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Lightweight Vacuums

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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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Related Guides: Handheld Vacuums, Robotic Vacuum Cleaners, Steam Cleaners and Vacuum Cleaners

Canister Vacuum Features (continued)

Lightweight Vacuums.

Lugging a heavy machine around your home is a drag, which makes lightweight vacuums particularly appealing. Although upright models are more popular, canister vacuums have carved out a niche with consumers who find them easier to maneuver.
Uprights typically weigh between 14 and 24 pounds, but the svelte Kenmore Magic Blue 24195, for instance, weighs just 10 pounds. The Bissell Zing 10M2 and the Eureka Maxima 972B are also lightweight vacuums, tipping the scale at 12.6 pounds and 13 pounds respectively. The Dirt Devil Vision 082700 comes in at 11.5 pounds. The 21-pound weight of the Bissell DigiPro Bagged 6900 is another reason this canister vacuum doesn't qualify as a good buy.

Vacuum Hose and Cord Length.

Long power cords and hoses make canister vacuums easier to use. Extension wands and long hoses also lighten the load when cleaning stairs, curtains, ceiling fans, and corners. The Dirt Devil 082700 Vision, for example, comes with a user-friendly 6-foot hose.

Power cords on many cheap canister vacuums extend 20 feet or more, letting you clean most rooms without constantly pulling the cord out of one outlet and plugging it in to another. The cords on the Kenmore Magic Blue 24195 and the Dirt Devil 082700 Vision measure around 20 feet. The Eureka Maxima 972B comes up short with a 16-foot cord. If an extra-long cord is high on your list of priorities, you'll probably have to jump out of the Cheapism range. The Hoover WindTunnel Bagless Canister (starting at $229, Amazon) boasts a 25-foot cord. But for its price, this model would top our list of best cheap canister vacuums.

Canister Vacuum Attachments.

Consumers tend to choose canister vacuums over uprights partly because the hose, wand, and floor nozzle can maneuver in and around areas bulky uprights cannot -- under furniture, for instance, and over doorjambs. Powered hand brushes for detailed upholstery cleaning, bare-floor attachments, telescopic wands, and crevice and soft-brush attachments are standard fare among canister vacuum attachments. The cleaning tasks you routinely perform should guide your purchase. The Dirt Devil 082700 Vision comes with an upholstery tool, a crevice tool, a dusting brush, a floor nozzle, and a carpet nozzle. The slightly upmarket Hoover WindTunnel Bagless Canister S3765040 comes with tons of canister vacuum accessories, including telescopic chrome wands, a crevice tool, a dusting brush, a furniture nozzle, a powered hand tool, a deluxe floor brush, and a filter cleaning brush. The Bissell Zing, on the other hand, comes with only one extra attachment and an extension wand.

Review continues below

Canister Vacuum Warranty.

Frugal consumers may be purchasing low-cost models, but they still have high expectations for how long their cheap canister vacuums will last. Most cheap canister vacuums, including all those on our list, come with at least a one-year warranty. The Dirt Devil 082700 Vision has a slightly better warranty -- two years on the parts and motor. The Electrolux UltraSilencer Green EL6984A (starting at $219, Amazon) sits above our price ceiling but outdoes the others with a five-year limited warranty.
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Read user comments below

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 »
Canister Vacuums Deals

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 »
Canister Vacuums Deals
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 »
Canister Vacuums Deals
 
 
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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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