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Vacuum Cleaners: Ratings of Sources
Total of 19 Sources

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

1. ConsumerReports.org
As of Oct. 2011
Upright Vacuum Cleaner Ratings and Reliability
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. (Some vacuums that have not been tested are also recommended based on their similarity to tested models.) Vacuums 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 82 upright vacuums on this list, 30 are recommended. Overall, bagging upright vacuums perform better than bagless ones, but they also tend to be more expensive.
2. Which? magazine
As of Oct. 2011
Vacuum Cleaners
by Editors of Which?
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentThis British equivalent of ConsumerReports.org tests vacuums regularly. We like that editors specifically test performance on different floor types. Editors have tested 159 upright and canister vacuums from 26 manufacturers. Miele and Dyson clean up in the upright category, claiming 14 out of 20 Best Buy ratings. Unlike many of the vacuum cleaners tested at Which? magazine, most of these Dyson and Miele models are available in the U.S.
3. Good Housekeeping
As of Sept. 2010
Vacuum Cleaner Reviews
by Editors of Good Housekeeping
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentThe Good Housekeeping Research Institute (GHRI) 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 GHRI provide detailed descriptions of each vacuum, including a summary of pros and cons. Seven vacuums are awarded an A rating from this site, including six uprights.
4. Wired
As of Oct. 2011
Vacuum Reviews
by Editors of Wired
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentReviewers at Wired evaluate 17 vacuum cleaners of various types in separate reviews; vacuum models range in price from $50 to $700, and are given a numeric rating. Discussion for each model includes pros and cons, as well as notes on performance and ease of use. Although it's clear that each vacuum has been tested, models aren't compared to each other. The Dyson DC28 Animal receives an Editors' Pick award, and five others earn overall ratings of 7 ("Good, but not quite great") or better.
5. Choice magazine
July 6, 2010
Vacuum Cleaners Buying Guide
by Editors of Choice
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentChoice magazine is an Australian counterpart to ConsumerReports.org. Editors divide vacuum ratings into three price categories and test them for sand pickup (including in corners and along edges), pet-hair pickup, ease of use and noise level. Choice magazine tests 43 upright and canister vacuums, most of which are not available in the U.S. However, the 11 models the editors recommend are all canister vacuums.
6. ConsumerReports.org
Oct. 5, 2010
New Vacuum Cleaner Ratings: Our Pet-Hair Test Gets Tuft
by Gian Trotta
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentThis entry on the ConsumerReports.org blog, which can be viewed without a subscription to the main site, describes the process editors use to test vacuums for pet-hair removal. The fur from long-haired Maine coon cats is measured out and raked into carpets. Then each vacuum gets 14 passes to try to remove it, and the remaining hair is weighed. According to the blog entry, the best-performing upright in this test was the Kenmore Intuition 31100, which also fared well enough in other tests to earn a Best Buy rating. However, author Gian Trotta stresses that pet-hair removal is only one of the seven tests vacuums are subjected to at ConsumerReports.org.
7. ConsumerReports.org
June 8, 2009
Does the Performance of the Dyson DC28 Animal Upright Vacuum Match Its Lofty Price?
by Editors of ConsumerReports.org
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentThis entry from the ConsumerReports.org Home & Garden blog is available without a subscription. It focuses on a specific Dyson model, the DC28 Animal, which was tested for the March 2009 issue. The editors of ConsumerReports.org say that although this machine is powerful and performs very well on carpet, it does not handle well. Dyson has a strong repair record, but they say equally reliable brands make good machines that are much less expensive.
8. Amazon.com
As of Oct. 2011
Upright Vacuums
by Contributors to Amazon.com
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentWe found the largest volume of owner comments on vacuum cleaners at Amazon.com. The Hoover Tempo Widepath U5140-900, for example, receives more than 2,000 reviews, with a 4-star overall rating. Several other Hoovers, as well as uprights from Dyson and Eureka, receive hundreds of comments. However, many of the models listed have been discontinued, which can make sorting through the reviews confusing. Amazon.com is an excellent place to look once you've narrowed down your choices.
9. Walmart.com
As of Oct. 2011
Vacuums & Floor Care
by Contributors to Walmart.com
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentWalmart.com sells a variety of upright vacuum cleaners, ranging from the Dirt Devil Express (sold here for $35) to the Dyson DC28 Animal (sold here for $585). Many of these models receive more than 100 reviews from users. However, a majority of the vacuums that are rated receive at least 4 stars out of 5 overall, making it difficult to sort out the really good models. At the time of this report, we found five upright vacuums with at least 250 reviews and average ratings of at least 4.5 stars, including three high-priced Dyson models and two much less expensive uprights from Eureka and Hoover.
10. BestBuy.com
As of Oct. 2011
Upright Vacuums
by Contributors to BestBuy.com
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentThere are about 50 upright vacuum cleaners sold at BestBuy.com, and most of them receive at least a few comments from users. As on other sites, users at BestBuy.com are especially enthusiastic about Dyson uprights; two Dyson models earn high overall ratings from nearly 100 users each. Hoover uprights, both bagged and bagless, are also well rated. The site is fairly easy to navigate, and it offers a handy summary of the features customers like best about each product.
11. Target.com
As of Oct. 2011
Upright Vacuums
by Contributors to Target.com
