Best Hardwood Floor Vacuums

December 12, 2019

10 Best Vacuum Cleaners for Hardwood Floors in 2022 

Your beautiful hardwood floors enhance your home so much, and you shouldn't worry about stains, taking so much time to clean them and backaches.

So why do hardwood floors challenge you when it comes to cleaning?

The harsh reality is that most vacuums clean everything well other than hardwood floors.

The beater bars that have been around since carpet went mainstream can even be downright destructive on your hardwood floors. As far as broom and a dustpan go, who needs the backache of chasing the dust?

Despite the facts, most people fight a losing battle against dust and grime on their hardwood floors because of a lack of information on the vacuums with the features required to save your back and peace of mind.

This year I thought to make some comparisons on affordable vacuums reputed to work well on hardwood floors.

Like all things in life, no two hardwood floors or homes are the same, but the features that work on my hardwood floors should also work on yours.

I tried to evaluate these with realistic real-life situations that most people would face in cleaning their hardwood floors. Each of these machines comes with different features, costs, and you should evaluate each before deciding.

The analysis my family and I made of these models covered what we believe to be the most critical items in selecting a hardwood floor vacuum cleaner. I also considered price, ease of use, efficiency in cleaning, comparing features, and the cost.

Hopefully, this review of these top hardwood floor vacuum cleaners will help you avoid throwing away money on those that fail to do what you need it to.

hardwood floor vacuum display

Hardwood Vacuum Buying Guidelines

There is no perfect vacuum that will satisfy everyone’s needs. Some people have dogs or cats and must deal with the associated hair that goes with having them. Other people have disabilities like arthritis, a bad back, inability to bend, and the weight and ease of use must take center point in their selection.

Keeping that in mind, I feel that these three considerations are pretty universal concerns when choosing the right vacuum for your hardwood floors.

I urge you to get a pen and paper and answer these questions before you begin your search in earnest. Then make notes including model numbers of the vacuums so you can narrow the search based on the criteria most important to you.

Everyone has an opinion, and while the idea of online reviews is excellent, they often lack the practicality one needs on a day-to-day basis. 

While the five-star ratings are a great reassurance when they hit triple or quadruple digits, how many of those reviewers have the same demands and needs that you do?

1. Your Demands

What do you demand from a hardwood floor vacuum?

Do you have pets and or children?

What about allergies disabilities that limit mobility or lifting?

Make a quick note of each major consideration so you can quickly rule out options that do not offer what you demand from your vacuum.

All those reviewed have their pros and cons, of course, so see what works for you.

That is another reason I took the time to create this buyer's guide. Quality, affordability, ease of use, and efficiency at the task should all be considered and help you buy the right hardwood vacuum for your floors. 

vacuum on wheels for wood floors2. Does it get the job done?
If the model fails to get the dirt, dust, and debris off the floor, there is no reason to look at any other features it might offer. Watch for the model on the vacuums reviewed.
Often they will have various models, and some may perform better or worse than the one reviewed.
Instead of looking at the amps or horsepower of a model and going all Tim the Tool Man, evaluate more like Al and look at how well the vacuum gets the job done.
Use your list of must-haves when selecting between two vacuums.
As lovely as it is to have a model that comes in the right color to accentuate your apron, it should be the last item you consider. This is an extreme example, but you get the idea. Give the most weight to the features you need.

When evaluating the overall price, keep in mind the cost of bags and/or filters and the purchase price. While no bag is wonderful in theory, some of these vacuums require a new filter every 3 to 6 months that costs more than a years’ worth of bags for other models.
Look at the cost of ownership = purchase price plus the cost of maintaining it and not just the purchase price alone.
Does it have a warranty? While many people never cash in a warranty today, with service contracts available for everything from toasters to the kitchen sink, they can offer a glimpse into the longevity of the hardwood vacuum cleaner.

3. Size, weight, a joy to use

While most of us will never jump for joy when the time arrives to clean our hardwood floors, it should not cause a sense of dread either.

Some vacuums are light, easy to use, and store, while others weigh as much as a Buick and fight like a cat on bath day to change or even find standard attachments.

The difficulty is that few people leave reviews on these very things.

Most reviews come within a week or two of purchase. This is before the difficulty of use and storage has made an impression.

I have made a point to mention these very things in my evaluation.

"Some Assembly Required"

This can be misleading.

I will share my assembly experience for you to consider in your evaluations.

Many vacuum cleaners and other household appliances have damage before they are ever plugged in simply from “some assembly required

.” The main warning here is that user abuse voids the warranty at worst and is not covered by warranty at best.

The less assembly, the better.

After all, we all have better things to do than partially assemble vacuums. For the minor assembly, do take a moment to view the quick start instructions most vacuum models offer before diving in.

What makes sense to us may not to the manufacturer based on their production or parts’ costs, and a couple of minutes of reading now can save hours of frustration later.

Now that you have your key points to look for let’s dive into some hardwood vacuum cleaners! 

