Vacuum cleaner reviews & vacuum ratings by a professional engineer
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Latest vacuum reviews & articles for 2018
Avg. consumer rating = 80/100
The Dyson Cyclone V10 is the latest in futuristic-looking stick vacuums from Dyson. The cordless V10 looks slightly different than its predecessors the V6/V7/V8 due to a more air-flow efficient design, however it is still an attractive machine and many folks will proudly display this on the wall in their home. It has a Maximum Mode that generates 51% more power than the V6/V7 and 31% more than the V8. Build quality is solid and it is a great fit for a smaller home or apartment. However for deep cleaning and a larger home you may still want to have a full size vacuum available. Despite the research and upgrades, like all stick vacs you cannot get a long enough run time with “deep cleaning” power to do a large area. This is also a rather expensive vacuum.
Avg. consumer rating = 87/100
In this review we look at iLife’s flagship A-series robotic vacuum, the A8. This machine has impressive navigation which works very well in large open areas. A 90 minute run time helps the unit cover a large area and the slim profile makes it able to get under low furniture. In addition, owners are pleased that the A8 has a MAX power mode and also an edge cleaning mode. However, the systematic navigation is sometimes rendered ineffective in areas with lots of obstructions like tables, chairs, etc., and we wish the A8 came with a means to create “no-go” areas. There is no magnetic tape and there are no blocking beacons.
Avg. consumer rating = 90/100
The Complete C3 Marin bagged canister vacuum is made in Germany and is one of Miele’s top-end machines. It has a host of features and can handle most any floor type. It includes two floorheads: The Electro Premium Floorhead and the Parquet Twister Floorhead. In addition, it has an automatic suction setting that adjusts suction depending on the flooring – so you don’t have change it manually. The Marin has top notch filtration, so much so that it is essentially a mobile air purifier. It is also extremely quiet and capable at pulling up both cat and dog hair. The powered floorhead is on the heavy side however, and this vacuum does not come cheap.
Avg. consumer rating = 90/100
The Miele Complete C3 Calima is an introductory-level C3 canister vacuum. However the C3’s are the top end of Miele’s canister stable so there are still plenty of great features on this machine. The Calima includes 2 cleaner heads – one specially designed for bare floors and the other for carpet/area-rugs/smooth surfaces. The unit also has sound dampening insulation, variable suction, a retractable power cord, and HEPA-level air filtration. This vacuum is not the best choice for medium to deep pile carpet however. It excels on bare floors, area rugs and low pile carpet. The Calima is manufactured in Germany.
Avg. consumer rating = 85/100
I have to admit when I got the Shark ION Robot 750 I was somewhat dubious about robotic vacuums. I’m kind of old school and am used to upright vacuums, canister vacuums, stick vacuums – that kind of thing. I figured small robotic units were novel and interesting but perhaps not really that useful. I have now changed my tune – somewhat. Indeed the unit will not do the job of a larger manual vacuum but that is not really the intended purpose. This machine is designed to keep your floors “reasonably clean” with “minimal effort” expended on your part, and it does that fairly well.
We have been working with and testing vacuums for over 10 years. During that time we’ve looked at many different brands (Shark, Miele, Dyson, Bissell, Hoover, etc) but we've probably done more detailed reviews of Shark vacuums than any other brand. We have noticed during this time that some models are better-suited for bare/smooth flooring than others.
A few years ago Shark introduced a new technology to their cleaner heads - DuoClean Technology - and this took their hardwood floors cleaning to another level.
Avg. consumer rating = 82/100
If you are looking for good bang for your buck, the Bissell CleanView Rewind Deluxe model 1819 may fit the bill. This vacuum is designed for bare floors, low & high pile carpet, stairs, upholstery, and even pet hair. It is also affordable and can often be found for under $120. The 1819 is a bagless upright and has a wide cleaning path, scatter-free technology, a turbobrush tool, and an automatic rewind power cord - a great feature not often seen on an upright. The brushroll cannot be turned off however, and the vacuum doesn’t maneuver as well as machines that use swivel steering.
In this article we highlight the pros and cons of the Shark IONFlex 2X IF252. There are two groups of IONFlex vacuums, those with 1 battery and those with 2 batteries. The models with a “2X” in the name come with 2 batteries.
Avg. consumer rating = 85/100
The blue Miele Twist upright vacuum has been replaced by the obsidian black Miele Dynamic U1 Maverick. The Maverick is pretty much an entry level Miele upright and it does not have some of the bells and whistles you will find on the more expensive uprights – such as LED headlights, a HEPA filter, turbo brush tool, etc. Even so, owners are pleased with the vacuum’s variable suction feature (great when cleaning delicate materials), lengthy cleaning reach, and sealed body. They also feel the unit has strong suction. However this is a heavy upright and some people find it difficult to lift and move around. In addition, the hose, while a decent length, is hard to stretch out.
If you want to know the REAL difference between Shark vacuums and Dyson vacuums ask someone who actually has the vacuums. I have personally tested many machines from each company, and as the photo above shows I have a few. In this article we analyze some of the top vacuums from both companies, compare specifications and provide pros & cons.
