Most Popular Vacuum Cleaner Reviews and Top Picks

Just a few years ago, it seemed impossible to think of vacuum cleaners as sophisticated home appliances.

And yet, a quick look at any current catalogue will show a rapidly-changing landscape: cordless vacuum cleaners, smart robots, and all-in-on deep cleaning machines are just the most visible facets of new technology.

Here are the most popular vacuum cleaner reviews and top picks.

But are these models genuinely worth the price?

Will they manage to save you some backbreaking labor – or will they join the closet full of electronic toys that we never use a third time? The truth is that if you make a smart choice, you will at least simplify the endless chore of a clean home.

Here, we have examined a handful of the most popular vacuum cleaners. Take a look at our in-depth analysis and determine whether they are suitable for you!

Most Popular Vacuum Cleaners Reviews: What Makes Them Special?

BISSELL 2252 CleanView Swivel Upright Bagless Vacuum Carpet Cleaner

As a specialist in steamer machines and deep cleaners, Bissell is a name that immediately comes to mind when the goal is to clean carpet floors, rugs, and upholstery.

If that’s you, you may find that the 2252 CleanView offers a very decent alternative that’s within reach of the average homeowner.

This vacuum is geared at carpeted floors. The primary brush roll contains three types of teeth meant to trap pet hair, sand, and scattered debris while still let air pass.

This means that suction power is strong, energy efficiency emphasized, but the brusher rolls are too stiff for hardwood floors. Plus, the edges of this brush are kept clear to make it easier to clean the edges of its path without losing suction.

This is a bagless model, so you will need to empty the cup regularly. With a capacity of 1 liter, you won’t need to do this as often as with other models – although it would still be better if you don’t leave it overnight.

Like the rest of the machine, the cup is easy to wash with just soap and water.

At 15 pounds, this is a powerful vacuum cleaner, but not necessarily an easy to use one. The wheels allow you to roll it quickly, but you are bound to get tired after a while.

Plus, as it does not convert into a handheld model, you may not be able to use it to vacuum your bed or sofa.

Finally, some users have reported that it occasionally overheats. This seems to happen mostly when the roller gets jammed with extra-long hair.

Pros	Cons
High-capacity washable dust cup.	Not friendly towards hard floors.
Wide brush roll, with a total cleaning path of 13.5 inches.	Occasionally overheats.
It can handle long pile carpets and rugs.
Most Popular Vacuum Cleaner Reviews

BISSELL CleanView Swivel Rewind 2254

At first glance, there is not much of a difference between this model and the previous one. However, we need to highlight two main differences that can radically change your experience while vacuuming – especially if you are a pet owner.

Both the 2252 and the 2254 models are great for people who have both furry ones and carpets at home. However, the 2254 has a better swivel ability, allowing you to pivot more quickly and tackle corners – even while using the main, wider brush roll.

In addition, this model also includes a pet turbo eraser tool. This tool helps you eliminate the lines and paw prints that dogs often leave behind on clear colored carpets.

This is an excellent fix for anyone who doesn’t have the energy to go through an entire vacuum cycle but needs to tidy up things quickly.

On the other hand, the strong emphasis on pet hair but leaves behind other possible allergens. This is because this vacuum doesn’t have a HEPA sealed system. Instead, it uses replaceable filters.

These can trap microscopic particles, but they can also be accidentally released when you open the dust bin.

Pros	Cons
Outstanding capabilities for pet hair.	No HEPA filter.
Better swivel, which improves reach.	Heavy.
Includes an additional pet turbo eraser tool.
Most Popular Vacuum Cleaner Reviews

Hoover MAXLife Pro Pet UH74220PC

The Hoover MAXLife Pro Pet is a rare vacuum cleaner that combines the advantages of a bagless model with the security of a sealed HEPA filter.

This is a multi-floor model, as it allows you to adjust both the suction power and the head attachment to tackle hardwood, cement, carpets and tiles alike.

