How to Choose the Best Vacuum Cleaner

With so many different vacuum cleaners available, it can be overwhelming to decide which one best suits your needs. This article aims to help you understand how vacuum cleaners work, explore your options, and narrow down your choices to find the ideal vacuum for your home and lifestyle.

Types of Vacuum Cleaners

This article focuses on selecting a primary vacuum cleaner for your home. So, leaving aside specialized or secondary vacuums like handhelds, car vacuums, and wet/dry vacuums, we’ll focus on the two main types: uprights and canisters.

Uprights have historically been the preferred choice in the U.S. and Great Britain, while canisters dominate in Europe and other parts of the world.

Uprights typically feature a rotating brush roll for agitation, powered either by a single motor that also handles suction, or by two separate motors. They excel at cleaning synthetic carpets and often allow you to switch off the brush for hard floors. Modern uprights with onboard tools and hoses have become more versatile, offering features similar to canisters.

However, canisters remain the most adaptable design, providing superior performance on both carpets and hard floors, as well as above-floor areas. The hose and wand system makes them more maneuverable than uprights, easily reaching under furniture and into tight spaces.

There are three types of canister vacuums, all using a hose, wands, floor tools, and attachments. The difference lies in the floor tool:

1. Straight suction: Uses a non-rotating brush for hard floors and flat carpets.
2. Turbo/turbine: Features a rotating brush driven by airflow from the suction motor.
3. Power brush: Resembles an upright’s brush roll, powered by a separate motor. Often called a “power team.”

Bag or Bagless – Which Vacuum Is Better

Besides the choice between upright and canister, another key difference in vacuum cleaners is bagged versus bagless. For most people, this comes down to personal preference. However, if you have family members with allergies or asthma, or if you prioritize indoor air quality, a bagged vacuum is generally the better option.

There’s nothing inherently wrong with bagless vacuums, and the better ones clean effectively. But those with allergies or asthma need to consider the dust exposure when emptying and maintaining the bagless system.

Regardless of the specific model, emptying a bagless vacuum involves removing a container full of dust, allergens, and debris, then dumping it into another receptacle. This process can release a cloud of allergens into the air you breathe, both while emptying and as the cloud disperses throughout your home.

Furthermore, many bagless vacuums require brushing or washing filters to remove trapped particles, potentially reintroducing allergens and dirt into your living space.

It’s crucial to remember that dirt travels through the entire vacuum system. The design of bagless models makes it difficult to completely seal them, leading to unfiltered air leakage. Additionally, creating an airtight seal on the collection bin while maintaining easy removal and replacement poses a challenge.

Choosing the Best Vacuum Cleaner for Your Cleaning Needs

The next step is assessing the surfaces you’ll be cleaning. Are there any specific above-floor needs that require special tools, such as high ceilings, intricate light fixtures, ceiling fans, or delicate collections? If so, ensure your chosen vacuum has the reach, flexibility, and tools to handle these tasks.

However, the primary use will be cleaning floors. If your home has stairs, a canister vacuum is recommended. Uprights aren’t designed for stairs and even with attachments, cleaning them is awkward and often yields poor results, especially on high-traffic treads where the rotating brush can’t be used.

If you have no stairs and primarily synthetic wall-to-wall carpeting, an upright with hard floor capability and above-floor cleaning tools is a suitable choice.

But many modern homes have a mix of hard floors, area rugs, and some carpeting. In these homes (or those with stairs), a canister vacuum delivers the best results. The type of canister depends on factors like foot traffic, types of dirt, and the fiber of your carpets and rugs.

Traffic and Carpet Soils

The level of foot traffic and type of carpet soils are crucial factors in choosing a vacuum cleaner. Most carpet soils are brought in on shoes or by pets. Homes with kids and pets will have more soil tracked inside.

80% of carpet soil is dry with sharp edges, acting like sandpaper when walked on, leading to the appearance of “dirty” carpets along main paths. It’s not actually dirt, but bent and damaged fibers absorbing light instead of reflecting it, causing carpets to “ugly out” before wearing out. Choosing the right vacuum and using it regularly reduces fiber damage.

For synthetic carpets and rugs with high traffic and heavier soil, choose a vacuum with aggressive bristles on the rotating brush. Vacuums with dense, stiff bristles and a beater bar are excellent for lifting dry soils from the carpet pile for removal.

Pet hair, another common dry soil, is best removed with stiff, densely packed bristles on a rotating brush.

In low-traffic homes with no special soiling, a less aggressive vacuum is sufficient. However, the general rule is to choose the most aggressive vacuum your carpet and rug fibers can safely handle.

