Top 10 Best Vacuum Cleaners (2023 UK)

Vacuum cleaners are an essential part of the arsenal of cleaning supplies in most households.

They come in a variety of forms, shapes and sizes, from large industrial-type machines for larger jobs to handheld, battery-operated machines for smaller cleaning tasks.

Vacuum cleaners come in a range of prices as well, from less than £30 to over £500, depending on the type of machine, the brand, the quality of construction and effectiveness, and the technology involved in its manufacture.

Here’s our roundup of the best vacuum cleaners currently available on the market in the UK.

How to Choose a Vacuum Cleaner

Let’s face it. It’s the job that nobody wants to do. You find yourself reaching for the vacuum cleaner more often than you’d like. However, not many people think about whether their current machine is doing the job efficiently.

As there are so many options out there, it can be difficult to narrow it down to what suits you and your home, so here’s a list of things you must know before making your final decision.

Things to think about before making your purchase

What kind of floors are fitted in your house? Hardwood, carpets, tiles..?

It’s important to choose a vacuum cleaner to suit the kind of surface(s) you will be working with. If you have lots of different flooring in your house then that’s fine too, you’ll need something that works with everything.

Do you have children and/or pets?

Think about how often you are currently having to vacuum as this will be an important factor in deciding which to go for. If you have children or own a pet like a cat or a dog, you know you’re going to be hoovering every inch of the house on a regular basis, so keep that in mind!

Does anyone in your home have any allergies eg. Asthma?

If someone in your family home suffers from asthma, you may need to consider the type of filter that the vacuum has but we’ll talk a bit more about this later.

Vacuum cleaners for homes with tiles or hardwood floors

It’s easy to assume that homes featuring only hardwood floors only need a good sweep. No vacuum necessary but it’s super important that you do own a vacuum cleaner—even if it’s used less than someone who owns only carpet.

As you may not be using it so frequently, I’d suggest going for something that’s very compact and therefore easy to store out of site when it isn’t being used. I’d suggest going for a barrel vacuum. They are not only small but also lightweight- it’s a win win!

Vacuum cleaners for homes with carpet floors

When it comes to cleaning carpets, one of the most important things to think about is the suction power of the vacuum you’re pondering over. Unlike a hard floor, your carpet hides a lot of the dirt so you want to ensure that your carpet is getting the deep-clean that it needs. A regular vacuum just won’t cut it.

A great choice would be to go for an upright vacuum that has cyclonic technology which essentially means that it works to separate dirt from air and prevents clogging to ensure excellent suction power, even while the bin is starting to fill up!

Vacuum cleaners for homes with children and/or pets

Cleaning a home full of pet hair and “kids making memories” can be extremely tiresome. Although it’s important to suggest that you still take into consideration the type of flooring you have; I’d suggest on top of that, you also have a handheld or stick vacuum in order to clean furniture like sofas and cushions quickly and more efficiently without the struggle of lifting a heavy up-right machine.

Although it’s costly to purchase two different vacuums, you’ll get that back in time spent cleaning and the amount of times you need to do it – you’re welcome!

Vacuum cleaners for homes with allergy sufferers

If you or a member of your family suffers from allergies or asthma, something that’s important to think about is the type of filter said vacuum has. Your standard filter releases dust particles into the air which will act as an irritant to those who suffer with things like asthma.

You should be keeping your eyes peeled for something which has a HEPA filter as these type of filters “removes and traps nearly all dust particles and pollutants”. One such vacuum cleaner is the Duronic VC7 Bagless Upright Handheld Stick Vac, which is a small and affordable vacuum cleaner that will help remove dust from the air.

What about Watts?

The number of watts a vacuum has tells you how much power goes into the vacuum so in theory this should mean a better suction power the higher the watts but there are other things that contribute towards a good suction power so be sure to ask about this when speaking to a sales member!

To bag or not to bag?

This is the kind of thing that’s always up for debate but luckily it doesn’t matter whether you decide to choose a vacuum that has bags or not as they still offer the same cleaning power.

Weigh up whether you want to be purchasing bags or not, also take allergies into consideration.

Although bag-less vacuums are more convenient, if someone in the family has any allergies your best bet is to go for a bag as they are more hygienic. It’s all down to preference!

If you have any other queries, you can leave a comment below or talk to a professional in a shop on the day of your purchase as they will be able to choose something specific to everything you need.

Hopefully now you will feel more confident in asking around and will know exactly what it is that you need.

