5 best vacuums to help clean your hardwood floors
When cleaning hardwood floors make sure you have a soft brush, experts say.
Dyson V12 Detect Slim Cordless Vacuum Cleaner
$449.99
$649.99
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Cleaning hardwood floors can be tricky. It’s important to choose a vacuum gentle enough that it will not scuff or knick wood. There are many types to choose from, but our experts gave us the rundown on what to look for when shopping.
Each vacuum recommended below has key details our experts highlighted that safely clean hardwood floors.
Both of our experts spoke highly of Miele vacuums. “When I talk to vacuum experts they always recommend a Miele, which can be a little more expensive, but I think it’s one of those things where it’s worth it because you’re just getting such quality,” says Jill Koch, a cleaning expert. “And a lot of those are really designed for hard floors in general.” This canister vacuum has a 16-inch soft parquet brush, which provides a gentle clean that won’t scratch and gets hard-to-reach spots thanks to the swivel flexibility. Its suction power is 1200 watts and has six settings that make the most of its vortex motor. It comes with multiple attachments like an upholstery nozzle, crevice nozzle and dusting brush for specific needs. This vacuum also has a three-tier filtration system for capturing more than 99.9% of dust particles with its AirClean Plus filter, HyClean bag and motor filter that automatically seals, according to Miele.
Type: Canister | Run time: Corded | Dustbin capacity: 3.5 L | Weight: 19.5 lbs
This Eureka vacuum is an affordable option with a canister, similar to a Miele. It has a specific setting for hard floors for gentle cleaning, along with carpet and upholstery functions. A brush head comes attached, while a crevice tool easily locks into the nozzle for cleaning under sofas and narrow spots. The automatic rewindable cord is 16 feet long, which makes this ideal for navigating large rooms. It’s simple to clean the filter, dust cup and separator by washing them with water, according to Eureka.
Type: Canister | Run time: Corded | Dustbin capacity: 2.5 L | Weight: 8.15 lbs
Dyson is a top pick when choosing a high-tech cordless vacuum. I adore the lightweight V12 Detect Slim for vacuuming hardwood and tile floors, especially in the kitchen where crumbs collect. It’s also efficient at picking up hard-to-see hair, dust and other debris with its built-in illuminating laser. “I personally love it if you can get an LED light in a vacuum because on hard floors, especially, it really shines so you can see the dirt a lot better,” says Koch. The Fluffy Optic cleaner head attachment glides across floors without leaving a scratch, while anti-static carbon fiber filaments do the work of picking up dust, according to Dyson. The LCD screen displays the run time and how full the dustbin is. It may only be 5.22 pounds, but the size doesn’t sacrifice its powerful motor. It uses Root Cyclone technology to suction any dust in the surrounding airflow. It also has other attachments like the Motorbar cleaner head, hair screw tool, crevice tool and combination tool.
Type: Cordless stick | Run time: 60 minutes | Dustbin capacity: 0.09 gal | Weight: 5.22 lbs
This robot vacuum from Shark has a self-cleaning brush roll with moveable silicone fins. It captures anything on a hard surface thanks to its grid-like Matrix Clean technology, according to Shark. The device is equipped with precise 360-degree home mapping that has the ability to scan an entire floor for any objects or dirt in its path. It can also be controlled through a smartphone app, which gives you the option to schedule future cleanings wherever you are. It empties itself after 60 days into a bagless base.
Type: Robot | Run time: 60-days | Dustbin capacity: 0.27 gal | Weight: 15.25 lbs
This upright Shark vacuum, a favorite of Koch’s, has a hard-floor mode and a built-in LED light that shows invisible dust, crumbs and other small debris. It also has swivel-steering to make rolling over surfaces easier at a fast pace. “You want the ability to toggle back and forth,” says Koch. “You definitely want it to be more delicate.” The vacuum also has a sealed HEPA filter to keep dust from reaching the air, according to Shark.
Type: Upright | Run time: Corded | Dustbin capacity: 0.88 qt | Weight: 15.5 lbs
There are many types of vacuums to help clean hardwood floors efficiently. We distinguished each type that we recommend to narrow down which option is best for you.
Certain aspects make select vacuums a better option than others for hardwood floors. The cleaning experts we spoke to gave us some tips on things to look out for.
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure that all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and with no undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
I'm a freelance writer whose beats include tech, home appliances and smart home devices. For this article, I spoke to two experts in the home cleaning space about how to shop for the best hardwood floor vacuums. I compiled their top choices, along with top-rated vacuums that include the recommended specifications.
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