Well-researched vacuum cleaner reviews & vacuum ratings by a professional engineer.
Let me help you find the best vacuum before you buy. Check out our unbiased vacuum reviews. With so many manufacturers and models to choose from, getting the right vacuum for the right job requires research. At vacuum cleaner advisor we do that work for you!
Latest vacuum reviews & articles for 2016 & 2017
Finding the right vacuum for the right job today is a tough task. There are many different vacuums with many different features and each manufacturer will tell you their machine is the best for this or the best for that. How do you sort out the good ones from the bad ones or pick the best vacuum for your cleaning needs? Ultimately you need to do a lot of research and analysis. At Vacuum Cleaner Advisor we’ve done that work for you and we have found the 5 best vacuum cleaners for your hardwood floors.
We recently published our 2017 list of Best Cheap Vacuums (units under $100) and it proved to be quite popular. The list provided good machines that are very affordable - but the $100 limit also cut out some great vacuums. Now we’ve moved the affordability bar up to $200 which has allowed us to capture vacuums with slightly better consumer ratings, longer warranties and even more good features.
You can get a good vacuum for $200, $300, $400 or more but is it possible to get a good machine for under $100? The short answer is "YES" but if you want the best cheap vacuums you have to look carefully and do your research.
We've reviewed literally hundreds of vacuum cleaners and to help we've put together our 2017 list of the best vacuums for under $100 and it includes models by Hoover, Eureka and Bissell.
The list contains three uprights, three canister vacuums and three stick vacs. The models were chosen based on their features, performance, consumer ratings and low cost.
Is the Shark Rotator with DuoClean Technology (NV801/NV803) worth your hard earned money? In this article we take a hard look at the vacuum and analyze its features and performance to answer the question.
Over the past 10 years we’ve done many Shark Vacuum Reviews. We’ve reviewed mostly Shark upright vacuums but have also investigated steam mops, canister vacuums, stick vacs, and even a Shark handheld unit (the Shark Lift Around NP319). We’ve analyzed the performance of these machines on carpet, on bare floors, AND on pet hair. The results for the best shark vacuums for pet hair - in order of effectiveness – are in the following list:
Avg. consumer rating = 92/100
The Miele Compact C1 Turbo Team canister vacuum is a smallish bagged machine that is designed for low pile carpet, area rugs and smooth flooring. Consumer ratings to date are very good and owners love how lightweight yet powerful the vacuum is. Folks are also pleased that the Turbo Team is very quiet. This is more or less an entry-level Miele canister and it is part of the Compact C1 series of vacuums. It is important to note that the Compact C1’s do not have motorized floorheads so they do not perform well on deeper pile carpet.
Avg. consumer rating = 80/100
The Hoover Air Lift Deluxe is another upright that provides the popular lift away canister feature (similar to those we have seen with the Shark Lift Away and Bissell Lift Off vacuums). Consumer ratings are average but the unit isn’t too pricey and it does perform well on carpet. It also includes a host of tools and the swivel nozzle is remarkably maneuverable. However it is a hefty machine and quite a few owners report having issues with the vacuum weight. The Air Lift canister itself is also on the heavy side but it is a great feature for cleaning stairs and getting into hard to reach areas.
In this article we highlight the pros and cons of the Dyson Ball Animal 2 upright vacuum cleaner. The Ball Animal 2 is a fairly recent vacuum from Dyson and to date owner reviews and ratings are excellent. In our detailed review (Dyson Ball Animal 2 Review) we scored the vacuum a very solid 94/100. You can compare that to the scores of other upright vacuums in our upright vacuum ratings table or to all other vacuums on our site using the vacuum cleaner finder application.
Avg. consumer rating = 79/100
The Hoover WindTunnel 2 Whole House Rewind upright vacuum (model UH71250) is getting fairly average reviews and ratings from owners. The vacuum is on the heavy side and some folks find it bulky and a bit of a chore to move and maneuver. Also, the power cord, while auto-retract, is a bit short which can be frustrating when cleaning a large area. On the plus side it does excel at picking up pet hair and is a relatively affordable vacuum cleaner. In addition it comes with a HEPA filter that includes a layer of carbon for odor elimination.