Test Results & Rankings

 1. MOOSOO Vacuum Cleaner Corded 17KPa Suction Stick Vacuum for Hard Floor With 2-Pack HEPA Filters, D600

Check It Out Here On Amazon

While weighing in at 2.8 pounds, this hardwood floor vac has a high-powered built-in brush motor with a faster speed. This vac even has a much longer and more full-service life. With a bonus handheld vac, you can get into smaller spaces that the bigger vacuum cannot reach.

This vacuum comes with:

  1. The main motor
  2. A brush head that easily rotates
  3. Ån extra filter,
  4. An adjustable tube that extends to reach under tables and chairs
  5. The cleaning brush and crevice tool,
  6. The wall mount tool to store your vacuum when not in use
  7. The instruction manual to help you assemble your new vac.
Moosoo Vacuum Cleaner

Both filters are washable so that you can clean them with ease.

This vacuum is so lightweight; it is easy for me to carry up and down the stairs. It is perfect for vacuuming up pet hair, litter, and easily missed small pieces of food.

There is nothing this vacuum won’t pick up! I would recommend this for homes with hardwood floors.

2. Compact C1 Pure Suction Canister Vacuum Cleaner

Check It Out Here On Amazon

The Compact C1 is small enough to store in small spaces yet is powerful enough to do the same cleaning as an upright or stick vacuum. While it does use a bag, it is still easy to use. The floor head works for both carpets and hardwood floors well. It is an excellent buy for anyone who finds bagless vacuums lacking suction.

I have always used upright vacuums that did not require a bag but found that they did not trap all the dirt in the canister. I can get all the dirt and dust off my hardwood floors better than the uprights I have used with this bad boy.

The most significant advantage of this vacuum is not how powerful it is but how quiet it is despite its considerable sucking power.

Compact C1 Vacuum

3. MOOSOO Cordless Vacuum 10Kpa Powerful Suction 4 iI 1 Stick Handheld Vacuum Cleaner For Home Hard Floor Carpet Car Pet - XL-618A

Check It Out Here On Amazon

The MOOSOO Cordless Vacuum works best on hardwood floors. Pet owners will love this vacuum because it picks up pet hair quickly. It is cordless, so very convenient. The battery lasts for up to forty-five minutes and only needs charging for five hours.

The handle is ergonomic to allow users to vacuum drapes, blinds, and stairs.

This vacuum comes with a twenty-four-month warranty. Plus, the filter is easy to clean and is recyclable. The powerhead is clear, and the vacuum will turn off if it becomes clogged to prevent wear on the belt.

This vacuum was a breeze to use. Without the pesky cord to get in the way, especially when cleaning the stairs, I was able to clean them faster. I like how it will warn you if you have a clog in it and that it will shut itself off if the clog is not taken care of right away.

It helps to prevent buying a new belt. That is my favorite feature of this vacuum.

4. Bissell Hard Floor Expert Corded Stick Vacuum Cleaner

Check It Out Here On Amazon

The Bissell Hard Floor Expert is an expert at getting the whole house clean, not just the hardwood floors. Its V-shaped design gets every crumb and other small debris from corners and around furniture legs.

You no longer have to worry about scratching your wood floors because of the rubber on the wheels. If it gets clogged, it is easy to clean out. A must-have vacuum if you have pets who shed.

I love the V-shaped design. I can vacuum around my pet’s food bowl and the chairs and kitchen table legs. The rubber pieces make it easier to get all the large and small debris that seem to float around my house.

I can even go around the corners of the baseboard with this beauty.

However, I have to use the attachment to get under the beds. This is an excellent bang for your buck.

Bissel Hard Floor expert

5. Shark Rocket DeluxePro Ultra-Light Upright Corded Stick Vacuum, Bordeaux

Check It Out Here On Amazon

This two-in-one Shark Rocket DeluxePro Ultra-Light Upright vacuum is excellent for people with pets. With the pet multi-tool, you can vacuum pet hair from any surface, not just hardwood floors.

This vac does not lose suction and is excellent for quickly picking up dust, dirt, and pet hair within minutes. The vacuum also comes with a wand, a duster crevice tool, and the aforementioned pet multi-tool.

This vacuum has worked wonders in picking up stray cat litter, hair, and dirt accumulating on my client's hardwood floors.

It is lightweight and stores easily in the closet or on a wall mount. Not only is it good to use on hardwood flooring, but also stairs and carpet. Even the kids use this vacuum because of how light it is.

This is one vacuum I'd use for years to come.

Shark Rocket Deluxe Pro Pic

6. Bissell Featherweight Stick Lightweight Bagless Vacuum 

Check It Out Here On Amazon

This vacuum is super lightweight and can go from stick to handheld in a snap.

You can remove the floor nozzle easily to become a handheld vac and use it on both the stairs and the regular floor. It is excellent if you have hardwood floors and works just as well on carpet, stairs, furniture, and much more.

The crevice tool is included and works on the handheld to make vacuuming between the couch cushions easier.

