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Best Cordless Vacuums for Hard Floors – 2024

Vacuum Wars

The current Vacuum Wars Best Cordless Vacuums for Hard Floors ranking based on our own independent evaluation.

Shark Vertex Pro Cordless Vacuum

Shark Vertex Pro

Best Hard-Floor Cordless

Dyson Gen5detect

Dyson Gen5detect

PRemium Dyson

Dyson V12 Detect Cordless Vacuum

Dyson V12 Detect

Lightweight Dyson

Shark IZ462H Vertex Ultra Cordless Vacuum

Shark Vertex Ultra

Another Shark Option

Dyson V15 Detect

Powerful Dyson Performer

Choosing the Best Cordless Vacuum for Hard Floors

The primary advantage of cordless vacuums is their sheer convenience and user-friendliness. Without a power cord, these vacuums facilitate smooth transitions between rooms and spaces, eliminating the need for constant unplugging and plugging. Their increasing versatility means you might find more uses for a cordless vacuum than just cleaning floors. This guide aims to help you select a cordless vacuum that meets your household’s needs and lets your hard floors shine.

Debris Pickup

Effective debris pickup is crucial for any vacuum. For cordless vacuums on hard floors, “Fluffy rollers,” or “soft rollers,” are often highly effective. Their soft fibers press against the floor, creating a tight seal that captures both small and large debris and dusts the floor, collecting fine particles. A soft roller can work independently or in tandem with a standard roller, providing dual-action cleaning in some models.

Cordless vacuum picking up colorful debris on carpet.
Cordless Vacuum on Carpet with Cereal © Vacuum Wars

In other vacuum designs, success in picking up debris involves a combination of factors like the type of roller, suction strength, and floorhead design. A vacuum with lower suction can perform well with the right floorhead design and rollers, while a high-suction vacuum can excel even if its rollers are different from those of well-known brands. The right combination of these elements enables cordless vacuums to efficiently pick up debris from both carpet and hard floors thanks to thoughtful design improvements over time.

Anti-Hair Wrap Technology

Hair entanglement around the brush roll or other motorized parts can lead to increased resistance, faster battery depletion, and reduced vacuum effectiveness. It can also hinder the brush roll’s ability to sweep up debris. To combat this, certain cordless vacuums feature technology to either remove or prevent hair from wrapping around the brush roll. This can be an integral part of the brush roll or the floorhead design, making these vacuums particularly appealing to households with pets or individuals with long hair.

HEPA Filter and Whole Machine Filtration

For those concerned with indoor air quality, a HEPA filter is indispensable. It traps particles as small as 0.3 microns, effectively capturing a wide range of allergens and fine dust. A sealed system is also crucial to ensure all vacuumed air passes through the filter, preventing unfiltered air from escaping and ensuring the vacuum’s filtration efficiency.

Testing the Gen5detect and Gen5outsize whole machine HEPA filtration seal
Gen5detect and Gen5outsize whole machine HEPA filtration seal. © Vacuum Wars

Intelligent Features with Cordless Vacuums

Some models come with automatic suction adjustment, regulating power based on the floor type or detected dirt level. This feature optimizes cleaning efficiency and conserves battery life, especially useful when moving from hard floors to carpets.

Battery Life for Cordless Vacuums

Battery longevity is a key consideration. Manufacturer claims usually reflect performance on the lowest power setting, but with various settings available, actual runtime can vary. Choosing a vacuum with a medium setting or automatic adjustment for hard floors can provide a well-balanced solution.

Lightweight and Ease of Use

Features that accommodate easy maneuvering under furniture and around corners are beneficial for hard floor cleaning. Look for vacuums with swiveling floorheads and designs that allow for bending or low reclining, reaching hidden dust and pet hair.

Storing Cordless Vacuums

Proper storage ensures the vacuum is charged and ready for use. The storage solution should securely hold the vacuum and be near an outlet. Consider storage options like folding for stability, wall mounts to save floor space, full-service charging stations, or models with detachable batteries for separate charging.

a cordless vacuum hanging in a laundry room.
Consider how you will store your cordless vacuum © Vacuum Wars

Conclusion

The development of cordless vacuums marks a significant advancement in home cleaning. Their ease of use, adaptability, and sophisticated features offer a practical and effective way to keep your living space clean and comfortable, especially on hard floors.

Still cordless vacuum shopping? Check out our cordless vacuum reviews, comparisons and guides.

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