Affiliate Disclosure: I am grateful to be of service and to bring you content free of charge. In order to do this, please note that when you click links and purchase items, in most cases I receive referral commissions. Eventually, I may earn enough to buy a beer or two 🙂
What Is The Best Black + Decker Hand Vacuum?
Cordless vacuum cleaners are not created equal, it can be easy to buy a cheap unit with terrible suction. I’ve found a low-cost handheld vacuum that cleans everything from carpets and hard flooring to high reaching areas and tight gaps. The BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX Lithium Flex Vacs is incredibly versatile thanks to the included stick vac attachment with a floor cleaner head and a four-foot extendable hose. Pet owners will be glad to know that a specialised pet brush is included to eliminate animal hairs.
Not only is the Black + Decker hand vacuum portable but it provides a convenient solution for multi-functional cleaning at a fraction of the cost of premium brands.
Use the Flex Vacs to clean the entire house in less time than a full-sized vacuum, and it is a great way to clean car interiors without worrying about plugging in cables.
The unit is lightweight and sports a high-grade 20V MAX lithium-ion battery that delivers great suction power to tackle dust and dirt.
Convenience and Maintenance
The latest Flex Vac is equipped with a detachable, cleanable filter and bowl for easier maintenance. The Black + Decker vacuum comes with storage for accessories and a charging station. In addition to the stick attachments and pet brush, you are provided with convenient tools including a crevice attachment and a flip-up dusting brush for furniture, surfaces and drapes. There is a tool for every cleaning task whether it is hard-to-reach areas, stairs or different floor types.
What Does BLACK + DECKER offer?
The Black + Decker brand has been around for more than a century and has established itself as a company that builds dependable market-leading products. Their range of vacuum cleaners are synonymous with the brand’s high standards. I’ve tested various Black + Decker handheld vacuums and I’m always impressed at the balance struck between affordability and multi-functional cleaning.
Flex Vacs Feature Summary
The Flex Vacs cleaner is lightweight, powerful and versatile for any household.
The long flexible hose helps to clean high reaching area and awkward compact spaces.
The stick attachment and floor head extend the functionality of this handheld for it to clean any type of floor and bigger cleaning tasks.
Cyclone power drives dirt from the filter to keep the suction at its optimum.
I like that the bowl can be emptied easily and the filter/bowl can be washed.
There’s a good variety of tools provided to tackle any type of cleaning around the house.
Black + Decker Flex Vacs Performance
The Flex Vacs is in the low price range, which means the possibility of low suction performance that is experienced with vacuums in this price bracket. Thankfully this isn’t the case with the Black + Decker hand vacuum. I was keen to test the floor cleaner head that accompanied the machine, the suction was a lot stronger than I had anticipated and was maintained throughout the job. My house has a mixture of hard floors, carpets, rugs and plenty of awkward spaces that can often make cleaning difficult.
The Flex Vacs performs a lot better than Dirt Devils and Dust Busters and will last much longer. It is handy for cleaning up floors after parties and for bigger jobs such as vacuuming the whole house. I remember using the Black + Decker vacuum whilst my sister was visiting and she was so impressed by its performance that she bought one the next day.
when cleaning I normally use the machine between 20 – 45 minutes and during this time my tasks will range from cleaning stairs, furniture, chandeliers, living room, kitchen, 3 bedrooms, office and a bathroom. The suction never fades and I like that it is instantly available for quick clean-ups. I store it under the kitchen sink for easy access. I’ve got energetic kids and a pet that sheds a whole bunch of hair and the Flex Vacs is the perfect vacuum to deal with the variety of cleaning demands.
I’ve used the vacuum several times to clean the car interior and found it to be easier to handle compared to some of the other brands that I’ve tried. It doesn’t completely replace the need for a full-sized vacuum because it won’t deep clean carpets but it is great for quick cleanups and topping up a deeper clean.
Prior to owning a handheld vacuum cleaner, I found it annoying when I had to unpack my full sized vacuum to clean small amounts of mess. I’m thankful to own a Black + Decker handheld that takes away the inconvenience of lugging out a big vacuum cleaner.
Pros:
It’s easy to assemble and attach tools to the main unit.
The charging station has a convenient design that allows you to slot the vacuum straight on without worrying about plugs. It also doubles up as storage for tools.
Charging is quick and you never need to worry about the battery overcharging thanks to the automatic cutoff switch.
Long battery power that can easily give enough power to clean an entire house. My home is on 3 floors and it usually takes 45 minutes to vacuum all the floors and the stairs. The vacuum didn’t lose suction at any point and it provided plenty of power to lift pet hair, dust and cereals.
