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Unlike Smart Home gadgets and kitchen appliances, buying an upright vacuum is rarely considered exciting.
Instead, most of us tend to look at it in practical terms: we want to make home cleaning more accessible and affordable.
And what do you need for this? Most of it will come down to powerful suction: it will handle carpet, curtain and floor cleaning all with one device.
Plus, extra suction power for your stick vacuum cleaner will take all the dust in less time, saving your personal and electrical energy.
Thanks to these practical concerns, shopping for an upright vacuum cleaner tends to be a more rational purchase.
Here, we have coldly examined the advantages of three models renowned for their suction power. The final choice will be yours!
Our Top Picks for Upright Vacuum for Suction Power
| Best Upright Vacuum | Product Information | Check Price |
|---|---|---|
Top | Kenmore DU2015 Bagless Upright Vacuum 2-Motor Power Suction Lightweight Vacuum Cleaner | Check Price |
Top | Kenmore Intuition BU4022 Bagged Upright Vacuum Pet Friendly Lift-Up Carpet Vacuum Cleaner | Check Price |
Top | ROOMIE TEC Alpha Professional Cordless Upright Vacuum Cleaner | Check Price |
Kenmore DU2015 Bagless Upright Vacuum
- Remove pet hair, dirt and more with this multi-floor, multi-surface designed vacuum for use in your home, den, or kitchen with a wide sweeper path
- Enhanced HEPA filter system traps 99.7% of dirt, trapping dirt inside the vacuum reducing pollutants in the room
- 2-motor system excels in suction power for any surface type. The suction control feature allows you to vacuum different carpet weights.
The Kenmore DU2015 combined the suction prowess of a dual-motor with overall light construction and a comfortable height. Plus, some of its extra accessories make it remarkably flexible.
The most notable one is perhaps the HEPA filter, which can trap dirt and allergens alike. Combined with its unique tool for collecting pet hair, you have a powerful symptom management tool for anyone who may have allergies at home.
The tool package expands these options further: a crevice tool, dirt brush, and an upholstery brush roll will make it capable of handling pretty much any surface on the living room.
The possibilities reach their apex when it comes to curtains: by adjusting the suction power strength, you will be able to tackle different types of fabric and materials.
The final upside of this model is its weight. At only 14 pounds, we found it easy to drag, swivel, and roll around the house. Plus, the inclusion of wheels means that you won’t have to worry about getting stuck around the house.
On the other hand, there’s the issue of baglessness. The Kenmore DU2015 uses an extra-large cup to store any dust, dirt, or dander that it catches around the house.
This cup is pretty extensive, and it will take a lot longer to fill up than a regular bag. And yet, eventually, you will need to do it. This is a pretty complex task, as the cup needs to be carefully unscrewed to keep the dust from spilling over.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| HEPA filter. | The cup is hard to empty. |
| Full accessory kit. | The hose is only 10 inches long. |
| Adjustable suction power. | |
| Best Upright Vacuum Reviews |
Kenmore Intuition BU4022 Bagged Upright Vacuum
- Lift-Up enables versatile handheld freedom to clean above floors and stairs. Simply press a button to lift away from the floor nozzle to clean all of your hard to reach areas.
- No Touch Bag Technology eliminates the annoyingly stains process of emptying and cleaning a full cup with a single button press to get rid of your stains.
- PowerFlow bag chamber is designed to enable strong suction even as the bag fills. This means that you can still expect excellent cleaning up until your bag needs emptying.
Thanks to its 3-in-1 tool, dual-motor for suction power and HEPA filter, the Kenmore Intuition BU4022 is remarkably similar to the DU2015.
Many of the same features and specs are, after all, almost identical across both options. Both also weigh only 14 pounds, so they are equally easily manoeuvrable. So then, why should you invest a little extra in this model?
Well, the relevant differences are two. First is the Lift-up feature, which adds a little bit of extra handheld freedom. It allows you to lift away from the central nozzle without exerting yourself.
This is helpful for corners and staircases, but it can also help you dust off curtain rods and other hidden high surfaces.
Then, the second and most significant difference is that this is a bagged model. However, it doesn’t require you to be coming into contact with the bag directly to wash it or empty it.
You can take it one by simply pressing a button, with little risk of accidentally spilling the dust all over the room.
On the other hand, the bags need to be replaced periodically. The base model comes with six bags, but after those are finished, you will need to buy an extra set from the company: the model is not compatible with generic bags.
Finally, there are some user complaints about the engine overheating.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Lightweight. | You will need to buy more bags from the manufacturer. |
| Multi-function, including HEPA filter. | The engine may overheat. |
| The bag is easy to replace. | |
| Best Upright Vacuum Reviews |
ROOMIE TEC Alpha Professional Cordless Upright Vacuum Cleaner
- Delivers wire-free convenience with 22Kpa high suction power and up to 40 minutes runtime. It is just as good as a traditional 1000W upright vacuum.
