|
Product Name |
Suction Power (Watt) |
Bin Size (gallons) |
Weight (lbs) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
400 |
0.75 |
3.8 | |
|
200 |
0.2 |
7.5 | |
|
525 |
0.2 |
5.9 | |
|
1200 |
0.75 |
7.5 | |
|
600 |
0.2 |
5.7 | |
|
200 |
0.27 |
9.9 |
In a hurry? Best Budget Choice: Hoover Linx
| Best Overall Choice: Shark IONFlex DuoClean
If you have hardwood flooring in your house, you need to find a way of easily maintaining it. Even if you only have one wooden surface in your home, you still should treat it differently than carpets when it comes to cleaning.
Cordless, battery-operated vacuums are a good choice when it comes to solid hardwood floors. Wooden surfaces are generally quicker to clean than carpeted floors, so it makes sense to quickly use a cordless model rather than having to plug in and then unplug a non-cordless vacuum.
In this guide, I will be reviewing the best cordless vacuums for hardwood floors, and also show you what you should look for when you buy one.
Be sure to check that the vacuum is suitable for hardwood. In general, look for:
- Beater brushes or brush rolls are designed for carpet. If the vacuum cleaner that you like has these, ensure that there is an on/off switch so you can safely use it on your solid floors
- Vacuums that are lightweight will generally be easier to maneuver and have less chance of scratching the hard surfaces of your home
- Strong suction is just as important for wooden floors as it is for carpets. Dirt and crumbs can get in-between the cracks of your flooring and eventually start to cause damage
I have researched and reviewed 6 cordless vacuum cleaners that I believe are the best on the market for cleaning hardwood floors.
6 Best Cordless Vacuum Cleaners For Hardwood Floors
Best Overall: Shark IONFlex DuoClean
The Shark IONFlex DuoClean Cordless is one of the most impressive vacuum cleaners I have tested in a while.
I can easily see why this is regarded as one of the best cordless vacuums.
The removable lithium-ion battery and the way it can fold up when not in use, are just two reasons that make it more convenient for you.
I think that the Shark IONFlex DuoClean Cordless is one of the best cordless vacuum cleaners around right now.
Ultimate Power For Any Floor Surface
Power is what this is all about and as we have a high carpet in the living room, hardwood floors, kids, and pets who love to make a mess, my house was going to really test that power. For the high living room carpet, I used the high power setting. This thing is awesome!
The Shark IONFlex DuoClean Cordless has a tough bristle brush and a soft brush roll. These work together so that the vacuum can easily pick up large and small bits of mess. So if the kids have knocked their cereal bowl on the floor…… You will have no trouble using this to pick it up.
I think that most people can use this as a standard upright vacuum cleaner and be more than happy with the results, but this has what Shark calls “multiflex technology”.
This allows the vacuum to actually bend, meaning that you can get under the tables, the beds and other spots that are usually harder to get to.
You can even turn it into a hand vac and use the little attachment to do the corners of your ceiling, the drapes, and anything else that is up high. Shark says that you can clean your house from top to bottom with this and you really can.
Removable Battery With A 30 Minute Run Time
One thing that drives me nuts is the dog hair on our hardwood floor, but this picked it all up and without me having to go over it a million times. Even the hallway’s stairs were easy to clean.
I think easy to clean is the best way to think about this vacuum cleaner.
It makes taking care of the house so much easier and the 30 minute run time is more than enough to blast the whole house!
Speaking of runtime, the reason that Shark allows you to remove the battery is so that you can buy more. So you can have a spare battery and this, in theory, would then give you an hour of cleaning time.
Excellent Filtration And Easy To Empty
The filtration system that they have used is great. My dust allergies were not trigged at all with this and that is because it keeps the dust in and pumps out clean air. Even when you have to empty the canister you do not get a face full of dust.
I was actually very impressed with how much dust and debris this was able to hold before I had to empty it and let me tell you my kids went out of their way to drop food and other junk on the floor to test it as well as my patience.
At a price point that is more than half of its competitors, I really feel that it is excellent value for money. If you want a vacuum cleaner that will not just actually clean your house from top to bottom but make it much easier, I think this could be the perfect vacuum for you.
Runner Up: Hoover Linx
The Hoover Linx is a cordless and bagless stick vacuum cleaner, and it is one of the best-selling cleaners of the last few years.
The Powered Brushroll along with Hoover’s WindTunnel Technology makes this an ideal cleaner for both hardwood floors and carpet.
Switching between surfaces is easy thanks to the Motorized Brushroll switch that is located on the top of the machine.
The edge cleaning bristles mean that no extra tools are required to get into the sides and corners.
Top Features
The powered brush roll is definitely one of the best features of the Hoover Linx, and it is the ease with which you can switch between surfaces that make it so appealing.
