pet
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Finding Store
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Finding Store
Bare Floor
8.
0Low-Pile Carpet
7.7
High-Pile Carpet
8.3
Pets
7.3
Stairs
8.8
Cars
8.2
Workshop
6.0
Vacuum Type
Stick/Handheld
Bagless
Yes
Cordless
Yes
Anti-Allergy Filter (HEPA)
Yes
Wet Compatible
No
See all our test results
Look at the Samsung Jet 75 if you’re looking for something a little cheaper.
It’s less sturdily built than the Shark Stratos Cordless and doesn’t have an automatic power adjustment feature, but there are a few advantages aside from its lower price. Its 200AW suction motor is remarkably potent for a vacuum at this price point and helps it exert a greater suction force than the Shark at its floorhead, though debris pickup is pretty even between the two models. It delivers fantastic performance on bare floors and clears an impressive amount of debris on high-pile carpet. At up to 60 minutes on a charge, battery performance is similar to that of the Shark, though thankfully, the Samsung charges faster.The mid-range Jet 75 Pet variant is a good option for pet owners, as it comes with a miniature turbo brush tool that’s effective in collecting pet hair, though it’s also unwieldy. Regardless of your variant, all Jet 75 models have a five-stage filtration system to trap allergens like pet dander. If you want a similarly-priced alternative with automatic power adjustment, check out the Tineco PURE ONE S11, but be aware that it has a less powerful suction motor and a shorter battery life.
See our review
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Best Budget Bagless Vacuum
JASHEN V16
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Finding Store
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Finding Store
Bare Floor
7.2
Low-Pile Carpet
7.6
High-Pile Carpet
7.2
Pets
7.9
Stairs
8.5
Cars
8.1
Workshop
5.2
Vacuum Type
Stick/Handheld
Bagless
Yes
Cordless
Yes
Anti-Allergy Filter (HEPA)
Yes
Wet Compatible
No
See all our test results
If you’re on a budget and searching for a bagless vacuum, it’s hard to go wrong with the JASHEN V16.
This cordless stick vacuum is less potent than the Samsung Jet 75 and feels flimsier than the Shark Stratos Cordless. If neither of those factors are of significant concern, the JASHEN offers a lot of bang for the buck. It has many attachments for a vacuum in this price range. It has a pair of interchangeable rollers for bare floors or carpet, a miniature turbo brush, a crevice tool, and a combination upholstery nozzle/soft-bristle brush. It even comes with a HEPA filter to minimize the spread of allergens as you clean. Its plastic construction feels somewhat flimsy but makes it easy to lift, carry, or maneuver in cluttered areas. While it struggles with bulky debris, which can clog the entry to its dustbin, it does an excellent job cleaning pet hair and lightweight debris.If you still aren’t convinced by cordless vacuums and prefer using canister vacuums, look at the Eureka Whirlwind Bagless Canister. It delivers strong performance, especially given its low purchase price, and its corded design ensures you won’t need to worry about running out of charge part way through a cleaning session.
Its power cord is very short, so you’ll need to swap outlets or use an extension cord when cleaning even moderately large spaces.See our review
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It also has a built-in particle sensor that counts and measures debris you’re sucking up, which is handy if you want to know about the presence of fine allergens in your home.
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It’s more challenging to deploy than a stick vacuum like the Dyson V15 Detect, but it’s a better option for heavy-duty cleanups. Its powerful suction motor helps it clear away debris across various surfaces. Its floorhead also features three levels of surface adjustment and built-in plastic fins to capture long hair before it can get tangled in its brushroll. You can clean hard-to-reach areas by decoupling its hose from its body and using any of its attachments, including a miniature turbo brush, a telescopic wand, and even a dedicated pet grooming tool. Its five-stage filtration system helps trap allergens too.
However, its lighter cordless design could make it a better option for short cleaning sessions on hard surfaces.
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A replaceable cartridge in its floorhead emanates a detergent-like scent as you clean to mask any unpleasant odors.
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It’s less sturdily built than the Shark Stratos Cordless and doesn’t have an automatic power adjustment feature, but there are a few advantages aside from its lower price. Its 200AW suction motor is remarkably potent for a vacuum at this price point and helps it exert a greater suction force than the Shark at its floorhead, though debris pickup is pretty even between the two models. It delivers fantastic performance on bare floors and clears an impressive amount of debris on high-pile carpet. At up to 60 minutes on a charge, battery performance is similar to that of the Shark, though thankfully, the Samsung charges faster.
This cordless stick vacuum is less potent than the Samsung Jet 75 and feels flimsier than the Shark Stratos Cordless. If neither of those factors are of significant concern, the JASHEN offers a lot of bang for the buck. It has many attachments for a vacuum in this price range. It has a pair of interchangeable rollers for bare floors or carpet, a miniature turbo brush, a crevice tool, and a combination upholstery nozzle/soft-bristle brush. It even comes with a HEPA filter to minimize the spread of allergens as you clean. Its plastic construction feels somewhat flimsy but makes it easy to lift, carry, or maneuver in cluttered areas. While it struggles with bulky debris, which can clog the entry to its dustbin, it does an excellent job cleaning pet hair and lightweight debris.
Its power cord is very short, so you’ll need to swap outlets or use an extension cord when cleaning even moderately large spaces.Notable Mentions
- Samsung Jet 90 Complete:
The Samsung Jet 90 Complete is a great alternative to the Dyson V15 Detect if you don’t mind losing out on the latter’s automatic power adjustment system and dirt sensor in exchange for similar overall performance and a slightly lower purchase price. It’s mechanically similar to the noticeably cheaper Samsung Jet 75; it uses the same 200AW motor but has more attachments.
See our review - Eureka FloorRover:
The Eureka FloorRover is a corded upright vacuum that’s a good alternative to the Dyson Ball Animal 3 for something cheaper. However, it doesn’t offer the same level of deep-cleaning performance.
See our review - Miele Triflex HX1:
The Miele Triflex HX1 is a uniquely-designed 3-in-1 machine that you can configure as a stick, upright, or handheld vacuum. While it feels better built than the Shark Stratos Cordless and has a sophisticated automatic brushroll adjustment feature that makes it easier to maneuver on thick carpeting, it has a shorter battery life, a smaller dustbin, and a less potent suction motor.
