While upright vacuum cleaners are designed to basically excel in cleaning large rooms, they can be versatile devices in any house. They’re easy to maneuver, and their distinct, cumbersome shape usually enables for a bigger dirt container, which can be useful if you have a big mess to clean. They’re also quite great for cleaning carpets as they can get rid of most pet hair and particles without too much problem. Nevertheless, upright vacuums can be heavier than stick or canister vacuum models, making them a bit less handy and maneuverable, specifically on stairs or on other, more tight areas.
We’ve examined over 90 vacuum cleaners, and below are our recommendations for the best upright vacuum cleaners. These options were picked not only based upon their performance but also their layout, function set, and price. For more purchasing recommendations, have a look at our list of the best vacuums for high-pile carpet, the best vacuums for bare floors, and the best vacuums for tile.
If you’re seeking a new full-sized vacuum, you may be evaluating the selection between a canister and an upright. Both have their advantages, but upright vacuums seem to outsell all other types by far. Actually, nearly half the vacuums on the market are upright versions, according to NPD, a market research group.
Except for being simpler to store, when it comes to carpet cleaning, upright vacuums have a design edge over canisters. “When the full weight of the vacuum cleaner is pressed on the brush, you can more easily press it into the carpet pile and pick up the deep debris inside,” says Frank Rizzi, a senior lab technician for CR who does tests on vacuums. In our examinations, the best uprights are great at cleaning bare floors, too.
Consumer Reports is continuously evaluating vacuums in its laboratories. For the carpet-cleaning test, we embed talc, sand, and also pet hair into the carpet before vacuuming. For bare floors, we make use of the same kind of debris to observe whether the vacuum gobbles it up or spreads it around instead. To judge how easy an upright is to use, we steer the vacuum around and under furniture just like you would.
The total score for each model integrates results for each of these tests, as well as scores for that brand’s reliability and customer fulfillment based upon information from CR’s participant study concerning their experiences with almost 64,500 upright vacuums bought over the past 10 years.
How to Find the Right Vacuum Cleaners
If your residence is mostly wall-to-wall carpeting and all on one floor, choose an upright vacuum cleaner. In Cleaning Lab tests, upright vacuum cleaners do the best job getting rid of ground-in, embedded dust from carpeting since they are generally heavier than other styles as well as the weight of the nozzle helps them reach deep into the carpet pile for much better cleaning. Uprights can weigh anywhere from 10 to over 20 pounds which can make some heavy to take up and downstairs as well. Think about keeping one on each floor if your home has more than one story and you prefer an upright.
Most uprights come with onboard hoses, sticks, and tools for vacuuming crevices and upholstery and cleaning above-the-floor areas like door frames and crown moldings. If you’ll be making use of an upright vacuum to clean bare floors and low profile furnishings or pile rugs, we suggest selecting a model where you can adjust the height of the nozzle and turn off the rotating brush to avoid scattering debris and damaging flat and fragile surfaces.
- Choose a canister vacuum cleaner if your home has many stairs and bare floors and just a couple of carpets. Several full-size canister vacuums feature a power nozzle that has a revolving brush to mimic that on an upright. We recommend this add-on if you choose a canister and have deep pile carpets in, just the bedrooms. Otherwise, you’ll see a long flat accessory or brush that can be used on bare floors and low, flat rugs.
Canisters can be hefty, too, but are much easier to take and carry with two hands. All have hoses and accessories for crevices, upholstery, and dust. Since the motor and canister are behind you, these vacuums are easier to navigate into narrow spaces and to use on stairs than uprights are.
- Choose a wand or cordless stick vacuum cleaner if you are looking for a lightweight fast picker-upper for bare floors and low pile rugs. The majority are slim sufficient to store in a corner or closet near the kitchen for speedy after supper clean-ups. They come corded or cordless, though, in Cleaning Lab tests, we’ve located rechargeable ones often run-up to one hour, so you’ll require to maintain them connected into an outlet, so they remain fully charged and always ready to go.
Some have rotating brushes for much better rug cleaning and some convert to or have a hand vacuum on board so it seems like having two vacuums in one. Some consist of attachments, like dusting brushes and crevice tools as well as charging stands for storage.
- If you desire to get your cleaning done while you’re out of the house or doing something else, choose a robot vacuum cleaner. Robotic vacuums use lasers and cameras to map their path around your rooms, so they don’t miss a spot.
