Handheld Vacuums: What To Look For

With all the features and many models out there, shopping for a corded or cordless handheld vacuum can be confusing. Reviewers say the following about shopping for a hand vac:

• Don't get rid of your full-size vacuum. Hand vacs work well for small messes and tight corners, but they're not designed to vacuum whole rooms or replace canisters or uprights.

• Consider your power options. Cordless hand vacs can be used just about anywhere, but have limited battery runtimes. Corded hand vacuums are more powerful, but since they need to be plugged in, they can be less convenient to use.

• Pay attention to battery run time. If you decide on a cordless hand vac, check the product specs to make sure the battery runs long enough between charges to meet your needs. Some models have run times as short as six minutes, and some owners say that's not long enough to clean a flight of stairs or the inside of a car.

• Style doesn't always mean substance. Despite the recent trend toward hand vacs that are stylish enough to leave out on a countertop or beside the sofa, reviewers say some of these models fall short when it comes to performance.

• Do you need a hose? Some cordless vacuums come with a short accessory hose. This lets you extend the reach of the vacuum under furniture or car seats. However, users seem ambivalent about hoses. We didn't see much evidence in reviews that these accessories are used very often.

Handheld vacuums work well for quick pickups, and models with power cords or a decent battery life can be useful for cleaning cars or hard-to-reach areas. Even the most effective hand vacs aren't intended to replace full-size models, though, and most people will opt for one of the vacuums described below for larger jobs and regular cleaning. We cover these models in separate reports.

Canister vacuums. Experts recommend canister vacuums for homes with a lot of hardwood or tile floors, as well as for use on stairs and upholstery. Canisters can be cumbersome to push, especially on carpet, but they do offer more versatility than upright models and more power than hand or stick vacs.

Upright vacuums. Although uprights do work on hard surfaces, reviewers say they're best for homes in which most of the floors are carpeted. When it comes to stairs, upholstery and corners, however, uprights can be less effective, and owners might want to invest in a hand vac for those hard-to-reach areas.

Carpet cleaners. These deep cleaners are used less frequently than any of the other vacuums mentioned here. Most carpet cleaners work by spraying a detergent-water mixture onto the carpet, and then extracting the detergent along with ground-in dirt. Some deep cleaners have rotating brushes that help loosen grit in between these two steps.

Shop vacs. Otherwise known as wet/dry vacuums, these products have historically been relegated to garages and workshops, but some smaller units are useful throughout the home. Design improvements have resulted in better filtration and easier switching from wet to dry pickup, and newer models are more stable, more versatile and easier to empty than their predecessors.