The Vacuums I Use Every Day and Absolutely Swear By

If you have hard flooring, carpet, or flat surfaces in your home—which just about covers every possibility—there are four specific vacuum cleaners that deserve your attention: an upright, a cordless stick vac, a cordless handheld, and a robot vacuum. These are the four worker bees that I own, love, use nearly every day, and do not want to live without.

Keeping a home clean is crucial for maintaining a healthy living environment. Vacuum cleaning plays a vital role in this process, offering several health-related benefits. Here are a few reasons why it is imperative to clean a home using a vacuum, according to the American Lung Association.

Dust and Allergen Removal

Regular vacuuming helps remove dust, pollen, pet dander, and other allergens from carpets, rugs, and upholstery. These microscopic particles can trigger allergies and asthma, leading to respiratory problems. Vacuuming eliminates these irritants, improving indoor air quality and reducing the risk of allergic reactions.

Pest Control

Vacuuming is an effective method for controlling pests like dust mites, fleas, and bedbugs. These pests can cause skin irritation, allergies and even transmit diseases. By vacuuming frequently, especially in areas where pests thrive, you can significantly reduce their population and prevent infestations.

Mold Prevention

Moisture-prone areas, such as bathrooms and basements, are susceptible to mold growth. Vacuuming removes mold spores that settle on surfaces, reducing the likelihood of mold colonization. Additionally, using a vacuum with a HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) filter can capture even smaller mold particles, preventing their circulation in the air.

Improved Respiratory Health

Regular vacuum cleaning decreases the presence of airborne particles that can irritate the respiratory system. This is particularly important for individuals with pre-existing respiratory conditions like asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). By minimizing airborne pollutants, vacuuming promotes healthier breathing and reduces the risk of respiratory illnesses.

It is important to note that while vacuuming provides significant health benefits, proper vacuum maintenance is essential. Emptying the dust container or replacing vacuum bags regularly, cleaning or replacing filters, and ensuring the vacuum is in good working condition will optimize its effectiveness in maintaining a healthy home.

 

1. Shark Deluxe Navigator Lift-Away

 

In the decade since I met and fell in love with my first Shark upright vacuum, I’ve purchased, tested, given as gifts, and worked nearly to death (it’s really hard to wear out a Shark) many Shark vacuums because the company comes out with a new model or two about every week, or so it seems. I can say with confidence there is no better basic corded, upright vacuum cleaner on earth.

Now, throw in the lift-away feature on some models (allows user to pop off the lightweight canister to easily carry and vacuum steps and staircases), an extended wand for high reaches, a high-capacity dirt cup, anti-allergen HEPA filter, and a 30-foot electrical cord and you’ve got yourself a Shark Navigator Lift-Away Deluxe Vacuum—a fantastic piece of housecleaning equipment.

When you walk into a store like Walmart, Target, or Costco looking for my specific Shark vacuum, prepare to be confused. There are so many models—and some that are unique to that particular retailer.

• MORE: How to Clean a Shark Vacuum and Its Filters

 

Each Shark model has its own small differences—it could be the color, filter style, cord length, weight, etc. However, I can help you cut through all that noise. As long as it includes the words Shark, Navigator, and Lift-Away you can be super confident you’re getting my favorite.

Other descriptive words like Professional and Deluxe are lovely but not critical in my opinion. Currently, I own and use three Shark upright vacuums, and each one is slightly different depending on when and where I got it. All three are professional lift-away models because I have multiple staircases in my home.

• MORE: So Disgusting I’m Embarrassed To Tell

 

Here’s the most important feature—the price. Wow! I’d put my Shark up against any brand, anytime, anywhere, and I’m talking about even those pricey European brands that come in at $2,500 and more.

2. Hoover ONEPWR Cordless Stick Vac

I’ll be honest. There are times I just don’t want to open the closet, pull out Sharkie, unwind the cord, plug it into an outlet to handle a small yet annoying situation like crumbs on my dark wood floors or dirt tracked in from the garden. I’m pretty sure those minor situations would just sit there until later—until some more convenient time. That’s how things used to be before my first cordless stick vac*.

Please meet the newest member of my vac fam—the new upgraded model with a very long name: Hoover ONEPWR Evolve Pet Cordless Small Upright Lightweight Stick Vac. Whew! I think I’ll stick with the shorter name, but know that this is the new upgraded model. The old model is out of production now.

We have no pets in our home, so I cannot vouch for the power it has to pick up pet hair. But if human hair and all manner of crumbs, debris, lint, dust, and you-name-it are an equal test, this baby takes the gold. Absolutely loving this latest upgrade.

This stick delivers lightweight cordless everyday convenience, ideal for those with furry friends at home. This compact and lightweight design brings you the easiest clean, weighing less than 9 lbs. when you carry it from room to room, while it only feels like 2 lbs. in the handle as you recline it to vacuum so your arms won’t get tired from cleaning.

I’ve been using this Hoover ONEPWR cordless model every day for more than a year now—and yes, I purchased it myself as I have all of the vacuums I test. I do not receive review models from manufacturers. While EC may receive a small commission when you purchase these vacuums, you can be assured that my opinions are my own—I cannot be bought.

