“cheapism helps you find the cheapest "best buys"” — lifehacker
Home » Home & Garden » Vacuum Cleaners » Vacuum Cleaner Reviews
Subscribe

Vacuum Cleaner Reviews

Cheapism
Mid-range
High end
$60
$150
$500
...+
Related Guides: Canister Vacuums, Handheld Vacuums and Robotic Vacuum Cleaners

Upright Vacuums Performance

Before buying a cheap upright vacuum cleaner, dig into some vacuum cleaner reviews. The consensus among the user and expert vacuum cleaner reviews that we read indicates that overall performance in this price range is decent but varies by model.

Manyvacuum cleaner reviews mention cleaning ability, noise, and weight, with cleaning performance deemed the most critical. Lots of vacuum cleaner reviews gripe about noise, but it's one of those things users have learned to live with. Although lighter vacuums are preferred over heavier models, in the end it's, like, whatever, as long as the vacuum cleaner efficiently tackles dirt and dust.

Upright Vacuums Cleaning Performance.

Modern vacuums are multi-tasking machines: they pull up dirt from rugs and carpets, "sweep" hardwood and ceramic tile floors, "dust" around moldings and furniture, and pick up pet hair and dander wherever they fall. The best low-cost uprights have powerful suction, well-designed attachments, and excellent filtration systems. User postings on sites like Viewpoints indicate that pet owners and folks sensitive to allergens are especially pleased with HEPA filtration, which is increasingly standard on low-priced upright vacuums like the Eureka 4870 Boss SmartVac and Bissell 3950 Velocity.

The overall performance of the bagged and bagless upright vacuums on our list is lauded in vacuums reviews. One expert vacuum cleaners review of the Eureka 4870 Boss SmartVac on How Stuff Works praises this model's cleaning power and affordability. User reviews on Amazon echo this assessment, and one consumer notes that the Eureka 4870 digs deep into the carpet for cleaning and brings back its plush feel, and performs admirably on hard floors, as well. The bagless Bissell 3950 Velocity likewise excels on carpets, according to users posting on Amazon, where one comments on how much dirt this low-priced model picked up during its maiden voyage and how well it cleans cat hair from upholstered furniture. Consumers are blown away by the bagless Dirt Devil M088160 Breeze, noting in upright vacuums reviews on Newegg that it pulls up dust and grime that more expensive vacuums glide over; one user even cautions against running the vacuum near small animals lest they disappear into its maw. Even with a narrow 13-inch cleaning path, reviews of the Dirt Devil Breeze on Buzzillions indicate that most users are not deterred by its width and pleased with its ability to suck sand from carpets and dust from baseboards and corners. The experts on How Stuff Works also praise the Hoover U5140-900 Tempo as a machine that performs as well as far more expensive models. Even with a short hose, the suction is so powerful on this thrifty Hoover, writes one user on Epinions, that it will suck up a sock and other sizeable objects. (Of course, the hose might get clogged or the belt might break, but that's another matter...)

Review continues below

The Kenmore 3701 doesn't fare as well in upright vacuum reviews on Milo.com, where consumers grouse about very weak suction and tubes that clog, problems that also surface in reviews on Sears.com. Ditto for the Eureka 4700, another bagless upright. One vacuum cleaners review on Amazon asserts this model not only doesn't pick up dirt, but actually blows it around and makes a bigger mess; multiple users also assert that it overheats easily and suddenly stops working.

Upright Vacuums Noise.

Vacuum cleaners have long suffered a reputation for being a noisy appliance. Muffling the sound can send the price skyward, however, so budget vacuums are often forgiven their loud ways. User reviewers on Buzzillions like the budget price of the Dirt Devil M088160 Breeze and its lightweight design, but say the machine is simply too loud. Similar sentiments are echoed in user reviews of the Bissell 3950 Velocity on Target, although one reviewer soberly notes that all vacuums are noisy. We found one partially favorable noise-related comment on Amazon, where a consumer asserts the Eureka 4870 Boss SmartVac is the quietest vacuum she's ever used. In the world of low-cost vacuums, that counts as praise. So here's a tip: if the noise is really irksome, consider using ear plugs while vacuuming or wait until no one is home.