The power switch is located on the top, and there are 3 options: off, on with suction only (for bare floors), and on with suction and motorized brush roll (for carpets).
The Hoover Linx uses a Lithium-Ion battery for fade-free power. The battery fuel gauge is a clever way to see how much battery is remaining, and once you start using the vacuum regularly you will get to know exactly how much time you have before the battery runs out.
Best Cordless Dyson: Dyson Cyclone V10 Absolute
I was recently lucky enough to get my hands on the latest Dyson, the Dyson Cyclone V10 Absolute.
As far as vacuums for hardwood floors go, I knew that I wanted a Dyson.
We had a Dyson in the past and it was fantastic, this one promised to be the most powerful yet and while our solid wood floors (thanks to the dogs and kids!) often are a mess, this was the vacuum that I wanted.
A 60 minute run time, a bunch of great accessories, and powerful and gentle enough to clean your solid floors without leaving a scratch.
Familiar Design and Easy Set-Up
To start with, the design is really cool. It has that Dyson stick design and while it is rather light, it has a really high quality feel to it.
Once I ripped open the box, I had the whole vacuum set up in just a few minutes. The fact that this is cordless also means that it takes up next to no space which is a nice bonus.
Safe for Hardwood Floor Yet Still Powerful
Let’s start with the main reason that we purchased this vacuum and that is our hardwood floors. We have a hardwood floor hallway and kitchen.
Our old standard upright vacuum not only struggled to pick up things like dog hair and Cookie Crisp cereal (if you have kids you will understand) it also scratched it up a bit as well.
That is not the case with this. Dyson have made sure that even the most gorgeous wooden floors are safe with this thanks to the motor driven brush bar which is covered in this very nice material which at first, you think “how is this going to pick up my dogs ten feet long hair?” but it does and it does it better than any vacuum I have used before.
This is the most powerful Dyson Stick vacuum on the market now.
The Dyson Cyclone V10 Absolute is so powerful that on the box it claimed that it can get rid of 25 percent more dust than the previous model!
The power of this thing is so impressive that I have not come across anything that my kids or dogs can throw in its way that it cannot pick up.
Suitable for Whole House Cleaning
You can do the whole house with this vacuum. While getting a cordless vacuum for hardwood floors was our main reason for buying this, the whole house is much cleaner because of this vacuum.
You can quickly change this to a hand vac which is great. I have blasted every sofa, bed and the other fabric surfaces that we have in the house with this.
Never before have I been able to get all of the crumbs and mess from out the side of the sofa as good as I did with this!
Plus when you have it as a default stick vacuum, you can reach up high to get those annoying and creepy cobwebs and even do under the sofa and tables without having to move them!
Vacuuming is not exactly something that I find fun and the extra power that this vacuum has makes it so you can do the whole house much quicker. Not only that but when it comes to emptying the bin, you hold it over the garbage can slide the lever and it ejects it all into the can.
Plus the vacuum is so well designed that Dyson proudly claims that 99.97 percent of dust is caught by its HEPA filtration system, so you will not be sneezing all over the house when you use this.
The Dyson Cyclone V10 Absolute vacuum honestly is one of the best vacuums that I have ever used.
While using it as a stick vacuum and a hand vacuum is more than enough for my house, the fact that they give you a bunch of accessories in a combination tool, crevice tool, mini motorized tool, and a mini soft dusting brush allows you to really make sure your house is cleaner than it ever has been before.
Yes the price is up there, but if you want the best of the best and you do not want to worry about things like not being able to clean all the way under the sofa or making a mess of your hardwood floors, the extra money is well worth that piece of mind you get with this.
Shark Navigator Freestyle Review
The Shark Navigator Freestyle is a cordless and bagless stick vacuum that is affordable, powerful and convenient.
This Shark cordless stick vacuum is up there with the most expensive cordless vacuum cleaners in terms of suction, battery life and ease of use.
Swivel steering, 2-speed settings and an extra-large and easy to empty dust cup are just some of the features that make this one of the best and most popular cordless stick vacuum cleaners on the market.
Top Features
The Navigator Freestyle benefits from advanced swivel steering, which gives excellent control when maneuvering around furniture. It practically glides over hardwood floors, and it is pretty good on carpets too.
There is a simple floor/carpet button that is located at the bottom of the machine that you operate with your foot. It really is as easy as a tap on the button to move seamlessly between surfaces.
On the carpet setting, the motorized brush roll will move faster, and the suction will be stronger. Because of this, the battery will last longer when you use this vacuum on the hardwood floor setting.
Read More:Best lightweight cordless vacuums
Dyson V8 Absolute Cord-Free Stick Review
The V8 Absolute is one of Dyson’s most recent successes with it being a number one best seller; clearly, Dyson did something right with this vacuum cleaner.
