We look forward to testing Miele’s Boost CX1, a bagless canister vacuum designed as a compact option for people living in small spaces. To test for ease of maintenance, we tried to clog and tangle each machine with shredded copy paper, Cheerios, Lego pieces, and toy dinosaurs. We also took apart a few of the vacuums to see how difficult it would be to unclog them. We found that the cheaper vacuums we tested came apart in fewer places, making it harder to access clogs.
In our own emissions test, we also found that the Navigator Lift-Away released less than 2,000 particles sized 0.5 micron or larger per cubic foot. If you’re sensitive to dust and other allergens, you may want to consider a high-end bagged vacuum cleaner. This is the most rigorous set of tests we’ve done on vacuum cleaners at Wirecutter, particularly the cleaning tests. In previous versions of this guide (and in our other vacuum guides), we also did a bunch of testing, but we didn’t measure the results as carefully.
While our initial setup experience was a bit confusing because there is not much guidance given on setting up the home base and emptying station, we found the actual programming of the vacuum to be a breeze. The Shark app leads you through a series of programming settings and shark robotic vacuums the robot maps out your home. You can also tweak the map to get it exactly how you want and establish no-go zones and carpeted zones and name different rooms. This part was the most tedious of using this vacuum as you can go into as much or as little detail as you want.
For busy families and homes with lots of hard flooring, it can be a time saver and offer peace of mind by removing one chore from your weekly routine. The cleaning performance is impressive, and the vacuums feel great to use. The filtration is excellent, which is good for everyone, but especially great for people with asthma or allergies. Buying a plug-in vacuum is like saving for retirement or sorting your laundry—a boring but sensible endeavor that should pay off in the long run. Cordless sticks and robot vacuums are convenient, but the best plug-in uprights and canisters clean better and last longer. We’ve tested dozens of plug-in vacuums over the years, and the Shark Navigator Lift-Away NV352 has been our favorite since 2014.
This feature is very handy for any household, but particularly one that’s conscious of their environmental impact or sticking to a budget. Washable filters come with many Shark vacuums, including the model We Still Like, the Shark Rocket Ultra-Light Corded Stick Vacuum. 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 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.