Tools are easy to attach and remove. The pet hair tool was effective and it eliminated all traces of animal hair.
A large bagless dirt bin that doesn’t require frequent emptying.
Great vacuum design that is easy to handle and light enough to avoid wrist strain.
Cons:
The machine is loud because of the high suction power. You can also hear the dirt spinning around in the bin. This is a minor issue when you consider the benefits.
Floor tool is better on hard floors than carpets and rugs.
There’s only space for 2 attachments on the charging base.
Emptying the dirt bin is a bit awkward, you need to tilt the whole machine on its side and position it directly over the trash can.
BLACK+DECKER BDH2020FLFH MAX Product Rating
Excellent cleaning and versatility are what the Flex Vacs is all about. Whether you’re a pet owner in a busy household or a singleton in a small apartment, this handheld vacuum will clean anywhere you take it. It is equipped with a great range of attachments to clean all areas of your home and it has received a huge amount of positive feedback from customers.
If you’re looking for a portable, affordable and reliable hand vacuum, the BLACK+DECKER BDH2020FLFH MAX is a great addition to your home.
Is Flex Vacs the best Black + Decker hand vacuum? Yes, it is a low-cost vacuum cleaner bundled with multiple tools to make light work of any cleaning task. It is a great buy for anyone looking for a reliable ultra-compact vacuum that isn’t constrained by electric cables or poor battery life. Maintenance is also at its cheapest thanks to the washable filter and bagless dirt bowl.
Are you considering buying the BLACK+DECKER BDH2020FLFH MAX Lithium handheld vacuum or do you already own one? Please leave your comments in the section below. I’d love to hear from you.
Affiliate Disclosure: I am grateful to be of service and to bring you content free of charge. In order to do this, please note that when you click links and purchase items, in most cases I receive referral commissions. Eventually, I may earn enough to buy a beer or two 🙂
Best Battery Operated Vacuum Cleaner: The Next Generation Portable Vacuum
In this review, I’d like to test drive Dyson’s newest offering- the cordless V10. It hasn’t been long since the V8 graced us with its presence and quickly became a household favourite. Dyson has now taken cordless vacuums to the next level with a completely redesigned machine.
The Dyson V10 Absolute is equipped with a higher battery capacity that delivers 60 minutes operating time, there is an updated digital motor, a bigger dirt bin and redesigned accessories that enhance your house cleaning experience. All of this is innovation can be enjoyed without the hassle of a cord.
James Dyson recently announced that he will stop making corded vacuums and the V10 is the machine that will allow him to do this.
At the moment, the V10 has received a strong reception whilst consumers get accustomed to the machine but I want to put the hype to one side and concentrate on the product’s features and determine whether it is a marked improvement over the previous V8 to justify the $699 cost.
Dyson V10 Features
2 cleaning heads are provided with the V10. One head is adapted for hard floors and the other for carpets.
The upgraded digital motor inside the machine provides a 20% increase in power compared to the V8.
The cordless vacuum is fitted with 14 cyclones that separate dust and allergens from the air and traps them inside the bin.
The nickel-cobalt-aluminium battery gives up to an hour running time.
A complete unit filter system catches 99.9% of allergens and cleans the air.
The new design aligns the cyclone, bin and motor horizontally rather than vertically and in doing so, generates 20% increased suction over the cordless V8.
It features 3 different cleaning modes to handle any type of floor.
Additional accessories are provided for a complete cleaning solution including high reaching areas, car interiors and stairs.
Pros
Longer battery life that lasts up to 1 hour.
High cleaning performance on both carpets and hard floors.
HEPA filtration system comes as standard and is handy for allergy sufferers.
The new design features a bigger dirt bin compared to the cordless V8.
The improved specs and bigger bin don’t impact the machine’s weight which is less than 7 pounds / 3.17 KG.
Cons
The V10 is a pricier machine.
The Batteries can’t be swapped.
Dyson V10 Absolute Performance
The V10 is 20% more powerful than the V8 (a vacuum that is already quite powerful). It is debatable whether the V10 can completely replace a corded vacuum cleaner but this depends on several factors, primary the battery life.
The cordless V10 is hugely versatile and easy to navigate meaning that I can vacuum my entire 3 bedroomed house, including 2 flights of stairs, cleaning furniture and drapes in about 30 mins.
The V10 does eliminate the need to use a corded vacuum cleaner as a backup and personally I think it is the right move for Dyson to phase out their corded machines.
