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Hardwood floors; what would we do without them? Aside from being incredibly aesthetically pleasing, they also increase the value of your home. But with all its beauty, a hardwood floor can be quite challenging and complicated to clean without damaging the surface.
If you’re looking to maintain the mint condition of your floors and improve their lifespan while you’re at it, then you need the best vacuum for hardwood floors. This segment offers a comprehensive buyer’s guide, in-depth reviews of top models as well as important features to look out for when buying a hardwood floor vacuum cleaner.
To get the ball rolling, let’s jump right into our top 10 most popular hardwood floor vacuums.
"When it comes to carpets and hard floor cleaning, then it’s pretty obvious that nothing beats the Eufy RoboVac 11 Self-Charging Robotic Vacuum Cleaner. This tiny helper is packed with so much technology that you wouldn’t believe it."
"Great model for both pet owners and hardwood floor buildings. It is powerful enough to get every speck of dirt out of the way while still remaining gentle enough not to scratch your floors."
Let’s be honest with each other here for a moment; not everyone enjoys cleaning up every other day. Fortunately, there’s a product for practically anything and everything you need to be done. So if vacuuming your hardwood floors and cleaning area rugs is not your favorite chore in the house, then it’s definitely time to think about investing in a robot vacuum.
The Eufy RoboVac 11 Self-Charging Robotic Vacuum Cleaner promises 100 percent hands-free cleaning since it does it all on its own. This handy helper climbs easily over rugs, rolls easily over uneven surfaces and is smart enough to avoid falling over stairs and ledges thanks to the drop sensing technology.
With a 1000Pa powerful suction, dual side brushes and a rolling brush, there’s no single speck of dust being left behind. And as if that wasn’t enough, Eufy went ahead an incorporated triple HEPA filters that effectively trap microscopic dust and allergy triggers such as mold spores, mites and pet dander for a clean home and a healthier you.
What are its best features?
Extremely quiet operation
100 percent hands-free operation
Recharges automatically
Large dust collection bin
What could be improved?
Inability to set cleaning schedule or defined cleaning pattern
This Stick Vac is light enough to take virtually anywhere there’s a mess and so easy to use that we literally did it blindfolded (don’t try that at home). Indeed, this unit is quite a time saver when it comes to regular cleaning.
If you live in a small apartment and would love nothing more than to save money on your cleaning, then the Dirt Devil Power Air Corded Bagless Stick Vacuum is your new best friend. Not only is this vacuum cheap enough for our more budget conscious buyers to be comfortable with, but it’s compact enough to store in very tight places.
The machine also boasts of a low profile nozzle that makes cleaning underneath spaces and furniture a breeze. This new stick vac proves indeed that Dirt Devil is a highly energetic brand that’s committed to developing cleaning solutions as well as technologies that customer’s trust and value.
What stands out?
20-foot cord
Bagless
Low profile nozzle
What cons did we manage to find?
May be a bit too powerful for rugs and carpets; stick to hardwood floors
As its name suggests, the Bissell Hard Floor Expert Multi-Cyclonic Bagless Canister Vacuum is built for serious homeowners who have plenty of space to clean up and prefer rather not get tired midway. Like Sebo vacuum, not only does this unit satisfy all these requirements, but it also goes the extra mile to please.
With the BISSELL Expert Multi-Cyclonic, you have a fully functional, powerful and highly maneuverable canister that makes your cleaning chores an effortless task. The specialized hard floor turbine foot is aimed at powerful pickup of dust, pet hair, dirt, dander and other debris, while protecting your valuable floors.
We were also impressed by the additional cleaning tools which are stored onboard for convenient access. And when you’re all done vacuuming, the cord will automatically rewind with the simple push of a button.
What makes it special?
Built to serve both - hard floors as well as carpets and rugs
Extremely mobile
Innovative metal telescoping
What cons did we find?
Might not be the most convenient unit when it comes to storage
BISSELL PowerEdge Pet Hard Floor Corded Vacuum which is a godsend for both pet owners and hardwood floor buildings. This powerhouse packs all the suction you need to get every speck of dirt out of the way while still remaining gentle enough not to scratch your floors.
First off, let’s acknowledge the ingenuity that comes with the BISSELL PowerEdge Pet Hard Floor Corded Vacuum. Once you see it in action, you just can’t help but wonder why all vacuums don’t come with the V shape.
It’s amazing how the simple V-shape makes all the difference with wipers that force all of the large debris on your hard floor into the central suction path, while finer particles are suctioned all along the arms. But that’s not all! The lightweight design and swivel head make this unit on par with specialised spot carpet cleaners to reach all those impossible spots around the house.
Additional features include cyclonic technology, a bagless system, quick assembly and an easy empty dirt cup.
What are our favorite features?
Innovative V-shape design
Superb construction
Superior cleaning around furniture and corners
What could be better?
