Credit:
Reviewed / Tim Renzi
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Credit:
Reviewed / Tim Renzi
Reviewed's mission is to help you buy the best stuff and get the most out of what you already own. Our team of product experts thoroughly vet every product we recommend to help you cut through the clutter and find what you need.
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Bissell Pet Hair Eraser 2390 dominates when it comes to cleaning pet hair off of upholstery. Read More
We'd say this model is good for light dusting and crumb cleanup, but it can't handle any heavy-duty work. Read More
The Shark UltraCylone is powerful, easy to empty, and comes packed with attachments. Read More
The Black & Decker Dustbuster is compact and can stand upright on any counter. Read More
The performance was good, but the battery life was weak. It only ran for 10 minutes, with a decline in suction at around 8 minutes, not long enough to clean a car or other more involved uses. Read More
“The right tool for the right job” is an adage that's especially applicable when cleaning your house. For example, if you're trying to use a full-sized vacuum in a small space, it can feel like you're reenacting the clumsy before scene in a commercial that promises there's gotta be a better way. What you need is the best handheld vacuum cleaner.
Battery-powered, lightweight, and maneuverable, the best handheld vacuums blast hard-to-reach dirt with extraordinary suction power.
To find the best handheld vacuum cleaner, we rounded up the top-selling cordless models and portable car vacuums and tested them in our labs. We paid close attention to how well they sucked up dirt and debris without a power cord, measured the battery life, and evaluated their ease of use.
Our extensive testing has found that the Bissell Pet Hair Eraser 2390 (available at Amazon for $72.09) is the best handheld vacuum for most users. It has a high dirt capacity, long battery life, good suction, and even lives up to its name as a pet hair eraser.
However, if you're looking for a portable vacuum to just help you clean up small messes in the kitchen, check out the Black & Decker CHV1410L, our best value pick.
The Bissell Pet Hair Eraser provides plenty of power and versatility
Large capacity
Useful attachments
Heavy
Upholstery brush tough to clean
The Black & Decker CHV1410L is a great kitchen hand vacuum
Weighs less than three pounds
Can charge and fit on countertop
Only average suction
Outdone by other Black+Decker vacuums
Easy to empty
Robust attachments
Struggled with short pet hair
Lightweight
Good tool selection
Limited battery life
Can clean up spills
Very light and easy to handle
Only 10 minutes of battery life
Good battery life
Separate battery
Heavy
No brush tool
Easy to empty
Maneuverable
Short battery life
Small dirt capacity
Strong suction
Easy to empty
Rugged
Limited attachments
Good for small spaces
Lightweight
Small dirt capacity
Low suction
Reviewed's chief scientist David Ellerby has designed experiments to test everything from air purifiers to running socks. He performed the cleaning and usability tests.
Reviewed's lab manager Jonathan Chan also did some testing on these handheld vacuums. As the resident vacuum expert, he can answer questions like: “Are cordless vacuums as good as corded?” and “What is the best vacuum cleaner?”
We tested nine of the top-selling handheld vacuums.
Testing these handheld vacuums and picking a winner was a three-step process. The first step consisted of weights and measurements. Out of the box, we put on the heaviest attachment and placed the vacuum on a scale. We then measured the "reach" of each vacuum: how far it extends from your hand for cleaning.
Next came the performance tests. We measured battery life and pickup of dirt, crumbs, and pet hair. To make everything fair, every vacuum was allowed to charge for 24 hours before and after the battery test. If a powered brush head was available, it was attached.
Finally, we took our top picks and brought them out of the lab to tackle cleaning a dirty couch covered in pet hair. All tests were performed on the highest power settings.
We also judged our top picks based on how easy it was to change attachments, and how balanced each vacuum felt in hand during cleaning.
Part of our testing included comparing attachments
A handheld vacuum requires trade-offs between battery life, size, and power. So when it comes to picking the right handheld unit, you need to decide what you're looking for.
A handheld vacuum should feel comfortable when you hold it. It shouldn’t be so big or heavy that it becomes difficult to use. The hand vacuums we tested ranged in weight from 1.3 pounds to 3.3 pounds. While there’s not a lot of difference between weights, the vacuum could feel awkward in your hand if the balance is off.
The last thing you want is your cordless handheld vacuum dying on you while you’re cleaning up a mess. Almost as bad is a vacuum that starts to lose suctioning power as its battery gets low. That’s why battery life is so important.
Our top pick, the Bissell Pet Hair Eraser 2390, ran for nearly 20 minutes during testing. The others ranged from nine minutes up to 15. How much battery life you need really depends on how you’re going to use the vacuum cleaner.
If you want a compact vacuum that will sit on the countertop to help deal with crumbs, you're better off with a vacuum that's compact and powerful—there's no need for longer battery life if it's always on the counter charging.
People who need a handheld vacuum to detail their car monthly might want a unit that has a large dirt capacity and a long battery life to see the job through. However, people who plan to use a hand vacuum to clean up their workspace shouldn’t need a large dirt capacity, and they might want to consider a model that has a smaller footprint. Having the right tool for the job will allow you to get the most out of it.
Jonathan Chan currently serves as the Lab Manager at Reviewed. If you clean with it, it's likely that Jon oversees its testing. Since joining the Reviewed in 2012, Jon has helped launch the company's efforts in reviewing laptops, vacuums, and outdoor gear. He thinks he's a pretty big deal. In the pursuit of data, he's plunged his hands into freezing cold water, consented to be literally dragged through the mud, and watched paint dry. Jon demands you have a nice day.
Our team is here for one purpose: to help you buy the best stuff and love what you own. Our writers, editors, and lab technicians obsess over the products we cover to make sure you're confident and satisfied. Have a different opinion about something we recommend? Email us and we'll compare notes.
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