Carpet Fibers

Just as important as traffic and soil type is the type of fibers in your carpet or rugs. Most carpets today are made of synthetic fibers, mainly nylon, with olefin and polyester also common. Synthetic fibers are very durable, allowing you to use the most aggressive household vacuum cleaner without worrying about fiber damage.

Natural fibers, however, require gentler treatment. Wool, the most common natural fiber in wall-to-wall carpeting, makes up less than 1% of it in the U.S. Wool is more popular in Oriental and other area rugs.

Wool is durable and has been used for millennia in rugs, but it needs careful vacuuming. A rotating brush can be used, but the bristles must be flexible and not densely packed to avoid fuzzing yarns and premature wear.

Oriental rugs are often wool, but can also be silk. These range from affordable to incredibly valuable. Many are for everyday use and can be cleaned with a good household vacuum with flexible bristles.

However, high-value Oriental rugs need consideration of age, condition, and soiling. They often see little traffic and are protected. Cleaning them with a carpet and rug tool using only suction, not a rotating brush, might be preferred.

Other rug fibers include sisal, seagrass, mountain grass, bamboo, coir, cotton, jute, viscose, and even leather. Many are woven and durable, but still need softer bristles. Specialty brushes are available, and consulting a floor care expert is recommended for the best choice for your rug.

Always check the manufacturer’s care instructions before buying a new vacuum or using an existing one on a new rug. Here are general rules of thumb:

• Synthetic fibers: Choose the most aggressive vacuum, upright or canister.
• Wool or natural fibers: Need a power brush with flexible bristles to avoid damage. These are mostly found on power team canisters, but some uprights have gentler bristles.

Most homes have one or two carpet types, but with a variety, choose a vacuum with tools suitable for your most delicate rug. Here’s a quick reference:

 Additional Considerations

Once you’ve identified the type of vacuum cleaner you want and matched it to your home’s traffic and soiling conditions, you can consider other factors to further narrow down your choices.

Vacuum Cleaner Performance

You’ll definitely want to assess the performance, or cleaning ability, of the vacuums you’re considering. While this involves evaluating various specifications, the most crucial are water lift (or sealed) suction and airflow.

Many manufacturers emphasize watts or amps, but these measure motor power, not suction power for picking up dirt. Years of marketing this way have led to confusion between “power” and “performance.” Watts and amps tell you the electrical power the motor uses, not how much suction it creates. A 10-amp motor can generate more suction than a 12-amp if it’s more efficient.

The key ratings are airflow (the most important) and sealed suction (sometimes listed as “water lift”). For canisters (with or without power heads), airflow of 100 CFM or more (or water lift of 90 inches or more) is recommended.

Uprights come in various designs, but two basic ones affect airflow and water lift. “Direct air” or “dirty air” designs have dirt passing through the motor before filtration. These are only rated in amps.

The second design features a bypass motor, where only filtered air passes through to cool it. These uprights usually provide airflow but not water lift specs, and a high-performing one offers 60 CFM or better.

Many uprights won’t list airflow, only rating the motor in amps.

Filtration

An important, yet often overlooked, aspect of cleaning ability is the vacuum’s capacity to retain collected dirt, especially fine particles. Without high filtration, these particles can pass through the vacuum and back into the air, settling as dust.

Most quality vacuums adequately filter the exhaust air, but if anyone in your home has allergies, asthma, or any condition affected by fine particles or allergens, a high-filtration or HEPA vacuum is strongly recommended.

HEPA stands for High Efficiency Particulate Air. A HEPA filter must remove 99.97% of all particles as small as 0.3 microns from passing air, the standard “best” filtration for homes.

The phrase “as small as” is crucial, meaning even if all particles were 0.3 microns, the filter would still be 99.97% efficient. “Down to 0.3 microns” might refer to a mix of sizes for that efficiency.

You might see terms like “Certified HEPA,” “True HEPA,” or “Absolute HEPA.” These all meet the same HEPA standard. Be cautious of terms like “HEPA-like” or “HEPA quality” used where you expect “HEPA.”

HEPA is primarily used in the U.S. In Europe, it’s often called an S-Class filter, a term some manufacturers like SEBO use. Like HEPA, S-Class filters must remove 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 microns.

Quality and Durability

The quality of your vacuum cleaner is crucial in determining whether it lasts for a couple of years or for many years to come.

When evaluating durability, examine the construction quality. Look for solid, high-quality components instead of flimsy or brittle materials. Check for good fit and finish without rough edges. Seals should be heavy-duty, and opening/closing components should feel solid.