My new upgraded ONEPWR is remarkable in that it has every feature I could hope for. ONEPWR stands alone and has an On/Off switch with three separate settings for hard floor, low pile carpet, and brush off; it is lightweight, quiet, and quickly emptied and washed. This stick vac comes with a powerful Li-ion removable and rechargeable battery, has a “fuel” gauge, long runtime, and a swivel head. And if that’s not enough, it has two added features I could have only dreamed of :

Replaceable battery

The ONEPWR battery is replaceable. It is located at the back and pops out easily—no tools required. You can even buy an extra battery from the get-go, or purchase a replacement battery later. Isn’t that awesome?

Three settings

This was a big surprise for me and boy, was I excited. ONEPWR has three settings: Hard Floor for hard floor surfaces, Carpet for low pile carpet, and Brush Off. I love this feature! Switching back and forth is a cinch, too. Just the press of a button.

ONEPWR weighs in at less than 9 lbs., but feels more like 2 lbs in run mode with it’s smooth swivel action. Hoover ONEPWR is available both at Amazon and Walmart.

By the way, my original Linx is still in absolutely tip-top condition! It holds a charge and does the job as well as it did on day one. So yes, now I have two Linx. Some have asked what I do with all the items I test. Those I cannot reasonably justify storing and using, I donate.

NOTE: For my readers who own Eufy or Deik, let me assure you that both are still great stick vacs! And both have been discontinued. So, use them, love them, and keep them clean! Do not toss and replace with a ONEPWR until the day comes that your stick vac has a total fail (the first sign is that the battery will no longer hold a full charge). Neither Eufy nor Deik has a replaceable battery! When they die, that’s it—to the recycling center they go. When you replace either one, I suggest you run to a Hoover ONEPWR.

• MORE: When Your Cordless Stick Vac Needs a Bath—Photo Tutorial

 

3. Black+Decker Cordless Hand Vac

This little sweetheart of a handheld vacuum is the best I have ever owned. Actually, I have three of them, purchased in 2015, 2016, and 2017 respectively. All three get daily workouts, and all three are still holding a charge and working like new.

That says a lot once you understand that prior to this gem, I had a Dyson Root handheld, an early circa 1980 Dustbuster, a Bissell model, and a couple of other off-brand numbers. The problems were many, but the biggest one? Runtime. What’s the point of a cordless hand vac that only “vacs” for a few minutes? So annoying! And that Dyson Root weighed a ton. My arm would give out just about the time it would run out of power. Argh!

But then this Black + Decker Cordless Hand Vac with 16-volt Lithium battery came into my life. It’s the battery! Lithium is just the best thing that ever happened to the world of batteries for so many reasons, but mostly that it holds a charge until used. That gives this cordless vac a fabulously long runtime.

This Black + Decker Cordless Hand Vac is lightweight. And cleaning? So easy. It comes apart easily, with the filter and dust cup being completely washable! I do it right in my utility sink, allow it to dry for a few hours, and we’re back in business. It helps that I have three of these babies always at the ready in different parts of the house.

Here’s the thing: Housecleaning tools like vacuums need to be handy and ready to go. If I have to go up a flight of stairs to find a vac to clean up that little sprinkling of coffee grounds I just accidentally dumped into a drawer, will I? Or will I just close the drawer and tell myself that I’ll do it later when I’m up there anyway. I think you know the answer to that.

When I’m just feet from a vacuum because it’s in a handy place, all charged up and ready to go—that just makes me happy. It makes my drawers, floors, and bare feet happy, too.

 

Lithium-ion for long battery life and outstanding performance; Always ready holds a charge for up to 18 months off the charger. Long life, lightweight, and no memory effect. Cyclonic action helps to keep the filter clean and power strong, and the translucent bagless dirt bowl makes it easy to see dirt and empty.

 

4. Eufy Robot Vacuum

I’ve tried to love Roomba robot vacuums in the past. Super disappointed. I find them to be way too expensive, unreasonably noisy, and simply not worth the money.

But there’s a new robot vacuum in town, and eufy BoostIQ RoboVac 11S MAX is its name. Not surprising, this is our Best Inexpensive Robovac. It has renewed my faith that robotic vacuuming is not only possible—it can be amazing.

 

Eufy RoboVac takes on dust-busting around your home so you don’t have to. Multiple cleaning modes and auto-clean scheduling to ensure an effortless, thorough clean while you relax.

Got shedding pets? While I don’t, I do know the challenges. Your absolute best option for keeping ahead of the pet hair is with a robot vac. You will amazed and giddy with delight. Trust me on that!

eufy BoostIQ RoboVac 11S MAX is extremely quiet, super slim, and works like a champ on hard floors and low-to-medium pile carpet with its 2000Pa suction—and easily goes from one to the other without supervision. It’s programmable, has multiple functions, and a killer battery that offers up to 40 minutes runtime on maximum suction—the setting I use for my low-pile carpet, or up to an hour set to “auto.” I continue to be amazed by the quantity and “quality” of dust, dirt, and debris this little guy finds and so easily picks up!

 

Published 5-11-23; Updated and Republished: 2-27-24

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