- Advanced microfibre roller that easily captures food crumbs, cat litters, and candy sprinkles from any surface; Its 10.5 wide cleaning path gets the job done quickly.
- Includes a Turbo Pet Brush, a crevice tool and a dusting tool for tackling stubborn pet hair and dirt on furniture, stairs and hard to reach areas.
An upright vacuum cleaner should give you the best possible comfort when dealing with carpets and floors. However, no matter how light, lifting around such a voluminous machine to reach your sofa’s cushions or curtains can be significantly harder.
For most people, the obvious solution is to get a separate handheld vacuum cleaner. But how feasible is it really to have one for every purpose?
The ROOMIE TEC seeks to answer this puzzle by providing a 2-in-1 upright option that you can easily disassemble into a handheld model.
Naturally, switching to the smaller version means sacrificing some potency. This is why the “ultra-suction” is only really available when using it on upright mode.
To change from the upright mode into the handheld one, you must twist the central pole out. This is not as intuitive as it should be.
On the other hand, both modes require a bag, and yet it is relatively easy to clean. It is also pretty light, in case you want to keep the base close to you for a quick recharge
As for portability, this is a cordless model, so you won’t have to worry about accidentally stepping over the cord or potentially tripping.
The charging base is sturdy, though, and the battery capacity is decent.
The replaceable brush roll can be changed into a “corner roller” or a pet brush. No matter which accessory you are using, the overall package will always weigh less than 7 pounds.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Very lightweight. | Difficult to disassemble |
| It can be used as a handheld vacuum. | Ultra suction is only available on the upright mode. |
| Cordless. | |
| Best Upright Vacuum Reviews |
What Can Be Vacuumed?
Until a few years ago, it was widely believed that vacuuming should be reserved for carpeted or fabric surfaces. The idea was that rolling the vacuum cleaner over hardwood or luxury vinyl plank floors would leave unpleasant skid marks along the floor.
However, this is not true, especially if you have a vacuum with soft bristles and extra-strong suction power. In such cases, you will only need to pass the vacuum twice on each section.
If your vacuum allows it, try to match the appliance’s setting with the type of floors:
- The lowest for bare floors
- The second-lowest for tiles and hardwoods
- Medium for short-haired pile carpets
- Highest for plush carpets or thick rugs
Vacuum Model Guide
Upright vacuums are great for broad surfaces, but they are not the only available option. Before you buy, make sure you assess what you need. Currently, you can choose between the following models:
Canister vacuums. These are your regular “small tank and hose” vacuums. They tend to be light and vacuum a small area with large debris very quickly – such as the floor after a haircut. However, a large canister would be impossible to move, so they tend to have a limited capacity
Deep cleaners. Often combining the chance to steam, mop, and deodorize, deep clean vacuums are usually used for furniture r very thick carpets. They can suction any dust first, and then clean the inside of a cushion.
Upright vacuums. Usually the best vacuum for vinyl floors or any other extended surface.
They tend to be longer and firmer than canister vacuums. This allows them to have a larger tank, plus they don’t require you to crouch to go through the floors.
Handheld vacuums. The ideal choice to target the edges of the couch, underneath your coffee table, or on top of a shelf, handheld vacuums have very small tanks. However, they are designed to allow for exact movements.
Robot vacuum. Equipped with a motion sensor and a gyroscope, robot vacuums are meant to automate housekeeping tasks.
They are ideal for apartments or one-level homes: they cannot deal with stairs or unleveled areas, but they will routinely pass around the house.
Top Upright Vacuum Brands
Kenmore
American manufacturer Kenmore is actually a subsidiary of the much larger Sears. Because of this, it is tied to appliances that cover almost every household need.
They are easy to find across the country and offer a comprehensive network of maintenance specialists.
Bissell
Michigan-native Bissell specializes directly in vacuum cleaners and other house cleaning products. Founded in 1876, this company sold the first commercial carper sweeping machine.
Thanks to floor scrubbers, steam cleaners, and deep cleaners, they have recently expanded into the commercial cleaning niche.
Roomie Tec
Roomie Tec is a relatively new Canadian company, as it was just founded in 1999. They specialize in home appliances, spread over several lines. In addition to vacuums and floor care, they also offer fitness equipment and miscellaneous accessories.
Hoover
Founded in 1908, Hoover is one of the most iconic home appliances in the United States. In Ireland and the UK, the term “Hoover” refers to any vacuum cleaner, no matter the brand.
Final Thoughts
Vacuum cleaners are all about making our lives easier. After all, housework never ends – so anything that makes it less backbreaking is appreciated.
The models we reviewed here will allow you to clean carpeted and bare floors alike – plus, with the right accessories, they can replace a few other items!