This is all improved by the on-off brush roll, which can be replaced very quickly. The whole package also includes a separate tool to remove pet hair from upholstery, a dusting brush, and a crevice tool.

When it comes to special features, we need to highlight two: the headlights and supersized dust cup. With a capacity of 1.1 liters, the MAXLife’s dust cup can probably hold the dirt from an entire house before filling up or becoming jammed.

Meanwhile, the LED headlights will help you spot upholstery stains without increasing energy consumption.

The machine itself is quite heavy, with a total weight of 17 pounds. Fortunately, it has an extendable wand that can reach up to 13 feet, so you won’t need to lift anything too heavy to reach high surfaces or ceiling corners.

On the other hand, the swivel function seems hard to operate and doesn’t allow for exact movements.

Pros	Cons
Very large cup capacity.	Heavy.
Extendable wand.	The head swivel is challenging to wield.
Separate pet hair attachment.
Most Popular Vacuum Cleaner Reviews

Tineco PWRHERO11 Snap Cordless Vacuum Cleaner

Light and easy to maneuver, the Tineco PWRHERO11 provides in mobility what it can’t quite match in potency. This cordless upright model can “snap open” and turn into a handheld vacuum. This is remarkably practical for dusting sofas, couches, and shelves.

As for suction power, this model can reach a maximum of 120W when functioning under Max or deep cleaning mode. At this potency, battery life does diminish significantly; however, it will cap off at 15 minutes of continuous operation.

Under ordinary circumstances (Standard or Eco modes), you may get up to 40 minutes of continuous operation. In large homes, you may be forced to take a break before that time has elapsed: with only 0.6 Liters of cup capacity, it can fill up very quickly.

On the other hand, the machine is remarkably quiet, even when on Max mode. Take any rattling noises as a sign that something has jammed on the inside, and don’t overstrain the machine. Based on user reports, this model does not jam easily or often.

Finally, the package includes a wall-mounted storage dock that doubles as a charging station. This will require you to drill a hole in the wall to install it, so be prepared.

Pros	Cons
Quiet operation.	Relatively small dust cup.
Good battery life when on Eco mode.	Battery life is pretty short when on Max mode.
It doesn’t jam easily.	The storage dock is difficult to install.
Most Popular Vacuum Cleaner Reviews

Shark APEX AZ1002 DuoClean with Self-Cleaning Brushroll

The Shark APEX takes many of the features first introduced by the Shark Navigator Lift Away and boosts them by a level or two.

The extra power does increase weight and energy consumption. However, this will not get in the way of the cleaning session: the powered Lift-Away system allows you to turn this upright model into a handheld one.

However, it will remain corded and plugged into your main power source.

Some of the other improvements affect filtering, as well as the brush heads used. The HEPA filter is now completely sealed and will prevent allergens and pollen from being re-released into your home’s air.

In addition, the brush roll uses twice the amount of hairs. These are arranged in opposite directions, which can trap hair and dust more easily from carpets or fabric surfaces.

When handling hardwood floors, you can switch to “Active Glide” mode. This allows you to press a softer side of the brush roll against the floor. It will also allow you to swivel and turn around smoothly and will prevent scratching or leaving marks on the floor.

All these proprietary technologies do come with two significant downsides: first, the vacuum has a strong tendency to overheat, especially if you operate it on Max mode for more than 15 minutes in a row.

Also, clients noticed that Shark’s customer service lines are not the most responsive.

Pros	Cons
It can be easily converted into a handheld model.	It overheats.
Tackles carpeted and bare floors with equal efficiency.	Poor customer service.
Includes a sealed HEPA filter.
Most Popular Vacuum Cleaner Reviews

What’s New in Vacuum Technology?

Vacuum cleaners have changed at a more rapid pace than many other appliances. Ultimately, the basic technology is the same for all vacuums: rapidly sucking air is used to suck dust, pollen, and other pollutants.

All this debris is then filtered and stored in a canister or replaceable bag.

If you are looking for the latest innovations, check the following features:

Smart Home Capabilities

Many top-tier models can now connect to a smartphone app via your home’s WiFi network or Bluetooth.

