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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RTINGS
rtings.com › home › vacuum › best
The 5 Best Vacuums For Stairs of 2025 - 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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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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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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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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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...
Find elsewhere
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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.
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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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Oh So Spotless
ohsospotless.com › clean floors › vacuuming › 7 best vacuums for stairs of 2025
7 Best Vacuums for Stairs of 2025
February 13, 2025 - However, this vacuum isn’t ideal for big vacuuming jobs, it’s perfect for the stairs and smaller areas. ... The vacuum comes with three attachments to suit the surface you’re cleaning. One of our favorites is the long brush that effectively cleans surfaces like carpets and mattresses.
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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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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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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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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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Consumer Reports
consumerreports.org › appliances › laundry & cleaning › vacuum cleaners › quick steps for vacuuming stairs
Quick Steps for Vacuuming Stairs via @ConsumerReports
June 2, 2023 - “In hand-vac mode, the vacuum may not be quite as light as a dedicated handheld, but it’s helpful in hard-to-reach areas.” · Frank Rizzi, another project leader, points to uprights made by Shark that have a “lift-away” feature that makes it possible to separate the collection tank from the powerhead, so it operates much like a canister. These are particularly good for carpeted stairs, where you may need more suction to remove the debris.
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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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Reddit
reddit.com › r/vacuumcleaners › best vacuum for carpeted stairs and hardwood?
r/VacuumCleaners on Reddit: Best vacuum for carpeted stairs and hardwood?
August 3, 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!