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Best Cordless Vacuums – 2024

The current Vacuum Wars Best Cordless Vacuum ranking based on our own independent evaluation.

Dyson Gen5detect

Dyson Gen5detect

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Dyson V12 Detect Cordless Vacuum

Dyson V12 Detect

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Tineco Pure ONE Fur Free Cordless Vacuum

Tineco Pure ONE Station

Full Review Coming Soon

Shark Vertex Pro

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Dyson V15 Detect Cordless Vacuum

Dyson V15 Detect

Exploring the World of Cordless Stick Vacuums

In the realm of home cleaning, cordless vacuums, particularly stick models, have gained immense popularity, reshaping the way we approach household chores. Leading the charge in this sector is Dyson, known for its premium range of cordless vacuums.

Cordless Vacuums we have evaluated at Vacuum Wars.
Cordless Vacuums we have evaluated at Vacuum Wars. © Vacuum Wars

The Allure of Cordless Vacuums

The core appeal of cordless vacuums lies in their unmatched convenience and ease of use. Free from the constraints of a cord, they offer unparalleled freedom to move from room to room effortlessly. Their design also allows for greater maneuverability, reaching under furniture with ease, some even featuring pivoting wands for added flexibility.

Lightweight and Versatile

Cordless vacuums have significantly evolved in terms of design and functionality, making them incredibly versatile tools for cleaning a wide range of surfaces and areas in your home. Their adaptability extends well beyond traditional floor cleaning, offering excellent solutions for handheld and above-floor cleaning tasks. Here’s how cordless vacuums excel in these areas:

Handheld Conversion

Many cordless vacuums feature a design that allows them to be easily converted into handheld vacuums. This feature enhances their versatility, making them suitable for a variety of cleaning tasks, including:

  • Furniture Cleaning: Easily clean sofas, chairs, and other upholstered furniture, removing dust, pet hair, and crumbs.
  • Car Cleaning: The handheld mode is perfect for reaching into the nooks and crannies of car interiors, making it easy to keep your vehicle clean without needing a separate vacuum.
  • Quick Spills: Handheld vacuums can quickly deal with spills and messes on kitchen counters or dining tables, offering a convenient cleaning solution.

Above-Floor Cleaning

Cordless vacuums shine when it comes to cleaning surfaces above the floor, thanks to their lightweight design and various attachments:

  • Dusting Brush: Ideal for gently cleaning delicate surfaces like blinds, lampshades, and picture frames.
  • Crevice Tool: Allows for precise cleaning in tight spaces, such as between couch cushions, along baseboards, or in the corners of rooms.
  • Extension Wand: Some models include an extension wand that helps reach high areas, such as ceilings, ceiling fans, and the tops of bookshelves, without the need for a ladder.

Lightweight and Maneuverable

The lightweight nature of cordless vacuums makes them easy to lift and maneuver, reducing strain on your arms and back when cleaning above-floor areas or converting them into handheld modes for spot cleaning.

Multiple Attachments

Most cordless vacuums come with a variety of attachments designed for specific cleaning tasks, further enhancing their versatility. These can include motorized brush heads for pet hair, soft brush rolls for hard floors, and more specialized tools for crevices and upholstery.

cordless vacuum in handheld mode vacuuming upholstery.
Vacuuming upholstery in handheld mode. © Vacuum Wars

Benefits of Versatility

  • All-in-One Cleaning Solution: The ability to switch between stick and handheld modes, along with the use of various attachments, means you can effectively clean your entire home with a single device.
  • Saves Space: Instead of needing multiple cleaning tools for different tasks, a versatile cordless vacuum can save space in your home.
  • Time Efficiency: Switching between cleaning modes and tools is quick and easy, allowing for seamless cleaning routines without the need to switch between different devices or tools.

In summary, the versatility of cordless vacuums in regards to handheld and above-floor cleaning makes them a valuable tool in any cleaning arsenal. Their design and accessories cater to a wide range of cleaning needs, ensuring that you can keep every corner of your home clean without the need for multiple cleaning devices.

View looking down at a white cordless vacuum.
Lightweight cordless vacuums feel easy to use. © Vacuum Wars

Innovative Features for Enhanced Cleaning

For homes with predominantly hard floors, models with dedicated soft roller heads, like Dyson’s Fluffy Roller, are a game-changer. Dyson’s latest iteration includes a green laser that illuminates dust and hair, revealing hidden dirt. However, for carpet cleaning, switching to a combo roller head is essential, as soft rollers are less effective on carpets.

Battery Life: A Key Consideration

When selecting a cordless vacuum, battery life is a crucial factor. It’s important to note that manufacturers’ battery life claims are typically based on the lowest power setting. With varying power settings available, runtime can differ significantly, so finding a model with a medium setting or automatic suction adjustment can offer a balanced solution.

Smart Features on Cordless Vacuums

Smart features in cordless vacuums have transformed how we clean our homes, making the process more efficient, effective, and tailored to specific cleaning needs. Among these intelligent functionalities, automatic suction adjustment, floor type detection, and dirt detection are particularly noteworthy. Let’s explore these and other smart features you might find in modern cordless vacuums:

Automatic Suction Adjustment

  • How It Works: This feature automatically adjusts the vacuum’s suction power based on the type of surface being cleaned or the amount of dirt detected. For example, it may increase suction when moving from a hard floor to a carpet or when encountering a particularly dirty area.
  • Benefits: It optimizes battery life by using just the right amount of power needed for each cleaning task. Additionally, it ensures effective cleaning across different surfaces without manual intervention.