There have been claims that the foam insert interferes with the suction
The HV301 upright Rocket from Shark is a corded stick vacuum. This means you won’t have to worry about those long waits for it to charge, or worse, having it power down and shut off in the middle of a job.
The 30-foot cord gives you all the reach you need so you don’t have to unplug it every time you leave a room. The vacuum cleaner also comes with a wall mount, a 12” crevice attachment, a dusting brush, upholstery tools as well as a dust-away.
What are its best features?
Incredibly effective on rugs, carpets, tile and hardwood floors
Lightweight construction
Plenty attachments for all sorts of surfaces
What could be improved?
The Shark HV301 may be light, but its handle mounted motor makes it kind of top heavy
VonHaus is known to be highly reputable and extremely trustworthy company when it comes to providing household products. So you may not have heard about them, but you’ve definitely been using their products. Go ahead, check around your home and you’ll find some of them. Their latest release comes in the form of the VonHaus 600W Corded Upright Stick and Handheld Vacuum Cleaner.
However, we’d be lying to you if we didn’t tell you how noisy this unit is. In fact, some customers have compared it to a loud hairdryer. But don’t let a little noise put you down. The 600W vac from VonHaus also doubles as a handheld vacuum. That’s right; you can move straight from your hard floors all the way to upholstery and higher places, which makes it an incredible vacuum for stairs and furniture.
Combine all that with the safety first HEPA filtration and you have a unit worth every penny.
Why did it make our list?
Extremely lightweight and versatile
Decent sized dirt cup
Adjustable height allows for customization
What is not ideal about it?
Shorter power cord with no rewind
Careful not to crack the fragile plastic attachments
As pricey as it may seem, the Dyson Ball Multi Floor 2 Upright Vacuum is actually Dyson’s lowest priced full sized vacuum cleaner in the entire line-up. Yes, it’s no surprise that Dyson makes some pretty high-end products, which is why the price tags are all the way up. The upright Ball vacuum is excessively powerful but still light enough to maneuver around your home and around corners.
Dyson Ball Multi Floor 2 Upright Vacuum sits on a neat ball for easy twisting and turning around those tight edges, furniture and obstacles packed all over your home. So instead of having to move around heavy furniture when you vacuum, all you have to do is work the vac.
And since the Multi-floor Dyson Vacuum cleaner comes with a HEPA filtration system, it’s a perfect vacuum for allergies and homes with pets.
Why is it special?
Cyclone technology captures more microscopic dust than other models
Hygienic empty bin means no more touching or handling dirty dust bags
Made and designed by Hoover, the Floormate is a state of the art, top line, an upright vacuum cleaner that is explicitly designed for those who have hardwood floors and would have a fit if they found a single scratch on their expensive floors.
With the Hoover Hardwood Floor Cleaner FloorMate SpinScrub, you can now give your hardwood floors the kind of spa treatment that is only reserved for carpets and rugs. That’s right; no more buckets, brushes, brooms and most importantly, no more elbow grease. With this bad boy, you can clean, vacuum, wash and dry your hardwood floors in one fell swoop.
Even with a higher price tag, the Hoover Hardwood Floor Cleaner FloorMate SpinScrub more than makes up for it with incredible features. As a matter of fact, we found the machine so fast and effective that cleaning was done in mere minutes. And thanks to that all new, patented multipurpose SpinScrub technology, there’s no angle that we literally can’t get to.
For even more convenience, Hoover incorporates a ton of exciting accessories. There are removable brushes and nozzles that can be interchanged for more personalized and effective cleaning. And once you’re all done, just fold up the handle for easy storage.
What do we love it for?
Incorporates water into vacuuming
Easy control
Allows for vacuuming and cleaning a wide range of surfaces
What were we disappointed with?
Some surfaces such as laminate floors do not work so well with the fluid function
The Shark Sonic Duo Carpet and Hard Floor Cleaner is super easy to use and provides a much better clean with far less effort every single time. It’s worth noting that this bad boy makes 1000 scrubs a minute for the ultimate clean up.
If your home is an even balance of hard floors, rugs, and carpets, then look no further than the Shark Sonic Duo Carpet and Hard Floor Cleaner. This is all made possible by two scrub modes that allow you to tailor your cleaning process to your unique floor and surface care needs.
On the one hand, your hardwood floors are thoroughly deep cleaned and are left with a beautiful non-streak, non-scratch finish with no dulling residue. As for your rugs and carpets, they are rejuvenated and left looking cleaner, safer, brighter, and smelling fresher than ever. To get your carpets and rugs truly clean, the Sonic Duo first eliminates the visible dirt on the surface of the carpet then proceeds to the finer particles.
Why is it special?
Highly effective vacuuming
Clean both rugs and hardwood floors
Gentle on all surfaces to avoid injuring them
What are the flaws?