See our review - Samsung Jet 70:
The Samsung Jet 70 is similarly designed to the Samsung Jet 75, with the same five-stage filtration system and a relatively large dustbin. However, it has a less powerful suction motor and a shorter battery life.
See our review - Dyson V8:
The Dyson V8 is a cordless stick vacuum that represents a good alternative to the Samsung Jet 75 if you want something with a wider array of attachments, though it isn’t as powerful.
See our review - Wyze Cordless Vacuum:
The Wyze Cordless Vacuum is a budget-friendly cordless stick vacuum that outperforms the JASHEN V16 regarding suction power but comes with a more limited set of attachments. Replacement parts like filters and batteries are also somewhat hard to come by.
See our review
While it feels better built than the Shark Stratos Cordless and has a sophisticated automatic brushroll adjustment feature that makes it easier to maneuver on thick carpeting, it has a shorter battery life, a smaller dustbin, and a less potent suction motor.
Replacement parts like filters and batteries are also somewhat hard to come by.Recent Updates
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May 24, 2023:
Replaced Wyze Cordless Vacuum with JASHEN V16 as ‘Best Budget Bagless Vacuum’. Added Wyze Cordless Vacuum to Notable Mentions. -
Mar 28, 2023:
Replaced Miele Triflex HX1 with Shark Stratos Cordless as ‘Best Upper Mid-Range Bagless Vacuum’. Added Miele Triflex HX1 to Notable Mentions. -
Jan 27, 2023:
Replaced Tineco PURE ONE S11 with Samsung Jet 75 as ‘Best Mid-Range Bagless Vacuum’. Removed less relevant Notable Mentions picks. -
Nov 29, 2022:
Replaced Samsung Jet 90 Complete with Miele Triflex HX1 as ‘Best Upper Mid-Range Bagless Vacuum’ category pick due to current pricing. Added Samsung Jet 90 Complete to Notable Mentions.
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Sep 30, 2022:
Substantial article restructuring to better align with user expectations. Removed less relevant Notable Mentions picks, and added Samsung Jet 70 Pet to Notable Mentions.
Added Samsung Jet 90 Complete to Notable Mentions.
All Reviews
Our recommendations are based on what we think are currently the best bagless vacuums we’ve tested. We don’t just base our results on overall performance, but also on factors like availability, price, and reader feedback.
If you would like to do the work of choosing yourself, here is the list of all our bagless vacuum reviews. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. While no vacuum is perfect for every use, most are good enough to please almost everyone, and the differences are often not noticeable unless you really look for them.
10 Best Vacuum Cleaners of 2023
Best Overall Upright Vacuum
Shark Stratos
$399 at Amazon
Dust Bin Type: Bagless | Cleaning Path Width: 9.
5″
REASONS TO BUY
Great carpet cleaning
Spectacular hard surface cleaning
Convenient to use
Highly maneuverable
REASONS TO AVOID
Expensive
The Shark Stratos stands out as one of the top upright vacuums available in the market today thanks to its exceptional cleaning performance, effortless maneuverability, and convenient lift-away feature. Shark has continuously improved its duo clean technology, equipping the Stratos with a dual brush roll system that effectively eliminates dirt and debris from various surfaces, including hard floors and carpets. No matter the type of flooring, you can expect beautifully cleaned surfaces. The lift-away feature enhances usability by enabling easy cleaning of stairs, accessing tight spaces under furniture, and reaching challenging spots.
Our evaluation of the Shark Stratos revealed very few shortcomings. Only through rigorous side-by-side comparisons was our team able to identify minor criticisms.
We do think it could benefit from a slight improvement in its edging ability and a reduction in weight. Though, it still leaves carpets looking expertly clean, and you are unlikely to notice any issues at the edges. Overall, the Shark Stratos is an exceptional vacuum cleaner, leaving little room for improvement.
Read more: Shark Stratos review
The Shark Stratos left no crumbs behind in any of our carpet cleaning tests.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Most Economical Upright Vacuum
Shark Navigator Lift Away
$195 at Amazon
Dust Bin Type: Bagless | Cleaning Path Width: 11.25″
REASONS TO BUY
Great maneuverability
Picked up almost all pet hair
Reasonably priced
REASONS TO AVOID
Requires some additional passes
The Shark Navigator Lift Away took the top spot in our testing for its affordability and impressive performance.
This model is extremely easy to handle and move around corners. Additional premium features of this model include a HEPA filter (so that dust and debris won’t fly out of the vacuum) and a ‘Lift Away’ mode, which allows users to take apart the vacuum and use it as a handheld vacuum. These two features are commonly seen on more premium upright vacuums, and you’ll rarely see them at this price point.
Although the Shark Lift Away is a stronger performer, we did notice a couple of flaws. It took us a couple of extra tries to pick up debris on both hardwood flooring and carpets. This will admittedly require a bit more of your time, but not much. Overall, this vacuum is great for anyone on a budget who doesn’t want to sacrifice quality features.
Read more: Shark Navigator Lift Away review
The ‘Lift Away’ feature on the Shark Navigator is very simple.
Credit: Chris McNamara
Best All-Around Stick Vacuum
Shark Rocket Pet Pro
$300 at Amazon
Power Source: Battery | Cleaning Path Width: 10 ¼”
REASONS TO BUY
Easy to use
Great at removing pet hair
REASONS TO AVOID
Expensive
Relatively loud
The Shark Pet Pro was one of the top performers in the stick vacuum review.
This stand-up stick vacuum works like a full-sized machine — but is much easier to handle — leaving us with few critiques about its performance. This machine handles hair extremely well because the brush penetrates the carpet to extract hair while the agitator self-cleans. The Pet Pro comes with crevice, brush, and pet tools for furniture and stairs. Also, the “stick” portion of the machine can be removed, turning it into a handheld vacuum — a real plus for vehicle cleaning. The unit is just eight pounds, it has an easy-to-swap battery that lasts up to 21 minutes (in economical mode), and it has a swift recharge time of just 2.5 hours. The Pro does well on both hard and soft surfaces, large and small debris, and its 37″ articulating shaft makes it easy to get under the couch or bed without getting on your hands and knees.
The performance of the Shark Pet Pro is rather impressive. Our only criticism is that this machine is a bit loud compared to other models, and pushing the vacuum straight into a wall leaves a small gap that the agitator could not reach.