Floor Type Detection

  • How It Works: Sensors in the vacuum detect the type of floor (hardwood, tile, carpet, etc.) and adjust the cleaning mode or suction power accordingly. This may involve changing the brush roll speed or increasing suction on carpets.
  • Benefits: Ensures that each type of surface is cleaned using the most effective settings.

Dirt Detection

  • How It Works: This feature uses sensors to detect areas with higher concentrations of dirt or debris and increases the vacuum’s suction power or cleaning intensity in response.
  • Benefits: Ensures a deeper clean where it’s most needed, improving the overall cleanliness of your home.

These smart features greatly enhance the user experience by making cleaning more automated and tailored to your home’s specific needs. As technology continues to advance, we can expect even more innovative features to emerge in cordless vacuum cleaners, further simplifying and improving the cleaning process.

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.

The Dyson V8s Motorbar cleaning head with hair detangling technology
The Dyson V8s Motorbar cleaning head with hair detangling technology. © Vacuum Wars

Cordless Vacuum Air Filtration

HEPA filtration and a sealed system are two important features in vacuum cleaners, especially for those concerned with air quality and allergen reduction in their homes. These features are increasingly common in cordless vacuums. Here’s a detailed look at both:

HEPA Filtration

  • Definition: HEPA stands for High-Efficiency Particulate Air. A HEPA filter is designed to meet a specific standard of air filtration, removing at least 99.97% of particles that are 0.3 microns in diameter from the air that passes through it.
  • Benefits: This level of filtration is highly beneficial for people with allergies, asthma, or any respiratory conditions, as it can significantly reduce the amount of dust, pollen, pet dander, and other allergens in the indoor environment. By capturing fine particles, HEPA filters also help improve overall indoor air quality.
  • Considerations in Cordless Vacuums: In cordless vacuums, incorporating a HEPA filter ensures that the exhaust air is clean and free of allergens. This is particularly important in a vacuum cleaner, as it picks up dust and particles from the floor and can potentially recirculate them into the air if not properly filtered.

Sealed System

  • Definition: A sealed system in a vacuum cleaner means that it is designed in such a way that all the air sucked into the vacuum passes through the filter(s) before being expelled back into the room. This system ensures that unfiltered air does not escape through gaps in the vacuum’s body.
  • Benefits: The primary benefit of a sealed system is that it ensures the effectiveness of the HEPA filtration. Without a sealed system, even the best HEPA filter would be less effective, as some unfiltered air could escape back into the room. A sealed system is crucial for trapping allergens, dust, and particles inside the vacuum and preventing them from being released back into the air.
  • Importance in Cordless Vacuums: For cordless vacuums, a sealed system is particularly important because their compact and portable nature often leads to concerns about their filtration efficacy compared to larger, traditional vacuums. A sealed system ensures that these smaller, more convenient models do not compromise on air quality.

Combined Impact in Cordless Vacuums

Together, HEPA filtration and a sealed system provide a powerful combination for improving indoor air quality. They ensure that the vacuum not only picks up dirt and debris from your floors and surfaces but also captures fine particles and prevents them from being redistributed into your home environment. This is especially beneficial for homes with pets, children, or residents with allergies or asthma.

When choosing a cordless vacuum, looking for models that feature both HEPA filtration and a sealed system is advisable. These features contribute to a cleaner home by ensuring that the air remains as particle-free as possible, making them a worthwhile investment for those prioritizing health and cleanliness.

Storing Cordless Vacuums

Most households will want their vacuum to be recharging when it is not in use. This means the storage location will need to secure the vacuum, keeping it from falling over, as well as in close proximity to an electrical outlet.

Consider also how it will be positioned when it is recharging. Different arrangements can include:

  • The ability to fold the unit in half so it can sit stably.
  • Hanging a wall mount, so the vacuum is on the wall and off the floor.
  • A detachable battery that recharges separately from the vacuum.
a cordless vacuum hanging in a laundry room.
Consider how you will store your cordless vacuum © Vacuum Wars

Charging and Self-Emptying Docks

Cordless vacuums with self-emptying docks make cleaning much easier. When you dock the vacuum, the station automatically empties the dustbin into a larger bin. This means you don’t have to empty it yourself as often, saving time and effort. It’s perfect for busy people or those who want to keep their homes clean with less work. This smart feature shows how vacuum technology is becoming more user-friendly, helping everyone have a cleaner home with less hassle.

Our Comprehensive Selection

On our website, we’ve categorized our top cordless vacuum picks to suit various needs: from the best for carpets and hard floors to those ideal for pet hair, allergies, and budget-conscious buyers. Each category is meticulously curated to guide you in finding the perfect cordless vacuum for your home.

Experience a new level of cleaning efficiency with our selection of the best cordless vacuums, tailored to meet diverse household needs. Find your perfect match and transform your cleaning routine today!

Our latest Best Cordless Vacuum competition.

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

Best of the Best

Current Vacuum Wars product rankings:

Best Cordless Vacuums
Best Robot Vacuums
Best Upright Vacuums
Best Carpet Cleaners
Best Air Purifiers