Weindependently evaluateall of our recommendations . If you chatter on tie we provide , we may invite recompense .
Out of the hundreds of vacuums we ’ve tested , these stand up out for their cleaning power , design , and simpleness of utilization .
In This Article
Better Homes & Gardens
As bulky as canister vacuums may be , there are many perks compare to lighter weightstick vacuums . In fact , they ply best weight dispersion and are easy on your body , particularly the shoulder joint . This makes them a hotshot pick for those prioritise mobility .
Emily Rairdin , fund possessor learner at University Vacuum + Sewing , in Des Moines , Iowa , explains , “ Canisters break up the real weight of lifting [ the vacuum ] because rather of having to wind one slice that ’s 15 pounds , you now lift two 7 - pound pieces . ”
Credit:Better Homes & Gardens
We spend two days in our science lab testing 16 cannister vacuum ongrouted tile , hardwood , carpet , stairs , and car mats , all surface in adequate amounts of junk , to see which ones performed the best for a miscellanea of budgets and modus vivendi .
What We Tested
To find out the proficient cannister vacuum cleaner , we valuate each tested theoretical account based oneffectiveness , maneuverability , portability , comfort of emptying , and other factors . For more on how we tested canister vacuum , see our testing operation below .
Our Top Picks
Best Overall
Miele Classic C1 Turbo Team PowerLine Vacuum
The preferences dial on top of the case shot and cartridge holder - on attachment mean you have everything you necessitate at your fingertips .
Hair clumped in the brush paradiddle when cleaning the car mat , leaving some junk behind after ten passes .
While the Miele Classic C1 may be costly , it ’s a well - rounded choice that eliminates the pauperism for any other vacuum . Between carpeted , hardwood , and grout tile floor , the void worked well on all surface , plus it effectively navigated our furnished obstacle class and pick upholstery .
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A telephone dial on top of the canister shot allows you to change preferences promptly , and the fond regard are clipped onto the hosepipe for storage . The wheels glide well on different floors , and the head swivels easily through turn and turns . The vacuum is relatively quiet , especially on the low setting .
We discover the vacuum mosteffective on carpet , as it tossed a little rubble back out onto the hardwood flooring , but overall it shape well , even if we had to go over some surfaces a few multiplication . It took under two minutes to houseclean our test living room , and under a min toclean the upholstery .
It ’s extremely lightheaded ( just over 10 British pound ) , so it was n’t a hassle to lug up the step during examination . We do good from removing the void nous on the stair to really hit the corners of the step . The cord is retractable , and long enough to use with a central outlet .
Credit: Better Homes & Gardens
The only surface we really shinny to sack up up was the railroad car matt ; it took us ten laissez passer , and hair would clump up , stalling the crimper and leaving some dust behind . But this was the only control surface that we struggled with in any pregnant way .
When emptying the bag , we come up it slide properly out from its compartment . There ’s a pocket-sized charge card fluttering on the bag that keeps the dust from falling into your hand . bit of fuzz do get tangled onto the vacuum roller , so we find ourselves using a seam ripper to remove it all .
How It Performed After Six Months
The Miele has become our go - to for most cleansing jobs , aside from small mess . We use it on hardwood and carpet storey , baseboards , and even a velvety bed human body . The mixed bag of context makes it suitable for many surface . We now favor it to an upright vacuum due to the comfort of maneuverability .
Product Details : Type : Bag |Weight:10.14 lbs . |Cord Length:18 ft |Capacity:4.5 liters |HEPA Filter : No |Accessories : Upholstery nozzle , crevice schnoz , sprinkle brush , small parquet floor floorhead , turbo brush floorhead
Best for Hard Floors
Miele SBAN0 Classic C1 Pure Suction PowerLine
It pick up 100 % of the debris on the hardwood floor in a individual pass during testing .
It pushes around the rubble on a grouted roofing tile , so we recommend placing the vacuum head directly on top .
The Miele was a standout performer on all surfaces due to its strong suction , but we find it best suited to hard airfoil . That ’s because the suction is so inviolable that when we ran the vacuum over a car Master of Arts in Teaching , it started to pull up the actual mat , not just the debris on top .
We found that the vacuum ticked all our box in caliber and performance . It only took a single pass for it to pick up 100 % of the junk on the hardwood floor and stair , and only two passes to in full clean the grouted tile .
The vacuity oral sex had a leaning to push the debris around the tile on the first pass , so we recommend lifting it slightly and placing it straight on top of the debris to clean more quickly on this floor character .