However, run the agitator perpendicular to the wall, and there is almost no gap. As a bonus, the Pet Pro is freestanding — a rarity among stick vacuums — so it will stand at attention until the next time you need it.
Read more: Shark Pet Pro review
The Shark Pet Pro is a well-designed, high-quality device that can clean-up the toughest of messes.
Credit: Laura Casner
Top Premium Stick Vacuum
Shark Stratos Cordless
$400 at Amazon
Power Source: Battery | Cleaning Path Width: 10.25″
REASONS TO BUY
Superb cleaning performance
Folds up
Multiple power settings
REASONS TO AVOID
No charging indicator
Pricey
The Shark Stratos Cordless seamlessly tackles whatever mess is placed in front of it, regardless of the surface. This model gives other stick vacuums a run for their money, as it picked up almost all the oats and rice spilled throughout our testing area.
A simple click of a button allows the system to transition into a handheld model for cleaning non-floor surfaces like couch cushions or car seats. This cordless model won’t be limited to locations with power outlets, so you can easily float this around the entire house without needing to replug. The machine has average maneuverability, but you should have no trouble getting around furniture and tight corners. It boasts an impressive battery life, with power settings ranging from eco to boost. When all the cleaning is done and you’re ready to relax, this system folds down, easily packing away into tight places.
The Stratos Cordless should last the entirety of your cleaning unless you exclusively run it on boost mode. When docked to charge, there’s no indicator to let you know its charge level. Instead, you have to turn it on to see what power percentage it has. It isn’t the easiest to get started with an inconveniently placed button, and it weighs in at 8.9 pounds.
However, much of that weight is held in the brush head. Additionally, it’s on the pricier side. This is quite an impressive machine and we think the investment will be worth the extra cleaning power and performance.
Read more: Shark Stratos Cordless review
With just a click of a button, the Stratos Cordless transitions into a handheld vacuum for easy couch cushion cleaning.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Best Overall Canister Vacuum
Eureka WhirlWind
$80 at Amazon
Power Source: Plug-in | Cleaning Path Width: 10 ½”
REASONS TO BUY
Easy to use
Good performance on hard surfaces
REASONS TO AVOID
Struggles with pet hair
Requires bags
If you want one of the best canister vacuums at an affordable price point, the Eureka WhirlWind is a top choice. This model was one of the absolute best performers in our best canister vacuum review.
We were impressed by its ability to plow through cereal, oatmeal, and flour in our hard surface and carpet cleaning tests. At 11 pounds, this vacuum cleaner is also one of the easiest to carry up and down stairs. We appreciated this model for its impressive cleaning performance, handling, and ease of use.
Pet owners may want to go with another unit unless they are on a tight budget. Unfortunately, the pet hair performance was lackluster due to the absence of a brush roller. But, if you’re looking for an affordable vacuum and don’t mind making a few more passes to collect pet hair, the WhirlWind may be a viable choice.
Read more: Eureka WhirlWind review
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Best Carpet Cleaning Canister Vacuum
Miele Compact C1 Turbo
$423 at Amazon
Power Source: Plug-in | Cleaning Path Width: 10 ¾”
REASONS TO BUY
Good at removing pet hair
Maneuverable
REASONS TO AVOID
Spendy
The Miele Compact C1 Turbo is an all-around top-performing, albeit expensive, canister vacuum.
The machine’s key feature is a floor cleaning attachment with a rolling brush (agitator) that makes it more like an upright vacuum cleaner while maintaining the advantages and simplicity of a canister unit. Given the benefits of having an agitator, we were not surprised that the Turbo did well on carpets of all pile lengths (but particularly on the shorter variety) and most debris types. Its swivel head makes it more maneuverable than most canister units, too, while its floor attachment does reasonably well at collecting debris in corners and against baseboards. While this unit performed well across the board, it shined when picking up flour (fine debris) and the toughest debris of all — pet hair.
Although the Miele Compact C1 Turbo excelled at tackling some of the toughest messes, its performance dropped a degree when cleaning larger debris (like rice and cereal) from the fluffier varieties of carpet, requiring more passes than other machines. We also felt that the Turbo was a tad fiddly when switching between attachments.
Its ease of use was further impacted by its middling weight of 15.2 pounds — not the heaviest but certainly not the lightest either. Despite this, the Turbo does a great job reaching under low furniture and has a maximum reach of 30 feet for an outlet to the attachment. If this vacuum cleaner fits your budget, it’s a great buy, particularly for pet owners with loads of carpeting.
Read more: Miele Compact C1 Turbo review
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Best Overall Handheld Vaccuum
Black+Decker Flex Vac BDh3020FL
$96 at Amazon
Power Source: Battery | Cleaning Path Width: 1 3/16″ (hose end)
REASONS TO BUY
Good in tight spots
Good with pet hair
REASONS TO AVOID
So-so battery life
Two-handed operation
The Black+Decker Flex Vac BDh3020FL does a lot for a handheld vacuum, and that’s because it’s a lot like a miniature canister vacuum.
This model was a top performer in our best handheld vacuum review. The machine has an accordion hose for long reaches, multiple attachments for those hard-to-reach places, and high airflow through its 1 3/16 inch hose end. The Flex Vac did well sucking up animal hair and large debris, such as Mini-Wheats cereal, without clogging. Moreover, the little vac did a great job cleaning deep cracks and crevices (easily reaching 36″ into a 3″ gap), and it did above average in cleaning dusty surfaces with a brush attachment.
While we were impressed with the overall performance of the Flex Vac, it is not without some shortcomings. Specifically, it is loud enough to strain conversation. Also, it struggles with heavy, caked-on dirt as you would find on the floorboard of a car, though it will eventually get the job done if you keep at it. Finally, there is a lack of some convenience features that we would have liked to see. For example, the battery life is a bit truncated at just 15 minutes of runtime on a full charge, and it has a four-hour recharge interval.
Also, the Flex Vac is a bit heavy at three pounds. Finally, the unit’s three attachments lack onboard storage though there is a place to organize them on the battery dock. Yet, the large and easy-to-empty canister counteracts some of these convenience shortfalls. All in all, the Flex Vac still performs quite well across the board.