While the ZZ55 Sonic Duo is quite the impressive machine, its instruction manual leaves much to be desired
As veterans in the cleaning business, we understand exactly how expensive it can get for people to call in professional cleaners. After all, you can’t really call in the help every time your pets or kids make a mess now, can you?
This is why most people prefer to do their own light cleaning at least once in a while. To achieve the best results, you need to invest in a great vacuum cleaner that will get the job done without much ado. Today, that vacuum is the Hoover Max Extract Dual V Hardwood Floor and Carpet Cleaner Machine.
As we’ve already established, the Hoover MaxExtract All Terrain Cleaner is intended for deep cleaning of both carpeted and hard floor surfaces in your house. The DualV nozzle tech, heated cleaning, some patented SpinScrub brushes and auto rinse tech combine to provide a superb floor, rug, and carpet cleaning performance.
What stands out?
Substantially wider cleaning path
Separates dirty and clean water
360-degree spin scrub tech
What cons did we manage to find?
Might be a bit on the heavier side
Things to Consider
We had to invest literally thousands of hours of total testing using hundreds of vacuum cleaners over a broad range of messes and an even wider array of flooring. And while we may have lost our lead researcher to vacuum-induced insanity, it’s safe to say that we know our stuff.
So relax, browse, shop and feel right at home because you’re in the safest hands possible when it comes to the best vacuum cleaners for hardwood floors.
How to choose the best vacuum for your hardwood floors
While the type of vacuum cleaner you choose will have a lot of influence, there are other features, capabilities, and considerations that you need to factor in.
Imagine spending a truckload of money of a stick vacuum only to realize that it can’t deal with pet hair at all. That doesn’t sound too fun for either you or your bank account. If you’re looking to get things right the first time round, then here’s how to choose the best vacuum for your hardwood floors.
Consider the type of wood on your floors
This is by far one of the biggest mistakes that homeowners make when buying a vacuum cleaner. See, while you know for sure that you have hardwood floors, do you know what kind of wood it’s made of? It could be a hardwood floor made of hard, coated and treated wood or a much softer surface that is fragile and delicate.
Knowing this could make all the difference between clean floors and absolute murder of your flooring. Floors with delicate types of wood will require gentler vacuums with more padding to keep the body from causing damage. However, real hardwood floors are pretty much immune from vacuum scratches.
Do You have some carpeted floors?
Take this from me; you don’t want to ignore those carpeted areas of your home. If your floors are exclusively hardwood, then feel free to choose whatever you want. But if you have carpets and area rugs all over the house, then you’ll want to pick out a model that can adapt to fit the needs of both hardwood floors and carpets as well.
Fortunately, most of the models on our list are designed to cater for both these surfaces at the flick of a button.
Any pets in the house?
That’s right; even Fido counts when you’re doing some shopping. While pets are a great addition to any family, they can really make a mess on each and every inch of your home. For those of you without any furry family members, pet hair has an annoying way of sticking to any and every single thing.
Choosing a vacuum with attachments for pet hair might help suck it all up without too much fuss.
What type of vacuum cleaner is best for hardwood floors?
It’s these not so little differences that make each and every model individual and useful in its own special way. One could be pretty basic but very easy on the pocket while another model could have an entire host of features and cost you a fortune. However, it’s all about finding what’s right for your hardwood floors.
So, what exactly is the best type of vacuum for those hard floors? Let’s see how each type holds up so you know what to get and what to avoid.
Canister vacuums
These are canister units with a suction head that connects to the mobile engine and filter via a long hose. Since canister vacuums are made up of basically two pieces, they are much easier to move around.
Similarly, the pull-along engine can be dragged behind so you don’t have to worry about carrying extra weight. Canister vacs are ideal for hardwood floors because not only are they super portable, but they also pack enough suction power to thoroughly clean those floors. Floor safety is also at an all-time high due to the interchangeable heads that let you avoid harsh brushes.
Handheld vacuums
Almost exclusively battery powered, handheld vacuums are without question the most portable units in the world. Their extremely small size makes them portable enough to take virtually anywhere.
The only difference between these and the above canister vacs is that handhelds aren’t quite as strong and don’t offer extra features such as separate attachments. While they are initially great for hardwood floors, they might not manage stubborn dirt and debris. Maybe buy one for your lengthy staircases and smaller homes.
Stick vacuums
Quite similar to upright vacuums, stick vacs are basically skinny upright vacuums without all the fancy features or powerful suction. They could be either battery powered or corded depending on the manufacturer and they usually have no extra heads for swapping or hose for high places.
They are generally good for open hardwood floors, but they fail impressively in negotiating tight corners and under furniture. If you’re looking to get to extremely hard to reach places and hit those corners faster and smoother than Lance Armstrong, then you might want to check out the next type of vacuum cleaner.
