by Christopher Jones
Whether you have a carpeted surface or a hard floor such as parquet, one this is sure - it's going to get dirty sooner rather than later.
Clumsy accidents, dust accumulation over time, or a pile of mess produced by a pet are all instances of troubles that can befall an unsuspecting floor. Now, when it comes to the way you're going to deal with these, you have several options to choose from.
You can get a broom, a pad and some water mixed with chemicals and sweep away until your hands hurt. Or, if you want to keep up with the modern technologies and kill two birds with one stone by both making your life easier and providing better care for your floors, you can obtain a vacuum cleaner !
These excellent if somewhat odd-looking contraptions can tackle all sorts of pollutants and can work on a wide variety of surfaces. Whether it's parquet, tile, carpet, or linoleum, a powerful vacuum cleaner can easily deal with different messes without requiring you to do hard manual labor. ( Which is great if you're lazy. )
At this point, it'd be important to point out that it's not only floors that vacuum cleaners can take care of. In fact, a powerful and cleverly-designed vacuum cleaner can be used for many different surfaces! These would include - floors, furniture, your car seats, curtains, you name it.
In this article, we'll talk about small vacuum cleaners in particular, and how these can help you complete your chores more conveniently and effortlessly! We've also prepared a brief buying guide, so you can have a better idea of what to expect in case you never bought one of these devices. Also, we've answered some of the most frequently asked questions by buyers, for good measure.
Contents
Right then, without further ado, here's the deal.
Depending on your personal preferences and needs, both of these options can be an excellent choice.
First off, let's see what these 'bagged' models are all about.
Vacuum cleaners with bags are typically well-suited for cleaning or rather vacuuming, a larger area because you won't have to empty the bag all the time. 'Bagless' models are typically pretty bad at this, as they require you to empty their dust-collecting canisters quite often.
These canisters represent the place where all the dust and other pollutants go after you've picked them up with your vacuum cleaner. The good thing about them is that you won't have to buy more canisters down the road. ( In contrast to 'bagged' vacuum cleaners which require you to replace the bags all the time and buy new ones. )
So, if you have a large home and don't want to empty the smallish canisters every 10 minutes, get a 'bagged' model. If, on the other hand, you'd rather have a small vacuum for which you don't need to buy new bags, consider buying a 'bagless' one instead.
As great as they are for tackling dust and other allergens in spacious rooms and on different surfaces, vacuum cleaners are quite notorious for their fairly loud suction motors.
The trouble here is that there is really no efficient way to battle this because the levels of noise a vacuum cleaner is producing depend on its size. More precisely, the size of its motor and its power. The more powerful the motor, the more noise is going to produce. Also, the size of the bag or canister plays a role, because of the acoustics. ( Again - bigger dirtbag or canister, the more noise a vacuum cleaner is going to produce. )
Want a quiet vacuum cleaner? - Get a small model with a small canister!
Another important parameter regarding the choice of vacuum cleaners would be the way they receive their power, so to speak.
Of course, virtually all vacuum cleaners work on electricity, but the way this electric energy is fed to the motor is what makes all the difference. Based on this, there are two major design options to choose from - corded vacuum cleaners, and their cordless counterparts.
Corded vacuums are typically bigger, can run for longer, and have a considerably larger bag capacity. This makes them suitable for professional cleaners, or vacuuming large areas such as halls or corridors.
On the other hand, cordless models are usually small, can be carried in your hand, and have no reach limit because they run on batteries. That said, their running time is limited by their battery life, they have smaller canisters, and are generally not as powerful.
This is a category that may or may not be important for the user. It all depends on what you expect from your vacuum cleaner.
If you want your vacuum cleaner to be a cleaning utensil that can tackle a wide variety of different tasks, you should get a model with a set of attachments. These often include pet hair brushes, squeegees, a smaller hose for cleaning your car, and so on and so forth.
On the other hand, if you need your vacuum only to take care of dirty carpets, you won't need that many attachments. A model with one or two basic hose additions that can penetrate the fibers of a carpeted surface should do the trick.
Filtration represents a category you want to pay close attention to.
This is how a typical vacuum cleaner works - the dirty particles are sucked up by the hose, they go all the way up in the bag, and then the residual air is expelled through the exhaust at the back. Now, these exhausts have filters at the end of them, to catch the dirty particles and trap them before they can get to your respiratory system and eyes.
Various allergens and pollutants can cause a runny nose at best, and you can get really sick at worst! For best filtration results, you should look for a HEPA filter, as these are the most efficient in removing the unwanted particles from the exhaust air. ( HEPA stands for 'high-efficiency particulate air', by the way.)
Okay, now that we've acquainted ourselves with some important vacuum cleaner properties, let's see what are the best models currently on the market, shall we?