Read more: Black+Decker Flex Vac BDh3020FL review
We used an anemometer to measure the suction power of each handheld vac – including the Flex.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Most Economical Handheld Vacuum
Black+Decker HHVI320JR02
$49 at Amazon
Power Source: Battery | Cleaning Path Width: ~3″
REASONS TO BUY
Good with big debris
Good in cracks and crevices
REASONS TO AVOID
Struggles with fine debris
Quite loud
The Black+Decker HHVI320JR02’s performance is a mixed bag with some real bright spots, including a great price point and the suction power to pick up big messes.
The narrow nozzle with the built-in extension makes it effective at getting to those hard-to-reach places without needing multiple attachments. In the same vein, the rotating nozzle feature is a boon for maintaining a good grip on the handle when probing between couch cushions and the like. Also, the fold-down brush does well for vacuuming baseboards, though you need to be mindful not to scratch the wall with the plastic backing. Finally, the Black+Decker HHVI320JR02’s battery lasts ~15.5 minutes, weighs 2.4 pounds, and has an easy-to-empty debris receptacle.
The Black+Decker HHVI320JR02 has some limitations, too. For one, it did not fare well in our pet hair pick-up tests. It also struggles with fine debris like flour and has limited effectiveness on high-pile carpets. Additionally, the unit is considerably louder than other models in the class. Despite these issues, we still favor this unit as a reasonably effective, easy-to-use, affordable handheld vacuum.
Read more: Black+Decker HHVI320JR02 review
The Black+Decker does well in tight spots like between cushions due to its narrow, extendable, rotating nozzle and good suction.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Best Overall Robot Vacuum
Roborock Q5
$430 at Amazon
Multi-Room Navigation: Yes | Poo-avoidance: No
REASONS TO BUY
Great navigation
Useful mobile app
Excellent carpet cleaning
REASONS TO AVOID
Doesn’t pick up large debris
Gets clogged with hair
The Roborock Q5 strikes the perfect balance between price and performance, all while packing in the most advanced features. This machine connects to a mobile app, where you can find options for no-go zones, schedules, and suction power. Here, the system creates a virtual 3D map of the home and outlines its cleaning path. Undoubtedly, the Q5 is among the smartest in the lineup, seamlessly navigating the entire space without bumping into furniture, walls, or those walking around. With few exceptions, like larger objects and pet hair, the system excels at tidying up various surfaces.
It effortlessly cleaned up oatmeal and rice, even on fluffy carpet.
The Roborock Q5 has a low clearance, making it difficult to pick up larger debris. It also struggled to clean powdery messes like flour. Though it still picks up hair, the strands get wrapped around the bristles over time and can clog the machine. All in all, this robot system outperforms some of the most expensive options and is a handy cleaning tool for those on the go or who simply don’t want to vacuum as often
The Roborock Q5 effortlessly glides around obstacles, avoiding furniture, people, and no-go zones.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Read more: Roborock Q5 review
Robot Vacuum and Mop
Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra
Read the Review
Multi-Room Navigation: Yes | Poo-avoidance: Yes
REASONS TO BUY
Endless features
Efficient navigation
Excellent pet waste recognition
Mop that self cleans
Automatic dirt disposal
REASONS TO AVOID
Pricey
Bad with pet hair
All hail the mighty Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra! This super smart robot vacuum has an awesome app that allows users to set up boundaries in any room of their home.
This robot is one of the first to explore mopping functionalities and actually mops pretty well. It is also a keen navigator and doesn’t bump your furniture, but still manages to clean pretty close against obstacles. One of the things we loved most about this model was its latest and greatest pet poop-avoidance technology. When we set up simulated poop in our test suite, the S7 noticed it immediately and kept its distance. We highly recommend this model to those who want the most out of a robot vacuum.
Unfortunately, this is probably not the best choice if you have pets. Although it has superb poop-avoidance technology, it still doesn’t do very well at picking up pet hair. This device is also super expensive, and we would think that a robot vacuum this pricey would be able to handle a little bit of pet hair.
Read more: Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra review
The Roborock S7 has incredible stool avoidance technology for those with pets.
Credit: Jessica Riconscente
Best All-Around Cordless Wet Dry Vacuum
Milwaukee M18 0880-20
$124 at Amazon
Power Source: Battery | Cleaning Path Width: 1″ (hose end)
REASONS TO BUY
Great hose design
Robust motor
Great accessory storage
REASONS TO AVOID
Relatively heavy
So-so runtime
The Milwaukee M18 0880-20 is an exceptionally well-designed wet-dry vacuum cleaner.
This model is easily at the top of its class in our cordless wet dry vacuum review. It is conveniently streamlined and also packs a powerful electric motor that will bust the toughest messes, be they sopping wet or dry as a bone. Soaked carpets? Heavy nuts and bolts? Piles of sawdust? It will suck all that up without a fuss and, with its HEPA filter, will blow nearly particular-free air out the tail-end. When your work is done, the M18 has a slick, toolbox-like design that accommodates all the attachments and self-retracting hose within. Another nice design feature is the hose routing that runs straight into the can where others use an easily-clogged elbow.
While the Milwaukee M18 0880-20 is a great vacuum, it isn’t without some limitations. For one, it did not fare well when sucking up standing water on a hard surface. In the M18’s defense, this results from a poorly designed floor attachment, not poor suction or airflow. Another weak spot for the M18 is its run time.
At four minutes and 39 seconds per amp hour, it’s below average for its class. And, at 10 lbs 2 oz, it’s on the heavy end of its class, too. However, its hose stretches from 24 to 90 ½ inches, so you shouldn’t have to move it around too much. All in all, this is one heck of a wet dry machine, and we feel that most will overlook its deficiencies in light of its exceptional performance and ease of use.
Read more: Milwaukee M18 0880-20 review
The M18 is an extremely well-designed machine that can tackle the toughest mess in quick order.
Credit: Laura Casner
Why You Should Trust Us
This complex and diverse vacuum market overview comes from hundreds of hours of researching, testing, and comparing these machines since 2015. Specifically, we tested these vacuums for ease of use, cleaning effectiveness on common mess types, battery life, and reach, to name just a few of our analyses. This overview takes the best machines from five vacuum categories — upright, handheld, canister, wet-dry, robot, and stick — and combines them to give a telling overview of the market as a whole.
