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Cheap Canister Vacuums, Best Canister Vacuum

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Mid-range
High end
$50
$150
$600
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In this review:
  1. Cheap Canister Vacuums, Best Canister Vacuum
  2. HEPA Canister Vacuums, Bagless Canister Vacuums
  3. Lightweight Vacuums
  4. Canister Vacuum Reviews
  5. Discount Canister Vacuums Features Comparison Table
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Cheap Canister Vacuums Buying Guide

Cheap canister vacuums are versatile machines with arsenals of attachments. Although many users prefer upright vacuums with beater brushes that pound out the dirt for heavy-duty carpet cleaning, a cheap canister vacuum with a carpet attachment can get the job done.
Cheap canister vacuums' various tools and brushes can also clean a variety of surfaces, from tile and hardwood floors to window treatments and upholstered furniture. Their long hoses allow them to reach places upright vacuums can't. Prices for cheap canister vacuums run anywhere from $50 to $150. On the other end of the spectrum, high-end canister vacuums can cost upward of $600. Such pricey models may have power nozzles for deep cleaning and more suction control, and operate with less noise than cheap canister vacuums. And yet, says an expert, high-end models aren't necessarily superior to canister vacuums found in the lower end of the market.

Dirt Devil, Hoover, Bissell, Electrolux, and Eureka are the major manufacturers of cheap canister vacuums. National chains such as Walmart, Target, Sears, Kohl's, and Best Buy typically display more than a dozen upright vacuum cleaners in their stores and only one or two canister models. Online, though, the story is different: Retailers carry numerous cheap canister vacuums, and sorting them out can be confusing.

To help inform your decision making, we've compiled a list of critical features and an assessment of how the best canister vacuums perform, based on a reading of consumer reviews. Our list starts with whether to go for a bagged or bagless canister vacuum. Which kind you choose is a matter of personal preference: Would you rather empty a dirt cup on a bagless vacuum or replace vacuum bags? Users tend to find bagless vacuums easier to deal with, but bags keep dust from billowing out. Next comes the matter of filtration: Is it important to you to have a high-efficiency particulate air filter? A HEPA filter is made to capture the tiniest dust, dander, mites, and other particles embedded in floors and furniture and is especially helpful for people with allergies. What about weight? Canister vacuums are meant to be more portable vacuums than their upright counterparts, so we looked for lightweight vacuums with long hoses and cords, which are easier to maneuver. Other features to note are the number and types of vacuum attachments (the more varied the attachments, the more types of surfaces you can clean) and the warranty.

Based on our research, we identified the Dirt Devil 082700 Vision (starting at $125, Amazon) as the best cheap canister vacuum because of its feature set and performance. We also like the Kenmore Magic Blue 24195 (starting at $100, Amazon) and the Eureka Maxima 972B (starting at $50, Amazon) for their user-friendly light weight and value for the money. One low-cost model we aren't crazy about is the Bissell Zing Canister Vacuum 10M2 (starting at $50, Amazon), which garners a fair share of negative user reviews.

by Raechel Conover (Google+ Profile)

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Best Cheap Canister Vacuums

Dirt Devil 082700 Vision
Gold Medal

Dirt Devil 082700 Vision

Users say this lightweight canister vacuum is easy to maneuver and works well on a variety of floor types. It features a bagless design and a HEPA filtration system. The Dirt Devil Vision also has a better-than-average two-year warranty. Read more »
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Good Inexpensive Canister Vacuums

Eureka Maxima 972B
Gold Medal

Eureka Maxima 972B

This no-frills budget canister vacuum features a telescoping wand, a change-bag indicator light, and an auto-rewind power cord, all packed into a lightweight design that tips the scale at 13 pounds. Some users find the bag a tad small and replacements not widely available. Read more »
Where to buy
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Kenmore Magic Blue Canister Vacuum 24195
Gold Medal

Kenmore Magic Blue Canister Vacuum 24195

 This cheap canister vacuum is a winner with users, who like its 10-pound weight, small size, telescoping wand, and powerful suction. The Kenmore 24195 does its best work on hardwood, tile floors, and flat area rugs; if you have thick-pile wall-to-wall carpeting, choose a different model. Read more »
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Don't Bother Cheap Canister Vacuums

Bissell Zing Canister Vacuum 10M2

Users give this cheap canister vacuum mixed reviews, saying it has good suction but isn't suited to carpet and could use more attachments. Many complain that the vacuum is unusually loud, and one user reports that the plug caught on fire. Read more »

 
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