When purchasing a vacuum cleaner there are two key questions: is it easy to handle and manage and can it remove dirt and pollution from all parts of my home? The Good Cleaning Lab is here to help, recommending only vacuums on this list, which passed laboratory color testing.
But selecting you and your home the best vacuum cleaner means think more than just that. Consider what surfaces you are going to vacuum, how your home is designed and how long you have to clean. Our choice of the best vacuums in key categories is immediately below. Scroll all the way through to learn more about what to consider, and how to select the best vacuum purifier to meet your needs before buying a new vacuum.
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How we test vacuum cleaners
We test all kinds of vacuum cleaners, such as vacuums in canisters, stick vacuums, HEPA vacuums, portable aspirations and many more. We’re looking for ways to remove dirt deep into the battery carpet and simulate animal hair evenly on the surface of a tap. We look at how well large and small debris are removed from hard floorings, such as hardwood, carpet or linoleum, how good they clean the borders and how much they suck to the instruments.
Our tests are based on the industry’s ASTM International standard test methods and are tested in the same way. Flexible testing includes the assessment of maneuverability, the runtime of the battery on cableless vacuum cleaners, the controls, the simplicity of emptying the dustshell or changing the bag, as well as the strength of the vacuum.
Consumer tests assess the mobility of the vacuums by running them around corners and under furniture on a bare floor and tapestry. They estimate how easy it is to remove the dust cup or bag and the vacuum controls are. We notice and test all features, including battery charging, brush roll control, or other accessories and instruments. Continue reading why these vacuums have made the distinction for our best 2021 vacuums.
Top 9 Best Vacuum Cleaners in 2021
#1 APEX Upright Vacuum Cleaner
Shark APEX is a fantastic alternative if you want a bagless vacuum but want a device that filters small particles. It showed excellent cleaning performance on both carpeting and bare floors and was one of the most silent models we evaluated in our previous Cleaning Lab test.
Because with a button it changes from an upright to a box, it is easy to do with stairs and nabbing tedious dustbunnies hidden behind the mobilizers or lingering in corners. We appreciate the whole vacuum is sealed to improve the retention of the dust and the HEPA filter is washable unlike other filters. The owners of animals will welcome the brush roll intended to eliminate untidy hair.
Why we love it
- Is supplied with a filter for washing HEPA
- Converts to a canister from an upright
- Brush roll reduces blockage of hair
#2 Complete C3 Vacuum for Soft Carpet
This Miele has gained our Good Housekeeping Seal for its ability to clean any flooring efficiently. It has a telescopic wall, a dusting brush, a tool for upholstery and a cracking tool for any floor.
The power bucket and brush roll that adjust to five different levels are not even hard to clean, but are not suited for the simple powering of dense stack to raise dirt, dust and pet’s hair. Patients with allergies will like the high filtering bag and HEPA AirClean filter inhibits the release of dust back into the air.
Why we love it
- Solid building
- Outstanding filtration
- Works at every tapestry height and density
#3 Pet Hair Eraser Turbo Plus Upright Vacuum Cleaner
This vacuum handles all the cleaner problems faced by the pet owners and features that suck up every last piece of pet hair are fully charged for it. A brush-less tangle roll keeps animal hair free and a hair pooling mechanism inside the tank collects the waste to simplify and clean emptying.
The filter employs Febreze technology to prevent those dull scents that vacuum up animal hair can produce by means of a sealed allergy system captures tiny particles.
Why we love it
- Brush rolling and cup of dust assist to remove hair loss
- Allergens sealed to capture
- Well-priced
#4 Cyclone V10 Absolute Lightweight Cordless Stick Vacuum
This 2-in-1 wireless machine, despite its slender form, competed against the full-size vacuum in our test when it came to removing built-in dirt from tapestries. It is extremely easy to operate and features two heads — one for tapestries and another for naked flooring.
