Choosing the Best Vacuum Cleaner for Your Home

Robot vacuums do the work for you. These small, self-propelled devices are great for quick, daily cleaning. They can keep small living spaces tidy and reduce your reliance on full-scale cleaning with larger models. You can find robotic vacuums designed for hard floors as well as models that have a rotating brush or agitator to clean carpets. Some robot vacuums can even handle mopping.

Robot vacs are cordless and small enough to clean under furniture with features that allow the devices to dodge obstacles and avoid drop-offs. Some empty dirt and debris themselves and even map your home or automatically return to its recharging dock. Many self-charging models can resume cleaning after a recharge. With programmable models, you can create a cleaning schedule; some come with a remote control and some have Wi-Fi connectivity so you can activate or program them from a mobile device. Many robotic vacuums also work with smart home systems. Accessories included with some models let you block off areas or access adjoining rooms.

Stick vacuums have a design similar to that of uprights, but these models are smaller and have narrower cleaning paths. They’re a good choice if you don't want to handle a heavier, full-size vacuum and are ideal for small houses, apartments and dorms, or as a quick cleaning option for upstairs or downstairs. Some stick vacuums use suction alone to clean, making them well-suited for hard floors, and others include a motorized brush for cleaning carpets. Some convert to a handheld vac for cleaning above the floor. Attachments — such as tools for dusting or cleaning crevices — are included with certain models. Even the best stick vacuums typically don't have the power or capacity of full-size vacuums, but their compact design makes them easier to handle and store. Most stick vacuums are cordless, but corded models are available with unlimited runtime.

Upright vacuums are full-size models with wide cleaning paths — up to 15 inches — and corded power. The cleaning head is directly attached to the housing for the motor and dustbin. Upright vacuums have a motorized, rotating brush, making them well-suited for lifting dirt out of carpets. Most can adapt to hard floors as well.

To select the best upright vacuum for your home, think about the accessories that are needed. Many uprights come with extensions and attachments to clean under furniture, reach tight crevices, vacuum stairs or dust window treatments. Upright vacuums are more compact than most canister models and, since they store upright, they take up less floor space.

Canister vacuums are another type of full-size, corded vacuum. The motor and dirt bin are contained in a wheeled housing — the canister — that connects to the cleaner head with a hose. The design makes them easy to maneuver, since you can vacuum with the cleaner head rather than having to move the entire machine around a room. Canister vacuums have cleaning paths comparable to those of uprights and similar available attachments. They work well on bare floors, and many include a powered, rotating brush that makes them good for vacuuming carpet. They're also effective for vacuuming stairs and reaching underneath furniture. If you want to clean upholstery or window treatments, the best canister vacuum is one that can transform into a handheld vacuum.

As the name suggests, handheld vacuums are small, lightweight and highly portable. If you want the freedom to quickly handle spot-cleaning jobs, then the best handheld vacuum choice would be a cordless one. These handheld mini vacuums can tackle tasks, such as cleaning up dry spills on a countertop, pet hair on upholstery, vacuuming stairs or dust on blinds. Corded models are also available, giving you long-running power. Certain models can handle wet vacuuming, and others have a motorized brush to give you extra-cleaning capability. 

And the next time you're tempted to search for a "car vacuum near me", look no further than your own garage. A cordless handheld car vac has accessories that can clean the dirt off of vehicle floor mats, as well as get in those hard-to-reach areas under and between the seats. Some car vacuums can also connect to a vehicle accessory power outlet.

Central vacuum systems provide a quiet, yet powerful, whole home cleaning experience. The main benefits include: a longer life span, greater suction power, less noise pollution and they can provide better air quality than a traditional vacuum cleaner.

The main power unit is typically housed in a garage or basement. Then there are several outlets throughout the home that can be accessed for easy vacuuming. The dirt and debris are picked up through pipes in the walls and deposited into the main canister. Depending on the model that you purchase, they can clean homes up to 12,000 square feet. Some systems include a micron and Hepa filtration system that can remove allergens and dirt from the air.

If your favorite furry friends are shedders, you'll need to get a pet hair vacuum that can tackle the job. These HEPA vacuums are specially engineered to filter out dust and allergens, while removing pet hair from flooring and carpet. Accessories can remove pet hair from upholstery. 

Pet vacuums come in corded or cordless models and some include a handheld vacuum that can detach to clean up small spills and even your car. Look for models that have odor neutralizing technology to keep your home smelling fresh and clean.

