In my experience only upright vacuums have worked, they pick up way more than those tiny handheld ones. The trick tho is getting one that’s light and has a decent hose length so you dont have to bend over. Look at these ones for ref, theyve also got some decent attachments which are really helpful when you clean other areas. Also start vacuuming from the top down and keep a hand free to steady the vacuum. And for the hose issue, get a cheap extension online. Answer from mats_hummels38 on reddit.com
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VacuumLand
vacuumland.org › vacuum discussion › contemporary
Best way to vacuum carpeted stairs | VacuumLand – Vintage & Modern Vacuum Enthusiasts
May 16, 2021 - What is the best method and best vacuum/tool for the job? ... Don't know why.... but, on my hardwood floor steps, I prefer to use my canisters, OR Kirby (because of the longer hose) WITH the DUSING BRUSH. I guess it's a feeling that I have more control. And, I can clean the side molding along the side baseboard at the same time! ... When I used to clean a friend's two story house with wooden stairs, I used the floor brush and wands and worked my way bottom to top. On carpeted stairs though, I think something like a lightweight upright might work well.
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E-Vacuum Store
evacuumstore.com › vacuum cleaners › best vacuum cleaners › best vacuum for stairs
Best Vacuum Cleaners for Stairs | eVacuumStore.com
This vacuum is great for stairs thanks to its flexible hose and extension wand. It also works well for other raised surfaces, such as counter tops and family room mantles. Additionally, you can use the optional Sebo 9'2"extension hose and handheld turbo brush to help you remove pesky pet hair from carpeted staircases.
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Reader's Digest
rd.com › home › cleaning
The 6 Best Vacuums for Stairs of 2023, According to Cleaning Pros
October 28, 2025 - This affordable Kenmore cordless stick vacuum is ideal for both carpeted and hardwood stairs. The HEPA filter is especially useful if you have pets and lots of foot traffic, since it captures 99.97% of dust particles, pet dander, pollen and bacteria.
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RTINGS
rtings.com › home › vacuum › best
The 5 Best Vacuums For Stairs of 2026 - RTINGS.com
November 14, 2025 - The best vacuum for stairs we've tested is the Dyson V12 Detect Slim. At under 5.5 pounds, this cordless stick vacuum is lighter than most full-size stick vacuums, so it's easy to carry up and down long flights of stairs.
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Best Buy
bestbuy.com › best buy › category directories › appliances directory › handheld vacuums directory
Best Vacuum For Stairs - Best Buy
AI Cleaning Mode 2.0 automatically senses floor type and optimizes suction whether on carpet or hard floor for efficient cleaning performance on any surface.¹⁰See all Stick & Cordless Vacuums ... "Great vacuum!...This is a very lightweight vacuum! It was very easy to use to clean the stairs.
Find elsewhere
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Mikey's Board
mikeysboard.com › forums › ground zero! › the carpet cleaning room
best vacuum for stairs? | The Cleaning Standard
July 11, 2019 - The Oreck brush roll will sit nicely right on the bullnose 1 in ten million risers need to be dry vacuumed The Hoover Porta Power will get the edges with ease and style. Click to expand...
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Bob Vila
bobvila.com › reviews › cleaning supplies › the best vacuums for stairs, tested and reviewed
The Best Vacuums for Stairs, Tested and Reviewed - Top Picks from Bob Vila
May 22, 2023 - Those in the market for a bagless vacuum dedicated to cleaning stairs and smaller areas only—and don’t want to pay a lot for it—should consider this Bissell model. The stick-handheld vacuum combo is exceptionally lightweight, weighing only 2.6 pounds, and works equally well on hardwood and carpeted surfaces.
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Chicago Tribune
chicagotribune.com › 2021 › 04 › 07 › the-best-vacuum-for-carpet
The best vacuum for carpet – Chicago Tribune
February 13, 2022 - Works on both carpet and hard floors. Easy to clean out dirt bin. What we dislike: Vacuum needs to be charged and may not work as long as other models. ... Our take: This vacuum is a rare combination of lightweight and powerful, making it a great cleaner for houses with stairs.
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What to Expect
community.whattoexpect.com › families
Best Vacuum for Carpet - Stairs - Stay-at-Home Moms | Forums | What to Expect
September 23, 2020 - One of the reasons I like it is because of the stair and dusting attachments. I got a good deal on both of my dyson on previous years Black Friday sales. I will also add that I have an 80 mutt with long hair so the cordless vacuum has been the biggest life saver. I use it on the hardwood floors too and I never have floating hair in my house now but if you have wall to wall carpet you shouldn't get a cordless one because the battery life is shorter when using it on carpet.
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/vacuumcleaners › best vacuum for carpeted stairs and hardwood?
r/VacuumCleaners on Reddit: Best vacuum for carpeted stairs and hardwood?
July 31, 2024 -

I just moved into an apartment with all hardwood floors, but with a carpeted flight of stairs (medium pile). Ideally it'd be nice to get a vacuum where I can leave the canister on the bottom step while vacuuming, but I'm also okay with a lightweight upright or a canister that's easy to carry/set down on stairs without it falling.

