Canister Vacuum Review

Canister vacuum tests and reviews

Reviews say canister vacuums are best for those who have a combination of hardwood and rugs, as well as those who plan to vacuum stairs, upholstery, drapes and other above-the-floor items. Uprights, on the other hand, are best for homes with lots of carpeting. (See our companion report on upright vacuum cleaners.)

ConsumerReports.org's most recent vacuum roundup is the most credible review of vacuum cleaners we found. More than 20 canister vacuums are evaluated for performance on carpet and bare floors. Editors also test each vacuum's ability to pick up pet hair from carpet, along with noise level and emissions. In addition to its rigorous testing, ConsumerReports.org includes repair records culled from reader surveys in its article. We found comparable testing of canister vacuums in U.K.-based Which? magazine and Australia's Choice magazine. Both test canister vacuums on carpet and bare floors, and like ConsumerReports.org, both also test for dust emissions. Only a small percentage of the canister vacuums tested by Which? and Choice magazines are available in the U.S., however.

We also found some information on retailer websites like AllergyBuyersClub.com and Ristenbatt Vacuum Service's site. Coverage is limited in scope to the models sold on their sites, and testing methods aren't clearly defined. We cross-referenced picks in professional reviews with owner-written ratings at Amazon.com, Walmart.com and Epinions.com. Although there are far more user reviews at Amazon.com and Walmart.com, Epinions.com posts user reviews of Kenmore canister vacuums, which aren't sold directly by Amazon.com and thus don't receive any ratings there. The Sears.com website has also become a good source of information on Kenmore vacuum reviews; most current models now have at least a dozen entries.

When it comes to inexpensive canister vacuum cleaners, we found the best reviews for the Hoover WindTunnel Bagless S3765-040 (*Est. $220). Less expensive vacuums don't generally get the same good reviews as this model, which is the subject of more than 850 owner-written reviews at Amazon.com. Even Hoover's own S3590 Duros Power Nozzle Canister Vacuum (*Est. $150) gets lower ratings for performance on carpet, along with some complaints from owners about poor suction and premature breakdown.