We put every vacuum cleaner through exhaustive testing protocols in our lab – involving tens of different tests to assess performance in a range of common-use situations including: carpet cleaning, hard floor cleaning, vacuuming up pet hair, small particle cleaning (flour), and a variety of challenges including picking up oatmeal, cereal, and rice.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Senior Research Analyst Austin Palmer, review editor Jessica Riconscente, and author Nick Miley worked together to curate this vacuum cleaner review. This triad has well over 10 years of collective experience testing home electronics such as vacuum cleaners, air purifiers, kitchen appliances, and cordless tools.
Nick brings scientific experience gained in university research facilities and writing journal articles. Austin brings hundreds of hours of hands-on testing experience assessing products ranging from keyboards to photo printers, and now runs GearLab’s testing site. Finally, Jessica has on-the-ground experience as a professional cleaner, working at hostels and upscale homes for several years.
She is also a dog mom and understands the demands placed on a vacuum when it comes to hairy messes.
Our research analyst, Jessica Riconscente, spread out debris over a short pile carpet for our robot vacuum testing.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Our testing of vacuum cleaners is divided into four separate rating metrics:
- Carpets
- Hard Surfaces
- Ease of Use
- Pet Hair
These metrics contribute to each product’s overall score based on what consumers want out of their vacuum. The weightings for each metric will vary among different vacuums; for example, a handheld vacuum is quite different from an upright vacuum and therefore requires different tests and weightings. This comprehensive testing and rating approach helps us to help you find the right vacuum for your household and budget.
The Shark Stratos effectively picked up all the debris in our hardwood floor testing.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
How to Pick the Right Vacuum:
The first question you’ll want to answer is what kind of vacuum you need to satisfy your needs.
While all vacuums perform the same general function, there is a high degree of specialization in the vacuum market. A good way to conceptualize this is to think about the messes you’ll most likely be cleaning and where. If this prompt made you think, sawdust in the garage, you’re solidly in the wet-dry category. On the other hand, if you thought of heavily-trafficked carpets in the house, you’re in the market for an upright, canister, or stick vacuum. The following is a breakdown of the various types of vacuums covered in this review. These categories will not only describe the machines but also where and what they do best.
Upright Vacuums
Your favorite upright vacuum is what many people think about when they imagine a vacuum cleaner. These machines are essentially the Swiss army knife of in-home vacuum cleaners. They are completely self-contained, with the canister, attachments, power cord, and extension hose all in one unit. A common feature in an upright is a roller brush or agitator that stirs up the debris for the vacuum to then suck into its canister — this makes them great for high pile carpets and hard texture surfaces where other vacuums struggle.
These machines commonly have a hose that can be disconnected on one end and used with attachments like a handheld device for cleaning stairs and furniture. These are universal machines for household use, and their freestanding, self-contained design makes them easy to store in a closet or corner.
The Shark Stratos is an all-around impressive upright vacuum.
Credit: Jessica Riconscente
Stick Vacuums
Stick vacuums are simply a pared-down version of an upright device that is often battery-powered, but not always. Stick vacs often lack the accessories of uprights, such as a detachable handheld device, but again, not always. Some of the more sophisticated devices are quite comparable to high-quality uprights. The main difference is the slender profile of the unit, which makes the vacuum easier to store but also means that the canister is smaller and thus will need to be emptied more often. As such, we think these devices make the most sense in smaller areas, rooms with less traffic, or limited high pile carpet.
Many premium stick vacuums come as lightweight cordless models, which allows you to move and vacuum throughout your home without difficulty.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Canister Vacuums
Canister vacuums are similar to uprights, with the obvious exception that the canister storing the collected debris is trailered behind the vacuum head and handle. This means that the business end of the vacuum is lighter and arguably more maneuverable. Still, it can also be harder to store in a closet or corner because the unit as a whole is bulkier. However, these machines do provide a bit of a sound demeaning because the motor is in the canister, and some find them easier to use on stairs since the canister can be left on the ground or carried in one hand while the other is free to work the business end of the machine.
One benefit of a canister vacuum is the ability to easily drag it around your home or up and down the stairs.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Handheld Vacuums
Handheld vacuums are essentially an accessory and are not intended to clean a whole house.
They do well at getting into all the places your upright or canister vacuums aren’t expected to reach. When we think about a handheld unit, we think about countertops, window sills, the car, or light spot cleaning when you don’t want to get out the full-size vacuum. These devices are battery-powered, so the runtime can be an issue, but the lack of a cord makes them all the more agile and nimble.
Handheld vacuums work well for hard to reach areas.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Robot Vacuums
Robot vacuums are more than just a novelty. These machines offer users real time-savings when used correctly. While they are no substitute for a traditional vacuum cleaner (and the human running it), they are great for routine cleaning of the home and some light spot cleaning. The downside of the robot vacuum is that they require some setup, charging, have relatively small dust bins, and are not always intelligent — meaning that some cannot reliably make decisions not to run over something that doesn’t need picking up.
Many robot vacuums now come with smart capabilities and mapping that can be managed from your smart phone.
Credit: Jessica Riconscente
Cordless Wet-Dry Vacuums
As the name suggests, “wet-dry” vacuums are designed to tackle a whole other type of mess compared to those units discussed above. Wet-dry vacuums specialize in big messes where water or other liquids are involved. For example, these machines can suck up a bucket of water into their cans, something we wouldn’t dream of doing with an upright device. However, wet-dry vacs lack an agitator, so they are not great at cleaning large carpeted areas. When we think of wet-dry vacs, we think of work in the garage, motorhome, car, truck, or boat. Most of these units are battery-powered; thus, battery runtime will be something you’ll want to pay attention to if you put them on big jobs. These machines are self-contained, compact, and powerful.
The M18 is completely self contained making it easy to use, carry, and store.
However, don’t be fooled by its simplicity – this machine can tackle the big, wet messes.
Credit: Laura Casner
To Bag or Not to Bag
While the bag debate was an important part of selecting a vacuum cleaner at one time, that is no longer the case. Nowadays, the vast majority of vacuums are bagless. This is a good thing for the most part because the lack of a bag reduces waste and trips to the store. However, there is no denying that, when emptying a bagless canister, some of the dust collected can escape into the air. If you are sensitive to dust, a bagged vacuum cleaner may be the right choice.
Bagless canisters tend to be easier to empty.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Conclusion
This general overview of the vacuum market has highlighted the best models in the several classes of vacuums, including upright, stick, robot, canister, wet-dry, and handheld. Along with the overview, we have included a buying advice section to help you narrow down the market.
