Upright or canister vacuum?

Upright vacuums are generally best for those with a lot of carpeted floors. However, many reviewers say it's hard to clean under low furniture, like beds and sofas, with uprights because the heads (which house the brush) are too tall. Canisters, which some people feel are awkward to maneuver, are more convenient for vacuuming stairs and upholstery. Depending on your needs, another type of vacuum may be a better choice. See the ConsumerSearch report on canister vacuums for information on these.

Handhelds are convenient for picking up small spills and cleaning car interiors. Those with revolving brushes work well on pet hair. Stick and handheld vacs come in a variety of corded and cordless (rechargeable) models. We cover stick vacuums and handheld vacuums in separate reports.

Reviewers say to consider the following when buying an upright vacuum:

  • Look for a filter. High-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters have excellent filtration properties, but other types of filters can be equally effective. Reviews say that most vacuums control emissions fairly well; unless you have severe allergies, most filters will be adequate.
  • Choose between bagging and bagless. Bagless models eliminate the ongoing expense of buying new bags, but emptying the dirt cup can be messy. Bagging vacuums generally hold more dirt and may be preferable if you have allergies, because emptying a dirt bin can expose you to a cloud of dust. Either type will do a decent job of cleaning.
  • Look for a brushroll shut-off feature if you plan to vacuum bare floors. Uprights generally have a tougher time cleaning bare floors because the revolving brush, which digs dirt out of carpets, often spits dirt from hard surfaces back out of the machine before it can be sucked up. Many vacuums have this feature, but some less expensive models do not.
  • Skip the dirt sensor feature. Sometimes you'll see vacuum manufacturers advertising this feature, which is supposed to sense when dirt pickup slows, presumably meaning that the area is clean. However, reviewers say dirt sensors have nothing to do with performance.
  • Check the cord and hose length. A longer hose (7 feet or more) makes it easier to clean high places with an attachment, and it's less likely that the unit will tip over when doing so. A longer cord (30 feet or more) allows you to clean a bigger area without having to plug the machine into a different outlet. Retractable cords, which don't need to be wound up by hand after use, are also handy.
  • Think about the weight. Most upright vacuums weigh between 9 and 22 pounds. If you'll need to carry the vacuum up and down stairs, you might be happier with a lighter vacuum. These usually have fewer accessories but might be worth the trade-off. In user reviews, weight is a big complaint.

Upright or canister vacuum?

Upright vacuums are generally best for those with a lot of carpeted floors. However, many reviewers say it's hard to clean under low furniture, like beds and sofas, with uprights because the heads (which house the brush) are too tall. Canisters, which some people feel are awkward to maneuver, are more convenient for vacuuming stairs and upholstery. Depending on your needs, another type of vacuum may be a better choice. See the ConsumerSearch report on canister vacuums for information on these.

Handhelds are convenient for picking up small spills and cleaning car interiors. Those with revolving brushes work well on pet hair. Stick and handheld vacs come in a variety of corded and cordless (rechargeable) models. We cover stick vacuums and handheld vacuums in separate reports.

Reviewers say to consider the following when buying an upright vacuum:

  • Look for a filter. High-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters have excellent filtration properties, but other types of filters can be equally effective. Reviews say that most vacuums control emissions fairly well; unless you have severe allergies, most filters will be adequate.
  • Choose between bagging and bagless. Bagless models eliminate the ongoing expense of buying new bags, but emptying the dirt cup can be messy. Bagging vacuums generally hold more dirt and may be preferable if you have allergies, because emptying a dirt bin can expose you to a cloud of dust. Either type will do a decent job of cleaning.
  • Look for a brushroll shut-off feature if you plan to vacuum bare floors. Uprights generally have a tougher time cleaning bare floors because the revolving brush, which digs dirt out of carpets, often spits dirt from hard surfaces back out of the machine before it can be sucked up. Many vacuums have this feature, but some less expensive models do not.
  • Skip the dirt sensor feature. Sometimes you'll see vacuum manufacturers advertising this feature, which is supposed to sense when dirt pickup slows, presumably meaning that the area is clean. However, reviewers say dirt sensors have nothing to do with performance.
  • Check the cord and hose length. A longer hose (7 feet or more) makes it easier to clean high places with an attachment, and it's less likely that the unit will tip over when doing so. A longer cord (30 feet or more) allows you to clean a bigger area without having to plug the machine into a different outlet. Retractable cords, which don't need to be wound up by hand after use, are also handy.
  • Think about the weight. Most upright vacuums weigh between 9 and 22 pounds. If you'll need to carry the vacuum up and down stairs, you might be happier with a lighter vacuum. These usually have fewer accessories but might be worth the trade-off. In user reviews, weight is a big complaint.

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