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What is the best type of vacuum cleaner?
Generally, it comes down to your needs. Upright vacuums are cost-effective and perform well with endless suction power. Stick vacuums are versatile, lightweight, and convenient but typically have smaller dust bins. Cordless models have started to rival the performance of corded ones, but battery life can range across brands. Handheld vacs are compact and can get into tight spots, but most cordless stick vacuums can also convert into handhelds. Canister vacuums are pricey yet powerful, and robot vacuums automate cleaning.
Each type of vacuum comes with its own benefits and considerations:
How much should you spend on a vacuum cleaner?
Our guides feature vacuums ranging in price from $40 for a handheld to $2,000 for a fully loaded robot vacuum will all the bells and whistles on the market. Expect to spend at least $100 on a new upright vacuum. If you're looking for a good stick, canister, or robot vacuum, the best can cost $300 or more.
How long does a vacuum last?
According to a Consumer Reports survey, a vacuum's median life is eight years.
Leslie Tam, a cofounder of the cleaning service UrbanMop, said it might be time to replace your vacuum once it shows a drastic reduction in suction. He recommended prolonging your vacuum's life by performing regular maintenance, including cleaning the filter often, removing hairs and other debris from the brush roll, and emptying the dust bin before it gets too full.
So, I look at this sub on occasion, and I see the consistent hyping of Sabo and Miele. Cool. I am thinking of replacing my current upright canister vacuum, and I checked in with Consumer Reports rankings, their top 3 bagged uprights are all Kenmore (Elite Pet Friendly 31150, BU1018, and Intuition BU4050) rated 77, 75, 74. Followed by 3 Oreck models (Elevate Command, Elevate Conquerer, and Elevate Control), rated 61, 61, and 54.
For bag-less uprights, they have the Shark PowerDetect AZ4002 at 82, then the Shark Navigator Professional NV360 at 78, and the Shark Stratos AZ3002 at 77. The Sebo Felix Premium rates a 66. The Miele Upright U1 Cat and Dog comes in at a 76, the maverick at 72, and the Twist at 72.
So, my question is why nobody on here seems to like Shark or Kenmore, and why did Wirecutter rank the Sebo so much higher? Is it just a function of Consumer Reports factoring in price relative to performance and the Sebo does marginally better but costs $600-$700, and the Shark and Kenmore costs $300-$450? Is it brand reliability and durability?
What accounts for the difference, and is it really that much of a difference in performance relative to price?
Edit: Since the moderator asked, I don’t really have a budget, and just want a quality product without overpaying. My floor type is hardwood over 2 floors, with area rugs in the living room, bedrooms, and hallways. There are 2 cats. I have a stick vacuum for the stairs, and a Roomba to get the dust/cat bunnies on a more regular basis.. I use the upright for deeper cleaning of the area rugs. I occasionally have a cleaning crew come in every 4-5 weeks to give the whole place a once over.
It lists the Kenmore Elite Pet Friendly and Miele Complete C3 Marin in its list of top vacuums. I thought this was interesting in light of recent conversations about if bagged vacuums would make a comeback:
https://www.consumerreports.org/appliances/vacuum-cleaners/best-vacuums-of-the-year-a1212436704/
I've been going thru vacuum cleaners every 1-2 years and I feel like I should just research deeply and find one that will stick, most of my place is hard floors, but i have some carpets.
My budget is under ~$1000
What are y'all using and loving?