Top 10 Best Vacuum Cleaners in 2022

The best vacuum cleaners

Messy floors…again?

If you’re having a difficult time keeping your floors in pristine condition, you’re not alone. From pet hair to food crumbs and dust, ensuring your floor is spotless can turn out to be an insurmountable task.

The trick though is to arm yourself with the right cleaning tools. Enter vacuum cleaners. These handy appliances make quick work of cleaning both large and small spaces. Not only do they save you time and energy but they also improve the quality of your indoor air. Overall, vacuum cleaners help you achieve a happy and healthy home.

Not sure of which vacuum cleaner to choose? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. We’ve scoured the web and compiled a list of the 10 best vacuum cleaners. We’ve also provided a comprehensive guide to help you narrow down your options.

Best overall

Some homeowners are hesitant to invest in vacuum cleaners because they assume that the majority come with high price tags. But contrary to these, most vacuums are relatively affordable and the Bissell CleanView is a good case in point.

It’s a corded vacuum that comes with a 25-foot power cord as well as an extension wand to help increase your reach.

Another thing you’ll love about this unit entails its giant dirt cup, which boasts a capacity of 1.0 liter. This reduces the frequency of having to empty it. Its bagless design is another feature that many buyers appreciate.

It minimizes users’ exposure to allergens; making it particularly suitable for those who suffer from asthma and allergies.

That said, Bissell CleanView has a rather tall brushroll head. And for this reason, it’s not easy to maneuver it underneath furniture.

Best premium

If you’re willing to splurge on a high-end vacuum cleaner, the Dyson V11 is just what you need. This vacuum cleaner is best described using three words: powerful, long-lasting and lightweight.

It’s a cordless vacuum that comes equipped with a long-lasting battery. In its lowest setting, which is referred to as Eco mode, the unit can last for a whole hour. That gives you more than enough time to vacuum your home. And if you’re vacuuming a small area that doesn’t require a long runtime, you can opt for Boost mode that offers higher suction power.

If you prefer a more hands-off approach, configure the vacuum to operate in Auto mode. Here, it uses Dynamic Load Sensor to detect the amount of dirt and floor type. It then makes automatic adjustments based on this.

Also onboard this gadget is a handy LCD control panel that displays the current battery level, cleaning mode, maintenance alerts and blockage reports.

Dyson V11 comes close to being the perfect vacuum cleaner. The only problem is its high price tag, which is a turn-off for some buyers.

Best canister vacuum

Canister vacuums like the Bissell Zing are beginning to increase in popularity, and it’s easy to see why. Not only are they light but they’re also quieter and easier to navigate.

This particular canister vacuum weighs less than 10 pounds, which is pretty reasonable. It also features a bagless design, and its dirt compartment has one of the biggest capacities  of 2 liters.

You’ll be impressed with the various cleaning modes, which have been customized for different types of floors. You can go from carpet mode to hard floor mode with a single flip of a switch. The unit also comes fitted with a multi-surface tool that can clean different surfaces.

At just 15 feet, Bissell Zing’s power cord is on the shorter side. The silver lining to this is that it boasts an automatic rewind mechanism, which makes for easy storage and minimizes tangling.

Most Versatile

Looking for a vacuum that will tackle anything you throw at it? Then you won’t be disappointed with the performance of Shark NV356E S2 upright vacuum.

This unit is proof of how versatile vacuum cleaners can be. This stems from the fact that it can be used in an upright way or with the canister separated. More importantly, it comes with a wide range of accessories increasing its range of functions.

For instance, there’s a crevice tool provided. This element has a pretty narrow suction tube that does a decent job of cleaning tight corners and other hard-to-reach spots. Also provided is a pet power brush that’s exceptionally great at cleaning pet dander and ground-in dirt particles.

Other features you’ll love include the HEPA filter that traps up to 99.9% of allergens; and a 2.2-quart dust bin capacity. That said, the Shark S2 is more expensive than other vacuums. It’s also bulky, which can pose a challenge when it comes to storage.

Best upright vacuum

Some homeowners swear by upright vacuums, and it’s easy to see why. Their large vacuum heads can clean bigger areas in one pass, and they’re easier to store. If you’re hell bent on buying an upright model, check out the Oreck XL2100RHS.

It’s a corded vacuum with a generous offering of a 35-foot long power cord. This allows you to clean large chunks of space without being forced to switch outlets.

The gigantic dust bag is another one of its main highlights. It’s described as having a capacity of 630 cubic inches, which translates to about 10 liters.

The best part is, the bag has a top fill design that enables the unit to keep operating at maximum power even when the bag fills up. To top it all off, it’s backed by a 1-year commercial warranty.

The one issue you might not like is that Oreck XL2100RHS does not come with attachments. This factor won’t affect its cleaning performance in any way, but it limits its range of use to an extent.

Best affordable

Are you on a shoestring and are looking to spend the least amount of money on a brand new vacuum? Then you’ll appreciate Bissell 2033 Featherweight that comes in at under $50.