Powerful V10 Digital Motor
The new V10 digital motor isn’t an upgrade of the previous one, it’s a totally redesigned digital motor with greater efficiency.
The key difference is aligning its position horizontally rather than vertically. The engineers did this for 2 reasons.
#1. The new alignment allows for better airflow as it travels between the cleaning head and the motor.
#2. The alignment is more efficient because the air is travelling in a straight line. This meant that the engineers could harness 20% more power without the need of increasing the size of the digital motor and the weight of the machine.
The V10 Bin is Bigger
The new machine design enabled a clever way to increase the bin size without compromising usability or weight. The new V10 bin has a capacity of 0.77 litres compared to the V8 which has 0.53 litres. This equates to about a 40% size improvement, for less frequent bin emptying and more cleaning.
The new design does mean that the bin requires emptying from the front instead of the base of the machine. If you already own a Dyson V8 you might be used to the old emptying system but it won’t take you long to get familiar with the new design.
The V10 maintains a similar mechanism used on the V8 that assists with ejecting dirt from the bin.
Another improvement to the internal system is the impeller fan that has been modified to rotate up to 125,000rpm at the maximum setting. The higher airflow results in enhanced cleaning performance.
Better Battery
Another noteworthy improvement is the new battery which houses 7 nickel-cobalt-aluminium batteries that power the machine for up to 1 hour whilst maintaining high suction power.
Each battery cell operates at 25.2 volts and 525 watts which is higher than the V8 battery cells that operate at 21.6 volts and 400 watts.
Nickel-Cobalt-Aluminium batteries can reserve more energy than a standard lithium-ion battery which means longer running times and a longer lifespan.
Better Power Output
The enhancements and efficiencies will result in improved power with noticeably cleaner floors. The improvements add about 150 air watts when the V10 is turned up to the maximum setting.
When comparing the V10 to a corded Dyson vacuum you will notice that there’s a difference of about 50 airs watts. Corded Dyson machines generate over 200 air watts of suction power. As mentioned before, the V10 is a move in the right direction and the machine is helping to catch up with the power of corded vacuums.
V10 has 3 Different Power Modes
Prior to V10, it predecessors only featured 2 power settings- standard mode and maximum mode. The V10 is now designed with 3 different power settings with an extra setting that deep cleans high-pile carpets.
Dyson V10 Cyclone Power
The Dyson V10 motor is equipped with 14 cyclones that force tiny particles to stay trapped in the bin. These Cyclones play a big part in providing a complete filtration system that extracts 99.9% of allergens from the air.
What Tools Do You Get?
Dyson is generous with the range of accessories provided with the V10 to provide a total cleaning solution. You are given 6 attachments.
Attachments included are:
A torque drive cleaner for carpets.
A soft roller cleaning head for vacuuming hard floors.
Combination tool.
Crevice tool for tight gaps.
A mini-motorized brush for vacuuming dust and hair off fabric furniture.
Soft dusting brush for cleaning delicate surfaces, keyboards, lampshades or chandeliers.
V10 Floor Cleaning Performance
Similar to the Dyson V8, the V10 absolute is provided with 2 cleaning heads- one for hard flooring and the other for carpets.
The Torque Drive Cleaner is adapted to deliver better cleaning of carpets and rugs. The soft roller head is designed for hard floor i.e. tiles, vinyl, laminate and wooden floors.
Both attachments are a valuable addition to the V10 and utilise its power to suck up big piles of dirt.
Performance is strong on both heads although the soft roller can leave behind bigger chunks of dirt on the first sweep but subsequently sucks it up on the return sweep.
Dyson V10 Attachments
Soft roller cleaner head
Torque drive cleaner
Mini motorized tool
Mini soft dusting brush
Combination tool
Crevice tool
Dyson V10 Product Specs
Brush roll on/off: No
Wall Mount Charger: 7-cell nickel-cobalt-aluminium battery
Charger: Wall Mount Charger
Charge time: 3 hours 30 minutes
Battery Runtime: 1 hour
Net Weight: 5.9 pounds / 2.68 KG
Shipping Weight: 13.27 pounds / 6.02 KG
Cleaning Path: 10.1″/ 25.7 cm
Overall length: 49.2″/ 125 cm
Battery indicator: Yes
Filter type: Lifetime washable filter
Dirt bin capacity: 0.2 gallons / 0.757 litres
Air Watts: 150 AW
Voltage: 110v
Warranty: 2 years
Dyson V10 Customer Feedback
The early customer response has been favourable with praise received for the cordless V10’s impressive cleaning performance on carpets.