Coming from a company with a name that signifies the joy and importance of new discoveries and innovations, this Eureka upright vacuum cleaner is a multi-surface-savvy cleaning contraption perfect for larger homes.
Even though 'bagless' vacuum cleaners are not really famous for their large canister capacities, this Eureka model appears to be an exception. Namely, the canister of this model, in particular, is as large if not larger than an average canister on a 'bagless' model, so you won't have to worry about emptying it every five minutes.
Another department where this model scores highly would be the various attachments it comes with. There are a quick release handle and a stretchable hose for giving you more space to work with. Also, this way you can reach spots and surfaces you otherwise couldn't. There are also an upholstery tool, a crevice tool, as well as a dusting brush, for good measure.
Fancy owning a vacuum cleaner which can be both an upright model AND a hand-held one at the same time? Well, if the answer is - yes, there is some good news here. Now you can, thanks to some clever design solutions coming our way from VonHaus!
Depending on whether you want to use it with the stick it comes with, or you'd just like to take it in your own two hands to use it, this model can be either an upright cleaner or a hand-held one. ( There's a slider you can use to secure the stick and connect it to the main cleaner build. )
At VonHaus, the designers did their homework when it comes to filtration. To make sure no allergens and other potentially health-threatening pollutants can be released into the air you're breathing, they made sure to equip this vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter that does an excellent job of entrapping vile bacteria and microorganisms.
Here we have a model from a sci-fi flick. This here Space Odyssey 2001 lightweight cordless vacuum cleaner is a piece of cleaning technology that can make your life much easier when it comes to tackling chores in the future.
As its name suggests, this model from eufy is cordless, meaning that all the running power it has, it gets from a large 2200 mAh lithium-ion battery. Once fully charged up, one of these vacuums can deliver up to 50 minutes of continuous use.
This offer includes things such as an AC power adapter, a wall mount, a welcome guide for helping you learn the ropes of operating this contraption, then there are various mounting accessories, and last but not least - a worry-free 15-month warranty. And, of course, you'll get the vacuum cleaner itself, as well!
Purple in color and possessing some pretty interesting features, this model from Bissell is a vacuum cleaner that can take care of all of your house cleaning needs quickly and easily. Similarly to the model from above, this particular vacuum cleaner also features the so-called 2-in-1 design.
If you want to use it as an upright cleaner, simply attach the stick to the main build of this model and chauffeur it around while walking around your apartment or house. On the other hand, if you prefer to use the shortened version of it, simply remove the stick, and grab the remainder of this excellent cleaning contraption in your hand! ( This way, you can maneuver around tough-to-reach areas more easily. )
When it comes to emptying this unit once you've completed your cleaning tasks, the deal couldn't be easier. Since this model is an example of a 'bagless' vacuum cleaner, all you need to do is detach the dust canister and chuck all of its contents into a trash bin!
If you're on a lookout for a vacuum cleaner that looks as if it's just dropped from an Alien vs. Predator film, this Black & Decker AIRSWIVEL model can be a great option for you. As you can see from its name, this model has got swivel-based steering, so you can reach areas you previously couldn't more quickly and easily than before.
The dust cup capacity is 2l in case you were wondering. This will be enough to help you clean extensive areas in your home without having to empty it every 15 minutes or so. While we're on the topic of maintenance, let's also mention the filters, which are washable, so you won't have to buy new ones every time they get dirty. ( Which they will quite often. )
This model comes with a specialized pet tool suitable for removing pet hairs, as well as a crevice tool and an upholstery tool, as well. The handle for steering has been made to be ergonomic for the user, so you can vacuum clean for prolonged periods of time.
Combining powerful suction with a rather unorthodox design, this cordless Dyson model can be a great solution for a person in need of an alternative vacuuming solution. In order to use this cheeky-looking contraption, you need to charge it up first, which is a process that takes approximately three and a half hours.
After it's fully charged, this cleaning utensil can run for up to an hour! ( Provided you only use the non-motorized tool the entire time. If you want to use other modes, the running time will go down somewhat. ) For comparison's sake, in Suction mode I, you will have some 40 minutes of operational time, while in Suction mode II, this will be further reduced to 20 minutes.
Since the battery is located in the cleaning big part close to the motor and the brushes, you can even remove the stick that gives it the distance and use this Dyson model as a hand-held vacuum cleaner. This way you can pick up dust and other pollutants in some otherwise hard-to-reach areas of your home.
Weighing in at just 12-ish pounds, this model from Hoover falls into the category of lightweight vacuum cleaners. Thanks to its special WindTunnel technology developed by the engineers at Hoover, this contraption can take care of even the most stubborn stains and messes on your floors!