These tools will assist you in selecting the right vacuum for your needs. With the proper vacuum, cleaning isn’t just a chore — it can be an enjoyable task.
How to Choose a Vacuum Cleaner: Helping You Determine the Criteria
A rather simple and well-known household appliance – a vacuum cleaner – over the past decades has not only evolved significantly, but also acquired a fairly large number of various types specializing in different tasks.
A brand new Electrolux straight out of the 1950s
Despite the fact that all of these devices continue to be called “vacuum cleaners”, they have divided various areas of work among themselves: some models are designed for professional cleaning of large areas and / or rooms that are being renovated. Others are best suited for cleaning a typical home or apartment. Still others specialize in quick and comfortable cleaning of small spaces…
Let’s see what modern vacuum cleaners are and what kind of work these or those models are best suited for.
And at the same time we will mention what characteristics and features you need to pay attention to when choosing a vacuum cleaner.
Vacuum cleaner ordinary, classic, traditional
With the word “vacuum cleaner” we traditionally imagine a kind of “pot-bellied” device on wheels, which has a set of various hoses, tubes and nozzles.
This vacuum cleaner is primarily intended for vacuuming dust, although it can sometimes also perform wet cleaning. As a dust collector for these devices, a container, a bag, an aquafilter, or combinations of these options (for example, an aquafilter and a container) can act. The scope of such devices is the cleaning of ordinary houses and apartments, as well as the processing of furniture (if there is a technical possibility and special nozzles).
When choosing a vacuum cleaner for the home, you need to pay attention to a number of factors that directly affect both the quality of cleaning and convenience in everyday use of the device.
Let’s list the main parameters that require special attention.
- Size, dimensions and maneuverability . There are many types of vacuum cleaners on the market today. Of course, there is always a temptation to buy a “bigger” vacuum cleaner, but this decision will not always be optimal. When choosing, it will be useful to check how easy it is for you to operate, pull and lift a particular vacuum cleaner. If possible, it would be nice to check the operation of the device on different surfaces – carpets, hard floors, parquet, etc. Finally, it does not hurt to study the instructions and find out what the developer says about his brainchild: often the manufacturer of vacuum cleaners indicates the recommended cleaning area with which this the model will do the best.
- Dust collection system . Traditional vacuum cleaners collect dust and debris in a bag (disposable or reusable), in a container (using the so-called cyclone filter, in which dust is collected in lumps) or using an aqua filter – passing polluted air through water. Some models allow the use of various dust collectors – a regular bag or a cyclone filter, or, for example, a bag and an aqua filter. The fundamental difference between the various methods of collecting dust is how exactly you have to care for the device. So, the container will have to be emptied manually on a regular basis (which means the need for contact with dust), and if there is an aquafilter, the user will only need to pour out the dirty water. Finally, we remind you that although disposable bags are convenient (they only need to be replaced when filling), they are consumables, and therefore, their use will entail additional costs.
- Dust container capacity . Various models are equipped with dust collectors of various sizes, designed for rooms of their size. The smaller the dust collector, the more often you will have to be distracted by emptying and cleaning it.
- Filter system . To avoid getting small dust particles back into the air, fine cleaning systems are installed in modern vacuum cleaners. The best results are shown by models with aqua filters and HEPA filters (designed to filter extra small particles). The presence of such filters is a prerequisite for a modern vacuum cleaner.
- Power . It depends on the power how “strong” the vacuum cleaner will be. A low-power vacuum cleaner is also suitable for cleaning relatively clean rooms, but if there are pets or children in the house, then it is better to pay attention to more powerful models. Unfortunately, this parameter is not universal and obvious: not always a model with more power according to the passport will show the best result in real operation. Therefore, before choosing a vacuum cleaner, it would be useful to read user reviews and model reviews on specialized technical Internet resources.
- Wet cleaning option . Some models allow wet cleaning (they are also called washing vacuum cleaners). Such devices, using a special nozzle, spray water (or detergent), after which they collect it in a special tank. A washing vacuum cleaner allows you not only to clean the floor more efficiently, but also to wash upholstered furniture, as well as clean carpets.
- Availability of accessories . Before choosing a vacuum cleaner, it will be useful to find out which set of nozzles is included in the kit. There can be quite a lot of them: floor and carpet nozzles, special nozzles for laminate, crevice nozzles for cleaning hard-to-reach places, brush nozzles for furniture and clothes. There are even special attachments for grooming pet hair!
- Noise level . A vacuum cleaner is a noisy device, and too much noise can cause problems for households (especially in a small apartment). Therefore, if you assume that the noise of a vacuum cleaner can become a hindrance, then it is better to find out in advance how loud the model you are interested in will make noise.
Some models allow the use of various dust collectors – a regular bag or a cyclone filter, or, for example, a bag and an aqua filter. The fundamental difference between the various methods of collecting dust is how exactly you have to care for the device. So, the container will have to be emptied manually on a regular basis (which means the need for contact with dust), and if there is an aquafilter, the user will only need to pour out the dirty water. Finally, we remind you that although disposable bags are convenient (they only need to be replaced when filling), they are consumables, and therefore, their use will entail additional costs. 
The best results are shown by models with aqua filters and HEPA filters (designed to filter extra small particles). The presence of such filters is a prerequisite for a modern vacuum cleaner. 
A washing vacuum cleaner allows you not only to clean the floor more efficiently, but also to wash upholstered furniture, as well as clean carpets. Household vacuum cleaner (also known as construction vacuum cleaner)
Household or construction vacuum cleaner, as a rule, is an enlarged and more powerful (and therefore louder) version of a traditional vacuum cleaner, designed for increased loads and work with more “complex” debris.
Note that almost none of the household vacuum cleaners should, according to the manufacturer, encounter repair debris. Such “inappropriate” use of the device may lead to premature wear of the vacuum cleaner or its components. Reusable filters are especially affected by building dust.
Construction vacuum cleaners, unlike household vacuum cleaners, are specially designed taking into account the fact that it will be necessary to remove the remains of cement mixtures, large fractions (brick fragments and chips). Many of these devices have the ability to connect directly to “garbage” electric tools – jigsaws, grinders, rotary hammers, etc.
It is clear that when choosing such a device, “omnivorousness” and power come first. Elegant appearance and reduced noise level in this case are usually not expected.