Customers are satisfied with the improved features and increased bin capacity whilst keeping the weight of the machine just as light as previous models.
Cordless convenience is the biggest benefit here. The earliest cordless Dyson could only run for up to 20 minutes but the new Dyson V10 gives you 300% more runtime.
A longer battery and increased suction power lets users focus more time on areas that are harder to reach without worrying about the battery running out. This is evident from the strong customer ratings.
The Cordless V10 has allowed the Dyson Company to narrow the gap between cordless and corded vacuum cleaners.
The suction power is almost comparable and one would wonder if there’s a need to have a corded machine laying around.
Is the Dyson V10 Absolute the best battery powered vacuum cleaner? At the moment it is leading the race by miles and its closing in on its corded equivalents.
The bigger bin, improved battery life and airflow efficiency are all welcome additions. Plus you get all of this fitted inside a lightweight cordless vacuum cleaner.
The V10 might be pricier than its rivals but the cost can be justified by the impressive performance from a cordless machine, it is a great addition to any household. Are you considering buying the Dyson V10 absolute or do you already own one? Please leave your comments in the section below.
Affiliate Disclosure: I am grateful to be of service and to bring you content free of charge. In order to do this, please note that when you click links and purchase items, in most cases I receive referral commissions. Eventually, I may earn enough to buy a beer or two 🙂
Best Rated Cordless Vacuum Cleaner
Are you after a cordless vacuum that ticks all the boxes? A portable machine with a long battery life, HEPA filtration and everything else. The reason why Dyson is causing a stir with their stick vacuum cleaners is because the Dyson V8 cordless cleaner has gained a huge amount of positive ratings and soared in popularity.
In this review, I’ll pick out the best features built into the V8 and why it should be your next vacuum cleaner.
Stick Vacuums Are Incredibly Convenient
When we moved into a bigger house I underestimated the time it would take me to vacuum, given that our house is on 3 floors (with kids running around and a dog). It wasn’t long before I loathed taking out my big vacuum cleaner from the storage area, plugging it and returning it afterwards. This ritual became somewhat of an annoyance.
I decided to invest in a cordless stick cleaner and began researching which vacuum would be strong enough to cope with a demanding home. I wanted a lightweight machine with enough power to deep clean my carpets and rugs.
When the Dyson V8 arrived my first impressions were “Gosh this vacuum cleaner is very small”. I immediately fell in love with its compactness and premium quality synonymous to Dyson. It had everything that I could possibly need to clean carpets, stairs, hard floors, high reaching areas and tight gaps.
V8 Performance
The V8 comes to life as soon as you engage the trigger, which in turn powers down the machine instantly as soon as your finger releases from the trigger. The brush bar is almost twice as powerful as its predecessors and the quality of suction power can be noticed immediately.
The portable Dyson V8 is undoubtedly the most powerful cordless vacuum cleaner because it is designed and fitted with the Dyson digital motor V8 which spins up to 110,000 rpm (faster than a formula one engine) to deliver unrivalled cordless suction power.
Within the Dyson vacuum’s enclosure sits a 2 level Radial cyclone system that houses 15 cyclones. They work in unison to distribute the airflow efficiently and catch a greater amount of dust and dirt.
If you are faced with a really challenging task then fear not because the V8 is equipped with a turbo boost button which ramps up the suction power for 7 minutes.
What Attachments Are Supplied With The Dyson V8?
The Direct Drive cleaner head is designed with specially adapted bristles that extract more dirt from your carpets. The result is a deeper clean that your carpets will appreciate. It’s evident that the Dyson V8 is in a class of its own.
You are also provided with an attachment for hard floors. The soft roller cleaner head is all about tiles, laminate, vinyl and wooden floors. The tool swiftly removes everything from big dirt particles to gathering dust with a single swoop.
There is a Mini motorized tool for stubborn dirt. The firm nylon bristles agitate dirt that’s hiding deep inside your carpet. The tool is also a personal favourite for lifting pet hair and cleaning car interiors.
The Mini soft dusting brush is ideally suited for dusting delicate surfaces, fixtures and fittings. The brush cleverly attaches to the stick so you can dust chandeliers, ceiling fans and other items in high reaching areas.
The Dyson V8 Cordless is Mega Versatile
You can also quickly switch from stick to handheld mode by simply unclipping the stick from the main machine with a single action. Dyson machines share a universal system to attach tools that you’ll be familiar with if you’ve ever used one of their vacuum cleaners. The versatile nature of Dyson V8 is extremely useful for tackling multiple tasks when needed.
