Whether you’re moving house, off to live in university halls, or simply want to upgrade your current sweeper, choosing the right cordless vacuum is an important decision. But with so many different makes – upright or stick and bagged or bagless - it’s hard to know which is the best cordless vacuum for you. However, there’s no need to panic! We’ve compiled all the details you should consider before you make the all-important decision.
In this blog post, we’re going to explore exactly what you should be looking for before you buy, as well as what makes a cordless vacuum cleaner so handy.
What are the benefits of a cordless vacuum?
Before we get into the details of what to look for in a cordless vacuum, let’s first explore what makes them so great. First things first, they’re super easy to manoeuvre around the home, whether it be the carpet on your steps or even those hard to reach corners and edges. Without a wire tethering you to within a certain distance from the nearest plug socket, you’re free to clean your home with ease.
What’s more, cordless vacuums are often smaller and lighter than your traditional wired vacuum. So, when it comes to storing your vacuum, you may find a cordless one takes up less space and is easier to tuck away until needed.
With the perks done and dusted, you’re probably eager to get to shopping. So, let’s take a look at what you should look for when picking out the best cordless vacuum for you.
What to look for in a cordless vacuum
1. Type of cordless vacuum cleaner
Ideally, you’ll want to start by looking at what type of cordless vacuum cleaner is right for you - and there’s a few to choose from! If you’re looking to clean your car, garage, or motorhome, then a handheld cordless vacuum cleaner may be best. These are smaller and easier to navigate around tight and compact areas.
However, if you’re looking to clean a house or an apartment, then an upright or stick cordless vacuum is ideal. These are perfect for handling tricky areas, like underneath the sofa, but are big enough to clean a wider area in a shorter amount of time.
2. Battery run time
One of the main technical things to look for in your cordless vacuum is the battery run time. After all, there’s nothing worse than a half vacuumed room and no battery left to do the rest! To ensure you get the best cordless vacuum cleaner for you, our AirRAM and Pro range provide up to a 40 minute run time on a full charge – plenty of time to vacuum a smaller space.
But if you need a bit more time to clean up, then the AirRAM Platinum has been enhanced to provide up to 1 hour of runtime! So, whether you’ve got a larger area to cover, or if you’re vacuuming up after a pet, you’ll have the best cordless vacuum to tackle the job. Plus our newest cordlress vacuum cleaner, the AirRAM 3, boasts edge-cleaning technology and self-clean filters for the most thorough
3. Charge time
Battery life often takes the limelight, but we can’t ignore the importance of charge times when looking for the best cordless vacuum. All of our vacuum cleaners use lithium-ion technology and fully recharge in just 4 hours or less. So, you can feel reassured knowing that within a few hours you’ll have plenty of battery charge stored up to get the job done.
TOP TIP: Once you’ve finished vacuuming your home, pop it back on charge so it’s ready to go when you need it again!
4. Manoeuvrability
Of course, vacuuming the middle of the carpet is easy, but getting the tricky edges and corners is what separates the average cordless vacuum from the best cordless vacuum. With this in mind, you’ll want to check out the manoeuvrability of a cordless vacuum before you settle on one. And our cordless vacuums have a low-profile reclining handle, allowing you to reach underneath coffee tables and along skirting boards with ease.
You can also check out our vacuum bundles that come with both a cordless vacuum and a handheld vacuum, ensuring you can get the very best clean possible!
5. Weight and size
Whether looking for the best cordless stick vacuum or the best upright cordless vacuum, you’ll want to take the weight and size of the vacuum into consideration. In terms of weight, you don’t want your arms to get tired having to drag a heavy vacuum back and forth. So, a lightweight vacuum might be best to ensure you don’t feel too exhausted to finish the job. Dimensions also play a role, as you’ll need space to store it. If you don’t have a lot of storage space, a cordless vacuum that breaks down into components is ideal.
Check out our HyLite 2 which does just that - perfect for caravans, apartments, and university halls!
6. Compatible floor types
When you’ve got a mixture of hardwood floors and carpets throughout your home, it’s important to consider how a cordless vacuum will fare on each floor. Vacuums with rotating brush bars are perfect for agitating fibres in carpets, loosening embedded dust and hair, and sweeping all that debris into the vacuum bin. However, when used to clean hardwood floors, there’s a risk of the brush bar scratching the surface.
Our vacuums come with removeable brush bars to protect your hardwood floors while still ensuring a proper clean. But always check the flooring manufacturer’s recommended cleaning instructions beforehand, to be sure you’re getting the best cordless vacuum cleaner for you.
7. Bin or bag capacity
Although not the most obvious factor, it’s important to consider the bin or bag capacity of your cordless vacuum to ensure it suits your home and lifestyle. If you have a large home, or a busy home with children and pets, then having a cordless vacuum with a larger dust capacity will save you from needing to empty it so often. For this particular benefit, take a look at our K9 range, built specifically to handle tougher jobs.
However, for smaller clean ups, grab-and-go vacuums and handheld vacuums may just do the trick. These are ideal for cars, stairs, sofas, or even countertops and desks, where there may not be as much mess and there’s a smaller area to manoeuvre around.
8. Air filtration
Vacuum cleaners need filtration to assist with their cleaning ability. And different vacuum cleaners have different levels of filtration, as well as methods of filtration. Our bagless vacuum cleaners feature replaceable filters, which can be easily removed from the bins and washed with lukewarm water, keeping your cordless vacuum performing at its best.
However, our bagged vacuums are made up of three breathable layers, which filter different grades of dust and debris. The airflow in these can compress dirt more efficiently for maximum capability and durability. This makes them perfect for allergy sufferers as the compressed dust stays inside the bag, instead of being released back into the room.
9. Noise levels
Noise is another factor that may be overlooked in your search for the best cordless vacuum. And while no vacuum cleaner is going to make the most pleasant noise, modern cordless vacuums do tend to be a bit quieter. Noise is important to consider, particularly if you have pets or small children who may be more sensitive to louder noises. And if you live in a flat but prefer to get your vacuuming done on Sunday mornings, you’ll want a quiet cordless vacuum to avoid disturbing the neighbours.
And there you have it - everything you need to know to find the best handheld cordless vacuum cleaner, and the best cordless vacuum! Want to know more about the specific details of vacuum cleaners to help inform your choice? Head over to our blog for more advice and cleaning tips.