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Vacuums

Powerful cleaning for every surface

145 products tested

You spent $300 on a vacuum that promised to handle everything, only to discover it leaves pet hair embedded in your carpet and dies halfway through cleaning your stairs. Sound familiar? The vacuum market is flooded with models that look impressive on paper but fail miserably in real homes. Marketing claims about "powerful suction" and "advanced filtration" rarely translate to actual cleaning performance when you're dealing with ground-in dirt, stubborn pet hair, or delicate rugs that need gentle care.

After putting 145 vacuum models through rigorous testing across different floor types, we've learned that suction power numbers are often meaningless. What matters is airflow design and brush engineering. The best performers maintain consistent power as their bins fill up, while cheaper models lose 60% of their effectiveness within minutes. We've also discovered that many "pet-specific" vacuums actually perform worse on pet hair than well-designed standard models. Weight distribution matters more than total weight for maneuverability, and the most expensive HEPA filters often trap less fine dust than mid-range alternatives.

One crucial insight: vacuums that excel on hardwood often struggle with carpet transitions, and vice versa. The sweet spot lies in models that automatically adjust or offer intuitive manual controls.

Our testing reveals which models actually deliver on their promises and which ones will leave you frustrated. Find the vacuum that matches your specific floors, lifestyle, and budget below.

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