In this article we highlight everything you need to know to find the best pet hair vacuum. We cover uprights, canisters, stick vacs and handhelds. A quick summary of the best uprights and canisters is provided in the list:
Avg. consumer rating = 95/100
This mid-range Miele canister vacuum is getting top-notch reviews and ratings from owners. It is hard to find much in the way of faults with this machine. It is capable of handling low, medium, deep pile and soft/plush carpet as well as bare floors, and it is even good at pulling up pet hair. Owners are thrilled with how quiet the unit is and also the variable suction controls. It is made in Germany – a rarity these days – and it feels sturdy and durable. Probably the biggest issue with this canister vacuum is the cost - it doesn’t come cheap.
Avg. consumer rating = 87/100
The Miele Compact C1 Pure Suction is an entry level Miele canister vacuum and is at the more affordable end of the Miele vacuum spectrum. Consumer ratings to date are quite good and most owners are pleased with their purchase. There are some folks that are not happy however. The key with this machine is to know what you are buying. The Miele Compact C1 Pure Suction is a compact vacuum so don’t buy it if you have a large area to clean - it is best for smaller homes or apartments. Also, it is not designed for medium or deep pile carpet. It works well on bare floors and is also capable on low pile carpet but if you have deeper pile carpet you will be disappointed.
Avg. consumer rating = 94/100
The Shark Rotator Powered Lift-Away Speed with DuoClean Technology (model NV801) uses the latest in upright vacuum technology from Shark. We’ve used this vacuum for a number of weeks and have also run it through several tests - so far we have been impressed. It is great on bare floors, effective on carpet, and capable on pet hair. DuoClean technology does appear to add to the cleaning ability of the vacuum. This is also a lift-away machine which really adds to its versatility. In terms of drawbacks, we would have liked a longer hose and the unit does have a rather narrow cleaner head.
Avg. consumer rating = 94/100
The Dyson Ball Animal 2 is one of the latest upright vacuums in the Dyson stable. The term “Animal” is intended to highlight its capabilities in households with pets, however there may be another reason. This vacuum cleaner is something of a beast. It is hugely powerful and also a bit of a handful to wield. Is this is a good thing? Well, for the most part it is good but in some cases it isn’t. The machine’s colossal suction ensures top notch cleaning of pet hair, bare floors, carpet, etc. but the weight of the vacuum makes it a little cumbersome despite the added maneuverabiity of “Ball Technology”.
Avg. consumer rating = 89/100
The Shark Rotator Powered Lift-Away Canister Vacuum model NR96 is getting very solid reviews and ratings from owners. This is the first canister vacuum we have seen with the lift away feature - a feature that allows you to carry the motor/dust-canister assembly with one hand and the hose/wand with the other. Owners like the lift away feature in their uprights and they also like it in this canister. The vacuum also has HEPA filtration, a retractable power cord and a low profile nozzle. In addition, it performs well on carpet, bare floors and pet hair. The unit is on the small side however and this is reflected in the smaller nozzle and the dust canister.
In this article we highlight the pros and cons of the Dyson V8 Absolute stick vacuum. The V8 is a popular machine and it is getting very good reviews and ratings from owners. It is Dyson's next generation of stick vac after the V6, and there have been some significant changes. In our detailed review we scored the V8 a very high 94/100 which placed it near the top of the stick vacuums on our website (see stick vacuum ratings).
You may wish to read our comprehensive Dyson V8 Review or simply get the quick facts in this article.
In the following two videos we discuss the pros and cons of the Shark Rocket Complete TruePet with DuoClean – model HV382. Consumers are quite pleased with this vacuum cleaner and when we averaged consumer ratings from 5 different retail sites we found a score of 4.6 stars out of 5 (or 92 out of 100). This is a very good score. You may wish to read our detailed Shark Rocket Complete Review or simply get the quick facts in this article.
Avg. consumer rating = 89/100
The Oreck XL Classic Limited Edition (UK2200) upright vacuum cleaner is getting pretty solid reviews and ratings from owners. This bagged, “no frills” machine is very lightweight and easy to move and maneuver. It is also reasonably priced and it performs well on carpet and bare floors. However there is no hose and no tools or attachments, and some folks struggle with moving it on deeper pile carpet. In addition, the power cord is also a little on the short side.