It Steers Corners Like a Dream
When using the Dyson cordless vacuum as a stick you’ll immediately notice the ease in which it manoeuvres around corners and in between furnishings.
The weight of the machine is balanced evenly and the cleaner heads are fitted with the famous “Dyson Ball” to steer wherever you need it to go.
The lighter weighing machine and pinpoint steering makes for a user-friendly experience and is easy on the hands and wrists. I would recommend docking the machine in the busiest part of the house, such as the kitchen or living room so that you always have immediate access to it.
Cordless Vacuums are the Future
Electric cords are restrictive and tend to get in the way. They often get tangled up and are generally annoying, especially when you are short on time. Using the Dyson V8 has given me the freedom to move between rooms easier and faster as I’m not restricted by wires.
It’s good to know that this cordless vacuum cleaner is equipped with whole machine HEPA filtration. The V8 will catch allergens and irritants floating in the air, separate them from the air as it travels through the machine and expels clean air. I would recommend HEPA vacuums for dust allergy and hay fever sufferers.
Longer Battery Life
The Dyson V8 is driven by a modern Lithium-ion battery that gives the vacuum a running time of 40 minutes. The vacuum will run for 25 minutes when attached to a motorized floor tool. Battery charging time is 4 hours but this is not a problem as I’ve never run out power halfway through vacuuming. When I’m done I simply clip it back to its wall mount where it charges up automatically.
Docking Station
The docking station can be conveniently mounted to a nearby wall for safe storage of your Dyson vacuum. The Dock will charge the battery and also store extra attachments.
Dyson V8 Product Rating
Dyson cordless vacuum cleaners are rated very high, the company scored the highest among battery powered stick vacuums in the J.D. Power 2017 Vacuum Satisfaction Study. The survey was based on the data collected from nearly 7000 customers that bought a stick vacuum cleaner between February-March 2017.
If you’re searching for the best rated cordless vacuum cleaner you will not find a machine better than the Dyson V8.
It is reliable, powerful and is equipped with every possible attachment you could ever need to clean your floors, furniture, car interior, stairs and everything else in between.
You can buy your cordless Dyson vacuum with the confidence that it will not lose suction. Whether you need to tidy up the entire house or a quick clean, using the V8 will always take less time than lugging around a bigger vacuum.
Affiliate Disclosure: I am grateful to be of service and to bring you content free of charge. In order to do this, please note that when you click links and purchase items, in most cases I receive referral commissions. Eventually, I may earn enough to buy a beer or two 🙂
If you’re struggling to vacuum your home regularly I can help you find the best time-saving vacuum cleaners to keep on top of a dirty home. A regular cleaning schedule mostly depends on the type of vacuum cleaner you choose to buy. There are some handy solutions out there even if you own a pet/s or have kids running around.
Most of us have crazy busy lives and it’s often difficult to sort out our homes. Our biggest gripe is dirty floors. It doesn’t take much for the kids to bring dirt into the house or for pets to shed their hair everywhere.
After a busy day, the last thing I want to do is take out the vacuum cleaner, I’ve got just about enough energy to cook the evening meal! Thankfully there are two great solutions to help with vacuuming. Our recommendations will ensure that your carpets and floors are constantly cleaned. For this scenario, you can either choose complete automation or choose a vacuum cleaner that is incredibly quick to use.
Automated Vacuum Cleaning
This is the age of robot vacuum cleaners. I started seeing these little machines popping up several years ago but up until recently, their features were limited. Manufacturers have improved robot vacuum technology to include ultra-convenient features such as automated scheduling and automatic self-charging.
If you want to save yourself a heap of time I’d highly recommend that you buy a robot vacuum cleaner so that you have one less thing to worry about. Why do I rate robot cleaners so highly? Because they pack a lot of suction power inside a compact body and require little help to get on with the job.
Not all robot vacuums are created equally. Avoid cheap brands that are more trouble than they’re worth.
One of biggest issue that customers complain about is poor quality batteries on inferior models. I would recommend buying your robot from brands like Eufy, Neato, iLife, Ecovacs and obviously Dyson (if you can afford it).
What can you expect from a good robotic vacuum cleaner? Great convenience and time-saving are at the forefront of robot cleaners. Most robots are supplied with a remote control to schedule a cleaning routine that works best for you.
Some have additional functionality to be controlled via a smartphone app. You can check the status of the robot, remaining battery time or turn it on manually to perform an ad-hoc clean.
