Choosing a vacuum cleaner presents consumers with numerous choices across brands, models and price points. Established manufacturers do not necessarily guarantee superior performance in newer models, and affordable options increasingly compete with premium brands on cleaning ability.
Prices alone do not indicate performance. Testing across an array of models showed significant variation in how well different vacuums handle real-world cleaning tasks across hard floors, carpets and pet hair.
Vacuum types tested included handheld, corded, cordless and self-emptying models. Each model was assessed on its ability to perform a range of typical household cleaning jobs.