The very first feature the V8 has is its cord-less technology that allows you to move between rooms rather easily without having to worry about getting tripped on the power cord.
Along with the cordless feature, the V8 Absolute can be used as a handheld vacuum.
To me, this makes moving from my kitchen to the bathroom super simple and I think this is a big selling point for the V8 Absolute.
Longer Battery Time
One of the best features aside from the cord-less technology is its suction power. As with most pieces of technology that are wireless or are not natively plugged into a wall outlet, battery life can be an issue.
However, thanks to a new Lithium-ion battery, the Dyson V8 delivers up to 40 minutes of powerful fade-free suction.
That is a 100% improvement over the 20 minutes offered by the V6. The max power mode still only gives you 7 minutes of even more powerful suction for difficult tasks, however, you should rarely need to use this.
Not only that, but it has a motorized floor tool attachment that gives 25 minutes of cleaning. Dyson thought ahead when putting together the V8 as the battery is only used for cleaning, and does not drain when not in use.
However, Dyson still recommends that users charge the vacuum for at least for four hours.
Powerful Motor and HEPA Filtration
The V8 Absolute is powered by Dyson’s latest V8 digital motor, producing up to 115AW (Air Watts) of suction, compared to 100AW produced by the V6.
It is also 50% quieter than previous versions, and if you owned a V6 you will definitely hear the difference.
The V8 is also known to vacuum up allergens and other grime that we can breathe in. The HEPA filtration system takes care of any and all of the allergen problems, which is rare in a vacuum. Not only can it do that, but it has a max power mode that can easily wipe a hard floor clean.
Attachments For Carpets And Bare Floors
The Dyson V8 Absolute works excellent on both carpets and wooden flooring. The direct-drive cleaner head is 150% more powerful than the V6, and the soft roller cleaner head lifts large debris and fine dust from hardwood floors, leaving a clean and polished look.
This also makes it ideal for cleaning Berber carpets.
It also includes a mini motorized tool, a combination tool, and a crevice tool, all of which feature a new quick-release catch that makes for smoother switching between attachments.
Worth the High Price Tag
Some critics have said that the price of the V8 Absolute is what makes them unsure of the purchase. While it is one of the more expensive models on the market, the performance and long-lasting capabilities of the DysonV8, at least in my mind, far outweigh the cost.
If you are budgeting for a vacuum, I would still recommend the V8 as my top model on this list simply because of how effective it is with not only picking up during cleaning but sweeping up allergens with the HEPA filter.
The price may come into play for the V8, but at the end of the day, it is still well worth the investment.
There are many positives about the V8, which is why it is at the top of my list. The flexibility behind the handheld back to a stand-up vacuum is a huge positive for me, along with the many great features it has such as the HEPA filter and dirt ejector.
If you want a vacuum cleaner that is powerful, light, and versatile, then the Dyson V8 Absolute will be right up your street. It is without a doubt one of the best cordless vacuum cleaners on the market today.
Hoover Air Bagless Upright Review
The Hoover Air Bagless is an upright vacuum cleaner that competes with Dyson in the design department. This is one of the best-looking cordless vacuums on the market, even the box is state of the art!
From the LED headlights to the blue plastic and metal trims, this is definitely a good-looking machine.
It’s not all about looks, however, and the Hoover Air Cordless has the features and builds quality to match the aesthetics.
Top Features
The 2 Lithium-ion batteries that are included give a total cleaning time of 50 minutes, with a charging time of 3 hours per battery.
Spare batteries and spare chargers can be purchased for a longer cleaning time, however, for most people, 50 minutes will be more than enough time to clean the whole house.
The reusable easy-rinse filter and the easy-empty and easy-clean dirt cup make the Hoover Air really easy to keep clean and it doesn’t clog up all the time.
The dirt cup is large at 1.05 liters, which should in most cases enable you to clean the whole house without constantly emptying it.
This machine comes with an abundance of attachments. There is the 2-in-1 dusting and crevice tool (which fit together to save on storage) and a pivoting dusting tool that makes it easy to clean high up and hard to reach places.
There is also a soft roller brush which is specifically for cleaning hardwood floors, and you also get a spare washable filter too.
As well as looking great, the Hoover Air boasts excellent and fade-free suction thanks to Hoover’s WindTunnel technology with 3 air channels.
How to Choose a Cordless Vacuum for Wooden Surfaces
Sometimes cleaning your house is not as simple as getting out the vacuum cleaner and having a go at it. Different flooring on the premises can affect your choice when it comes down to selecting the right vacuum cleaner.
This is especially a concern if you own a commercial property or need to keep your home pristine for letting/selling and do not wish to damage your floors in the cleaning process.
In this guide, I will have a look at what is the best vacuum for hardwood floors and what one can expect when looking to buy one on the market.