Though it was the top achiever for severe airfoil , it did n’t falter elsewhere ; the vacuum picked 95 % of the debris off a carpet surface on the first pass , and the upholstery fond regard traverse up all the debris and hairs , even in the corners and tight spots , in one go .
The only point against it for maneuverability is the lack of cycle on the foreland , which meant we had to put in a peck of cubital joint grease . But the canister has three wheels , which made it easy to labor around , even as we led it through the keep way obstruction course .
We found this to be a quieter vacuum , even when on its high-pitched scope , compare to others we tested . The bag only became full at the very remnant of the test , and its clip - on mechanics make it easy to remove . An indicator light comes when it is time toempty the bagand start novel .
We love this vacuity for cleaning stairs and landings ; it ’s lightweight and has powerful suction , so it does an excellent chore take out the Caterpillar hair that meet in these scissure . While we enjoy it for this purpose , the floorhead is a chip finicky and does n’t always collect all the debris on the first head .
Product Details : eccentric : bag |Weight:10.25 lbs . |Cord Length:18 ft |Capacity:4.5 cubic decimeter |HEPA Filter : No |Accessories : Upholstery hooter , crevice schnozzle , dot brush with synthetic bristle , SBD 365 - 3 floorhead
Best for Carpet
Kenmore Elite 21814 CrossOver Canister Vacuum
We found no whisker stuck on the brushroll after working it over carpeted surfaces , and only a minimal amount of hair after clean hard flooring .
The vacuity is a act awkward to maneuver , as the cannister is labored , and the long hose repeatedly tangled around us during testing .
The Kenmore reach a satisfactory performance across all the surfaces we try , but we found it work exceptionally on the carpeted storey , stairs , and railcar mat . On these surfaces , the emptiness picked up 95 % of the debris mixture on the first pass .
We did find the vacuum a little hard to move around in certain area , but that is due to the strong suction , meaning you ’re not having to go over a particular spot double . After cleaning the carpet and the mat , we observe that no hairs were stuck in the brushroll .
The wheels on the cannister glide smoothly , even through our carpeted livelihood room blank space , but we did find the bulky size get the canister to bump into flat surface like the edge of the goggle box cabinet . With that said , the vacuum head fits well under furniture like death chair and coffee table .
We did have to go back a few metre in the aliveness room distance to plunk up big pieces of orzo and food grain , but the vacuum cleaner managed to pick the whole space in under four minute . The upholstery attachment also cleared dust off the chairs with minimum effort and time .
While it still worked expeditiously on difficult floor , we did point out the vacuity had a leaning to sprinkle out more of the debris on open like hardwood , necessitate more passes to clean the hard floor and stairs than on the carpet .
The foresighted hosiery would get tangled around our consistency , and the canister shot was on the heavier side , which mean that it take more effort to carry the vacuum , especially up the stairs . There were also no vindicated book of instructions on how to empty the bag , so we had to sneak a few latches before pip the correct one .
But , on the positive side , we only had to empty the base once , at the end of the trial . The radix of the level attachment is also pretty wide , which means it covers a good amount of area on the primer coat , picking up more detritus in few passes .
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During the examination period , we threw out our erstwhile vertical vacuum and switch entirely to the Kenmore . Where our previous vacuum cleaner had difficulty with collecting pet hairsbreadth and spitting rubble , this one well handles dirt , hair , favorite litter , and more . We also discover that it help with overall tune quality , thanks to the HEPA filter .
mathematical product Details : Type : Bagged |Weight:17.26 lbs . |Cord Length:26 ft . |Capacity : Not list |HEPA Filter : Yes |Accessories : Crevice snoot , upholstery brush , sprinkle brush , devotee tool
Best Bagless
Kenmore Compact Bagless Canister Vacuum
There is no soap needed to houseclean the dirt bin . We found that water and a report towel were enough to suffice .
You ’ll have to use your fingers or a small shaft to remove any hairs from the brushwood coil in the vacuum head .
If having to purchase permutation bags is a negative stimulation for you , the Kenmore bagless vacuum is a great alternative . We only needed to empty the dustbin once at the end of the test , and it was easy to remove from the tin . To clean , we only needed water system and a newspaper towel .
Credit: Better Homes & Gardens
The only sustainment bit that required more manpower wasremoving the hairsfrom the brushroll . Since you ca n’t separate the copse from the vacuum head , you ’ll in all likelihood call for to use your fingers or a small tool to pick it out .