This type is extremely lightweight and transforms into a handheld vacuum for even more mobility with the walls removed. It has three power modes with a tool for cracking and a dust / padding tool combo, a small soft dusting brush and micro motorization tool with spinning brush for the cleaning of fabric and taped steps.
Why we love it
- Works on bare floors and tapestries
- It has two heads of brush
- Transforms into a portable vacuum
#5 20V Cordless Cube Compact Vacuum Cleaner
The WORX device features a single, compact boxing form, a detachable battery that fits in other WORX equipment and a top handle, not your traditional handheld vac. It is directly on the crack and brush tools, and an integrated flexible tube reaches four feet.
A high-performing cleaner in our testing, this model easily collected all the waste and pet hair that we laid down without using maximum power. The shaft allows simple access to narrow areas, and runs at normal power on one charge for 23 minutes. While it’s a bit harder than other portable vacuums, you don’t have to keep it up.
Why we love it
- Rinsable HEPA filter
- Quiet
- Three-year warranty
#6 Roomba s9+ Robot Vacuum
The 9+ collected 99 percent of the uncooked oatmeal, sand, baking soda and tiny nuts and twines that we placed on hard surfaces during our Cleaning Lab testing. It can map and recall numerous rooms and floor plans and all other robot vacuums so that a small area may be cleaned fast and effectively. It intelligently recognizes carpet to increase suction only when necessary, and its twin-roller pins do not bind with animal hair like bristles.
When the vacuum is completed cleaning, it is automatically reloaded and dirt transferred to a large-scale bag for a mess-free disposal: before you discard it fully sticks to keep dirt and dirt.
Why we love it
- Fully-featured robot vacuum
- Doesn’t clog with pet hair
- Automatically empties dirt into the bin
#7 V11 Outsize Cordless Vacuum Cleaner
While this new Dyson V11 Outsize is familiar to your V10 Absolute relative, there are important upgrades that should be taken into account if you’ve got a huge house with expanding floor areas to clean. Its extremely big cleaning head and extra large powder bin are the most noticeable. This implies that more floors are coverable with fewer passes and the dust bin less frequently must be emptied.
Three power settings – environmentally sound, medium and automotive – enable you to increase and decrease your suction to take heavy dirt or safeguard fragile alfabetes. The vacuum recognizes in auto mode whether on a bare ground or a mounting tank and adjusts power and runtime appropriately. We found the suction excellent in our GH Cleaning Lab evaluation, whereby the head could handle furniture legs and tight areas effectively. The only reason why you must quit cleaning is because the work is done between the cordless and its backup battery pack for up to two hours!
Why we love it
- Automatically adjusts speed and suction
- Extra large brush head and dust cup
#8 AirRam Cordless Vacuum Cleaner
This cableless stick vacuum with GH Seal was in our laboratory testing for a full 37 minutes and was among the calmest we have ever attempted. We also appreciate it, which makes vacuuming beneath furniture and other tight areas easier to reach (by turning it at the base), and dust-cups are good positioned and quick to empty. The pole is easy to vacuum. Keep in mind that there are no fixtures or converts into a portable vacuum, but it is a winner for simplicity and performance.
Why we love it
- Slim design
- Stand upright for storage
- Easy to maneuver
#9 Magnesium Bagged Upright Vacuum Cleaner
Many of our GH Cleaning Lab visitors remark that upright aspirator cleaners are just too heavy to push and transport. The Oreck Magnesium is our recommendation for them. This vacuum is the highest in our lightweight cleaner test and is only below 8 pounds in weight.
Fortunately, the cleaning performance of the heft is not compromised. Our test carpets and bare floors have been deeply refined. The Oreck does not come with attachments on board but uses a self-scale bag to trap allergies. The brushroll speed may be adjusted – quickly for carpets, slowly for naked floors — through the handle switch. We appreciate their low profile and lay flat to clean beneath the furniture and bed more simply.
Why we love it
- Extremely lightweight
- Has two speed levels
- Works with a bag to contain allergens