Speaking of the 'WindTunnel' technology, here's how it functions in a nutshell: The combination of brushes and powerful suction lifts up dirt and dust particles in the air where they get sucked into the dust bag at the end. In this way, even the toughest, most stubborn stains and pieces of rubbish can get de-clogged off your carpet or other floor surface and then removed from it quickly and easily!
This particular model also delivers in the department of reach, even though it's corded. To compensate for the lack of general maneuverability, the folks at Hoover have decided to equip this device with a long 30-foot cord.
As our entry number eight, we've got another Black & Decker model. This particular model features roughly the same characteristics as its cousin, the only difference being that this Black & Decker vacuum is somewhat lighter and features a different design.
Similarly to the model occupying the spot number 5 on our list, this model also comes with the swivel steering, enabling you to tilt the stick together with the canister in order to maneuver around furniture more easily.
The capacity of this model is 2 liters, meaning you won't have to empty the dust canister too often. There's also the ergonomic handle here, as well. So, pretty much everything on this vacuum cleaner was made to make it easy to use, meaning you can cover a large room in one go, without getting tired too early on in the process.
What do you get when you combine a ray fish with a broomstick? This Easy EDGE floor sweeper apparently! And the thing is also covered in gold, for good measure. ( Not real gold, it's a just the color. )
The idea behind this product is a simple and pragmatic one. If you're a person who would like to take good care of your carpets and floors but isn't really interested in buying a vacuum cleaner or you already have one, you can get a crossover between a floor sweeper and a broom, and clean your floors manually but in style!
Even though this contraption may not look as much, it's actually got a built-in dustpan, meaning that you won't have to pick up debris and pieces of dirt yourself. By the way, the way you pick up pieces of rubbish and dust is by simply pushing this floor sweeper along the floor.
Last but not least, we've got a product that combines the best features of corded and hand-held vacuum cleaners. Thanks to its removable stick, you can use this cleaning contraption either as a corded upright vacuum cleaner or as a hand-held model, depending on the type of the cleaning task at hand.
When it comes to the technology this model uses, you've got the famous cyclonic vacuum system enabling you to swoop up and vacuum even the toughest of stains with ease. Also, there is a multi-layer filter that will ensure no potentially harmful allergens or other pollutants can be found in the area you've just cleaned up.
To enable you to work on a variety of different surfaces, the folks at Holife made sure to include several dust-away accessories. There's the floor brush, which is removable, the crevice tool, as well as a dusting brush for what else? - picking up dust.
The most obvious advantage of using a lightweight piece of equipment of any kind is that it's easier to move about. It's the same story with vacuum cleaners.
Although they usually have wheels, moving them around is much easier if they don't weigh a tonne. Also, a model that can be detached from the stick and picked up to be used as a hand-held vacuum offers much more versatility when it comes to cleaning than other utensils.
Smaller vacuum cleaners, generally speaking, typically also feature smaller motors. The motor, of course, is the part that spends all the electricity. ( Either from the battery or from the power source it's plugged into. )
Long story short, the small motor, the less power it's going to need to keep it running.
One of the troubles you have with all vacuum cleaners without exception would be the noise levels. No matter how well sound-insulated these models are, some noise is always going to slip through the cracks and irritate the user.
Now, as we said earlier, noises levels with vacuum cleaners depend on the power rating of the motor and on the size of dust canister. So, the smaller these two parameters are - the less noise a vacuum cleaner is going to produce.
Therefore, smaller vacuum cleaners are less noisy. Simple as that!
A smaller motor, a more compact canister, and a sized-down build all mean - a small price, as well. Typically, the price of a vacuum cleaner is determined by looking at the parameters in the first sentence + the pedigree level of the manufacturer, so to speak.
So, if you want to save some money but still want a decent vacuum cleaner - buy a smaller model and give some new and young manufacturers a chance!
1. What is the lightest corded vacuum cleaner?
Ans: While identifying the lightest vacuum cleaner in the world would be a difficult task, we can tell you with certainty some important parameters for recognizing a lightweight vacuum cleaner model when you see one.
Typically, any model that's under 10-11 pounds can be considered 'lightweight'. Of course, there are models that are even lighter than this, but you have to take into account what features they're offering. It really doesn't make sense to buy a 5 lbs vacuum cleaner which doesn't have enough power to do the task you need if for, now does it?
2. Are cordless vacuums as good as cordless?
Ans: Yes and no. If you put the accent on the ability to clean hard-to-reach spots in your house, then a cordless model can not only be as good as corded one but also much better!
On the other hand, we should point out that corded vacuums run on batteries which can go empty pretty quickly. So, if you don't like recharging your vacuum too often, cordless models may not be for you.
