Vacuum Cleaner Reviews

Thanks for taking the time to visit our in depth vacuum cleaner review section. Here you will find our comprehensive analysis of some of the best selling vacuum cleaners currently available. A full list of review is given on the menu to the right.

If you aren't sure what sort of vacuum cleaner is best suited to your needs and lifestyle, have a look at our Buyer's Guide first.

Dyson DC25 Animal Review

Dyson DC25 All Floors Review

Dyson DC19T2 Review

Henry Numatic Review

A buyer's guide to choosing a vacuum cleaner

Cylinder vacuum cleaners are great for cleaning upholstery, stairs and hard to reach areas. They are generally lighter and more compact, making them easier to manoeuvre and store. They are entirely reliant on their suction power to clean, and this makes them an excellent choice for homes with hard floors.

Upright vacuum cleaners are great for homes with mostly carpeted floors, as their brush bar can loosen deeply ingrained dirt from the carpet pile before sucking it up. Many of our best buy upright models have a wand attachment so they can be used on upholstery and tight corners in the same way as cylinder version. However, they are typically a little heavier to use so check out the weight if this is an important consideration for you.

Buying a bagged model does have its advantages. They can be better for dust allergy sufferers, especially if the bags can be sealed before removal and disposal. The cost of a bagged vacuum cleaner is also likely to be a lot less expensive than its bagless counterpart. However, the cost of buying spare bags can really add up over the years and you may have to replace a perfectly good vacuum cleaner if the manufacturer ceases to make compatible spares.

A bagless vacuum cleaner can work out much cheaper in the long term, even if the initial outlay is more. Most versions are very easy to empty, and although allergy sufferers may be exposed to dust during the emptying process this is counteracted, in some instances, by clever technology to significantly reduce the amount of bacteria and allergens expelled by the product as you clean. Look for the British Allergy Foundation seal of approval.

If you've looked at several models of vacuum cleaner you may have seen several different types of filter mentioned. Here are the benefits offered by each type:

HEPA

HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filters are great for allergy sufferers. These can retain miniscule particles such as mould spores, dust mite faeces and other common allergens.

Lifetime filters

As the name suggests, these are filters which should last as long as your machine does. Most are washable and just need a rinse every 3 to 6 months to keep them clean.

Charcoal filters

One of the known properties of charcoal is that it neutralises unpleasant odours. A vacuum cleaner with a charcoal filter is good for a household with pets or a smoker.

Attachments

What do you want to use your new vacuum cleaner for? If you have extra requirements, since a heightened ability to pick up pet hair, or want to be using is for purposes such as cleaning upholstery then look at vacuum cleaners which have the correct attachments included. Additional tools can often be purchased but are not cheap.

Bag capacity

The larger your home, the bigger capacity you should aim for. However, this is not the be all and end all of choosing a vacuum cleaner. If you buy a bagless model and it can be emptied at the push of a button then you may not consider it such an issue to be emptying it on a regular basis.

Cord length

Again, this is something that is a non-issue for some buyers but a major gripe for others. If you have a large home and don't want to be changing plug sockets every time you move room, make sure the model you are considering as sufficient cord to suit your requirements.

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