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentTarget sells about 50 upright vacuum cleaner models, but most models have fewer than 100 user reviews. Of those models that receive the most comments, some get mixed reviews overall, including the Bissell Pet Hair Eraser and the Dirt Devil Featherlite. However, four upright vacuums -- the Dyson DC25 Animal, the Bissell Cleanview Helix, the Hoover WindTunnel T-Series Pet and the Eureka Optima 431F -- earn high average ratings.
12. Viewpoints.com
As of Oct. 2011
Upright Vacuum Reviews
by Contributors to Viewpoints.com
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentViewpoints.com is a review site with an unusually broad scope: Contributors cover everything from universities to vitamin supplements. Around 80 upright vacuums are reviewed, and a few models receive more than 100 reviews. Top ratings here go to several Dyson vacuums, including the DC14 Animal (discontinued), the DC25 Multi Floor and Animal models and the DC28 Animal. Navigation at Viewpoints.com is fairly intuitive, and many of the reviews are quite detailed. For models with a large number of reviews, the site provides a convenient summary and a list of pros and cons.
13. Epinions.com
As of Oct. 2011
Upright Vacuum Cleaners
by Contributors to Epinions.com
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentMore than 1,500 upright vacuum cleaner models are listed at Epinions.com, but most of them have only a handful of reviews or none at all. In addition, many of the models listed are discontinued. There are more comments here for Dyson vacuums than others, and they are less uniformly positive than those on most other sites. Among the mainly positive postings, we found complaints about these vacuums' inadequate suction, awkward handling and high price.
14. Ristenbatt Vacuum Cleaner Service, Inc.
As of Oct. 2011
Ristenbatt Vacuum's Preferred Models
by David E. Ristenbatt
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentThis retailer sells more than 75 different models of cleaners and publishes comprehensive product summaries, features and specifications on a limited number of models. Ristenbatt lists the models he and his staff recommend most highly -- all high-priced models, mostly from Miele and Sebo -- along with a lot of details about their specifications and features. There's great information here about types of cleaners, filter differences and agitator types. However, because there's no independent testing information -- and because models recommended here are also sold here -- this site has limited scope.
15. ReviewCentre.com
As of Oct. 2011
Upright Vacuum Cleaners
by Contributors to ReviewCentre.com
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentReviewCentre.com has mixed vacuum coverage, with individual models getting anywhere from a handful to more than a hundred individual reviews. Among upright models, however, only one model -- the Sebo Automatic X4 -- gets more than 50 reviews. Entries tend to be shorter here than at Epinions.com and Viewpoints.com, and many of the models on this U.K.-based site aren't available in the U.S.
16. ConsumerGuide.com
As of Oct. 29, 2008
Upright Vacuum Cleaners Reviews and Prices
by Editors of ConsumerGuide.com
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentConsumerGuide.com reviews a number of vacuums, but it's not clear whether any of them have actually been tested. Write-ups for the models shown here are based primarily on features, although there is some comparison of pros and cons. Best Buy awards are given to 13 vacuums, but it's difficult to tell exactly why editors chose these over others. Also, most of these picks have been discontinued.
17. AllergyBuyersClub.com
As of Oct. 2011
HEPA Upright Vacuum Cleaners
by Editors of AllergyBuyersClub.com
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentThis retail site, 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. Although this is a good site for health information and articles for allergy sufferers, the recommendations must be taken with a grain of salt as their main business is selling vacuums, and it's interesting that the highest ratings go to the most expensive machines.
18. About.com
Not Dated
Vacuum Cleaner Reviews
by Sarah Aguirre
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentAbout.com housekeeping guide Sarah Aguirre reviews nine vacuums, seven of which are discontinued. It's not clear when the reviews were written, but Aguirre appears to have casually tested most of the models. She goes into a reasonable amount of detail and includes one or two negatives for each vacuum cleaner. Aguirre does not compare the models directly, but she rates most of the vacuums on a one-to-five-star scale. The only currently available model that earns high marks is the Eureka Optima. (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)
19. The Wall Street Journal
Jan. 24, 2008
Stealthier Sweeping
by Sara Schaefer Muñoz
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentSara Schaefer Muñoz tests four vacuum cleaners: the Electrolux Oxygen3 Ultra with Quiet Clean powerhead and Miele Callisto (both canister vacs), the upright Healthy Home Vacuum from Bissell and the Oreck XL21 (discontinued). Testing evaluates only their claims of being quieter than other vacuum cleaners -- vacuums are run while the tester attempts to make a phone call. Both upright models are considered noisier than the two canisters, though quieter than older uprights.
     
 

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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Vacuum Cleaners Runners Up:

Dyson DC25 Animal *Est. $540

4 picks including: Target.com, Walmart.com…

Miele S7280 Jazz *Est. $550

3 picks including: Amazon.com, Ristenbatt Vacuum Cleaner Service, Inc.…

Eureka AirSpeed AS1000A *Est. $120

2 picks including: Walmart.com, Viewpoints.com…

     
 
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Dyson DC25 Animal Ball-Technology Upright Vacuum Cleaner
In Stock.
Average Customer Review:  
  
 
 
 
     
 
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Miele S7280 Jazz Upright Vacuum Cleaner
In Stock.
Average Customer Review:  
  
 
 
 
     
 
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Eureka AirSpeed Bagless Upright
In Stock.
Average Customer Review:  
  
 
 
 

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