The capacity of the dust collector of a construction vacuum cleaner can be several tens of liters, and the device itself can almost always work with bags – both disposable and reusable.
Although cleaning water is not usually the most requested function of a vacuum cleaner, the need for it periodically arises. With the help of a household vacuum cleaner, you can easily remove a puddle in front of the porch of a country house, collect water from the bathroom floor after a water pipe leak, remove melted snow from the floor of the car interior or water from the toilet siphon before removing it.
Such a device is useful if you are planning a small (or major) renovation in your apartment or are fond of all kinds of homemade products (for example, related to wood processing). This vacuum cleaner is also recommended for cottages, workshops and garages.
Well, after the repair is completed, a construction vacuum cleaner can easily begin to play the role of a household one – of course, if you are ready to put up with its rather big dimensions and increased noise level.
Upright vacuum cleaner
Upright vacuum cleaners, which have become widespread in recent years, are in a fundamentally different category than traditional vacuum cleaners.
If the latter are designed for a full and thorough cleaning of the entire apartment, then upright vacuum cleaners rather serve as an electric broom and are designed for cleaning not too polluted rooms. They are also used in everyday mode – when you need to quickly remove a small space (sand in the shoe storage area or spilled cereal in the kitchen).
Roidmi X20 Upright Cordless Vacuum Cleaner
The main advantages of upright vacuum cleaners are compactness, light weight and battery operation. Key (possible) disadvantages are insufficient power, short battery life and poor design solutions.
So, what parameters should you pay attention to when choosing an upright vacuum cleaner?
- Power . If traditional and household vacuum cleaners are rarely deprived of a powerful motor, and more often even have a more powerful motor than required, then for compact cordless vacuum cleaners, insufficient power can become the very “bottleneck” separating a useful device from a useless one. When choosing an upright vacuum cleaner, you must definitely pay attention to the power of the device and make sure that it will be sufficient for cleaning the room. As in the case of “large” models, it is not recommended to focus only on the numbers declared by the manufacturer: the actual performance of the device does not always correlate with them in the expected way.
- Battery capacity and operating time . But in this parameter, the manufacturer almost never cheats. Before buying an upright vacuum cleaner, be sure to find out how long it can work without recharging, as well as how long it will take to fully charge the battery. Of course, few battery models are still capable of fully cleaning an apartment with an area of one hundred square meters, but if you plan to buy a vertical vacuum cleaner for a studio apartment or a one-room apartment, then it would be logical to opt for the model that can cope with cleaning the premises for once, without additional recharging.
- Weight . If you plan to use an upright vacuum cleaner for a full, rather than short-term cleaning, then you should not forget that you will be holding it in your hands all this time, and therefore, the device should not be too heavy. If the vacuum cleaner is purchased for occasional use, then the importance of this parameter is not so great.
When choosing an upright vacuum cleaner, you must definitely pay attention to the power of the device and make sure that it will be sufficient for cleaning the room. As in the case of “large” models, it is not recommended to focus only on the numbers declared by the manufacturer: the actual performance of the device does not always correlate with them in the expected way. 
- Complete set (existence of nozzles) . Like its older counterparts, a good upright vacuum cleaner is not only equipped with a wide range of nozzles (here we can recall a turbo brush for the floor, and a special brush for furniture, and a crevice nozzle, and brushes for cleaning textiles, and additional extension tubes), but also designed in such a way in such a way that all these nozzles can easily reach the most remote and hard-to-reach places, including the vacuum cleaner should be convenient to use under furniture and in narrow aisles.
- Wet cleaning option . Although the vast majority of upright vacuum cleaners are designed for dry dust only, some models also allow wet cleaning. This function is implemented with the help of a special nozzle for washing the floor – a tank for a small amount of water and a washing cloth, which is automatically moistened. Wet cleaning can be an excellent function: such a vacuum cleaner, of course, will not clean old and severe dirt (there are other devices for general cleaning – steam generators or steam mops), but combining daily floor sweeping with wet cleaning makes life much easier.
- Illuminated . Another useful feature that not every upright vacuum cleaner has is LED floor lighting. Such a trifle can significantly increase the comfort of using a vacuum cleaner: you don’t have to specifically shine a flashlight under the bed to see how thoroughly the dirt has been removed.
- Docking station . Upright vacuum cleaners are traditionally mounted on the wall using a special device that acts as a charging station. When choosing an upright vacuum cleaner, you need to make sure that the docking station can be easily mounted in the chosen place and will not interfere with other furniture.
Although the vast majority of upright vacuum cleaners are designed for dry dust only, some models also allow wet cleaning. This function is implemented with the help of a special nozzle for washing the floor – a tank for a small amount of water and a washing cloth, which is automatically moistened. Wet cleaning can be an excellent function: such a vacuum cleaner, of course, will not clean old and severe dirt (there are other devices for general cleaning – steam generators or steam mops), but combining daily floor sweeping with wet cleaning makes life much easier. 
When choosing an upright vacuum cleaner, you need to make sure that the docking station can be easily mounted in the chosen place and will not interfere with other furniture. Robot vacuum cleaners
Unlike all of the above devices, robot vacuum cleaners belong to a fundamentally different class of devices, although they perform the same task – they clean dirt and dust in the apartment.
The key feature of the robot vacuum cleaner is that it cleans the apartment on its own, without the direct participation of the owner. We can say that such a device is intended for everyday maintenance of cleanliness, and not for cleaning heavily polluted premises.
The power of such a device will be significantly lower than that of other types of vacuum cleaners, but the efficiency of robotic vacuum cleaners is quite high. It is achieved due to the fact that the robot daily (or according to another convenient schedule) bypasses the room and collects small amounts of debris and dust, which would slowly accumulate without its participation.
It is unlikely that you will notice that the apartment has become significantly cleaner after one or two launches of the robot, but if you start using it regularly, the changes will soon become apparent: there will be less dust under your feet, and general cleaning will need to be done less often.
Most robot vacuum cleaners are very similar to each other, they have the same (or similar) brushes and operate on the same principle. Therefore, the difference between different models may not be obvious.
What features should I look for when choosing a robot vacuum cleaner?
- Battery capacity and operating time . One of the key parameters on which the efficiency of the robot vacuum cleaner depends is the battery capacity and battery life. The longer the vacuum cleaner runs without recharging, the more area it can clean.