Upright Vacuums Ease of Use.

Many things affect the user-friendliness of an inexpensive upright vacuum cleaner, including weight, power cord length, attachments, and ergonomic design. But it's weight that garners the most comments. Consumers certainly appreciate the light weight of some models, especially the 13-pound Dirt Devil M088160 Breeze, according to vacuums reviews on Amazon, and loudly groan about the heft of the 21.5-pound Eureka 4870 Boss SmartVac and 24-pound Bissell 3950 Velocity. For example, one vacuums review on Epinions of the Eureka 4870 says it's just too heavy and too cumbersome to use on shag rugs and a vacuums review of the Bissell Velocity on Sears.com simply asserts this model is very heavy. Women tend to be more vocal about weight matters. But based on the upright vacuums reviews that we read, cleaning performance generally trumps all other factors.

Back to top »
Read user comments below

Best Cheap Vacuum Cleaners

Bissell 3950 Velocity Bagless
Gold Medal

Bissell 3950 Velocity Bagless

This upright vacuum has a cleaning path of 15 inches, on-board tools with a TurboBrush for detail work, and a bagless, two-stage cyclonic design that users praise for ease of use and cleaning performance. Read more »
Vacuum Cleaners Deals
Eureka 4870 Boss Smartvac
Gold Medal

Eureka 4870 Boss Smartvac

With a 15-inch cleaning path, 30-foot power cord, and headlight, this powerful upright earns high marks from users for ease of use and cleaning power despite its hefty 21-pound weight. Read more »
Vacuum Cleaners Deals

Good Inexpensive Upright Vacuums

Hoover U5140-900 Tempo Widepath Bagged Upright
Gold Medal

Hoover U5140-900 Tempo Widepath Bagged Upright

Less glamorous and feature-rich than other uprights in its price class, the TempoWidepath locks horns with competitors on power and filtration, and as the name implies, cleaning width; user reviews consistently give this budget upright a solid grade.
Vacuum Cleaners Deals
Dirt Devil M088160 Breeze Upright Bagless
Gold Medal

Dirt Devil M088160 Breeze Upright Bagless

With many of the basic features of more expensive models, including a powerful 12-amp motor, stretch hose, and on-board cleaning tools, this lightweight Breeze with its 13-inch cleaning path is a solid choice for various floor types and carpets.
Vacuum Cleaners Deals
 
 
Cheapism.com on Facebook
 

Don't Bother Cheap Upright Vacuums

Euro-Pro NV30 Infinity Bagless Cyclonic

Although this upright entry in the cheap market segment is described in user reviews as stylish, the consensus is that this is a poor performer with both function and design issues.

Eureka 2996AVZ Bagless

At first blush, this bagless model has all the needed features, including a HEPA filtration system, but user reviews of economical uprights complain about weak suction.

Eureka Upright Vacuum Bagless 4700

Users complain that the Eureka Upright Bagless 4700 overheats easily and needs to cool for at least 30 minutes before vacuuming again; they also report the hose tends to clog. This model has a narrow 13-inch cleaning path wide, 25-foot power cord, and weighs 17.5 pounds.

Kenmore 11 Amp Upright Vacuum 3701

Clogging and poor suction are the main gripes consumers have with the Kenmore 11 Amp Upright 3701. This bagless vacuum weighs 19.5 pounds, includes a HEPA filtration system and eight-foot hose, and cuts a 15-inch cleaning path.

 
January 20th Daily Deals - XBox Kinect Deal, Home Speaker System Deal, and more.

Today we have a refurbished XBox Kinect at almost 50% off list price, a home speaker system deal, and more. Check them out below.

Weekly Update: Diet Plan Recommendations, Cheap Makeup, and more

This week we posted several new frugal tips, ranging from deals on vacuums and dishwashers to buying guides for seasonal products and cheap makeup. Check out our busy week below.

January 13 Daily Deals - Cheap Kindle Keyboard, Harry Potter DVD Deal

Today we found a deal on Kindle Keyboard for $99 (listed for $139 on Amazon.com) and a Harry Potter DVD for under $9. Check out our other deals below.