We have 2 cats so mainly I want something that's good for suctioning up hair while also not being a pain on the stairs. Budget is around ~$350-400. Thank you!

I'm currently considering the Miele C1 or the Kenmore 400 series, would appreciate opinions on either or any alternate options!

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Reddit
reddit.com › r/vacuumcleaners › best vac for stairs...lots of stairs!
r/VacuumCleaners on Reddit: Best vac for stairs...lots of stairs!
June 2, 2024 -

I own a small commercial and residential cleaning company, and the business is picking up. The bane of my existence is definitely vacuuming the stairs. I have a Riccar Vibrance R20E, a fleet of Panasonic Power waves (RIP Panasonic vacuums 😟), and a random Bissell. The brushes on all of them are far wider than a stair tread if placed on it sideways and are heavy to lug up and down and try and support with one hand and move back and forth with the other. Little to no stair work on the commercial side, it's pretty much all on the residential side. I've been contemplating some type of a cordless stick vacuum that is dedicated for stairs. I have some experience with them and I do not consider stick vacuums to be heavy duty, and nothing will last as long long or be as powerful as my other vacuums. But I'm so tired of trying to make it work with those vacuums on stairs. I've worked with a Miele canister vacuum before and those are fine, but I want to stay away from canisters. Price range $300 or less. Thoughts? Thanks in advance!

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Oh yeah upright vacuums are the worst for carpeted stairs. If you want a cordless vacuum I really like the LG CordZero Kompressor. The powerhead is a hair over 9.75 inches which is narrower than the standard stair depth. LG CordZero Kompressor Pros: separate washable filter and hepa exhaust filter, removable and replaceable batteries, many models come with 2 batteries and 2 powerheads, Kompressor lever compacts dirt to fit more in the bin but it's more useful for getting stuff off the shroud when you are emptying it, charger can stand up, be wall mounted, or sit on a flat surface so you could recharge batteries in your car. Cons: vacuum doesn't deep clean carpets (but most cordless stick vacuums don't) it should still surface clean enough, charger only charges 1 battery at a time but holds 2. Note: I do not recommend dual brushroll powerheads as they power both brushrolls from the same motor they seem to have more problems. A dual brushroll would also make the powerhead longer and less useful on stairs. Alternatives: Samsung Jet 90, Henry Quick. My solution for the carpeted stairs at my parents' house was a Oreck Compact Canister. You attach the upholstery brush to the end of the extension wand so you don't have to bend down. While I like that Oreck has some almost hepa bags I don't like how short the stretch hose is. The filtration isn't as good as the Oreck but I like the hose better on a Hoover Commercial Porta Power . The PortaPower is a little bigger than the Oreck canister, there are optional paper bags and it comes with a small dump out synthetic bag.
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Real Simple
realsimple.com › home-organizing › cleaning › best-vacuum-for-stairs
The Best Vacuums for Stairs of 2025, According to Our Editors
April 18, 2025 - | Dustbin Capacity: Not listed | Attachments: Motorized Pet PowerMate, dusting brush, floor brush, crevice tool ... Our choice for the overall best vacuum for stairs is the Dyson Gen5detect because it’s effective, lightweight, and durable.
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Amazon
amazon.com › vacuum-stairs › s
Amazon.com: Vacuum For Stairs
Discover cordless vacuums with powerful suction and motorized brushes to tackle pet hair and debris on stairs, upholstery, and hard-to-reach areas.
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Simplicity Vacuums
simplicityvac.com › simply-clean › whats-the-best-vacuum-cleaner-for-stairs
What's the Best Vacuum Cleaner for Stairs?
Third: it needs to be reliable. In theory, bigger vacuums have more suction power. This would, again, call to mind an upright lightweight vacuum. It weighs in at just 11 pounds. It does not come equipped with attachments, but they are not necessary.
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Carpetgurus
carpetgurus.com › best-vacuum-for-stairs
Here Are the 10 Best Vacuums for Stairs in 2025 - Best Carpet Extractor & Cleaner Reviews
January 10, 2025 - Why This Vacuum: The BLACK+DECKER Powerseries Extreme Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner is a lightweight vacuum that’s easy to use on the stairs. It has an attractive, ergonomic design that makes it easy to carry around the house.
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Amazon
amazon.com › best-vacuum-stairs › s
Amazon.com: Best Vacuum For Stairs
Check each product page for other buying options. Price and other details may vary based on product size and color · Pet Hair Handheld Vacuum Cordless, Car Vacuum Rechargeable with Reusable Filters, Motorized Brush and Multi-Accessories for Carpet, Couch & Stairs, Red, 17.0"X 4.6"X 6.6" · ...
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Good Housekeeping
goodhousekeeping.com › home appliances › vacuum cleaner reviews › 11 best vacuum cleaners, tested in our cleaning lab
11 Best Vacuum Cleaners, Tested in Our Cleaning Lab
14 hours ago - If you have a lot of carpet in your bedrooms, an upright vacuum cleaner or canister with a rotating brush roll will do the best job, whereas a vacuum cleaner with soft bristles or a brush roll that can be turned off is better suited for hardwood ...