3. How long do cordless vacuums last?
Ans: If taken good care of, cordless vacuums can last as long as their corded counterparts. Of course, after a while, you may need to replace a brush or two, or perhaps change a worn-out battery, but other than that - these contraptions can run for years on end.
When it comes to their operational running time - it can go from 10 minutes to an hour, typically. Depending on what mode of cleaning you're working with.
4. Are cordless vacuums expensive to charge?
Ans: Not really. If you think about it, corded vacuums also require to be plugged in power output in order to work, so they are also being 'charged' in a way. Of course, cordless models may need a long time to charge up (for example, 2-3 hours for an hour of use), but if you make up your plan of action carefully, you can save some time and electrical energy in the long run.
Anyway, cordless vacuums probably spend a bit more electricity on the whole, but ultimately, it's not a number you should be worried about.
All things considered, cleaning carpets, floors, and other types of surfaces you walk on can be a challenge if you're not working with proper tools. (Especially if the vacuum you're working with is too heavy for you.) Therefore, getting a small but plucky cleaning machine can be a lifesaver in the long run!
We hope you found this article helpful and wish you a hassle-free purchase and shipping!
Shark NV752 Rotator Powered Lift-Away TruePet Upright Vacuum with HEPA Filter, Large Dust - Walmart Link
WYZE Handheld Vacuum, Strong Suction 16,800Pa Cleaning Power from Home to Car,100,000RPM - Walmart Link
Bissell Featherweight Stick Lightweight Bagless Vacuum With Crevice Tool, 2033, One Size - Walmart Link
BLACK+DECKER Dustbuster Handheld Vacuum for Pets, Cordless, AdvancedClean+, Gray - Walmart Link
Shark Rocket Corded Bagless Stick Vacuum for Carpet and Hard Floor Cleaning with Swivel - Walmart Link
EUREKA NEC222 HyperClean Cordless Vacuum Cleaner, Deep Ocean , Blue - Walmart Link
Hoover Linx Bagless Corded Cyclonic Lightweight Stick Vacuum Cleaner, SH20030, Grey - Walmart Link
Dyson - V15 Detect Cordless Vacuum - Yellow/Nickel - Walmart Link
Dyson V11 Torque Drive Cordless Handheld Portable Vacuum Cleaner, Blue - Walmart Link
Dyson Cyclone V10 Absolute Lightweight Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner - Walmart Link
ORECK XL COMMERCIAL Upright Vacuum Cleaner, Bagged Professional Pro Grade, For Carpet and - Walmart Link
Tineco A11 Hero Cordless Lightweight Stick Vacuum Cleaner, 450W Motor for Ultra Powerful - Walmart Link
Tineco A11 Hero Cordless Lightweight Stick/Handheld Vacuum Cleaner, 450W Motor for Ultra - Walmart Link
Shark NV752 Rotator Powered Lift-Away TruePet Upright Vacuum with HEPA Filter, Large Dust - eBay Link
WYZE Handheld Vacuum, Strong Suction 16,800Pa Cleaning Power from Home to Car,100,000RPM - eBay Link
Bissell Featherweight Stick Lightweight Bagless Vacuum With Crevice Tool, 2033, One Size - eBay Link
BLACK+DECKER Dustbuster Handheld Vacuum for Pets, Cordless, AdvancedClean+, Gray - eBay Link
Shark Rocket Corded Bagless Stick Vacuum for Carpet and Hard Floor Cleaning with Swivel - eBay Link
EUREKA NEC222 HyperClean Cordless Vacuum Cleaner, Deep Ocean , Blue - eBay Link
Hoover Linx Bagless Corded Cyclonic Lightweight Stick Vacuum Cleaner, SH20030, Grey - eBay Link
Dyson - V15 Detect Cordless Vacuum - Yellow/Nickel - eBay Link
Dyson V11 Torque Drive Cordless Handheld Portable Vacuum Cleaner, Blue - eBay Link
Dyson Cyclone V10 Absolute Lightweight Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner - eBay Link
ORECK XL COMMERCIAL Upright Vacuum Cleaner, Bagged Professional Pro Grade, For Carpet and - eBay Link
Tineco A11 Hero Cordless Lightweight Stick Vacuum Cleaner, 450W Motor for Ultra Powerful - eBay Link
Tineco A11 Hero Cordless Lightweight Stick/Handheld Vacuum Cleaner, 450W Motor for Ultra - eBay Link
About Christopher Jones
Chris is a true globetrotter. He has been to many destinations and tried different types of food from all over the world, yet he still loves finding new places and tasting their specialties. Chris has always had an entrepreneurial spirit and so he decided to go back to school at age 24 for his MBA at University of San Francisco so that he could have a better understanding of business strategy in order to start his own company. His favorite motto is “how can one live well, travel well, and work well without having good food every time?”
Kitchen Goodness