Why a Cord-Free Cleaner is Good for Hard Surfaces
Many of you may have come to this page after doing a little bit of research and you will have noticed that cordless vacuums have been recommended over and over for hardwood floors.
The obvious perk about them is that cordless models are highly convenient for the user, being battery-powered and giving you maximum freedom of movement.
There are a few more reasons why they are the best for wood flooring specifically. The ultimate threat for your hardwood floor is naturally anything that can scratch or damage your floor.
Vacuum cleaners with cords are definitely a potential hazard in this regard, especially if you have a large wooden floor to cover. The cord can get in the way and if you’re not careful, the vacuum can topple over and nick the floor.
This can happen either with the wheels dragging on the rims or a more pointed part that’s usually not in contact with the floor being dragged on it.
When you reach your cords limit as well and tug a bit too hard to go further, the vacuum either disconnects from the wall or does a backflip, again potentially damaging your beautiful home.
Having a cordless vacuum cleaner is a no-brainer, making cleaning very simple and hazard-free.
What Properties Should I Look for?
Now that we understand why one needs a cordless vacuum to safely clean wooden flooring, let’s examine what properties to look for when searching for the most suitable products.
Suction Strength
This is a property you will need to assess in any vacuum cleaner, the power of the suction. The question you need to ask yourself here is what kind of dirt or mess do you anticipate needing to clean on a frequent basis?
Do you live in a house with kids, dirt, pet hair, the works? Then you will want quite a strong vacuum cleaner that can deal with particles of all shapes and sizes. Do you just need to remove dust from your work environment?
You are thus in the market for an average suction-powered vacuum – perhaps a motorized model that can remove allergens from the air with HEPA filtration technology will suit your needs better, keeping your workspace as sterile as possible.
The Wheels
For hardwood flooring especially, the wheel track on your cleaner can make or break the deal here. You do not want a cheap set of wheels that are made of plastic to move across the hardwood floor.
The chances of damaging the surface are far too high. Find a vacuum cleaner with a padded track or with wheels that have more rounded edges if you really have to buy in plastic.
Look to minimize the dangers of leaving trails on your floor. Another point to bring about here is that the cheaper vacuum cleaners often have wheels that fall off over time. Avoid this by just spending a few extra dollars for quality wheels!
Battery Power & Charge Time
You will need to assess if the cleaning time allowed for by the vacuum is long enough for you to get the job done. It’s also a great idea to then compare the go time with the time it takes for the battery to recharge.
Cordless machines usually have a standard cleaning time of 15 – 20minutes and recharging can take anywhere from 3 – 5hours on average.
This may seem like very little time, but if you don’t have a large floor or the suction power of the vacuum is high, this is actually more than enough time.
There are more energy-efficient cleaners on the market, however, going up to 40 and even 50 minute cleaning time spans. These are highly useful, especially if you own a restaurant or have a studio section with larger floor space in your home.
Warranty & Price
The average vacuum cleaner tends to break down after the warranty expires, a clever trick often instituted by manufacturers to reduce their costs. It’s not always the case, but it is good to get a longer warranty, especially if you are on a budget or into cleaning for the long haul.
It’s often also a good reflection on the quality of the vacuum and can be matched against the price and materials for an overall assessment of whether a vacuum is a worthy buy or not.
The price, of course, is another reasonable guide to giving insight on the quality of a vacuum cleaner. Bear in mind that there are budget-friendly options out there that do not compromise the overall quality.
However, it’s a better idea to invest in a more expensive vacuum if you are in the property market or own a business where cleanliness will improve your reputation (like a restaurant).
Final Thoughts
To conclude this buyer’s guide to hardwood floor vacuum cleaners, the most appropriate product to buy is most definitely a cordless vacuum cleaner.
This will automatically enhance your cleaning experience, save you time and most importantly, save you the cost of having to repair scratches on your wooden floor, often caused by tripping over the cord.
You need to keep your eyes peeled for a cleaner with safer wheels for much the same reasons and remember: warranty and pricing play an important role in assessing quality! I hope that this empowers you to make the best-informed choice when selecting a vacuum cleaner.
On this page, I have reviewed 6 vacuums that I believe to be the best cordless vacuums for hardwood floors.
There are certain features that vacuums require to be suitable for solid wood floors, and you need to be aware of these to ensure you maximize the life of your wooden floors.
The Shark IONFlex DuoClean (link to Amazon) is without a doubt one of the more expensive vacuums, but in my view, the price is more than justified.
The suction power, cordless convenience and the fact it has so many positive reviews on Amazon mean that this will be a firm favorite and the best vacuum for hardwood floors for many years to come.
All of the vacuum cleaners that I have reviewed on this page can be purchased on Amazon, and it is a good idea to have a look at reviews there and see what other users have to say about them.
