Vacuums

The Dyson Ball Animal 2 does not look or maneuver like other upright vacuum cleaners, but in this case different is good. It outperformed all others in our upright vacuum cleaner reviews by clearing many different messes from all types of surfaces with very few passes.

The Hoover Tempo WidePath Bagged Upright is a budget vacuum that comes with a wide range of attachments, a powerful motor and a brush roll that works deep into carpet to release embedded dirt and pet hair.

The Bissell Zing is a decent option if you prefer a canister-style vacuum and have a limited budget. It cleans a number of different surfaces and its ultra-lightweight design makes it portable.

The Black & Decker AirSwivel was so light and compact next to the other vacuums we tested, but it still packed a lot of cleaning power. It was also easier to maneuver due to its swiveling head.

Review Despite Miele's reputation, this vac struggles with pet hair, making it tough to recommend.

Review The Shark IONFlex is an older stick vacuum and has since been replaced by newer models.

Review The Bissell BOLT 2-in-1 Cordless reaches a full charge in record time.

Review The Shark Navigator Freestyle has a cleaning bin twice the size of most cordless vacuums.

Review The Black & Decker Cordless Lithium Ion Stick + hand vacuum is a 2-in-1 tool that makes it easy to clean your house, RV or car.

Review This vacuum has a good capacity and a long runtime, but is an older model now.

Review The Dyson V6 has a short battery runtime and is not the best at cleaning carpets, but is an excellent choice for hardwood floors.

Review Another great performer from Dyson, the v10 Cyclone is a competent stick cleaner.

The Hoover React Powered Reach Plus was competitive in our tests and stands out for many convenience features. This vacuum uses tiny sensors to detect changes in flooring type so it can optimize brushroll speeds based on conditions. We found the feature to be accurate during our tests.

The Easy Maid cleaned at its best when it was on carpeting, especially thinner carpeting. It struggled the most on hardwood, often flinging kitty litter and cereal far out of its cleaning path.

The Riccar SupraLite Deluxe R10D was among the top three in terms of cleaning performance on all our tests. The problem with this machine is the story stops there. Other machines had the same amount of suction, or a little better, and they cost a lot less.

Review For a battery operated vacuum, the Hoover LiNX offers excellent suction.

Review The Eureka Mighty Mite offers strong suction and a low price.

Review The Shark MultiFLEX offers an extra-long warranty and quiet operation.

Review The Bissell Bolt is great at picking up pet hair, and comes in an incredibly fetching pink.

Review It's a heavy vacuum cleaner, but the Miele Swing H1 gets results with its superb suction.