Generally, mass-market, low-priced products aren’t designed for long-term use. Comparing these to vacuums from companies specializing in high-quality, durable machines, the differences become obvious.

Another indicator of quality and durability is the warranty. Look for longer warranties, especially on the motor.

Ease of Use

No matter how great a vacuum cleaner’s specifications might be, it’s crucial that it’s easy for you to use. Consider what you dislike about your current vacuum cleaner and look for a new one that addresses those issues.

Think about whether you have any specific concerns regarding weight or personal preferences for upright versus canister vacuum cleaners. If you have specific reasons for buying a new vacuum cleaner, ensure that your new one provides solutions to these cleaning challenges.

Regardless of your specific situation, the vacuum cleaner you choose should feel comfortable in your hand and not be tiring to use. It should maneuver easily without straining to reach under furniture or around corners.

Noise Level

Noise level is another important factor to consider. Some vacuum cleaners can be extremely loud and unpleasant to use. However, many good vacuum cleaners operate at comfortable noise levels that won’t drown out the phone or doorbell.

The loudness of a vacuum cleaner is measured in decibels (dB). For reference, a normal conversation at home is around 50dB, a garbage disposal is about 80dB, and a motorcycle or lawnmower is around 100dB. Exceptionally quiet vacuum cleaners can operate in the mid-60dB range, while cleaners in the 70-77dB range are still relatively quiet compared to older models.

Capacity

The capacity of a vacuum cleaner refers to the size of the dust bag or cup. A larger capacity means less frequent emptying or replacement.

If you have a large home and/or high foot traffic (e.g., children and pets), you’ll likely have more dirt and debris to clean up. In this case, consider a full-sized vacuum cleaner. This will save you the hassle of constantly changing the bag or emptying the cup.

Storage

Available storage space varies greatly from home to home. Some have ample storage, while others have very little. If storage is limited in your home, consider where you’ll keep your new vacuum cleaner. Will it fit in the same spot as your old one?

Attachments

All high-quality vacuum cleaners come with a set of accessories that can handle most floor and above-floor cleaning tasks. However, some jobs require specialized tools, and some tools simply make the job easier. The availability of additional accessories can expand the usefulness and often enhance the performance of your vacuum cleaner.

For instance, consider the flexible crevice tool. While the standard crevice tool is suitable for most situations, it can’t reach around corners or behind appliances. The flexible crevice tool, on the other hand, can. It’s longer than a standard crevice tool and has a nozzle that gently bends, allowing it to reach behind furniture, appliances, and into tight corners.

Another popular tool is the soft-bristle dusting brush. It’s larger than a standard dusting brush and has softer bristles for gently cleaning delicate items like knick-knacks and lampshades. There’s also a version with an adjustable brush angle, making it easier to clean items like high shelves, window blinds, and ceiling fans.

The most popular accessory among many vacuum users is the mini-turbobrush. This small, handheld turbobrush effortlessly removes pet hair from furniture, making it a favorite in homes with cats and dogs. It’s also excellent for deep cleaning upholstered furniture and stairs and is the perfect size for cleaning car seats and floorboards.

How Much Does a Quality Vacuum Cleaner Cost?

How much should you spend on a better quality vacuum cleaner? The short answer is, somewhere between $170 and $380. Within that range, you can buy something that is well-made and will last for 10-20 years.

If that seems like a lot of money, consider this: a vacuum cleaner is something you use at least once a week, and sometimes every day. Because better quality vacuum cleaners last up to 10 times longer than cheaper ones, in the end, you’ll pay about $4 a month to own a quality machine that works better and is a pleasure to use.

Here’s a breakdown of what you can expect to get at various price points:

Under $399

You can find several high-quality vacuum cleaners around $130, but these are mainly designed for bare floors, area rugs, or low-pile carpets. If your home has wall-to-wall carpeting, you’ll need to increase your budget slightly for a quality vacuum cleaner. This is because thicker carpets and rugs require more complex and expensive rotating brush systems for proper cleaning.

$399-$599

This price range is the sweet spot for getting a quality vacuum cleaner at a reasonable price. While you might not find all the extra features you desire at this level, you will get higher-quality materials, a durable motor, and excellent performance. 

$649 – $999+

While the basic performance and quality remain similar to the mid-range models, vacuum cleaners in this top tier offer improved design and build quality, quieter operation, enhanced filtration, and features like automatic suction control, illuminated floor tools, and soft bumper guards. Although it’s not essential to buy something in this price range, these additional features can make vacuuming less of a chore and are worth considering if your budget allows.