Avg. consumer rating = 90/100
This vacuum is the smaller brother of the Dyson Ball Animal 2. Does that mean it is not as good? No – not necessarily. While the Dyson Ball Multi-Floor 2 has less suction than its big brother, it is also lighter, less expensive, and there is still more than enough suction for most cleaning jobs. In our opinion the Dyson Ball Multi Floor 2 packs a punch and is actually a very good fit for some households. Consumers are pleased with the vacuum’s maneuverablity, capability on different surfaces, and easy maintenance. However, there are some issues, one of them being the machine’s difficulty in moving on some deep pile carpet. We see this on both the Multi-Floor and the Animal.
Avg. consumer rating = 92/100
The Dyson V7 Motorhead, with its futuristic cyclonic cylinders and deep pink color, is a very striking stick vacuum. This machine cannot be mistaken for any other vacuum - but does it perform? If consumer ratings are any indicator then the answer is yes. Ratings for the V7 are very good and owners praise the unit for its light weight, power and convenience. Owners are also pleased that the vacuum is quiet, great for doing stairs, and able to clean carpet, rugs and bare floors. However, like many cordless vacuums, there are folks who feel the run time is inadequate for their cleaning needs. In addition, the V7 Motorhead, while great for quick cleanups, is not a full size vacuum and will struggle with larger more extensive cleaning jobs.
Avg. consumer rating = 90/100
Shark refers to the APEX series as their “most advanced upright vacuums”. These are full size vacuums with DuoClean Technology (2 brushrolls), HEPA filtration, an anti-allergen complete seal system, noise reduction technology, a lift-away canister, and Active-Glide Technology. There are several APEX models and in this review we discuss the AX952. Owners are mostly very pleased with this powerful, all-around, bagless upright vacuum. This is a versatile machine and it can clean bare floors and carpet, it can do overhead cleaning, and also portable vacuuming (using the lift-away feature). The full size APEX vacuums are not particularly lightweight however.
Avg. consumer rating = 80/100
The Hoover React cordless vacuum cleaner is another in a long line of lightweight stick vacuums brought to market in the wake of the very popular Dyson V6/V7/V8 models. Many of the big manufacturers are trying their hand at similar machines. The react cordless gets average consumer ratings but it is a very attractive 2-in-1 vacuum (stick vac and handheld). It’s also great for doing stairs and is quite maneuverable. Battery run time is fairly good and recharge time is fast. However, suction by many accounts, is mediocre and the vacuum has no high power mode for dealing with tougher cleaning jobs.
This is our list of the best stick vacuums for 2017. After reviewing a large number of stick vacuums we have found the top 8. Vacuum cleaners were chosen after carefully considering our testing, consumer ratings and comments, as well as length of warranty, features and cost. Vacuums that stood out scored well in most if not all of these areas.
Stick vacuums range from inexpensive to somewhat pricey and as a result we have divided our list into three categories: top-end, mid-range and inexpensive. All choices this year are produced by only 3 manufacturers who seem to be making a real effort in the stick vacuum arena and leaving other manufacturers behind (the 2016 list had machines from 6 manufacturers). Our 2017 list includes units from Dyson, Shark and Hoover.
We’ve been updating our list of Best Upright Vacuums every year since 2008 and the latest list for 2017 has just been released.
Our choice for the Best Upright Vacuum in 2017 is the Shark Rotator NV752 TruePet. This was also last year’s top upright and it continues to be a strong consumer favorite. Number two in our list is the Dyson Ball Animal 2 which is a beast of a vacuum and subsequently our best vacuum for pet hair. In third position is the Dyson DC65 Animal – a vacuum that is very similar to the Dyson Ball Animal 2 but a generation earlier.
Avg. consumer rating = 78/100
The Shark IONFlex 2X IF252 is another interesting vacuum from Shark. It is a bagless, cordless, stick vacuum that sports 2 brushrolls, 2 batteries, and a flexible wand that can bend a full 180 degrees. Consumers like some aspects of this vacuum but are not too crazy about others. In our testing we found the IF252 suction to be strong, especially for a cordless machine, and the unit’s cleaning performance on carpet, bare floors and pet hair is quite good. It is a little on the hefty side for a stick vacuum and some folks feel the handheld component itself is bulky. The MultiFLEX Technology (bendable wand) is something of a hit and miss. It’s useful for storage and while it works for vacuuming under low furniture it can be a little awkward.
We update our list of Best Canister Vacuums annually and the 2017 list has just been released.
Our choice for the Best Canister Vacuum in 2017 is the Miele Complete C3 Soft Carpet. Top-notch consumer ratings, great performance on all surfaces and a lengthy warranty helped to nudge this unit to the #1 position. As a matter of fact 3 of our top canisters this year are manufactured by Miele. The Soft Carpet is followed by the Alize and the C2 Limited Addition.
We’ve been publishing scores for vacuum cleaners of all kinds and brands for approximately 10 years now. Each year we analyze all of our data in order to provide insights into the best vacuum brands. To date we have produced over 200 vacuum reviews and gathered price and consumer ratings data in each and every review. This data, as of November 2017, includes over 160,000 consumer ratings. The data has been “crunched” and put into several insightful charts.
What can we draw from these charts? Well, we don’t want to make any hard conclusions here as our data is not exhaustive (we have not reviewed every vacuum from every manufacturer), but clearly a combination of a high rating and a low cost is good. For the most part the charts speak for themselves. You should also consider that some brands have better ratings for certain types of vacuums - like Miele and canisters. The data below average all vacuum types per brand.
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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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