Upright vacuums
Simply put, these are large models that can stand on their own when not in use. Upright vacuums are usually taller and heavier than other models since the machine is built as one solid piece.
So be prepared to feel the full weight of the beast as you vacuum. But all this bulk is certainly not wasted. These vacuum cleaners typically have the strongest suction of them all, a nose with numerous attachments, incredible filtration and all sorts of fancy features and innovations.
People with massive homes and exclusively hardwood floors will definitely need to invest in one of these bad boys. But make sure you get safe brushes and hose attachments for more convenience.
Main features of the best vacuums for hardwood floors
Now that you know all the different factors you have to consider, it’s time to get technical. There are certain features and functions offered by some brands that make cleaning hardwood floors a breeze. It’s super important if you are planning to start sleeping on the floor and looking for a good mattress under 300$. But while you’re shopping, try not to get distracted by all the bells, whistles and toys that come with some models; instead, keep an eye out for features such as the ones mentioned below.
Low-suction power
Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need a vacuum so powerful that it can suck the oxygen out of a room. Hardwood floors rarely need a vacuum cleaner with super strong suction unless you have untreated floors with deep grooves. Generally, going for a high-quality vacuum or central vacuum system with settings for low suction works miracles.
Long extension hoses
Unless you’re looking to do squats all day and bench press your vacuum cleaner for hours, you’ll want something with long and flexible extension hoses. This will allow you to reach every inch of your home without putting out your back. Be it over cabinets or under chairs, a long hose is your best bet for efficient cleaning without too much exertion.
Versatile attachments
If you want to get those hardwood floors and other surfaces as clean as possible, then you’ll need a vacuum with a ton of attachments. For instance, a brush might come in handy if there’s any dirt stuck to the floors.
Padding
Like we mentioned earlier, the plastic body of a vacuum cleaner can really do a ton of damage to your wooden flooring as you drag and push it around the house. This is why it’s a good idea to find a vacuum cleaner designed for hardwood floors. These are usually evident by their heavily rubberized padding and felt at the bottom and sides that protect the floor from dents and scratches.
Care and maintenance
While your vacuum cleaner does not need that much attention, a little cleaning and maintenance will keep the appliance working and cleaning as efficiently and can possibly be.
In addition to better performance, maintenance will also see to it that you spend less on repairs and replacements. Before we begin, make sure that you unplug your vacuum for cleaning and maintenance.
Check the bag often and make sure you replace it regularly when two-thirds full
Clean the brush roll to avoid debris buildup
Lubricate bearing on brush roll
Check belt for sign of wear and replace if worn
Clear debris from brush housing and air passages
Clean or replace filters
Check hoses for obstructions and clogs
Warranty
Did you know that all vacuum cleaners produced change rapidly?
That’s right; this is why it is never easy to foreseeing or predict the quality of fabrication and the shelf life of a particular model. Fortunately, the length of the manufacturer’s warranty is always a blameless way to determine what we can expect.
It indicates the relative level of trust that the brand itself has in their own product. Which is why glancing at the warranty and its terms is the best reliability indicator you could possibly hope to find. No matter what product you are buying – cheap queen mattress set under 200$ or duvet insert.
Manufacturer’s warranties typically range anywhere between a year all the way to 8 years. However, well recognized and established brands may even give decades on their warranty for certain parts. So when you’re shopping, ensure you check out the warranty length, its terms as well as what other customers are saying about the vacuum.
Unfortunately, the simple truth is that cheaper vacuum cleaners will always be much louder and noisier than their costly counterparts. That’s because low-priced models do not really focus on noise canceling features as much as keeping the price down.
While vacuum cleaners come with at least one filtration layer, others use multiple levels to get microscopic dust. However, you will want a HEPA filtration system if you suffer from allergies, asthma or any respiratory conditions.
Like most consumers, you’re probably tempted to choose a vacuum based on its high horsepower or amperage. However, this measurement is not really an accurate indicator of a vac’s efficiency. Instead, try to look at the water lift, suction, and airflow which are better indicators of performance.
Our verdict
There you have it; all the information you need to score the most suitable vacuum cleaner for your home.
Hardwood floor vacuums can be extremely helpful for cleaning bare floors safely and effectively. These units give you more power than a regular old broom sweeper and get the job done in just half the time. Add a gentle touch to the vacuums and a couple of attachments here and there and you’ve got the ultimate cleaning appliance.
As for us busy bees with no time in 2017 for cleaning, something along the lines of the Eufy RoboVac 11 Self-Chrging Robotic vacuum will do just fine. Get the best vacuum for hardwood floors here today and don’t forget to tell us how it goes.
While your vacuum cleaner does not need that much attention, a little cleaning and maintenance will keep the appliance working and cleaning as efficiently and can possibly be.