That minor inconvenience is far from being enough to outbalance how well - rounded we found the vacuum to be , especially at a below - fair price . The suction was inviolable enough to pick up 99 % of debris on the grouted roofing tile , and took no more than two pass on the hardwood and the car lusterlessness .
The vacuum performs well on both toilsome and carpet surfaces , though we found using a fissure creature helps in picking up extra grains on the carpet stair . The mind glides smoothly , and it take only about three minutes and 30 seconds to clean our whole obstacle form .
With the combination of a canister on wheels , a vacancy head that swivels , a retractable cord , and a lightweight overall excogitation , this is one of the in force canister void when it comes to ease of mobility . You wo n’t be breaking your arm and back to lift this one around .
We reach for this vacuum at least once a week to supplement day-by-day cleaning with a golem vacuum . It ’s handy and various and is able-bodied to treat spot messes and deep cleans with equal ease . Since we come out using it , we ’ve comment less debris on the level and favored hair on the couch between cleaning Roger Sessions .
Product Details : Type : Bagless |Weight:9.36 lb . |Cord Length : Not applicable |Capacity:0.6 lbs . |HEPA percolate : Yes |Accessories : Dusting brush , crevice tool , bare floor putz
The Bottom Line
After tight testing , we deemed theMiele Classic C1 Turbo Team PowerLine SBAN0the good case shot vacuum overall for its well - roundedness , ability to smoothly modulation between carpet and hard flooring , and lightweight and visceral design .
Our Testing Process
All 16 of the canister vacuums we examine were put through the same testing summons . We first compared how long it involve to localise up each void , then measured the machine on a luggage scale . Using a decibel referee , we recorded the noise grade on the lowly and highest configurations .
We tested each vacuum on grouted tile , hardwood floor , medium - pile rug , and a gondola lusterlessness . To do so , we scatter a variety of crushed Cheerios , coffee grounds , wig haircloth , and orzo evenly on a premeasured surface area and recorded how much the vacuity pick up in one strait .
Next we count how many blow over it took to pull together all seeable dust . We also test the vacuity on both carpeted and hardwood stair , sprinkling the remain detritus on the steps and noting how long it took to vacuum , and if we had toadd a vacancy attachmentfor efficiency .
For the maneuverability and portability mental test , we order a living room obstruction course with a umber tabular array , a standing lamp , upholstered chairs , and a TV standpoint . We sprinkled debris in a guided pattern between the furniture to see how well each vacuity could make clean tighter spots .
We then time how long each vacuity took to clean the entire obstacle track , looking at how well it swiveled between big piece of piece of furniture . And we solve debris into the crevices of an upholstered chair to test the upholstery and cleft attachment .
Throughout the test , we have note of how many times the canister had to be emptied , and follow the put up education to scavenge any washable filter .
What to Know About Canister Vacuums Before Shopping
Bagged vs. Bagless
There are two independent types of canister vacuum cleaner on the market — bagless and bagged . Bagged vacuum cleaner want you to purchase substitute detritus cup of tea , while bagless vacuums simply have a build - in canister that holds dust and junk .
Bagless vacuums eliminate the recurring cost of traveling bag , and are a moreenvironmentally favorable selection , since you are not tossing out a bag each time youdo a deep clean and jerk . It ’s also easier to grind through if you accidentally vacuum something you did n’t stand for to , like a toy or a charging cord .
But there are downsides . Bagless vacuums tend tolose suctionthe second base you start consort them , as their washable filters begin to constipate . Bagged vacuums , on the other hand , often carry onto sucking longer . Most bag are sealed , too , so you won’trelease dust into the airwhen you change them .
“ When you throw away a bag and put a new purse in , it ’s the equivalent to getting a new filter , ” Rairdin says , who correspond that bagged vacuums “ tend to have better suction and last longer than bagless . ”
Weight
The median weight of the vacuums we tested was 10.31 pounds , which is received for vacuity with a lot of suction power . TheKenmore Elite CrossOveris the heavy on our listing , at 17.26 pounds . With heavy vacuums , view whether the canister has wheels , especially if you have a larger plate .
If you know you ’re going to be lifting the vacuity up and down the stairs , or if you have mobility issues , it might be good to choose for a lightweight model , like theKenmore Compact Bagless , which is under 9 pounds .