Today’s robots are a lot more advanced and complicated than ever. Most can be controlled with an app on your smartphone and some even voice commands. They can go back to the charging base for a recharge and then return to cleaning wherever they left off. Robot vacuums are wonderful maintenance cleaners. Send them out frequently enough and you might never have to take out your full-size vacuum. Surely, they go under the bed and behind furniture to clean the spots you likely neglect.
- Choose a handheld vacuum cleaner if you need a portable tool to rapidly pick up dry spills on bare floors and surfaces or nab lint, pet hair as well as other surface particles on fabrics or carpeting. Some come with a series of attachments and others can pick up damp spills, either. Handheld vacuums included corded or best cordless vacuum versions and are easy to take outside to clean the vehicle.
- Vacuums that take bags call for less cleaning and emptying. All you have to do is replace the bag when it’s 2/3 full (let it go and you can compromise suction) and bear in mind to keep bags accessible. Bagged models are in general the preferred style for allergy sufferers.
- Bagless vacuums don’t require bags — you merely empty the dust cup after every couple of usages. Doing so can be messy, nevertheless, and the filters and cups require frequent cleaning to keep them regular working. Bagless is a good option if you hate having to remember to prepare bags.
Here are six excellent upright vacuums from our tests, listed names without ranking. For more on vacuums, see our vacuum acquiring guide and our whole vacuum ratings.
Best Upright Vacuum For Bare Floor: Miele Dynamic U1 PowerLine
The ideal upright vacuum for bare floors that we’ve tested is the Miele Dynamic U1 PowerLine. This corded upright vacuum does a great job of cleaning bare surface areas, where it easily removes pet hair and debris. It’s exceptionally durable, with a lightweight aluminum wand, rubber wheels, and also a brush roll that can be detached off so it doesn’t scratch your floors.
Its performance remains consistent as its dirt container fills up, so you don’t require to change the dirtbag too often. It automatically adjusts its head height to fit different surfaces and supplies impressive suction performance on low and high-pile carpets. It’s additionally an extremely easy vacuum to take care of, as there are just a couple of components that need to be kept regularly, and they’re all easy to access.
Unfortunately, it sustains high recurring costs because the dirtbag and filters need to be changed periodically. Plus, like most upright vacuums, it’s not very portable, so it may not be optimal if you often need to carry your vacuum up or downstairs. Or else, if you’re searching for an upright vacuum, it’s a very versatile and well-built option.
Best Upright Vacuum For Carpeting: Dyson Ball Animal 2
For carpet, the Dyson Ball Animal 2 is the best upright vacuum cleaner that we’ve tested. This corded upright has a self-adjusting vacuum head that enables it to get well with the majority of floor types. It does a fantastic job of gobbling various sorts of particles, ranging from pet hair to fine particles like baking soda, on both low and high-pile carpets. Better still, Animal 2 vacuum’s suction performance remains consistent as its huge dust bin fills up.
Its bagless style and washable pre-motor, as well as allergen-trapping HEPA filters, suggest that recurring costs shouldn’t be a big issue. You can unlatch its wand from the main body to clean shelves or furnishings, and the vacuum itself includes a very wide assortment of tools and accessories, consisting of a turbo brush, a dedicated pet tool, and a combination soft bristle brush/crevice tool. Its rotating vacuum head and long cord make it a little simpler to maneuver the vacuum in tight spaces too.
Regrettably, this vacuum’s strong suction power can make it difficult to push on some carpets and can even trigger it to drag around some rugs. Furthermore, its all-plastic layout feels rather cheap and shoddy in some areas, which is quite disappointing at this price point. Its numerous parts lack the easy-clip mechanism discovered in other Dyson vacuums, so it’s a little harder to fit or reconfigure. Still, its exceptionally functional overall cleaning performance and a wide assortment of accessories aid making it one of the best bagless vacuums we’ve examined.
Best Budget Upright Vacuum: BISSELL PowerForce Helix
The BISSELL PowerForce Helix is the best among the budget upright vacuums that we’ve tested. This affordable model is an excellent option for pet owners considering that it conveniently clears pet hair on most surface types, from bare floors to low and high-pile carpets. It’s lightweight for an upright vacuum and doesn’t feel too heavy in your hand.
You can use it in a semi-handheld setting, which is convenient if for cleaning areas like your automobile’s interior or a staircase. There are a few tools and brushes added, like a crevice tool for reaching tight corners and a soft-bristle brush for use on delicate objects like drapes. This vacuum has a good-sized dirt compartment, so you don’t require to empty it too often, and it raises low repeating costs given the only part that needs to be replaced routinely is the pre-motor filter.