Emptying the dirt bin takes a few seconds but it’s a small price to pay for the amount of time you reclaim. Personally for me, the Neato D80 is a firm favourite. The Neato robot eliminates pet hair better than some larger vacuums.
Clever route guidance enables it to navigate in a logical pattern and stick to the most efficient route. D80 is built with convenience at its core and is easy to set up.
Please note that robot vacuums cannot travel up and down stairs or clean high reaching areas. For this, you’ll need a secondary vacuum. Don’t worry, I’ve got a good solution for this below. Keep reading…
Super Quick Vacuum Cleaning
If you’re not sold on a robot vacuum cleaner, the next best solution is a cordless stick vacuum.
I must confess that from the onset, I wasn’t convinced that a cordless cleaner could clean as effectively as my full-sized upright vacuum but it wasn’t long before I changed my mind.
Choose your stick vacuum wisely and you’ll enjoy the benefits of faster vacuuming when compared to a bulkier appliance.
At the moment, Dyson is at the forefront of cordless stick technology. Why? They’ve designed a tiny powerful digital motor that spins faster than a formula 1 engine and managed to fit it into a stick vacuum cleaner that weighs a minuscule 2.3 kgs (5.07 pounds).
Stick vacuums are lightweight and portable and this makes all the difference for anyone wanting to vacuum quickly.
The secret is to store your stick in high traffic rooms such as the kitchen or the living room where you have immediate access to it. Most come with a mountable wall bracket.
What happens is that you’ll get into a routine of cleaning little and often. I can usually clean a whole room in the time that it takes me to take out my full sized vacuum and plug it in.
Dyson has a great range of cordless stick vacuums including the V6, V7 and V8. Each model has specific variants to meet the needs of demanding households including homes with pets, cleaning car interiors, vacuuming hard to reach areas, and also a mattress vacuum that gets rid of bed bugs.
Another great feature found on Dyson stick cleaners is a turbo boost button that cranks up the suction when extra power is needed for stubborn dirt like dried up mud or dirt deep-seated into your carpets.
The Dyson ball has been fitted into the cleaner head and it’s impressive to see how much time you save with the pinpoint steering. You can zip around and underneath furniture in minimal time no matter which Dyson model you decide to buy.
Typically I can vacuum the whole house in 10-15 mins compared to my upright vacuum that takes twice as long. I live in a busy 3 bedroom home with 2 flights of stairs, kids, a lazy husband and a dog.
If you’ve read my previous posts you’ll notice that I’m a huge Dyson fan and that’s because I stand behind high-quality products that work and make my life easier. I don’t see the point of buying a cheap appliance that doesn’t clean too well and has a higher chance of breaking down. Pay a little extra and save money in the long term.
Conclusion
It’s easy to fall behind with vacuuming when considering our busy lifestyles. Make a smart choice and buy a robot vacuum cleaner or a cordless stick vacuum and they’ll always be time for your floors to be cleaned regularly.
Are you thinking of buying a cordless stick or robot vacuum recommended above? Please get in touch via the comments section below. I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Who Makes The Best Vacuum Cleaner? This is the most common question that I get asked by prospective customers looking to buy the ultimate vacuum cleaner. Before we select the best brands we need to first look at what type of vacuum cleaner is best for your home. Here are a few questions you need to ask yourself:
Do you require a cordless or a corded vacuum cleaner?
Do you need a stick, upright, canister or handheld vacuum cleaner?
Do you want a vacuum that is lightweight and quieter to operate?
How much are you willing to spend on your new vacuum cleaner?
Vacuum Cleaner Budget
Paying more money for a premium vacuum doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll get the best features.
After reviewing a countless amount of vacuums I’ve found budget vacuum cleaners that can sometimes outperform their pricier counterparts.
Personally, I like the Dyson brand because when you buy one of their vacuums you’ll notice the difference in performance straight away. You want a vacuum cleaner that is easy to handle, the machine shouldn’t weigh a tonne and of course, it should never lose suction.
Time-Saving Vacuum Cleaners
If you struggle to find the time to vacuum clean regularly I would highly recommend a robot vacuum that can be programmed to clean whilst you’re out and about. Here is a list of the Best Robot cleaners that we’ve tested and found to be just as effective as doing the job yourself.
If you can’t decide whether to buy canister or upright vacuum cleaner, why not choose a 2-in-1 cleaner that combines the power of an upright with the portability of a canister cleaner. For this, I’d highly recommend the Shark brand.
