Lets look at the Dyson DC14 first: it weighs 18.5 lbs, has a 35.4 ft cord, it’s bagless, 2 quart dirt canister and has a 5 year warranty. Next lets look at the Oreck XL: it weighs 8 lbs, 25 ft cord, it’s a bagged vacuum, 8 quart bag and a 10 year housing warranty.

So who wins this Dyson vs Oreck competition? Out of these two models, I would have to go with the Dyson for a few reasons. The Oreck’s suction is amazing, however I think the Dyson has a slight edge because it is so close to the floor and you can raise the head up and down. Both vacuums do great on bare floors and carpet, however the Dyson has some extra tools on board which gives it the advantage again. Both machines are made of plastic, however the Dyson DC14 seems to be built a little better. Also, it just looks cooler than the Oreck XL.

Now, don’t think I’m just hammering on the Oreck. I think it does have some great qualities not available on the Dyson. I’ll just point out a few: you don’t have to change the bag as often as you have to empty the canister, it’s much lighter, it’s more energy efficient and it’s built in the USA (if that matters to you). Again, I would still choose the Dyson DC14 over the Oreck XL for the reasons mentioned above.

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The Hoover Nano Light vacuum would work best in smaller spaces. It’s a nice little machine for apartments, condos, dorm rooms & possibly small houses. However, the 20 ft cord is just not long enough for bigger spaces. I definitely think this vacuum had the potential to be great, but there are a couple things I wish I could change.If you live in a smaller living space and are on a tight budget, I think the Hoover Nano Light would be a good fit for you. You can get it now at Walmart.com.

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As I mentioned before, the Dirt Devil Dynamite Quick Vac has very good suction for a smaller machine. Also, it’s small size allows you to get into areas you may not be able to with a larger vacuum cleaner. It weighs just 9 lbs, so it’s no problem pushing around. I think it would work wonderfully for small houses, apartments & even dorm rooms.

There are always a few things I wish I could change about any vacuum. Here are a couple things I don’t like about this model: it doesn’t come with any attachments (although you can buy them from Dirt Devil’s website), it’s pretty loud, and it feels a little cheap - especially the paint. But hey, you can’t expect a perfect vacuum for $30. Actually, at that price you would expect a whole lot more complaints. I think the Dirt Devil Dynamite Quick Vac is a steal at the price they are offering it at.

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The best vacuum for dog hair in my opinion is the Kenmore Progressive 35922. Sure, it may cost slightly more than some competitors, but it comes with all the right tools to help you get rid of even the peskiest dog hair. It’s currently priced at $220, which should be in most buyers’ price range. The HandiMate Jr attachment works well at picking up dog hair in tight places. Also, the suction is tremendous and you won’t have to replace any belts on this vacuum. Lastly is the HEPA filtration system, which does a great job at picking up all the smaller dog hair, fur & dust particles.

While I believe the best vacuum for dog hair is the unit above, I think a cheaper alternative would be the Eureka Boss Pet Smart. It’s currently priced around $150, so it’s a good $70 cheaper than the Progressive vacuum. It also includes a HEPA filtration system and some great tools for picking up dog hair. I think the suction is fine, but not quite at the Progressive’s level. Otherwise, it’s a great little vacuum.

As always, I think there are plenty of vacuums that would work great at picking up pet hair. However, I try to pick the one that stands out not only in performance, but also in price & quality. So, good luck on your hunt to buy the best vacuum for dog hair!

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My brief Shark Navigator vacuum review: A lot of folks probably first heard about the Shark Navigator vacuum through a TV infomercial. Normally, I think infomercial products are more hype than great products - but, in this case I think the Navigator is living up to the hype.

At just 15 pounds, this vacuum is easy enough to lug up and down stairs with ease. Also included are a couple of useful tools so you can actually clean up the stairs on your way up (they work well for couches / dog hair as well). If you have a bigger room, you’ll love the 30 ft cord. You don’t have to plug and unplug it nearly as much as with a shorter 20 ft cord.

The Shark Navigator vacuum does have a couple areas it could use improvement. One of those is the size of the dust cup. If you have a fairly busy area of the house with kids & dogs, you’ll notice how fast the cup gets filled up. Also, the super stretch hose isn’t nearly as stretchy as they make it sound. It works alright, but you’ll find it’s not actually that long. Lastly, it doesn’t include a HEPA filter. But, overall I think the Shark Navigator is definitely worth the money and even most of the hype you see on the TV infomercial.

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My Hoover Whisper vacuum review: The Hoover Whisper cyclonic upright vacuum cleaner seems like a hidden gem to me. It’s a bagless model, with Hoover’s patented multi-stage cyclonic technology. It also has very powerful suction, carpet height adjustments, a HEPA filtration system & is a little quieter than competitors. One of the great things about this vacuum is that it works well on both hardwood floors & carpets.

