Canister Vacuums

Best canister vacuums

According to the reviews we read, the budget-priced Hoover WindTunnel Bagless S3765-040 (*est. $200) has the best blend of cleaning ability on carpet and bare floors, along with low emissions and good durability. This bagless vacuum has a HEPA filter, which helps keep the vacuum from leaking dust back into the room. The 22-pound Hoover canister also has a telescoping wand and comes with a crevice tool, dusting brush and upholstery brush. A powered hand tool helps scrub carpets and furniture. A separate bare floor brush is extra gentle on wood floors that could otherwise be scratched by a rotating brushroll.

Because it's a bagless canister vacuum, you don't have to buy replacement bags. However, emptying the dust bin will expose you to some dust, so a bagging unit might be a better choice for those with allergies. Users say it's easy enough to empty the dust bin, though some wish the bin was a little bigger. One caveat is that tools aren't stored on the unit itself. In professional tests, the Hoover S3765-040 does a great job on carpet, rugs and bare floors. It's not as great as some other more expensive canister vacuums at picking up pet hair, however. Upright vacuums generally do a better job in that respect.

The Kenmore 27514 (*est. $250) does a better job than most canister vacuums, and is the best in its price range both for getting pet hair out of carpet and for general cleaning on carpet and bare floors. This model isn't bagless, and its HEPA filtration system earns it excellent scores for controlling emissions. Although professional reviews give this vacuum top marks, user ratings are considerably less glowing. On the Sears website it gets 3.5 out of five stars in a dozen owner-written reviews. The issue doesn’t seem to be performance or ease of use – most owners say it’s effective and relatively easy to handle – but rather some trouble with reliability. Several owners report liking the Kenmore canister vacuum initially before becoming frustrated with premature breakdown and high repair costs.

The Kenmore 27914 (*est. $400) has a much better reputation among owners: Only two out of 16 reviews on the Sears website give it less than a perfect score. Experts rate it higher as well, giving the Kenmore canister vacuum good marks for cleaning carpet and bare floors and for removing pet hair. Like the less expensive Kenmore 27514, this model uses vacuum bags and includes a HEPA filter for controlling emissions, which experts say it does very well. For the extra money, it also comes with a powered hand tool for digging dirt and pet hair out of upholstery. The big downside to his vacuum is its high price compared to other top-rated models.

The Electrolux Oxygen EL6988D (*est. $400) matches or outperforms Kenmore’s canisters in independent testing on all fronts: cleaning carpet and bare floor, pet hair removal, noise and emissions. Unfortunately, this is another canister vacuum that suffers from poor user reviews. The average rating on Amazon.com is two out of five in about 30 reviews, and on Epinions it’s only 1.5 out of five in about 20 write-ups. While most criticisms of the Oxygen involve quality and durability, there are issues with its functionality as well. One common complaint is that the main handle can only be turned to the right, making it frustrating to use.

Several owners claim to have been misled by the Electrolux brand name. Although this brand was once known as an independent manufacturer of top-quality vacuums, the Electrolux brand has changed ownership, leaving consumers confused about what kind of product they are buying. Electrolux canister vacuums are now rebranded Eureka vacuums. To find what is known as a traditional Electrolux vac, you must turn to a company now called Aerus. They offer an expensive canister called the Lux Guardian (*est. $1,700). Aerus offers an amazing 25-year warranty on the Lux Guardian, but in comparison performance reviews, the Aerus Guardian doesn't work any better or worse that vacuums costing less than half as much. However, durability may be better than average.

On specialty vacuum retail sites, you'll see a lot of praise heaped upon vacuums by Miele, and this brand most often rises to the top in tests conducted by foreign review publications like Which? and Choice magazines. Miele vacuums are more expensive than most Hoover or Kenmore models, and owners argue there's a good reason -- that these vacuums are very durable, and because of their sophisticated filtration systems are the better choice for those with allergies. Miele used to be a brand associated mostly with high-performance -- and high-cost -- vacuums, but Miele has expanded its line to include more budget-friendly models.