The only thing to complain about this vacuum is the short cord. I had to plug it into several outlets as I went along cleaning. Other than that, this vacuum has worked wonders on my hardwood floors.

I cleaned all the stray dust bunnies between the couch cushions and the cobwebs in the corners.

It was easy to assemble, and I could easily detach and reattach the floor nozzle to suit my cleaning needs

Bissel Featherweight

7. Dyson V8 Absolute Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner

Check It Out Here On Amazon

Dyson has done it again.

This Dyson V8 Absolute is one of their many innovative vacuums. Its V8 motor helps this well-engineered vacuum suck up dirt that has become ground-in on your hardwood floors and in your carpets. 

The HEPA filter is washable, so you can continue cleaning for a long time. It comes with a soft roller cleaner head to help pick up big debris like cereal. It does have to charge for four hours before you can begin to use it. It works for about forty minutes on one full charge.

There is no cord, and it is lightweight while still being powerful to take on the hardest to clean floors It also has two modes for cleaning: Low and MAX.

I have used Dyson before and found that they are one of the easiest vacuum brands to use. The V8 is worth every penny. The extra head works great for picking up big pieces of debris.

I used the low mode to save battery life, and it works just as well as the MAX mode would be. I can easily clean the blinds and corners with how light it is.

Dyson V8

8. Dirt Devil Simpli-Stik Vacuum Cleaner, 3-in-1 Hand and Stick Vac

Check It Out Here On Amazon

The Dirt Devil Simpli-Stik is an easy three-in-one vacuum to use.

It goes from a stick vac to a hand vac to an extended hand vac. It is lightweight and versatile to take care of hard-to-reach areas such as under furniture and between cabinets. It is perfect for dorm rooms and apartments without taking up floor space. The filter is easy to rinse and reuse.

This vacuum is fragile and doesn't have a big containment unit.

Is, however, very light, and taking it upstairs was a breeze.

When I have a small vacuuming job to do around the house, this vacuum does the trick. It is quiet and still picks the dirt up. I do not have to worry about too many clogs since I only use them for small dust-busting jobs.

I currently have this in a downstairs closet, but this unit can run into suction issues.

I wouldn't recommend this for heavy-duty cleaning since the suction is moderate, but it does the trick for quick dust jobs.

Dirt Devil Cleaner Upright

9. Shark Navigator Lift-Away Professional NV356E

Check It Out Here On Amazon

The Shark Navigator Lift-Away is a HEPA filter that captures all the dust and pesky allergy-causing allergens.

The dust cup lifts away to make cleaning the stairs easy without having to lug the whole vacuum with you. It gently cleanses your wood floors and picks up everything.

I like how the dust cap lifts off, so I do not have to carry the whole vacuum up the stairs and down again. It sucks up all the pet hair and dandruff that accumulates and eliminates coughing and sneezing in the summer and winter.

However, it is best to use it in big spaces, not tiny confining spaces in the summer, because the air blows out is a bit on the warm side.

Shark Navigator Upright

10. Hoover ONEPWR Cordless Wet Vacuum

Check It Out Here On Amazon

The Hoover ONEPWR is the perfect cordless vacuum to use.

This futuristic unit not only vacuums but also washes the floor simultaneously - so don't use it on your hardwood floor.

For tile, it's perfect, but you don't want to wet clean your hardwood floor under any circumstances since many hardwood floor manufacturers will void their product warranties as a result.

It comes with a tray to store and rinse the vacuum when not used.

Make sure to sweep the scattered cat litter before using it around the litter box to avoid ruing the vacuum. There is a measuring cup for the solution, and you can decide when to release the solution as you vacuum.

It has two tanks, one for clean water and the other for the dirty water as you vacuum, keeping both mixing and making a bigger mess.

I no longer have to mop after vacuuming my floors. This Hoover vacuum eliminates the hassle of dragging out the mop, mop bucket, and cleaning solution after sweeping or vacuuming all the tile flooring. I would only recommend this vacuum to folks with tile or vinyl floors.

Hoover ONEPWR side view

Final Thoughts

So there you have it - the top 10 vacuums for hardwood floors based on personal use, via clients and independent reviews.

As long as you evaluate the features you need and ignore the bells and whistles, that would not be of real benefit to you or your family.

Last thing to keep in mind no matter which model you buy...

While the vacuum will get dirty every time you use it,  you also get dirty daily, but you hopefully wash!

Your vacuum will perform better no matter its make or model if you wipe the dust off it before putting it away, shake out, and/or wash the filter weekly allowing it to air dry completely before reassembling it.

Most essential but often forgotten, walk to the socket and avoid unplugging the vacuum from across the house. Wind the cord, or eventually, it will be damaged. The thin copper fiber wires inside the cable can become brittle if over-flexed and become damaged.

No matter how great the parts and quality is, it won't last if neglected. Simple maintenance and care of the items will pay off in the long term.

I hope this review has helped you - feel free to check out the 10 Best Carpet Shampooers as well. Please reach out if you're in the DFW area for your flooring and bathroom remodeling needs.

 

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