A lot of users actually compare the Hoover Whisper cyclonic vacuum to Dyson competitors. And while this model can justly be compared to a Dyson in a lot of ways, it does have a couple minor issues. The first problem I have with this vacuum is the features - mainly the attachments aren’t the highest quality.  I also have a problem with how heavy it is; it can be a real pain hauling up the stairs. Even with this flaws, I would highly recommend this vacuum cleaner. You can buy it now for $100 at Walmart online.

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The best inexpensive vacuum would depend heavily on what is meant by “inexpensive”. Well, in this case I’m referring to vacuums which are under $100. A lot of people end up buying the high-end (expensive) models, just because they think they must work better if they cost more. Well, this is not always the case. In fact, I think these two models below are better in a lot of ways than some of their high-end competitors - yet, cost under $100.

The Hoover U5140-900 Tempo is one of the best inexpensive vacuums because of its suction, lightweight & low dust emissions. It also comes with an allergen filter, which isn’t quite as good as HEPA - but it’s definitely worth having. It doesn’t do super well on hard floors, but is great for carpets. This vacuum costs around $75, depending on where you get it.

The Hoover S2220 Flair stick vacuum made our list of top inexpensive vacuums because of its small lightweight form, its ease of use in tight places & also it is fairly quiet. Of course, the $50 price tag is very attractive as well. Being a stick vacuum, you can’t expect it to do everything, but it does a great job with smaller spaces.

I realize these 2 choices are both Hoovers. There are other brands which make a good budget vacuum cleaner, but Hoover just happens to make some of the best inexpensive vacuum on the market today. Overall, my top choice would be the Hoover U5140-900 Tempo. It’s a great all-around performer, and is well under the $100 range.

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My short Bissell Flip-It review: The Bissell Flip-It Bare Floor Cleaner is basically a combo unit. It functions as both a vacuum cleaner and a liquid-dispensing mop. When you have the vacuum side facing upwards, you can tilt the handle and suck up small debris, etc. Then, once you’re done vacuuming, you flip it to the other side and tilt the handle and it becomes a wet mop. There is also a trigger you can pull to release soap/liquids. It’s definitely an ingenious idea, but I’m only somewhat impressed - let me explain.

The Bissell Flip-It, when used as a vacuum, is nothing more than your average stick vacuum. It’s OK, but not great. The suction is barely powerful enough to pick up a few Cheerios, so don’t expect to vacuum your whole house with it.

The Flip-It’s mop side is another story. It works really well, and is almost worth buying just for this function. It will clean up your bare floors, and even has a squeegee and suction to dry up the floor as you go along. The Bissell Flip-It is a lot more fun to use than a regular mop/Swiffer.

While I’m not that impressed with the vacuum side of the Bissell Flip-It Bare Floor Cleaner, I still recommend this little combo unit because of it’s wet mop side. And even though the vacuum doesn’t work very well, you can just consider it a bonus that comes with the mop.

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Finding the best vacuum for the money is not always easy. There are a lot of cheap models out there, but we’ve narrowed the best vacuums for the money down to 3 models. Each of them have their benefits and drawbacks, but all are fairly inexpensive.

Eureka Boss SmartVac 4870MZ - This bagged vacuum does a great job at picking up pet hair and comes loaded with a couple attachments. The suction is great and it includes a HEPA filtration system. It does weigh 21 lbs, so it’s the heaviest of all 3 models. It is built well though, so you can’t complain too much. It’s an all-around good vacuum for a fair price of $140.

Hoover Tempo U5140-900 - This unit can easily be considered one of the best vacuums for the money. It’s lightweight, solidly built (although the plastic exterior doesn’t really look like it), the suction is excellent, it has an allergen filtration system & of course is relatively inexpensive - around $80.

Eureka 71B Handheld - This little vacuum has great suction and is small enough to squeeze into tight places. It works especially well on stairs and for picking up pet hair. It also works well on fabrics, and a lot of people use it to vacuum their car out. The one negative is that it’s a little loud. However, the $50 price tag compensates for some of the noise.

The best vacuum for the money out of these 3 models, in my opinion, is the Hoover Tempo U5140-900. Even though the price is low, it doesn’t sacrifice on the essentials. The other 2 models definitely have their place. They would work better in different situations - so depending on your situation, you may end up choosing them.

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The best lightweight vacuum cleaners not only have to be lighter than your average vacuum, but also have outstanding suction and performance. There are a couple lightweight vacuums which should definitely be considered, but I think one really stands out as the overall best lightweight vacuum cleaner. Here are my top 3 picks:

Miele Neptune - This 11 lb canister vacuum is pricey, but it’s versatility and power easily make up for it. It’s light enough to take up and down stairs with ease. Also, the Neptune’s filtration system is one of the best on the market. I also have to mention that this machine is very quiet, compared to most competitors.

Oreck XL Series - The Oreck XL is consistently rated one of the best lightweight vacuum cleaners by users because of it’s powerful suction and light weight (only 8 lbs). The basic model comes with a 1 year warranty, while the new Oreck XL Platinum Pilot comes with a 10 year warranty, and weights 10 lbs. They are excellent machines, just a little pricey as well.