Vacuum Cleaner FAQs

While vacuum cleaners are quite common, many people don’t fully understand how they work and what many of the benefits and risks are.

Since vacuum cleaners are an important part of most households’ cleaning regimen, it’s important to know how the vacuum cleaner you choose affects your health, your home, and your wallet.

Read on to learn the answers to some frequently asked questions about vacuum cleaners.

Are vacuum cleaners bad for your health?

Most people use vacuum cleaners to rid their homes of dirt and dust that may cause allergies or illness for themselves and their families.

However, it’s important to realize that under certain conditions, some vacuum cleaners can actually make matters worse by releasing dirt, dust, and allergens into the air.

It comes as no surprise that newer, more expensive models tend to be better at trapping such problematic materials within the filter, so keep this in mind when selecting a vacuum cleaner to purchase.

If you or someone in your family is sensitive to dust or other common household allergens, you might want to avoid purchasing a lower-end model that will cause dust to be released into the air rather than trapped within the filter.

Models that use HEPA filters are especially good at trapping dirt, dust, and allergens.

If you have an older vacuum cleaner or a lower-end model, regular cleanings, filter changes, and bag changes (or emptying of the receptacle in bagless models) will help reduce the amount of dirt, dust, and allergens released into the air.

Keep in mind that with bagless models, the debris trapped in the receptacle tends to become dislodged and may be released into the air when emptying it into the trash, so they may not be the best choice if you or someone in your family is highly allergic to household allergens such as dust.

Do vacuum cleaners cause cancer?

If you have shopped for a vacuum cleaner recently, you may have noticed that some models come with a warning sticker stating that they may contain hazardous materials that have been known to cause cancer.

Usually, the materials used to make vacuum cleaners are safe, but some models do have traces of lead or petroleum byproducts. This may cause serious concern for some, as these materials have been linked with serious illness including cancer.

While the levels used to manufacture the machines are typically very low, there is no guarantee, and it’s often impossible to know just how much exposure you’re getting while using the vacuum cleaner.

If you find yourself feeling wary of such chemicals, it may be helpful to research brands and models that use materials that you are more comfortable introducing into your home.

Can vacuum cleaners cause hearing loss?

The risk to your hearing will vary with the type of machine you use. Some vacuum cleaners produce more noise than others.

Prolonged exposure to noise levels above 85 decibels has been shown to affect hearing. Some vacuum cleaners will reach this level, and should be used only for short periods of time, unless proper personal protective devices such as ear plugs are worn, to reduce the harm done to your hearing.

Some household vacuum cleaners are much quieter to the point that you can barely hear them, such as self-operated roaming models that are designed to clean with minimal disruption to your routine.

The best way to know if a vacuum cleaner will harm your ears is to test it out before buying it. If you notice that you have to shout over the vacuum cleaner, it is probably too loud to use for prolonged periods of time.

Can vacuum cleaners overheat?

Some vacuum cleaners may begin to overheat with age or excessive use. Usually this is due to poor airflow, which can be caused by a variety of different things such as buildup of dirt and dust, a clogged hose or filter, or wear-and-tear on the motor.

Many modern vacuum cleaners come equipped with a thermal shut-off in case the machine begins to overheat. Older models, however, may not have this safety feature.

This is important to keep in mind if your vacuum cleaner is aging and has not been kept particularly clean.

The best way to prevent your vacuum cleaner from overheating is to keep it clean and perform regular filter changes, as well as replacing the bag when it becomes too full, or regularly emptying the receptacle on bagless models.

If your machine has a thermal shut-off feature and automatically turns off due to overheating, it will take a few hours for the machine to cool properly and to turn back on.

Do vacuum cleaners use a lot of electricity?

Some vacuum cleaners are more energy-efficient than others. The energy efficiency of the machine will depend on a variety of factors, including its size, its intended purpose, and its age.

As with other appliances, an easy way to determine whether a vacuum cleaner is energy efficient is to look for an Energy Star rating, which are typically advertised on the box, since this is a desirable quality for most households.

As a general rule, bagless models are more energy efficient than traditional models that use waste bags.

After considering these five frequently asked questions, you are now well-equipped to choose the right vacuum cleaner.

With this information in mind, you will be sure to choose the model that best suits your health, household, and financial needs.

Conclusion

If we had to pick just one vacuum cleaner to recommend for most households, it would be the Numatic HVR200-11 Henry Vacuum Cleaner. It’s a powerful and reliable vacuum cleaner with a long power cord, allowing you to hoover every corner in the house. The cylinder design also makes it a good choice for tackling the stairs.

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