The most cost-effective Miele canister vacuums are those in the Miele S4 Galaxy series (*est. $400 to $600) . The Galaxy canisters have a completely sealed system and triple-layer filtration bags. A HEPA filter is optional, but the manufacturer says that the standard bags meet HEPA standards. Review sources also say that some non-HEPA filters are now just as effective. These models weigh just 14 pounds compared to 22 or 24 pounds for most mainstream brands like Hoover and Kenmore, which makes the Miele vacuums great for vacuuming stairs or homes with multiple floors (easier to carry up and down stairs). All of the Miele S4 vacuums have variable suction that's controlled by a dial. Since most don't come with a powered brushroll in the floor tool, they are better for bare floors and low-pile carpet than deep-shag carpets.

The Miele S4210 Capella, Antares, Sirius and Carina are identical features-wise, and only differ by color and the type of standard floor tool they ship with. The Miele S4210 Carina (*est. $400) is a pale yellow in color with a combination carpet/floor tool without a brushroll. The Miele S4210 Sirius (*est. $430) is blue, and it comes with a special horsehair brush for parquet floors in addition to the standard floor tool. The Miele S4210 Antares (*est. $500) comes in red. In addition to the standard floor brush and the parquet brush, a turbo brush with brushroll is included. The Miele S4210 Capella (*est. $600) is blue and comes with the works, adding a powered carpet brush for deep-pile carpets and rugs.

Experts at Which? choose the Miele S4211, the British equivalent of the S4210 Carina, as one of their top Best Buys. Editors say the S4 is fast, easy to maneuver and effective on both carpet and hard floors. Emissions and allergen control are also excellent, and the unit’s compact size makes it ideal for vacuuming stairs. We found very few consistent complaints from owners about the Miele vacuums; many say they've owned other vacuums in the past and that the Miele has so far proven easier to use and more durable.

Miele vacuums also come in a range of more expensive models like the Miele Capricorn S5980 (*est. $1,150) and the Miele Calisto S5280 (*est. $800) . Aside from adding more features and conveniences like filter change indicators, wider floor tools, more accessories and protection against overheating, we didn't find evidence in reviews that these much more expensive models clean much better than the less expensive Miele canisters.

Bosch canister vacuums are also highly rated, especially in reviews from Which? (England) and Choice Online (Australia). Bosch sells a much wider range of canister vacuums in those countries than it does in the U.S. The Bosch Premium Electro Duo BSG 81360UC (*est. $800) is excellent across the board, but for $600 more than the Hoover WindTunnel the performance gain is negligible. The similar Bosch Formula Electro Duo HEPA BSG71360UC (*est. $500) also does well in tests, but it’s not a standout among canister vacs in its price range.

SEBO is another canister vacuum brand that performs well in tests. The SEBO C3.1 (*est. $970) gets top marks from Allergy Buyers Club and does well across the board in other professional reviews. The C3.1 comes with a large powerhead and a bare floor brush, and testers say it performs well on both types of surfaces. Pet hair removal is only average, though, and some reviewers say it’s hard to maneuver. The HEPA-grade filter excels at keeping emissions under control, but the same is true for the much less expensive and higher-rated canisters from Hoover and Kenmore. Owners do say SEBO vacuums are reliable, however.

Oreck currently offers four canister vacuums -- two full-size and two mid-size, priced from $500 up to $900. Even on the most expensive model, you have to choose between a power head or straight-suction floor tool (you don't get both). The full-size models come with a HEPA filter, but none of the models have sealed systems. The Oreck DutchTech DTX 1400B (*est. $900) did fairly well during testing. It wasn't the easiest to use and was more difficult to handle than others. At 25 pounds, it is comparatively heavy. We found very few user reviews for any of the Oreck canister vacs, and those we did find are divided evenly between glowing and disappointed.

The Rainbow e-series E2 weighs a staggering 32 pounds, part of which can be attributed to this model's water tank, which traps dust particles. The Rainbow bills itself as more than just a vacuum; it can also be used to dust plants and inflate balls and other toys. Despite Rainbow's good reputation, testing showed the E2 to be noisy and not very aggressive on bare floors or carpeting. Rainbow vacuums do have one edge over the others: they are among the least repair-prone vacuum brands.

