Introduction

Many floorheads are designed specifically for homes with minimal floor space, because they can only clean a small patch or so on a single floor with a maximum suction power. But having a wider bore and more than two loads of bags inside could give you trouble emptying a cupboard and spare packing a bag under furniture, and if you have large homes, it could be particularly awkward to empty your vacuum cleaner without the proper tools. To help solve these problems, we have carried out reliable lab tests with the best and most expensive vacuum cleaners to see how they perform where you need them. We asked our professionals to put every machine to the test, including hand vacuums, upright vacs, handhelds and crevice and floorhead cleaners. Read our full review to get a full rundown of every model we’ve tested. Try Which?

Cheap vs expensive vacuum cleaners

There’s no debating the difference between the latest cordless vacuums that claim to be good for dust pick-up, and more expensive models that will really appeal to carpets. We’ve tested dozens of models, from the Dyson V8 Pro up to the Samsung Powerbot V6 Absolute and throughout the £350 and higher price ranges, so you can find out how powerful each is, if it can be easily sucked up, how easy the vac is to use, etc. Try Which?

S-class filter

Most secondary filters are caked with dust and dirt, but some have separate brushes so you can clean outside and inside using different filters as necessary. If you are wondering whether this makes your vacuum cleaner worse, don’t think so; it’s simply because it can actually suck up finer dirt than in the dustbin alone. Some are so sensitive, blocking the flow of air and dust, while others require constant vacuuming to ensure they remove grime from your home. The Microsoft PowerBot X400’s filter is outclassed although in a fairly modest capacity and with just 120 airflow through it we found that its accurate, noisy and frustrating noise performance vastly outweighed the lifespan of the sensor that powers it (it doesn’t register noise levels) and this does not include the motorised suction boost. One thing to mention here is that while our testers mostly loved the Zinki PowerPod V8 (£371) with a modern (albeit as simple) look, this genuinely utilitarian multi-function air filter sounds tinny in comparison. That said we would say the fact the Eco range of vacuums look almost identical to this (£279) simplicity means you can just switch between the three models. However, the slightly wider heads mean that this vacuum cleaner uses smaller cylinders that are not designed to reduce the pressure required. The Oriclean V9 has a large 0.8 litres lid, which that avoids the high risk of irritating loose dust as it slips into body-well gaps. Unlike the Eco M10 Max-T1, this model only has two cleaner heads and is claimed to double its suction power at up to 400Pa. It has heavy-duty plastic bristles and lens bearings to help it cope well with all types of floor surfaces, although this could be a preference for a heavier cylinder cleaner. Spherical brushes with soft bouncy balls are also on hand to fill with dirt after a thorough cleaning, but don’t extend the wheel (as you would on the Animal V15.

Professional carpet cleaning

As a final point and to complete the review, please note that, to fully understand how we assess each vacuum cleaner, we can’t guarantee that the results presented here will be accurate. You’ll need to get to your local retailer or the manufacturer’s online store to find a trustworthy brand that will carry your model,’ says Charlie Williams, who provided our advice for this review.

Verdict

If you first run a vacuum cleaner to clean carpets you’ll find it to be brilliant at getting the job done. It’s easy to use with the best filters’, it collects fine dust such as biscuit crumbs, and its suction is a great tool for dealing with pet hair, although it’s not as good as a handheld vacuum. The small dust box on the top of the compact unit may feel cramped, but the dust canister itself isn’t quite big enough to entirely cover the room. All-in-all, it delivers excellent results with a lot of hard work and is one of those vacuum cleaners you can pick up for less than £100.