How we test vacuum cleaners

Posted by Bui Duc Dat on December 5th, 2019

Stick vacuums are lightweight, easy on the back and give you freedom from cords, getting rid of the annoyance of plugging and unplugging your vacuum as you move around the house. But features vary between models; some have far more power than others, better attachments and, crucially, longer battery life. But which one is right for you?

What is a stick vacuum?

There are several types of vacuum cleaner on the market including upright, cylinder, robot, handheld and stick. Stick vacuums are now increasingly popular because they’re cordless and they’re getting more powerful, almost rivalling corded vacs. In fact, while they were originally designed for quick spills, they now last long enough to cope with an entire household. The design offers convenience, typically featuring a lightweight ‘stick’ body and a smaller canister to be regularly emptied. They also tend to come with attachments such as a crevice tool, upholstery tool and in some instances even a motorised brush for pet hair. Because they’re cordless, they are dependent on battery life, so be prepared to have it on charge when not in use.

Why should you buy a stick vacuum?

Get it right and the manoeuvrability and convenience of a stick vac make it a great option for a quick clean or for smaller households. They’re compact to store (some can be mounted on the wall) and more lightweight than upright and cylinder vacuums, which generally makes them more comfortable to use. As mentioned earlier, they do need to be charged, but you can buy more than one battery for some models if you’re worried about this. The extra batteries are also useful if you have a larger household, giving your vacuum at least twice the runtime. The suction power of stick vacuums is also getting stronger as technology develops, making the top-end performers a brilliant investment.

What attachments do I need?

If you intend to replace your main vacuum with a stick vacuum, then you will need all of the tools you would usually use to clean your house. A crevice tool and upholstery brush tend to come as standard and can be useful, as long as you use them. However, many stick vacuums come with multiple attachments, but you might not need all of them (and remember that you’ll have to store any extras). If you have pets, it’s a good idea to look out for one that comes with a motorised pet brush, specially designed to collect ground-in pet hair. If you intend to use your stick vacuum as a handheld, make sure it comes with the appropriate tools for your chores, such as a crevice tool for getting into awkward areas around a car, for example.

Bagged or bagless?

Some vacuums contain bags that collect all of the dust and debris, which once full, need to be replaced. One benefit of these is that you needn’t touch the dust and dirt to remove it from the canister, which you may need to do with a bagless model as some dirt can become trapped. Bagless models also tend to be messier as the dust can spill as you empty it. Bagged models don’t have this issue. However, you’ll need to keep some empty bags in stock at all times, if you opt for a bagged model.

Key features to look out for

The technology behind stick vacuum cleaners has come a long way in the last few years alone. Some of the latest innovations include:

• Sensory technology: Where the floor head senses the floor type and adjusts its power accordingly. This saves precious battery life in the long run, ensuring the vacuum only uses the necessary power.

• Headlights: Some stick vacuums also feature headlights on the floor head, so you can see under furniture and in dark spaces.

• Smart technology: Connect these to your phone to monitor its usage, battery life and even more unorthodox statistics, such as how many calories you burn in use.

• Battery level indicator: This isn’t exactly groundbreaking, but can be a very useful feature to have on a cordless appliance. The Dyson V11 is particularly impressive because it counts down your remaining battery time in minutes and seconds.

• Slit to cut hair: If anyone in your house has long hair, make sure you pick a model where you can easily remove hair. Long strands tend to wrap around the brush in the floor head and need to be cut free. However, some models now feature a small slit along the bar which you can run a pair of scissors through – it’s a very convenient feature.

• Weight: Be wary of the weight of your stick vacuum, anything over 3kg can feel heavy after prolonged use. Choose a design where the weight is centred around the floor head rather than the handle if you struggle with this. If it’s less top-heavy, it’s easier on the arms.

While some features can appear impressive at first, only invest in ones which you’ll use. Stick vacuums are ultimately designed to be lightweight and convenient – some extra features may just make them heavier and more cumbersome to manoeuvre.

How we test vacuum cleaners

We test each vacuum on three different floor types: laminate, floorboards and carpet. First, we assess general pickup using a formulation of dust which we create ourselves. We lay down a set amount and then after a number of sweeps, we weigh out exactly how much each vacuum has collected. Does it also make light work of picking up pet hair? We call in plenty from the Battersea Dogs and Cats Home to find out. This is ground into the carpet before vacuuming to create the worst-case scenario. We also test performance when picking up small residue, such as crumbs, particularly when testing as a handheld.

On top of this, we do an interior car cleaning test to see how well it gets in between the crevices and try it out on a set of stairs, to see how easily it manoeuvres. The design, ease of use and instructions are assessed, and we consider if it has any innovative features. From big names like Dyson, Hoover and Vax to lesser-known brands, we test all the latest to find the very best for you.