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.
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.
They’re usually lighter and more compact than a standard vacuum and come with attachments that allow you to get in the toughest nooks and crannies. Better yet, once all the Cheerios and beach sand are sucked up, dirt disposal is typically much easier than with larger vacuums. The dust bin’s 2.6-ounce capacity is quite small so it’ll fill up quickly and often.
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.
More specialized accessories, including a motorized pet brush and specialized floor brush for hardwood floors, may also be included with your vacuum. These can provide a more suitable clean in specific situations. The Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro+ Handheld Vacuum, our best handheld pick, surprised us not only with its effective performance but also with its number of accessories, including a motorized pet brush attachment. This vacuum shark cordless proved to be a great tool for refreshing upholstery and clearing pet beds of extra hair. It runs quietly across three power modes and reliably sucks up dirt, debris, and pet hair from bare floors, rugs, and carpet, plus it features a four-stage HEPA filter. The Max Flex Handheld Vacuum looks like a mad scientist shrunk a full-size vacuum, thanks to the extendable hose that wraps around the unit when you don’t need its full length.
This attachment will work well on furniture, linens, and even your car seats and floor mats. We were also impressed by this vacuum’s ability to suck up pet hair without any becoming tangled in the pet hair brush tool. Nevertheless, once this vacuum was performing well, we found it excelled at picking up all types of debris and no hair was caught in the brush roller. The swivel head makes it easy to maneuver under lower pieces of furniture and it’s lightweight enough to easily transcend a flight of steps. Because of the small dust bin size, we think this vacuum is more suited for apartments or townhomes, but it could also serve as a quick mess-cleaning tool in busy households. If you’re looking for the powerful suction of an upright vacuum but the convenience of a cordless stick vacuum, this is the one for you.
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.
If it’s still hard to clean the densest rugs, you can also turn down the suction. Dyson’s latest offering brings serious ease to your cleaning routine. Complete with a comprehensive selection of tools (everything from a hair screw tool to a wand clip), an LCD screen also keeps you up to date on battery life. It excelled across all floor types and its notably powerful suction picked up pet hair quickly. You’ll need a high budget to invest in this serious bit of vacuuming kit. It boasts a ton of tools, including a wet brush for mopping floors and an extending crevice nozzle.
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.
I think the extra features of the v15 are worth the $50 difference so recommend the v15 over the v11 if it’s within your price range. Based on all of the features I discussed, if I had to choose between a Shark or Dyson and the cost for all of them was exactly the same, shark cordless I’d go with a Dyson. But that’s not the case – when looking at cost, the Dysons are priced significantly higher than Sharks. While the Dysons may have more features than the Sharks, the Sharks are great vacuums for the price and their multiflex feature is awesome.