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Canister Vacuums: Ratings of Sources

Total of 14 Sources

For an explanation of how we rank reviews, see our ratings criteria page.

1. ConsumerReports.org
As of Oct. 2011
Vacuum Cleaners
by Editors of ConsumerReports.org
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentOn its website, ConsumerReports.org maintains a continuously updated list of vacuum cleaners it has tested, along with their ratings. It also includes some models that have not been tested, but are judged similar enough to tested models to share their ratings. Models are rated for their performance on bare floor and carpet (including their ability to pick up pet hair from carpet). Total airflow, noise, particle emissions and ease of use are also considered. Of the 34 canister vacuums on this list, seven are recommended.
2. Good Housekeeping
Last updated Sept. 2010
Vacuum Cleaner Reviews
by Editors of Good Housekeeping
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentThe Good Housekeeping Research Institute conducts very thorough vacuum tests. Models are rated on their ability to remove ground-in dirt, pick up pet hair and clean bare floors. Editors also have consumers test the vacuums and give their impressions. The editors of Good Housekeeping provide detailed descriptions of each vacuum, including a summary of pros and cons. Six canister vacuums earn a grade of A-minus or better.
3. Choice magazine
Dec. 2010
Laundry and Cleaning
by Editors of Choice magazine
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentChoice is the magazine of the Australian Consumers' Association. Testing is as thorough as at ConsumerReports.org and Which? magazine, but most of the canister vacuums discussed here aren't available in the U.S. Vacuums are tested on carpet and bare floors. Top models are chosen in three price ranges, but most of the top picks are not available in the U.S.
4. Which? magazine
As of Oct. 2011
Vacuum Cleaner Reviews
by Editors of Which? magazine
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentBritish magazine Which? is as thorough and competent in its reviews as ConsumerReports.org is. In the latest roundup, editors test 159 upright and canister vacuums. Editors specifically test performance on different floor types, as well as with pet hair. The top-rated canister vacuums on this site are not available in the U.S. However, there is some great general information on this site, including buyer's guides and reliability information that can be useful to American consumers.
5. Allergy Buyers Club.com
As of Oct. 2011
Vacuum Cleaners
by Editors of AllergyBuyersClub.com
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentThis website, which includes many comparison charts and articles, focuses on the needs of allergy sufferers. Vacuum cleaners with HEPA filters are recommended for people who need maximum removal of allergens. While this is mainly a retail site, editors do report testing and owner satisfaction for most models. However, the ratings tightly correspond with price and are not detailed enough to convince us of their objectivity.
6. Amazon.com
As of Oct. 2011
Canister Vacuums
by Contributors to Amazon.com
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentMost canister vacuums get mixed reviews overall, and it's tough to tell which are the best. Still, once you have your choice narrowed down to a few models, Amazon.com is an excellent place to consult owner-written ratings and verify the opinions of professional reviewers. Amazon.com lists many discontinued models, which is confusing, but the large volume of user reviews is very useful.
7. Walmart.com
As of Oct. 2011
Canister Vacuums
by Contributors to Walmart.com
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentA search for canister vacuums on this site turns up more than 50 models, including a few with more than 100 user reviews. Compared to Amazon.com, vacuums generally receive higher overall ratings here, and user-submitted comments are cheerier. Users seem especially satisfied with the Eureka Mighty Mite 3670G, which receives an average rating of about 4.5 stars in more than 400 reviews.
8. BestBuy.com
As of Oct. 2011
Canister Vacuums
by Contributors to BestBuy.com
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentBestBuy.com sells about 30 models of canister vacuum cleaners, but most of them receive only a handful of reviews from users. The best-rated "canister" model is the Hoover Platinum Bagged Upright with Canister UH30010COM, which is covered in our report on upright vacuums. The Dyson DC23 Turbinehead also receives good overall ratings.
9. Ristenbatt.com
As of Oct. 2011
Ristenbatt Vacuum's Preferred Models
by David E. Ristenbatt
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentThis retailer sells more than 40 models of vacuum cleaners and publishes comprehensive product summaries, features and specifications on a limited number of models. Ristenbatt.com lists the models he and his staff recommend most highly -- mostly mid- to high-priced models from Miele -- along with a lot of details about their specifications and features. There's great information here about types of cleaners, motors and filtration systems. However, since there is no independent testing information and models recommended are also sold here, this site has limited scope.
10. Viewpoints.com
As of Oct. 2011
Canister Vacuum Reviews
by Contributors to Viewpoints.com
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentAbout 40 canister vacuums are reviewed at Viewpoints.com, but most receive only a handful of reviews. Also, many reviews don't include model numbers, so it's not always clear which model is covered. Many of the models that show up on a search for canister vacuums are actually uprights. On the plus side, this site is nicely laid out and easier to navigate than most user review sites. The top-rated model on this site is the complex and expensive Rainbow E-series; however, there are some useful reviews for more mainstream vacuums.
11. Epinions.com
As of Oct. 2011
Canister Vacuums
by Contributors to Epinions.com
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentEpinions.com invites users to rate their own vacuums, and while it takes a fair amount of clicking to get to the reviews, it's nice to check here when you have your choice narrowed down a bit. More than 900 different models are listed here, but the vast majority of them receive only a handful or comments or none at all. The only vacuum with a large number of good reviews is the Filter Queen Majestic Surface Cleaner, an elaborate model sold exclusively through in-home sales. However, this site does shed some light on otherwise well-reviewed models such as the Hoover WindTunnel S3765-040, which receives some complaints here about durability.
12. ConsumerGuide.com
Last updated July 15, 2008
Canister Vacuums Reviews and Prices
by Editors of ConsumerGuide.com
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentConsumerGuide.com reviews roughly 20 canister vacuums, but the reviewers don't go into much detail about their testing, and write-ups focus mainly on the features of each machine. It isn't entirely clear why some models are picked as Best Buys or Budget Buys over other models with equally good ratings. Moreover, the reviews on this site date back to 2002, and no new ones have been posted since 2008. Of the six top-rated models, only one is still available.
13. About.com
Not Dated
Top 8 Canister Vacuum Cleaners
by Barbara Whiting
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentBarbara Whiting, a former About.com guide to stay-at-home parents, posts a short list of her top canister vacuum picks. Although the vacuums are ranked, there's no explanation of how they're assessed and why they're chosen, and four of the eight recommended models are now discontinued. There's also no mention of any drawbacks or vacuums that don't make the cut. (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)
14. ReviewCentre.com
As of Oct. 2011
Vacuum Cleaners
by Contributors to ReviewCentre.com
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentReviewCentre.com is based in the U.K., and most of the models covered aren't available in the U.S. The ratings breakdown included in each user review is one nice feature here. Another plus is that many contributors state how long they've been using the product in question, helping to put reviews by brand-new owners into perspective.
     
 

This is our assessment of the review’s relevance, clarity of testing and thoroughness.

Read more about our Ratings Criteria by clicking the link at the top of the page.
 
 
 
  
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