Sadly, while it has a decent overall impression on the bare floor, the brush roll can’t be switched off, so it in some cases sends debris flying in different directions rather than sucking it up. It’s also not very user-friendly, in part due to it doesn’t have a rotating head. That means, if you’re seeking a budget-friendly upright vacuum, it’s worth taking into consideration.
Best Overall: Shark Navigator Lift-Away Professional NV356E
Capture every crumb as well as adapt powerful suction to surfaces high and low with the Shark Navigator Lift-Away Professional, model NV356E. This popular vacuum cleaner weighs in at 13.7 pounds and integrates the simple maneuverability of a lightweight, upright vacuum with the comfort of a lift-away canister design—which can be useful for vacuuming stairs or overhead areas of your home. The head of this vacuum cleaner consists of a brush-roll shutoff, so it’s equally skilled at vacuuming luxurious carpeted surfaces or hard surface flooring.
Apart from the convenience of use, you’ll appreciate the anti-allergen seal of the Shark Navigator. Combined with an onboard HEPA filter, this vacuum catches up to 99.9 percent of dust and allergens—and won’t dispense them back into the air through exhaust and leaky connections. The 2.2-liter dust mug is remarkably large compared to some various other bagless upright vacuum cleaner cleaners when it comes to collecting captured dust as well as particles.
The crevice tool, which has a narrow suction tube, functioned great in hard-to-reach places and limited edges such as windowsills and furnishings ledges. For upholstered household items that are a lot more fragile—like lampshades, window blinds, and drapes—the dusting brush did an excellent job.
Best Design For Pet Hair: Dyson Ball Multi Floor 2 Upright Vacuum Cleaner
If you’re trying to find an innovative vacuum cleaner to elevate your cleaning routine, have a look at the Dyson Ball Multi-Floor 2. Identifiable for its unique rotating ball design and classic yellow housing, this splurge vacuum cleaner doesn’t disappoint when it comes to performance. The digital motor can reach up to 98,000 RPMs and, as you’d expect, generates superior suction on both hard floors and carpeted surfaces. There are no manual height adjustments; the self-adjusting head deals with any adjustments as you move from one type of flooring to another.
Designed to pivot freely, you will take pleasure in pushing the Dyson Ball 2 around corners and behind furniture as it glides along. Weighing 15 pounds, it’s not the lightest vacuum on the market, but the weight comes across as sturdy instead of heavy.
Not to be neglected, this premium vacuum consists of HEPA filtration, which is a major plus for allergy sufferers or anyone looking to reduce dust and dander in the home. In fact, its certified vacuum is proved as asthma and allergy-friendly option by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.
The dust cup, while easy to empty into the garbage without the hassle of bags, is a little small-sized—just 1.89 liters. Remember if you’re vacuuming much square footage at once or have an abundance of human or pet hair to vacuum up.
Best Bagged Vacuum Cleaner: Oreck Commercial XL2100RHS Commercial Upright Vacuum Cleaner XL
A standard bagged vacuum cleaner traps dust, dirt, and debris inside a bag for hassle-free disposal without the risk of unloading dirt on the floor or inhaling dust. The Oreck Commercial XL Upright Vacuum Cleaner is a go-to alternative for anybody shopping for a bagged vacuum cleaner that is solid and durable. Earning the ‘XL’ designation in its name, this vacuum cleaner has a 630 cubic inch bag volume, allowing you to vacuum more while replacing the bag frequently than models with smaller vacuum bags.
This upright-style vacuum is remarkably lightweight, weighing in at only 9 pounds and a whopping 40-foot cord. Along with its functional design is its lay-flat capability—helping you to vacuum under couches, chairs, and also beds with greater freedom. It automatically readjusts the high-speed roller brush to transition from carpeted surfaces to hardwood floors, as well as the 12-inch cleaning path means you’ll make fewer trips across the room.
If you suffer from allergies, a bagged vacuum will certainly give you the best solutions, plus they in fact tend to last longer than their bagless counterparts. The drawback, surely, is that you have to purchase replacement bags and replace them when they fill up. But if it alleviates your allergies, it’s a tiny price to pay.
Conclusion
Finding the best vacuum cleaner can elevate your cleaning routine and offer a deep clean to floors, furniture, stairs, and much more. The ideal vacuum cleaner ought to come with the features you’ll use most frequently and consist of attachments that have a real impact on your life—like an upholstery tool to eliminate pet hair or a motorized floor brush for deep pile carpet.
On top of that, you wish to purchase a top vacuum cleaner that is reliable, easy to maintain, and an exceptional value.
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