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What's the best weight for a handheld vacuum?
While Wang says that lighter is typically better for handheld vacuums, he notes that you'll notice a "trade-off between weight and power."
If you're looking for a specific number to guide your search, Hankins advises looking for handheld vacuums that are 2 to 5 pounds.
What should you avoid cleaning with a handheld vacuum?
“Handheld vacuums are great for everyday messes, but they do have limits," says Wang. "Highly clumping materials like cat litter or flour — a small amount is fine, but too much can clog the system or cause buildup in the tank. If you do vacuum these, make sure to empty the sewage tank frequently. Things like broken glass or metal shavings could also damage the internal components or the brush roller.”
Hankins echoes similar sentiments, adding wet liquids and large objects to the list.
What messes are handheld vacuums best for?
Hankins describes handheld vacuums as "betweener vacuums." Both he and Wang say they're best for quick cleanups.
Budget - $200
Areas - This is specifically for dog hair removal. 90% of the area is carpet, stairs, edges of the room, hard to reach places. Bonus - being able to clean dog hair in my car.
I am looking for a handheld vacuum recommendation that has a lot of strength for cleaning up dog hair on carpet (on stairs, along the edges, etc). I would like a corded one as they would normally imply a stronger vacuum. It's very tiring carrying my full size vacuum around to use an attachment to clean stairs, edges, etc. I have bought a couple handheld cordless vacuums in the passed and they have all been pretty mediocre, hoping I can break that cycle! Thanks in advance.
The current one I am considering is the Shark CH950UKT.