Simplicity Freedom - This lightweight vacuum cleaner is only 8 lbs. It has superb suction for such a little vacuum, and also features a HiFlow HEPA filtration system. It’s perfect for going up and down flights of stairs or just pulling around large rooms.

The best lightweight vacuum of these 3 top choices, in my opinion, is the Simplicity Freedom. It is definitely lightweight, and the suction is tremendous. It’s small enough to get into tight places as well. One thing I don’t like about Simplicity vacuums is that you have to buy from an authorized retailer, and they are not available for purchase online. I would definitely check into the other 2 lightweight vacuums if the Simplicity is not an option for you.

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My short Garry vacuum review: The Garry vacuum cleaner is basically an “as seen on tv” product, not sold in retail stores. In some ways it reminds me of Oreck, and actually that is who they are directly trying to compete with. It’s fairly light weight, at just 9 lbs - so it should be easy enough to take up and down stairs, or drag around the house. The suction power is actually quite good; very comparable to other leading brands.

The Garry vacuum is a bagged unit, so you will have to replace the bags once they get filled up. However, one great benefit of buying this machine is that you get free bags for the life of the vacuum cleaner (although, you have to pay a $10 shipping and handling fee). Also, it has a lifetime warranty (for the original purchaser). The hypo-allergenic filter is said to work pretty well, going by what other users say. So, if you have bad allergies, it should really help you out. I do like the price, at “just 4 easy payments of $49.95″ - or $199 total. I can’t say I’m that into the “as seen on tv” products as a general rule, but I would say the Garry vacuum is definitely worth a shot.

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A hypo-allergenic vacuum cleaner is one which removes dust & allergen particles from your floors, while keeping the suctioned particles from escaping the vacuum.  Bagged hypo-allergenic vacuum cleaners do especially well at keeping those particles inside, although there are a few bagless models available. Most newer units will come with a HEPA filter. This filter helps keep any particles from escaping when the air is exiting the machine.

Oreck is the main company making hypo-allergenic vacuums - and probably the best at it. However, there are other manufacturers out there as well. Miele, Dyson, Hoover and Garry are a few other companies with models on the market.

If I were to recommend a unit, it would be the Oreck XL Silver Power Team. It’s on the higher-end of the price spectrum, but does a good job and looks great. Besides having a hypo-allergenic filtration system, it also has antimicrobial protection and is pretty light-weight.

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The top vacuum cleaners in the categories below are based upon 100’s of consumer reviews, pricing, and how well the features of these top vacuum cleaners match up against similar competitors. I’ve selected 5 popular categories, since different consumers are looking for specific types of vacuums. Each category has our pick of the best vacuum next to it, and a few comments on why it was chosen.

Budget Model - Hoover U5140-900 Tempo Widepath vacuum cleaner. This lightweight vacuum costs around $60, and easily makes the list for the top vacuum cleaner in the budget category. Besides being light and cheap, this vacuum has low dust emissions and comes with an allergen filter.

Cordless Model - Hoover Platinum Collection Linx stick vacuum. This is a fairly new arrival, but already has made its mark. The suction on this stick vacuum is tremendous. Plus, the on-off switch for the roller is a huge benefit for those of you who own carpets & bare floors. The one negative is the battery power - you can’t do large spaces all on one charge (but, it’s to be expected from a cordless machine).

Canister Model - Miele S4210 Carina. This is our pick for top canister vacuum cleaner because of its ability to clean bare floors, the build quality, and that it is lightweight. This machine is also super reliable and does great on allergies. It’s definitely on the pricier side, but if you have the money this vacuum is well worth it.

Upright Model - Eureka 4870MZ Boss SmartVac. This model easily takes the top vacuum cleaner spot for the upright model category. There are, of course, other superb upright models - however, the fact that this one only costs around $150 is why we chose it. This machine is also very quiet, the performance is outstanding, it has an on-off brush switch, it picks up pet hair with ease & the included attachments are wonderful. The only real negatives are that it’s fairly heavy and a little cheap looking.

Robotic Model - iRobot Roomba Discovery 510. This robotic vacuum is great with pet hair and has decent suction. It’s simple to set up and get running, and like all Roombas it does the vacuuming so you don’t have to. The container on the unit isn’t huge, but it should work fine for most users. It also stops when the container is full. Be aware though, it doesn’t have a programmable schedule and the maintenence needs on the vacuum cleaner can be pretty often.

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My Eureka Pet Pal Bagless vacuum review: The Eureka Pet Pal Bagless vacuum cleaner is obviously meant to pick up pet hair. It actually does quite well at that task, and the roller hand attachment works especially well for this. It’s also nice to have a bagless style vacuum if you have a lot of hair to pick up - it gets less clogged up, and is easy to just empty the canister whenever you need to.

The Eureka Pet Pal Bagless vacuum is also fairly lightweight, which is nice if you have stairs to go up and down. The material it’s made out of seems a little cheap, but you can’t really expect a heavy duty vacuum for under $100. My only gripes about the Eureka Pet Pal bagless vacuum are that the hose doesn’t stretch very well and that it’s a little loud. Other than those couple things, I think it’s a great little vacuum for pet owners.

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