After testing dozens of robot vacuums, he is neither worried about AI nor holding his breath for self-driving cars. He enjoys visiting factories and learning about regulatory loopholes, and has flooded our testing area only three times. On top of this, we run an interior car cleaning test to assess how well each vacuum tackles crevices, before trying it out on a set of stairs to see how easily it manoeuvres. We love the impressive new laser feature, which shows up the tiniest of dirt as you go, but it only works on hard floors.
Though the trigger-style power switch and built-in battery can be frustrating for some people, this vacuum has had excellent reviews from owners over many years. They’re easier to maintain than cheaper uprights and most canister vacuums, and should last longer than all but the sturdiest high-end machines. The vacuum includes two batteries that allow you to clean for up to 50 minutes and can easily convert into a handheld vacuum. It also includes LED lights on the bottom so you can light up any dark corners and crevices where hidden dust may lie.
While we consider convenience when choosing our top vacuum picks, we also examine overall cleaning performance, noise, and allergen and dust management. In addition, no vacuum assessment would be complete without looking into how it performs on pet hair, along with considering service and reliability. Let’s shark cordless see how Shark stacks up in these categories before diving into our top four picks. Many people choose cordless vacuums for convenience sake — they don’t want to lug around a bulky canister vacuum or fight with tangled cords. But there are other factors to consider when choosing the right cordless vacuum.
While it performed well in our testing, the corded Shark seems stuck in the past when it comes to portably vacuuming your car. Immediately, the narrow opening gave the vacuum issues with big chunks, causing clogs. Surprisingly powerful in its high-power mode, the H30 also produces higher-than-average noise levels. The DeWalt 20-Volt Max Cordless Vacuum competed nicely with the Milwaukee vac, but the yellow machine was edged out in certain areas.
Its flexible wand is also useful in areas that are hard to reach. The dust canister is a breeze to empty, the motorised brush can be turned off when vacuuming delicate floors and the boost mode wowed us with its excellent pick-up on all surfaces. It manoeuvres well as a stick but the handheld unit proved trickier in tight spaces. We love the headlights on the brush head and how easy it is to empty the canister. Its 17-minute runtime on maximum power is remarkable but can’t be used in conjunction with the small electro brush on long pile carpets. Cordless vacuum cleaners, also known as stick vacuums, free you from the frustrating faff of cords.
Additionally, we run anecdotal (visual) pet hair tests for each vacuum, on all three floor types, to help us select the best cordless vacuum. The Rocket Pet Pro is a stick vacuum, which allows for easy cleaning under furniture. The Shark Rocket Pet Pro also detaches into a small, handheld vacuum, making it easy for dog owners to clean up their car after a joy ride with their four-legged family member. All of our recommended vacuums work on both hardwood and carpeted surfaces.
In fact, it cleaned up every material in just a pass or two, regardless of flooring type. We found that the 1.4-quart dust bin empties easily, but given the vacuum’s powerful suction and long-lasting battery, we do wish it had more capacity. The Navigator provides a flexible swivel head feature, which makes it easy to clean under furniture. And while it’s less powerful for deep cleaning on carpets, the Navigator still works well on low pile carpets. You can easily shift between carpet and hardwood floor cleaning by tapping a convenient footswitch.
A good stick vacuum should be lightweight, but not necessarily light-duty. The Shark Rocket Ultra-Light Corded Stick Vacuum used to be our best stick pick, and we think it’s still bissell crosswave cordless a great option even if it doesn’t have the latest technology or slimmest design. This model impressed us with its maneuverability and effective suction on all types of flooring.
Dyson products are always thoughtfully designed, and this vac is no exception. All of its accessories fit on to the end of the vac seamlessly and although it doesn’t come with storage, you can clip two to the unit if you need to carry any around in use. It only takes two hours to charge but battery life – two are included – varied in use; moving it between speeds and surfaces, it lasted 19 minutes, while on its lowest setting it lasted for over an hour. From Dyson to Hoover and Vax, we’ve tested all of the latest models to find the top 12 for you.
This affordable robot vacuum is quieter and fits under more furniture than any other model we’ve tested. While it works best in small spaces, it rarely gets stuck and does a good job on bare floors and short-pile rugs. If you’re interested in a robot vacuum and willing to pay for one, then hell yeah, get one. They don’t clean rugs as deeply as traditional vacuums do, and they never navigate perfectly (though some are getting pretty close). But they can keep your floors tidy, with very little effort and oversight on your part. They’re particularly advantageous for pet owners, but most people are pleasantly surprised by how much stuff robot vacuums manage to pick up.