Carpet cleaners mix hot water with detergent, creating a solution that the device sprays on the carpet. Brushes dislodge dirt and the machine vacuums up the dirty water, providing a deep clean. Carpet cleaners with built-in heating keep the water at the right temperature to clean effectively. Some models can clean bare floors as well. Upright-style machines are effective for cleaning entire rooms and often include handheld tools for upholstery or carpeted stairs. Smaller models are designed for spot cleaning carpets or upholstery. These cleaners can provide a nearly professional level of clean, but you must follow the manufacturer’s directions because using too much water or detergent can damage your carpet.

Shop vacuums, or wet-dry vacs, can handle messy jobs that household vacuum cleaners can't. With the ability to vacuum up wet and dry matter, these devices can be very helpful. While they aren't designed for daily home cleaning, they're perfect tools for many jobs around and outside of the house. These vacuums can pick up debris, vacuum your car, clean up spills, vacuum ashes from fireplaces and more. Many can convert to function as a corded blower. Accessories are available to allow you to connect shop vacuums to power tools to help with collection.

Keep these things in mind when deciding what vacuum technology and features will work best for your home:

• Cordless vacuums let you move from room to room without stopping to change electrical outlets, and you don’t have to worry about avoiding a power cord. Models with higher volt (V) specifications are more powerful and tend to run longer before needing a recharge.
• Corded vacuums give you unlimited runtime. While they don't have the full portability of cordless models, they tend to offer more cleaning power. Higher amperage (amps) ratings mean more power. Extended cord length lets you clean more floor space without moving the plug. A retractable cord winds into the vacuum at the press of a button or foot pedal.
• Pet vacuums often come with a variety of attachments to pick up pet hair and clean furniture, upholstery and other surfaces with dander and other allergens. Many come with more advanced air filtration.
• High-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtration efficiently removes allergens, like pet dander and dust, from the vacuum exhaust. Some are rinsible for multiple use and others need to be periodically replaced.
• Bag vacuums reduce your contact with dirt, dust and pet hair, especially helpful if allergies are a concern. The bag material filters much of the dust from the vacuum exhaust, and the vacuum may have additional filters to further clean the air.
• Bagless vacuums collect debris in a bin or cup, relying on filters to clean dust from the exhaust. To empty the vacuum, you dump the debris out of the bin. You don't need to find or purchase bags for these models, but they may have more filters to clean or replace.
• Bagless vacuums with cyclonic action force air into a cylindrical or cone-shaped chamber — the cyclone — to spin dirt and dust particles into the collection bin. The process helps maintain suction by reducing the debris that clog the filters and decrease airflow. Multicyclonic models use additional, smaller cyclones to keep finer particles out of the filters.
• Cleaning-head-height options let you configure the vacuum to different floor types. Manual adjustment allows you to raise or lower the cleaner head as needed for bare floors and different types of carpet. Vacuums with automatic height adjustment detect the surface and adjust the cleaner head accordingly.
• A roller brush on/off feature lets you disengage the motorized brush on bare floors to prevent scattering the dirt and dust. This feature can also help prevent area rugs from getting tangled in the vacuum.
• Variable suction lets you adjust the vacuum to clean more delicate furnishings, such as upholstery and window treatments.
• Included tools and attachments, such as dusting brushes, handheld roller brushes, crevice tools and extension pieces, let you take on a variety of cleaning tasks.
• A headlight illuminates the area you're vacuuming, which is helpful for cleaning under a couch, in a dark corner or in a hallway.
• Edge-cleaning features get rid of dirt and dust in the hard-to-reach areas along walls. Self-propelled models reduce the effort of vacuuming.
• Convertible models — such as uprights, which can function as canister vacuums and stick vacuums, which can operate as handhelds — let you transform the vacuum to fit the cleaning task.
• Indicator lights let you know when it's time to empty the vacuum.

When looking at available models, consider these factors:

• Room and Home Size: A full-size upright or canister vacuum can help you clean large areas more quickly.
• Multiple Levels: Consider keeping a full-size vacuum on your main floor and using a stick vacuum for regular, light cleaning on other levels, reducing trips up and down the stairs with the larger vacuum.
• Furniture: Consider a model designed to simplify steering and maneuvering around obstacles.
• Pets: Look for tools and features designed to collect pet hair without clogging the vacuum.
• Allergies: Look for vacuums designed to better contain dust, pollen, pet dander and other allergens.
• Floor Types: Make sure the vacuum you choose can easily and effectively handle all the flooring types in your home. To learn about matching a vacuum cleaner to the floor types in your home, see Find the Best Vacuum for Your Floor Type. To learn more about cleaning hardwood floors, see Caring for Hardwood Floors.