The Shark Navigator Lift-Away is a good example of great functionality and convenience fitted into a single machine.
If you are looking a low priced 2-in-1 vacuum with identical performance as an expensive premium then Shark Navigator Lift Away Pro NV356E is suited for the job. The transformation between upright and canister mode lets you make light work of cleaning stairs, carpets, hard flooring and hard-to-reach areas.
Cordless Suction Power
I’ll be honest that when I first heard about battery-powered vacuum cleaners I wasn’t convinced that they could produce enough suction power to lift dust, carpet fluff and stubborn dirt.
After testing several brands I recommend staying away from cheap cordless cleaners and pay a little extra for a Dyson V6 handheld vacuum. Why? Because the V6 is very powerful and not as expensive as the Dyson V8 but delivers similar performance albeit a slightly shorter battery life.
I found myself using the Dyson V6 more than my full sized vacuum and achieving similar cleaning results. You can mount the V6 stick vacuum on a nearby wall in the most frequented room and you’ve got immediate access to a powerful vacuum.
The wall bracket ensures that the battery is always fully charged and ready. Its great to see it at work considering how small and light it is.
Cordless Upright Vacuum Cleaner
If you’d prefer an upright vacuum cleaner but hate power cables getting in the way, the Bissell AirRam is a unique cordless upright that weighs just 3.5 kgs. It’s classed as a full-sized vacuum cleaner but it doesn’t come with the bulk of one.
Bissell AirRam runs for 40 minutes on a single charge, which is more than enough time to vacuum the entire house without worrying about the battery running out halfway through cleaning.
The machine is bagless and is fitted with a special bin that compresses the dirt to avoid clouds of dust escaping back into the air. Simply slide the ejector arm in one single motion to empty the bin. I like the LED lights fitted on the front of the cleaner head to help see dirt hidden in dark areas.
Portable Canister Vacuum Cleaners
Canister vacuum cleaners are a popular choice for those looking for a compact machine that is easy to store but shares the equivalent power of an upright vacuum. The Dyson DC39 Animal is a remarkable compact vacuum that delivers 257 AW of suction power.
At its base, the DC39 animal, swivels on top of the Dyson ball for the best manoeuvrability. The machine is certified Asthma and Allergy Friendly and is fitted with washable lifetime filters.
What stands out the most is the set of accessories provided- the turbine head works on most floor types including thick carpets and hard floors, the combination tool and stair tool ensure that every part of your home is accessible. DC39 Animal is compact, stylish and provides a comprehensive cleaning solution for large homes and small apartments.
Best Corded Upright Vacuum Cleaner
I recently reviewed the Dyson DC65 Upright cleaner and was so impressed by the machine’s performance that I bought one for my parents.
Dyson has balanced the weight of the machine and the Dyson ball to give the best handling that I’ve ever experienced on a full-sized upright.
If you’re worried that stairs and high reaching areas are hard to clean with an upright cleaner, the DC65 features a detachable extendable hose specifically for tight gaps, ceilings and stairways.
It lifts double the amount of dirt than its closest rival and purifies the air with its HEPA filters as the air travels through the machine. Dyson gave us bagless technology and Root Cyclone Power- if you’re expecting to use the best, DC65 will not disappoint.
Conclusion
We’ve covered a lot and I’m confident that you’ve found a vacuum cleaner to suit your lifestyle and home. Choosing a vacuum cleaner can be tricky business, it’s much easier to first decide on the type of machine suited for your home, to decide who makes the best vacuum cleaner.
Are you thinking of buying a vacuum from the above list or do you already own one? Please could you leave your comments in the section below. I’d love to hear from you.
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What is the best vacuum cleaner for stairs? My least favourite task is cleaning the stairs. Thankfully, with the correct vacuum I can get the job done quicker and avoid straining my back or arms. It goes without saying that upright vacuum cleaners are not practical for cleaning stairs unless it comes with an extension hose and compatible attachments.
I would highly recommend a lightweight cordless handheld vacuum for stairs. I like the freedom of a cordless vacuum to avoid tangling wires and looking for the nearest plug socket, but if you prefer a corded machine there’s a good selection on the market. I’ve split the review into 2 sections i.e. cordless and corded.
What is The Best Cordless Vacuum Cleaner For Stairs?
I’ll start off with my top ranking cordless vacuum cleaner for stairs. I’ve picked the Dyson V6 Animal because it strikes a good balance for remarkable cleaning power, adequate battery life and convenient accessories. Dyson V6 has also recently been reduced in price and is considerably cheaper than its big brother Dyson V8.
