Investing in a new vacuum is certainly not an easy task. Beyond that, justifying spending a fortune on one is even harder. That’s not to say that the most expensive vacuums are the best in the market, however, but chances are the more high-end vacuums are likely to last longer than some of the lower end brands out there. A reliable vacuum cleaner is vital to maintaining a clean home as well as the life of your carpet, but vacuums often times can cause more stress than relief. So, hopefully the research I have collected will aid you in purchasing the vacuum of your dreams.
Let’s start with the basics: which style of vacuum will best fit your needs? Vacuums come in all shapes and sizes and this alone makes it difficult to start your search for a new vacuum.
Here are some great sites that break down vacuums into their different categories and discuss pros and cons of each style to help you choose the most appropriate for you. Some of them also discuss another question that often arises about vacuums, which is whether to go bagged or bagless. There is not necessarily a right or wrong answer to what style of vacuum is better, so I’ll let you be the judge for yourself.
I realize this is A LOT of information… but bare with me. We are getting to the good part I promise.
I’ve checked out www.ConsumerReports.org as well some other reviews on the net and compiled a list of suggestions for the best vacuums on the market right now, based not only on research done by experts but also according to consumers just like you. Keep in mind, these are merely suggestions and you may still have to do a little bit of research and reading of reviews before deciding on the best vacuum cleaner for you.
Price Range: $600 and up
If money is no object and you’re ready to take the plunge to spend whatever it takes to get a long-lasting and reliable vacuum, there certainly are a lot of options to choose from. Here are a few suggestions of some of the best vacuums in the higher price range.
· About $900
· Bagged canister
· Great option for bare floors!
· 20-year Life Expectancy (according to manufacturer)
· 71/100 rating on Consumer Reports with a 4.5 average user rating (based on 9 reviews)
· Here’s what people are saying about it:
Miele S 7580 Bolero:
· About $800
· Bagged upright
· 20-year Life expectancy (according to manufacturer)
· 69/100 rating on Consumer Reports with a 4.5 average user rating (based on 6 reviews)
· Here’s what people are saying about it:
Price Range: $300-$600
If you are hoping to be a little more conscious on your pocket, but still are willing to spend a little extra for a decent machine, here are some options for you to pick from. These vacuums are middle of the road in price, but still get decent ratings from both the experts as well as consumers.
Miele S7210 Twist:
· Approximately $450
· Bagged upright
· 20-year Life Expectancy (according to manufacturer)
· 72/100 rating on Consumer Reports
· Here’s what people are saying about it:
Kenmore Intuition 28014:
· Approximately $500
· Bagged canister
· Great option for bare floors!
· No good research to determine life expectancy, but with proper maintenance you might get 5-6 years, possibly more.
· 72/100 rating on Consumer Reports
· Here’s what people are saying about it:
Price Range: up to $300
We definitely understand that not everyone has an extra $500 in his or her budget for a new vacuum. If this is the case, there are also some great options out there. However, it is important to be mindful that the less you spend on a vacuum the shorter its lifespan may be and the less likely it is to have long-lasting parts or warranties. One thing to keep in mind is just because your vacuum turns on it doesn’t mean it is working! These are great vacuums that do get the job done, until you can save up for a pricier model.
Hoover WindTunnel Anniversary Edition U6485-900:
· Approximately $230
· Bagged upright
· No good research available on life expectancy, but with proper maintenance you may get about 2-3 years, possibly more.
· 73/100 rating on Consumer Reports
· Here’s what people are saying about it:
Panasonic MC-CG902:
· Approximately $200
· Bagged canister
· Great option for bare floors!
· No good research available on life expectancy, but with proper maintenance you may get about 2-3 years, possibly more.
· 65/100 Rating on Consumer Reports
· Here’s what people are saying about it:
Hoover Platinum w/ Canister:
· Approximately $250
· Lightweight, bagged upright, with canister vacuum for stairs and other such tasks
· No good research available on life expectancy, but with proper maintenance you may get about 2-3 years, possibly more.
· 70/100 rating on Consumer Reports
· Here’s what people are saying about it:
It’s really unfortunate that there are so many different brands and models of vacuum cleaners out there. I feel like I read millions of reviews but I know I barely covered a fraction of the machines that are on the market in my research. Even though I did not include these on my list, some other brands that are definitely worth mentioning are Riccar, Kirby, Sebo, Oreck, and Simplicity. Also, if you decide you want to go bagless, Dyson is probably the best on the market (although in both the vacuum stores I visited these vacuums accounted for about 70% of the repairs they do).
After all this research I wish I could consider myself a vacuum guru… but that is hardly the case, although I did learn quite a bit. To talk with some real experts, visit one of our local vacuum stores: J&M Vac & Sew (make sure to mention Clean Bees when you go in!) or Foothills Vacuum and Sewing Center. If you are in the market for a new vacuum cleaner, I sure hope this information helps you in your search!