As you can tell from its name, it’s also a very lightweight vacuum. This feature is very handy when you’re vacuuming a home with multiple levels or rooms. To be a little more specific, it weighs a measly 3 lbs., making it the lightest in our review.

Another one of its key highlights entails its 2-in-1 design. You can easily detach the vacuuming part from the hose and convert it into a handheld unit. This provides ease when you have to clean elevated areas like windows.

Moreover, you can attach the floor nozzle to your transformed hand vacuum. This, in turn, offers a lot of convenience when you’re cleaning stairs.

The biggest downside of this vacuum is its 2-amp motor, which offers minimal suction power. As a result, it’s not the best gadget to use for embedded dirt or to deep clean a carpet.

Also, its power cord is just 15 feet long and the dust cup has a capacity of just 0.67 L. This means you’ll have to keep unplugging and reconnecting to the closest outlet. And, the dust compartment fills up fast forcing you to empty it often.

Best for carpet

If you like to use carpets on your floors, then you’ll need to invest in a vacuum cleaner that’s suited to clean such surfaces. Luckily, you don’t have to look that far as the Eureka NEU182A PowerSpeed is the ultimate choice for carpets.

Weighing slightly less than 10 pounds, this vacuum is fairly light; hence easy to wield. But the best part is that it has an adjustable height, which can be adjusted using the knob on its floorhead.

You get up to 5 height settings to pick from; enabling you to vacuum easily underneath high and low carpet.

It also delivers a decent suction power, which is what makes it particularly suited for cleaning carpets. In addition, running this vacuum is very economical thanks to the washable filter that it comes with.

Unfortunately, Eureka PowerSpeed generates quite a bit of noise when it’s in action. So if you have pets or kids who nap during the day, the unit may turn out to be too disruptive.

Best under $100

Don’t want to spend more than $100 on a new vacuum cleaner? Then check out the Eureka Airspeed Ultra-Lightweight unit. It comes in at under $60, making it one of the most affordable units on the market.

And as implied in its title, another thing this vacuum has going for itself is its lightweight profile. It tips the scales at just 7.7 pounds, which means it’s very easy to carry around. This is particu;alry important if you’re looking to vacuum a stairway or different rooms.

Despite being compact and light, we like that the Airspeed doesn’t compromise its dustbin capacity. It has a 1.7L dust cup, which is bigger than what you get from bigger units like the Dirt Devil Endura highlighted below.

Buying replacement filters for your vacuum can get expensive. Fortunately, Eureka includes a washable filter with this unit, which can be easily washed and reused.

While the low price tag is a key selling point, there are a few things you’ll have to sacrifice. One of these is suction power as its motor is rated as having just 6 amps. Also, its 18 foot power cord limits your movement, forcing you to replug whenever you need to clean an adjacent room.

Best for tile floors

Tile flooring is one of the trickiest to vacuum. This is because of the debris that gets trapped in the crevices of the tiles. Thankfully, the Dirt Devil Endura has enough suction power to suck out any dirt particles that are embedded in the tiles.

Underneath its hood is an 8-amp motor. Though it doesn’t have the highest rating, it’s powerful enough to get rid of dust from pretty much any surface; be it carpets, furniture or tile flooring.

The vacuum gets its name from the Endura filter that it comes equipped with. This enables the unit to work for longer without compromising on suction power.

You will also be impressed with its lightweight design, and the range of accessories included in the package (a dusting brush and crevice tool).

That said, its power cord is on the shorter side, meaning you have to unplug and replug if you’re cleaning from one room to the next. It also doesn’t have a very big dust cup capacity (1.5 liters).

Best for pet hair

Not every vacuum cleaner is suitable for removing pet hair. To tackle this, the gadget ought to have a powerful suction, tangle-free brush roll and an easy-to-empty dust cup. The Hoover Wind Tunnel 3 checks all these boxes and more.

In fact, the ‘3’ in its title refers to the three channels of suction that it offers. It’s also worthy to point out that it’s equipped with a 12-amp motor, which is way more powerful than the 8-amp motor present in other vacuum cleaners.

Another feature you’ll love about this vacuum is that it’s very easy to use. For starters, it arrives with most of its parts put together, making it easy to get started vacuuming. Secondly, it has one of the longest cords; up to 40 feet. This lets you clean between rooms without having to unplug.

Better yet, you’ll have the freedom to adjust its height at 7 different levels. This makes it possible to clean underneath low lying furniture and tight spots.

The one thing we weren’t too pleased about was its high noise level. Plus, the cord isn’t retractable so it makes the unit somewhat bulky.

What to look for in a good vacuum cleaner

Before you rush to make any purchases, there are a couple of points you should keep in mind when shopping for a vacuum cleaner.

Design

The first thing you’ll want to determine is the design of the vacuum cleaner that works best for you. On that note, we’ll look at two different types: a canister and upright.

Canister vs. upright:

A canister vacuum is made of a wheeled body, which is then affixed to a vacuum wand and power head through a hose.

The canister part of this gadget is what houses the motor, filter and dustbin. Although some have slightly different designs where the powerhead houses a smaller motor.

