After testing six top designs for power, efficiency and easy handling, we chose the Kenmore – Elite as the best canister vacuum. The unique multi-mode floor head switches quickly between carpets and bare floors, and the power and dust control on this model are competitive with popular dealer-sold vacuums going for double or triple the price. If you’re not sure about the long hose of a canister vacuum but want more flexibility than an upright, the bagless Shark – Apex has the best features from both types. We experimented with the three attachments when cleaning stairs and found the crevice tool to be the most helpful, as the other two attachments are really designed with upholstery and drapes in mind.
Notably, you can also make this vacuum more compact for storage; the handle can fold in half. Its canister converts into a handheld vacuum you can use, too, shark robotic vacuums but we found the handheld vac to be decently heavy. It may be fine for grabbing a few cobwebs, but don’t expect to use it overhead for a long time.
Senior staff writer Tim Heffernan’s 12-year-old Miele “still runs like new and has never had a single issue,” even after he mistakenly vacuumed up a lot of plaster dust without a bag in place. Deputy editor Christine Cyr Clisset has used her Miele for nearly a decade. The Navigator Lift-Away does a decent job of filtering out dust and other allergens. It has a post-motor HEPA filter, and the transfer points are also sealed with rubber gaskets.
He is a professional engineer and uses his review platforms to help consumers determine which vacuum cleaners are the best for their cleaning needs. Follow Nigel on facebook or view his vacuum review videos on the Vacuum Cleaner Advisor YouTube Channel. FILTRATIONThe vacuum has three pre-motor filters – one foam, one felt, and one metal mesh.
Large debris testWe placed Fruit Loops on low pile carpet and ran the cleaner head over them. We were able to pick up the Fruit Loops but there was a lot of back and forth and the vacuum had a tendency to push some forward (front of the cleaner head is low). It is likely that the Vertex version of the vacuum, with the soft roller brush at the front of the cleaner head, would be more effective in this test. While some vacuums have filters that need regular replacement, a washable filter is both easy to maintain and minimizes the recurring expense of buying new filters. By regularly cleaning a Shark vacuum’s filter, you can keep your vacuum operating at peak levels of suction and particle capture.
All in all, the vac turned out to be a great cleaning partner that never quits on you because it’s not powered by a battery. It was able to easily pick up all of the debris on a low-pile carpet, but we docked a bit off its effectiveness score for slightly struggling on a high-pile rug and not easily navigating the hardwood floor. Because it doesn’t stand up on its own, either, you’ll have to lean it against your furniture or gently rest it on the floor if you need to pause your vacuuming session. However, like many other stick vacs, you can use the Shark Rocket in handheld mode, with or without an extension, to clean furniture, ceilings, stairs, and more. Capture dry debris and spiff up your hard floors with a multi-purpose vacuum like the Shark VACMOP—one of our favorite cheap vacuum cleaners. It is designed for use on sealed hardwood, tile, or laminate floors, and glides effortlessly on them all.