Depending on the model, this may mean simple alerts when the battery on a cordless model is about to run out or when it’s time to change the filters and empty the dust bin.

Other times, you may be able to tweak the settings (for example, switch from Eco to Turbo mode on a multi-floor model) using a smartphone app.

For robotic vacuums, on the other hand, Smart Home capabilities are essential. Their goal is to automate dusting and sweeping tasks. The internet will allow you to start the vacuum remotely, shut it off in an emergency, or even pre-program its schedule.

HEPA filters       

A HEPA filter allows you to trap tiny particles from the air or any surrounding surfaces. This includes dust, pollen, dander, and any other allergens. For people prone to respiratory allergies, HEPA filters in vacuum cleaners and air purifiers can make a massive difference.

At first glance, any type of filter that can trap particles under 0.3 microns in size can qualify as a HEPA filter. However, “absolute” HEPA filters go a step further and also ensure that you can dispose of them without re-releasing them.

Usually, absolute HEPA filters are certified by the EPA and have a serial number. HEPA-like filters do not have a serial number.

The Bagged vs Bagless debate

The ability to dispose of any vacuumed dust also plays an essential role in the bagless versus bagged vacuum debate.

Currently, most upright and handheld vacuum manufacturers are gravitating towards bagless models. These usually come with a small container or cup, which can be taken out, emptied, and washed.

Bar breakage or an accident, this single cup should last forever. Meanwhile, bagged ones need new bags constantly.

As a result, bagless vacuums are often cheaper in the long run. They also create less waste.

Yet, many are not ready to dispose of their bagged vacuums. Disposing of a sealed bag poses less risk than opening the dust cup for people with respiratory disease.

In addition, as absolute HEPA filters are meant to provide a tight seal, the overwhelming majority of options are still in bagged vacuums.

Wet-Dry Vacuums

Wet-dry vacuums often add a water reservoir (or two) to their dust cup. This allows them to mimic a “mopping” function, which can be very useful for tiled or cement floors.

The mechanics are pretty simple: before you start vacuuming, you will need to add clean water in the clean water container. Then, as you vacuum, press a button to release a squirt of water into the floor and drag the vacuum as you normally would.

Vacuums with a second water container reserve this for “dirty water”. The vacuum will suction off the water and debris and place it in that container in these cases. Meanwhile, the dry mode provides a regular vacuum motion.

Finally, very top-tier models also provide a water heater for their wet function. This can be used to create steam and can provide something similar to deep cleaning.

A Quick Guide to Vacuum Accessories

Often, one of the main characteristics that differentiate “fully equipped” vacuum cleaners from more basic models is the accessories pack.

Most of these accessories are comprised of a series of detachable heads and wands. Often, these can be pretty similar, and their purpose can be far from obvious. This quick guide should help you figure out what’s what.

Dusting brush

Often included even in “basic” accessory packages, a dusting brush is a smaller, soft-bristle head replacement. This is meant to help you dust delicate items or accessories, such as lamps or wall mouldings.

Crevice tool

A crevice tool is a very short head replacement that opens into a very narrow, pointy slit. Just like its name indicates, a crevice tool should allow you to vacuum crevices and corners more closely.

Adjustable cleaning heads

If your vacuum cleaner includes a separate cleaning head in addition to the default one, then this is probably the adjustable one. This will allow you to change the height of the head and lift the wand from the floor. Use it when switching from regular floors to high pile carpets.

Parquet brush

These are a softer version of dusting brushes. Instead of soft bristles, they use very fine hairs or soft fabric around the head. This is meant to protect your parquet floors and help hardwood shine.

Final Thoughts

Vacuum cleaners have now improved their technology significantly. Many now aim to tackle more floor varieties and increase their suction power while maximizing energy efficiency.

However, many of their proprietary technologies are just buzzwords and don’t really provide you with any noticeable improvements.

Here, we have included in-depth reviews of some of the top-selling models. Make sure to compare them carefully!