These compact machines make light work of sofas and car interiors, while their cordless design makes them easy to grab for emergency pre-hosting touch-ups. Some even suck up liquid spills, meaning no more crying over spilt milk. Our Good Housekeeping Institute experts have rigorously tested every vacuum on this list across four different floor types (long- and short-piled carpet, laminate and floorboards). Scroll on to read their findings, and to learn more about how we test vacuum cleaners. All cordless handheld vacuum reviews on Modern Castle are put through a standard assessment of battery size, run time, life, and replacement cost.
If sleek accessories are a priority for you, you’ll want to take a close look at it. While we recognize that an over $500 price tag definitely places this robot vacuum in a splurge category, we think it’s well worth the investment. 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. Each of the other three debris types were cleaned up at a level of 95% or higher. A handheld vacuum can add a lot of value to a household, especially when it comes to quick fixes and cleaning up more localized messes.
You’ll also enjoy the clear dust bin that allows you to see what you’re capturing in real time, and it releases very easily with the help of built-in latches. At this price point, you can’t beat the performance and easy-to-use design that makes this vacuum a favorite among shark robotic vacuums our team. You get 30 minutes of battery life with this lightweight vac, but the trade-off is that it takes five hours to recharge. It’s slim enough to squeeze into tight spaces and the charging base offers a neat storage solution, with room to house the included tools.
If storage is tight, you can mount the accompanying charging base on the wall. Shark’s second entry should be first choice if your home mainly consists of hard floors, as it scored full marks for pick-up on laminate shark pet hair vacuum and floorboards. It was also the best on test for lifting dirt from cars thanks to its lightweight design and crevice tool. When it comes to cleaning awkward spaces, a trusty handheld vacuum is a must-have.
Cordless vacuums give you easy mobility without the worry of tangled wires and plug points. The charge-and-go feature of cordless models helps you reach even the tightest of corners with ease. Hand vacs are a must-have when you have furry friends around and pet hair is everywhere.
We then measured the airspeed of each vacuum by attaching it to our sealed wind tunnel with an anemometer to compare airflow. The Wandvac did quite poorly, only registering an airspeed of about 827 feet per minute (fpm), which is very low compared to the group’s average measurement of 1300 fpm. Good Housekeeping participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. Hannah helps to uncover the best cleaning hacks too, with a focus on easy, natural solutions. We also test performance when picking up larger debris, including common household residues such as cereal and biscuit crumbs.
A tank for Shark cleaning solution, which is included in your purchase, is built into its body. However, the Shark vacuum does feature a flexible wand that is a real game changer for reaching under furniture. You can stop ignoring the dust bunnies under your sofa because Shark designed this vac with a hinge that gives the floor head greater reach. Plus, the Vertex series from Shark includes dual rollers in the floor head and one is equipped with grippy rubber fins to maintain contact with the floor. While making use of the 60-minute battery life, which is significant compared to many other cordless models, you can feel this technology working.
Otherwise, it’s an all-round excellent performer, making it our top choice. Handheld vacs lack the long battery life and large dust capacity of upright and cylinder vacuums, but they’re a top choice for smaller homes with pesky nooks and crannies aplenty. I would recommend the Shark Pet Perfect 2 if you’re looking for the following features in a handheld vacuum. While the cost of a replacement battery is still an annoying thorn in my side, all things considered, I would still say the Shark Pet Perfect 2 is a good value. The relatively low-cost, 2 year warranty, and outstanding cleaning performance is a strong combination. Yet, when you consider the cost to maintain this handheld, the value takes a hit given the high cost of a replacement battery.
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. When shopping for a vacuum, the decision between a corded and cordless model depends on your specific needs and priorities. A corded vacuum offers an unlimited runtime and is a good choice for whole-house cleaning.
While the Navigator series is now one of Shark’s more basic lines in terms of advanced features, this model still has a removable dust bin and plenty of cord length for cleaning average-sized rooms. An 11-foot-long extension hose also makes it easy to clean drapes shark canister vacuum or steps without lugging the entire unit with you. Plus, accessories like the motorized brush, upholstery tool, and crevice nozzle can be used to deep clean specific areas of your home. The fully sealed system has a HEPA filter that locks in dander and allergens.