Avg. consumer rating = 82/100
The Oreck Commercial BB900DGR XL Pro 5 is a compact, bagged canister vacuum that is meant to be carried. The machine is well liked for its over-the-shoulder carry strap, light weight, host of cleaning tools, lengthy cleaning reach, and solid suction. However, some folks have issues with the unit’s short, somewhat inflexible hose and the loose fit between the hose and the extension wand. Some owners really love this vacuum while others are not impressed. Overall consumer ratings are fairly average.
Avg. consumer rating = 76/100
The Black and Decker Air Swivel Lite (model BDASL202) is a very lightweight, bagless upright vacuum cleaner. It is also compact and easy to maneuver. The suction is good, it performs well on pet hair, and the machine is affordable. It does have some issues however. A number of owners have reported that it just stops running for no apparent reason and it either has to be repaired or replaced – there doesn’t seem to be an easy fix. In addition, there are several instances of the belt breaking.
Avg. consumer rating = 80/100
The Hoover WindTunnel 3 High Performance Pet (model UH72630PC) is a popular vacuum cleaner that Hoover refers to as "Our Best Cleaning Bagless Upright". Consumers report that it has tremendous suction and that it cleans bare floors and carpet well. It also excels at pulling up pet hair from upholstery and carpet. In addition, it has an exceptionally long cleaning reach due to a lengthy power cord and stretch hose. However, the vacuum is heavy, hard to maneuver, and can be difficult to push or pull on carpet.
Avg. consumer rating = 81/100
The Bissell Zing 1668 is a small, bagged canister vacuum. It is lightweight, compact and easy to carry. It is designed for bare floors, rugs and carpet but performance on carpet isn’t particularly good as the floor nozzle does not have a brushroll. It does perform fairly well on bare surfaces however and the unit is very affordable at well under $100. This vacuum is very similar to the Bissell Zing 4122, and we believe it is actually the replacement for the 4122.
Avg. consumer rating = 85/100
Is the new Cruise cordless vacuum Hoover’s answer to the Dyson V8? Judging from the design and features it certainly looks like this is what Hoover intends. But is it a good alternative to the popular Dyson stick vac? Well, yes and no. Consumers are very pleased with the vacuum’s light weight, long run time and affordability (it is a fraction of the cost of a Dyson). It is also a 2-in-1 vacuum and the ability to quickly convert to a handheld unit is an asset. However there are reports that the suction is not very strong and that the cleaning head isn’t that easy to control.
We have collected all of our “best vacuum cleaner lists" for 2016 and put them on one page. This includes bagless vacuums, bagged vacuums, uprights, canisters, stick vacs, lightweight vacuums, pet vacuums, cordless vacuums, vacuums under $100 and vacuums under $200. Please consider that prices have been estimated from Amazon over the course of 2016 and have a tendency to go up and down.
Avg. consumer rating = 72/100
The Bissell 1535 OptiClean canister vacuum is adored by some owners but disliked by others. Folks who are happy with their machine point to its light weight, ease of use, and compact size, however those less enthusiastic allude to problems with suction, poor performance on carpet, and limited cleaning reach. Overall consumer ratings for the 1535 are a little disappointing but the vacuum is quite affordable.
Find the best vacuum cleaners fast! Use the Vacuum Cleaner Finder! It helps you quickly weed out the underperformers and shows you the top rated machines.
Hello!I'm Nigel Russco, a 50 year old professional engineer originally from the west coast of Canada. I love to review vacuums and I’ve been doing just that since 2008.
I make every effort to write unbiased, intelligent vacuum cleaner reviews and I provide average consumer ratings for each and every vacuum cleaner I investigate. My ultimate goal is to ensure you find the best vacuum for your cleaning needs.
I also like to help when I can so feel free to send comments.
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See our Vacuum Cleaner Ratings Table. It provides avg consumer ratings for ALL reviewed vacuums.
Vacuum won't turn on? No suction? Belt broke? See our comprehensive list of handy vacuum repair tips.
Should you buy a bagless or bagged vacuum? Find out by reading Bagged or Bagless Vacuum?.
Which is better? A canister vacuum or an upright vacuum? Read Canister vs Upright.
Learn more about vacuum technology, allergen filters, carpet types, etc. See our Helpful Vacuum Websites List.
What is HEPA filtration? Do you need it? Read our HEPA filters article.
View our latest Vacuum Videos, and see top 10 upright and canister videos.
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