Accessories
Most canister vacuums occur with accoutrement that can aid you in getting a abstruse clean of your house . Oftentimes they ’re more efficient in certain area than using just the vacuum mind . Standard accessories let in an upholstery putz and a crevice tool forvacuuming besotted spot .
Many canister vacuums also include things like special bags , expandable hoses , and encounter for unlike flooring types . During testing , we paid attention to how leisurely it was to shift between the attachments , and whether they stayed put during the process of cleanup .
Cord and Hose Length
A long superpower electric cord on a canister shot void cuts down on the bother of switch over outlet when you ’re vacuuming a unmarried way , and it stand for you do n’t have to lift the canister shot as much , which helps if a unit is dense . meander it up at the remnant of a cleaning session can be plaguey , so we prefer retractable electric cord .
The hose connecting the two piece of the vacancy should also be long enough to aid with mobility , leave you to leave the case shot in one spot for longer and keep it from bumping into larger piece of furniture .
HEPA Filter
If yousuffer from allergiesor asthma , or have a pet at dwelling house , a canistervacuum with a HEPA filtercan be crucial . A HEPA filterhelps take away debris , pollen , mould , bacterium , and preferred dander . In general , Rairdin recommends any hospital - grade filter to keep your house and lungs clean .
Capacity
Rairdin recommends looking for the big - capacity vacuum that is a comfortable size for you to use to get the best foresighted - term outcome . The Richard Buckminster Fuller a vacuum cleaner ’s bag or dust bin gets , the more the overall cleanup office diminish . unit of measurement with less capacity require frequent evacuation .
Other Canister Vacuums We Tested
Bissell Zing Bagless Canister Vacuum, 2156A
TheBissell Zing Bagless Canister Vacuumhas strong suck and perform especially well on hardwood and grout tile during examination . But there was a encyclopedism curve for several features that had no clear instructions , which ultimately dissemble how easy the void was to employ and how well it performed on low - quite a little carpet .
Oreck Commercial XL Pro 5 Super Compact Canister Bagged Vacuum BB900-DGR
TheOreck Commercial XL Pro 5worked well on hard surfaces , but it ’s not the most portable option . There are no wheels on the vacuum head , it was extremely hard to push frontwards on the railroad car mat , and it took up to 50 passes to light up the debris from the test living room . It also requires two hands to move the unit .
Your Questions, Answered
Do canister vacuums work better?
There are many types of vacuum cleaners on the market such as upright , cordless stick , androbot vacuums . But canister vacuums persist pop because they typically have potent suction and can adapt intimately to unlike surfaces and tight spaces due to the largeness of attachments .
A canister vacuity can be easier to guide than an upright , since the weight is part into two master parts . “ It ’s not a lot of weight on your shoulder , so it becomes a more lightweight , movable selection because it just disperses the weight , ” Rairdin say .
At the end of the twenty-four hours , it all depend on your personal needs and what kind of vacancy you will actually reach for most often .
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What are the disadvantages of a canister vacuum?
Canister vacuums may have their advantage when it comes to manoeuvrability , but keep in creative thinker that they are bulky . carry one from one floor to another or into a different room will likely require two hands , plus you involve to be mindful of the tin the whole time you ’re cleaning .
“ There are some people who dead detest dragging a tin around behind them , and feel like it ’s wrestling something , ” Rairdin pronounce . It can also be severe to stand a canister void upright on narrow steps , and wrangling the attachments is sometimes an issue .
Who We Are
Sarah Jamilis an apprentice with the Research + Testing squad at Dotdash Meredith and a writer forBetter Homes & Gardens . For this story , Jamil tested case shot vacuums first - hired hand in our Des Moines , Iowa , lab . She also verbalise withEmily Rairdin , a storage owner apprentice at University Vacuum + Sewing , a vacuum retail and repair business .
What is BHG Recommends?
Next to all of the products on this tilt , you may have noticed our BHG Recommends seal of approval . Products that earn the seal have been put through stringent examination to make certain they ’re worth a spot in your home . We corrupt most of the product we test ourselves , but occasionally we are provided sample by companies if buying is n’t an option . In these casing , we use the same testing standard we use to test the purchased product .
Credit:Better Homes & Gardens
Credit: Amazon
Credit: Better Homes & Gardens
We worked debris into the crevices of an upholstered chair to test relevent attachments.Credit:Better Homes & Gardens
One detail we love to see is a retractable cord, which makes it easier to wrangle once unplugged.Credit:Better Homes & Gardens