- Wet cleaning option . Wet cleaning is far from the main function of robotic vacuum cleaners, but many of them are still equipped with a special container for water and rags for wet cleaning. The ability to not only automatically remove dust, but also wipe the floor is a useful bonus (however, wet cleaning will require the personal participation of the owner).
- Various programs and firmware available . The efficiency of the robot vacuum cleaner largely depends on how “smart” the device turns out to be. Many models are able to build a map of the room, which increases the efficiency of cleaning, others simply wander around the apartment, turning in different directions when encountering obstacles. Unfortunately, it is not possible to predict how effective this or that model will be based on its description: we came across both relatively simple models that showed good results, and “smart” devices that, in an attempt to build a map of the room, finally got confused and, as a result, left uncleaned plots. Thus, the best way to learn about the advantages and disadvantages of a particular model is to study reviews on specialized sites and read user reviews. In the same section, we will mention such things as the ability of the vacuum cleaner to adequately respond to obstacles (thresholds and steps), as well as the ability to install special barriers (usually IR emitters) that block the passage of the vacuum cleaner into those areas where it should not go.
- Remote control and smartphone control . The vast majority of robotic vacuum cleaners are equipped with a remote control, and the most “advanced” devices can be connected to a home Wi-Fi network and controlled from a mobile application, so you can give commands to the robot from literally anywhere in the world.
- Schedule setting . Almost all robotic vacuum cleaners have a scheduled cleaning setting, but not all models have it successfully implemented. Since many users prefer the robot to take care of the apartment in the absence of the owners themselves, the ability to easily and easily set up a cleaning schedule is, in our opinion, one of the key features that you need to pay attention to. A good robot vacuum cleaner will allow you to create several cleaning scenarios at once on weekdays, on weekends, or on selected days of the week, which will allow the owner not to return to this issue after the initial setup.
The ability to not only automatically remove dust, but also wipe the floor is a useful bonus (however, wet cleaning will require the personal participation of the owner). 
In the same section, we will mention such things as the ability of the vacuum cleaner to adequately respond to obstacles (thresholds and steps), as well as the ability to install special barriers (usually IR emitters) that block the passage of the vacuum cleaner into those areas where it should not go. 
A good robot vacuum cleaner will allow you to create several cleaning scenarios at once on weekdays, on weekends, or on selected days of the week, which will allow the owner not to return to this issue after the initial setup. Note that today there are many similar models on the market of robotic vacuum cleaners, which demonstrate very different cleaning quality (the reason for this is a different level of quality of the firmware). In addition, many models turn out to be frankly inconvenient to manage (for example, they do not allow you to set a schedule for selected days) or they are poorly oriented in the room (they begin to “get confused” between furniture legs and, as a result, do not clean some rooms). Unfortunately, it is almost impossible to find out how successful this or that model will turn out to be in reality, having studied only its documentation and promotional materials.
Specialized vacuum cleaners
In addition to the vacuum cleaners described above, you can find highly specialized devices designed to perform some special tasks.
This includes car vacuum cleaners, as well as specific models designed, for example, to care for mattresses (one such device came to us for testing some time ago).
There are also special vacuum cleaners for dust mites, dry cleaners (extractors), vacuum cleaners for pool maintenance, compact handheld vacuum cleaners for maintaining computers and household appliances, professional vacuum cleaners designed for working with power tools, and other specific models, consider which we will not discuss in this review.
Deerma Mites Vacuum-Cl Handheld Dust Mite Vacuum Cleaner
However, it’s worth mentioning their existence: what if someone needs just such a special device!
Conclusions
There are four main types of devices on the vacuum cleaner market today: conventional (traditional) vacuum cleaners, household vacuum cleaners, upright vacuum cleaners and robotic vacuum cleaners.
All of them are widely used in apartments and private houses, but each of these categories of devices has its own “specialization” (although, of course, partly all of them can replace each other in case of urgent need).
The choice of the most suitable type of vacuum cleaner and a specific model is determined primarily by the tasks that are supposed to be solved using the device: a traditional vacuum cleaner is better for daily cleaning of an apartment, in case of repair, a household (industrial) device cannot be dispensed with, and if the user is faced with a task spend as little time as possible cleaning the house, then the robot vacuum cleaner will become the main assistant in this matter.
Note that different types of these devices do not replace (or at least not completely replace) each other, and therefore, in many cases, the best solution would be to buy two vacuum cleaners at once. For example, for a private home, it makes sense to purchase a large household vacuum cleaner for quick and efficient cleaning of large areas, and in addition to it, a robot vacuum cleaner for daily dealing with dust and pet hair.
Should I choose a vacuum cleaner with a bag or a container?
If you have landed on this page, you are probably tormented by the question of which is better: a vacuum cleaner with a bag or with a container.
Looking ahead, let’s say: each of them has its own characteristics and shortcomings. What they consist of and what to choose after all – let’s figure it out.
Bag vacuum cleaners
Inside such a vacuum cleaner there is a bag where a stream of dusty air with wool, crumbs, hair and other types of pollution enters. The dust collector is made of a permeable material: fabric or multilayer paper. The garbage is retained in the bag, and the air, passing through the pores and the filtration system, comes out.
There are 2 types of dust bags: disposable and reusable. Disposable are made, as a rule, from thick paper. Once filled, they must be replaced. Reusable are made from multilayer fabric. They can be shaken out, washed and reused.
Advantages and disadvantages of bagged vacuum cleaners
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Vacuum cleaners with plastic dust container
Vacuum cleaners with a cyclone filter were invented relatively recently.
They are called so because the air inside the container quickly moves in a circle, forming a vortex.
Cyclone vacuum cleaners are equipped with a transparent plastic container with two chambers. Dirty air enters there and moves downward in a spiral. At the same time, centrifugal force acts on the garbage, which presses it against the walls of the container. A significant part of the debris settles in the container, and the purified air moves upward along a spiral path. There are still small dust particles in it – the HEPA filter will hold them. Depending on the class, it catches up to 99.99% pollution, thus protecting the motor and our respiratory organs. After cleaning, it remains only to remove the container from the body of the vacuum cleaner, throw out the garbage from it and, if necessary, rinse the flask with water.
The cyclone filter can be equipped with a conventional corded vacuum cleaner, a vertical cordless vacuum cleaner, and a robot vacuum cleaner.
Advantages and disadvantages of cyclone (bagless) vacuum cleaners
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