I’ve tested other brands but I’m yet to find one that rivals the cordless suction power of Dyson handhelds. There’s a noticeable difference when you see how much dust, carpet fluff and animal hair is collected by the Dyson V6 compared to alternative brands.
The battery running time is 20 minutes but I can usually get 2 flights of stairs cleaned in 5 minutes and have enough charge left to clean other areas. The most impressive feature is the max mode which cranks up the suction force for 6 minutes- I accidentally split some candle wax on the carpet and was able to suck it up the dried wax using the mini motorised head on max mode.
How did Dyson manage to get all that power in such a small machine? The Dyson V6 is driven by a special small digital motor that spins at up to 110,000 rpm to generate incredible suction. You will also benefit from the cyclonic power. The vacuum is fitted with 15 cyclones that generate powerful force to catch dirt and debris.
Bear in mind that the Dyson V6 weighs a meagre 2.3 kgs but often cleans better than some of the full-sized vacuum cleaners that I’ve used.
You are supplied with a mini motorised head, crevice tool and combination tool. I’ve found that that mini motorised head is the best attachment to use for stairs because it’s fitted with stiff bristles to agitate the carpet and lift up stubborn dirt. The tool has a good width for awkward angles i.e. not too wide or narrow.
The dirt bin should be emptied regularly but this is made easy using the one-click emptying button that will open the bin lid at the bottom of the machine to dispose dirt straight into your bin.
The advantages of spending a little extra to buy a Dyson V6 Animal is that you are guaranteed many years of reliable performance.
Dysons are built to last, are supplied with strong attachments, lifetime filters and Dyson machines don’t break easily. Additionally, the suction power means that you spend less time cleaning because it saves you from going over the same areas.
If you are debating which cordless vacuum cleaner to use for your stairs you won’t find a better machine for the money.
What is the Best Corded Vacuum Cleaner For Stairs?
If you’d prefer a corded handheld vacuum fear not. The Shark Rocket Corded Hand Vac (HV292) is a powerful handheld that cleans stairs fantastically owing to the strong suction.
If you’re searching for a corded machine to tackle stairs quickly and effectively you won’t find a better vacuum.
The Shark Rocket HV292 has a robust body and cleverly designed handle for easier control. The dirt container is simple to empty, the filters are washable and located in their own easily accessible compartments. Similar to the Dyson V6 the dirt bin features a simple dirt emptying mechanism that disposes mess within seconds.
The vacuum can clean up animal hairs with minimal effort and plenty of pet owners favour this vacuum for its brilliant performance at getting their carpeted stairs free from pet hair. You are supplied with a good set of attachments for other tasks as well. There’s a flexible extension hose that adds extra convenience when trying to reach small spaces.
Additionally, the Shark vacuum comes with a 12” crevice tool, dusting brush and TruePet Motorized Brush. The Rocket HV292 is especially handy if you want to benefit from speedy cleaning up of stairs and other areas of your home.
The extra-long cable avoids the need of constantly changing plug sockets although there’s nowhere to wrap the cord on the machine when not in use. The absence of cord storage is a minor niggle that shouldn’t deter you from buying this great handheld vacuum.
I like that the Shark rocket is bagless to save money on the cost of bag replacement. It’s also lighter than it looks and the strong suction is impressive for a vacuum this size. The washable filter should be cleaned monthly to keep the vacuum running at its best. Filter washing should take no longer than 5 minutes and Shark has designed the machine to provide stress-free access to them.
The motorized pet brush works well on stairs but not as good as the mini motorised head that comes with the Dyson V6.
This is because the Shark motorized brush is wider and larger thus making it slightly rigid when working its way through the stairs. I wouldn’t let this detract from the vacuum’s performance. The tool is more than sufficient when compared to similar motorized brushes except for Dyson.
The Shark Rocket HV292 ranks high for anyone looking to buy a low-cost corded vacuum cleaner to use on stairs and any other areas that are difficult to clean with bigger machines.
The Shark hand vacuum delivers 400 Watts of power and is suitable for multiple surfaces. The cable length is 4.57 meters and the machine weighs just 1.67 kgs.
What is the best vacuum cleaner for stairs? The above shortlist should make it easy to choose one that suits your requirements. You just have to decide if you prefer a corded or cordless vacuum. That concludes my summary of the leading vacuums for your stairs.
Are you thinking of buying a convenient vacuum cleaner from the above list? I’d like to hear your opinions, please leave your comments in the section below.
Pros
Dyson V10 Product Specs
Docking Station
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