Dyson is one of the champs in the upright vacuum cleaner world, but right now has just one canister vacuum in its lineup, the DC21 Stowaway (*est. $500) . It shares the patented Dyson cyclone technology of its upright cousins and has a motorized brush bar, a lifetime HEPA filter, a 16.4-foot cord and a five-year warranty. It weighs approximately 23 pounds. Which? Online includes the Dyson DC21 in its Best Buys, saying it works well on all surfaces and does a good job of removing pet hair from carpets. Other experts disagree, giving it only average marks for performance on carpet and pet hair. Furthermore, owners say that the brushroll's stiff bristles can be a problem if you have more delicate carpets and rugs. The stiff bristles might do a good job "fluffing up" regular carpeting, but they can manhandle delicate rugs or finer carpet. Several owners comment that the power cord is too short.

If you have only bare floors, a suction-only vacuum cleaner may be all you need. Although it isn't included in any professional evaluations, users seem to like the Panasonic MC-4620 (*est. $70) . This bagless canister vacuum cleaner comes with three attachments. This vacuum is pretty basic -- it's pretty much either on or off. The wand is a fixed length, and some owners say the power cord is short.

Important Features: Canister vacuums

Reviews say canister vacuums are best for folks who have a combination of hard wood 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.

The following is what the experts say to look for in a canister vacuum. To see how the canisters in ConsumerSearch Fast Answers stack up to the criteria below, click the "Comparison Chart" link.

• Look for a model you can carry up and down stairs. Most people buy canisters to clean floors, stairs, shelves, drapes and upholstery. Also, make sure you can easily maneuver both the nozzle in front of you and the canister body behind you.

• Power nozzles are recommended if you plan to vacuum any kind of rug or carpet. Power nozzles (also called power brushes) have a revolving brush in the nozzle, which helps dig dirt out of carpets and can be turned off when vacuuming bare floors. Canisters without a power nozzle are called "suction-only" units.

• Look for a HEPA filter if you have allergies or significant air quality concerns. Most reviews say that "true-HEPA "(High Efficiency Particulate Air) filters are best, especially for allergy and asthma sufferers, although some "HEPA-type" filters can provide very good filtration. You may want to avoid bagless vacuums if you are dust-sensitive.

• A telescoping wand is a nice feature. Instead of a fixed-length wand, some vacuums have an adjustable telescoping wand, which makes it easier to vacuum in tight spaces, on stairs or to reach tall spots like drapes.

• Most canisters come with some standard attachments, including a bare-floor brush, dusting brush, crevice tool and upholstery tool. More expensive models often include a powered hand tool, useful for car floors and carpeted stairs.

Our Consensus Report shows how many times products are top-ranked by reviewers included in our
All The Reviews Reviewed chart.

# of Picks	Model (with Retailer Links)	Details from Amazon.com
4	Hoover WindTunnel S3765-040 (*est. $200)	details
3	SEBO C3.1 (*est. $970)	-
2	Miele S4 series (*est. $400 to $800)	details
2	Electrolux Oxygen EL6988D (*est. $400)	details
2	Miele S5 Series (*est. $650 to $1160)	details
1 each	Nilfisk Extreme X300, Kenmore 27914, Kenmore 27514, Wertheim 2000, Bosch BSG712666GB, Miele Parquet & Co, Miele Cat & Dog TT5000, Nilfisk Extreme X100, Nilfisk Coupe Parquet, Bosch BSG71810 Formula, Aerus Lux Guardian, SEBO C2.1 , Dyson DC21 Stowaway , Royal Procision RY3050 , Electrolux Oxygen 3 Ultra EL7020 , Bosch Compact Plus BSA 2222 UC, SEBO K3 , Sanitaire SP7025A, SEBO K2, Sanitaire SP6985B, Panasonic MC-CG973

Miele canister vacuum cleaners are often recommended on specialty websites as the best overall vacuums for performance and long-term durability. They are said to be especially good for those who suffer from allergies, with sophisticated filtration systems and bags. However, these models are more expensive than others, and since only the more expensive models come with a powered floor tool, are best for bare floors or flat rugs. Among mainstream canister vacuums, the Hoover WindTunnel S3765-040 is the best budget model, while the Kenmore 27914 is better on pet hair, with some extra convenience features.

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