Due to the structure of a canister vacuum, it has a much lighter profile. You only need to navigate the wand and power head when cleaning. Furthermore, most canisters contain a set of wheels making them easy to drag around as you vacuum.

An upright is designed very differently in that the motor, filter and dust bin are all blended into one unit.

This one-piece design results in a much heavier vacuum, which poses a challenge when vacuuming. This is because you have to move all these components anytime you’re cleaning.

This doesn’t necessarily mean that upright vacuum cleaners are bad. They have their fair share of merits. For instance, they’re more powerful than their canister counterparts.

This makes them better at deep-cleaning surfaces, especially carpets. And, they’re also easier to store as they can stand up on their own.

Bagged vs. bagless:

Another aspect you’ll want to examine is the technique for collecting all the dirt and debris that is captured by your vacuum cleaner. In that regard, vacuums fall under two categories: bagged and bagless.

With the bagged design, the vacuum is attached to a bag, which stores all the dirt and debris sucked up the unit. Once the bag is filled to the brim, all you have to do is detach it from the vacuum and dispose of it.

The greatest benefit offered by this method is that you’ll never have to come into contact with the dirt. This is particularly beneficial for individuals who suffer from allergies. Bagged models are also fairly easier to maintain as all you’ll be doing is discarding the bags.

On the downside, bagged vacuums have a negative impact on the environment. Each time you have to dispose of a bag and replace it with another, you’re contributing to landfill waste.

This can be particularly problematic if you live in a household that keeps multiple pets. For such spaces, the vacuum bags can fill up pretty quickly, and this only adds to the landfill waste.

A bagless vacuum, on the other hand, does not contain any bag. Instead, the gadget is equipped with a transparent compartment that stores all the vacuumed particles. Once this compartment fills to capacity, you’ll have to detach it from the vacuum, empty then return it.

That said, bagless vacuums have a couple of drawbacks. For one, they’re much harder to maintain. Secondly, they require a more hands-on approach which is not only time-consuming but also increases your exposure to allergens.

Power source

One other decision you’ll have to make is picking between a corded and cordless vacuum.

A corded vacuum comes equipped with a power cord. You have to plug this cord to an electrical outlet to be able to use the machine.

The biggest advantage of a corded model is that it offers a steady power supply, allowing you to clean for an extended period. But there’s one catch: you can only move as far as the length of the power cord allows. It means that if the cord is too short, you’ll be forced to unplug and plug it to the nearest power source.

Conversely, a cordless vacuum does not have a power cord. Instead, it’s fitted with a battery, which can be either fixed or swappable.

With a fixed battery, you’ll have to recharge it every time it runs out. But if the battery is swappable, you can replace it with a fully charged one whenever it runs low. This allows you to keep using the vacuum cleaner as the other battery charges.

Type of floor

The type of floor that you’ll be using your vacuum cleaner is another factor you should account for.

Some vacuum cleaners are designed specifically to clean hardwood floors. Others, however, are powerful and versatile enough to be used on laminate, vinyl, tile as well as low and high-pile carpets.

One component that can help you make the right decision is a brush roll. Vacuums that don’t have this element are best suited for hardwood and tiled floors. This is because the stiff fibers on a brush roll can end up scratching these surfaces or scatter dust.

That said, there are a few advanced vacuum cleaners that give you the freedom to disable the rotation of the brush roll when you’re vacuuming. If this is the case, then you can use such a gadget on hardwood or tile flooring.

Type of filter

Ever wondered why vacuum cleaners are equipped with filters? Well, consider the working mechanism of this gadget.

It’s primary role is to capture particles present on surfaces and deposit them into the canister. This process causes a vacuum to constantly fill up with air. As a result, it has to expel a potion of this air back into space.

This is where a filtration system proves handy. It traps dust and other particles, ensuring that the “exhaust” air expelled back into the room is completely clean.

There are two main types of filters: standard filters and HEPA filters.

A standard filter operates by passing air via a fine mesh, allowing dust particles that are larger than the holes in the mesh to be trapped. While effective, these regular filters aren’t able to capture all the dirt particles present in air. As a result, the air released into a space is slightly contaminated.

HEPA, which is the acronym for High Efficiency Particulate Arrestance, is an improvement of a standard filter. It’s constructed using tiny fibers of glass and carbon-based materials, allowing it to trap up 99.97% of dust particles, which have a diameter as small as 0.3 microns.

Given their superior efficiency, HEPA filters are the most recommended for allergy sufferers. Luckily, most modern vacuums come fitted with these types of filters.

FAQ

Final verdict

Have you been searching for the best vacuum cleaner for your home? If you have, there are a few things you should keep in mind before purchasing one.

These include the type of floor you’ll be vacuuming, the type of filters present in the gadget, power source and vacuum design.

That said, one vacuum cleaner that comes highly recommended is BISSELL 2252 CleanView. An upright vacuum, this gadget also boasts a fair pricing. It has a wide 13.5-inch cleaning path, a large dust compartment and a 25-foot power cord.