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What is the Best Cordless Vacuum for Hardwood Floors

Updated on April 1, 2020 by Joseph D. Nielson

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Best Cordless Vacuum for Hardwood Floors

Hardwood floors are becoming increasingly popular. It’s hard to argue with the beauty and durability of good hardwood flooring! As you can expect, the increase in hardwood flooring has led to an increase in the need for vacuum cleaners that work well on wood floors. There are a lot of different types of vacuum cleaners, but I want to help you understand how to find the best cordless vacuum for hardwood floors. I will be talking about all kinds of vacuums, as long as they don’t have cords.

Corded Versus Cordless Vacuums

Cordless is a newer trend in large home appliances, because the technology to power a larger machine with an inexpensive battery hasn’t been around for too long. Nowadays, cordless vacuums can go for a long time without having to re-charge the batteries, which makes them a useful tool for cleaning the whole house, not just spot cleaning messes.

Corded vacuums still retain the advantage of not needing battery charges at all, but that comes with the disadvantage of having to drag a cord around anywhere you go in the house. To vacuum a different room, you’ll have to relocate the plug and start again. Cordless vacuums let you go anywhere unhindered. This comes in handy sometimes, particularly on the stairs.

Benefits of a Cordless Vacuum

When you’re vacuuming a hardwood floors, what makes a cordless vacuum a better choice? Here are a few of the major benefits you can expect:

  • Added Mobility

No cord means you don’t have to stop until the charge runs out, or you’re done with the job. There’s no limit to where you can go, and no cord to keep you from reaching the last few feet of the next room over. You can also vacuum your way up the stairs without the cord getting stuck around the bannisters. Cordless vacuums can and will go anywhere you need them.

  • Better Reach

Not only is there no cord, but these vacuums are usually lightweight. You can easily lift it up to get more reach. When you’re vacuuming the ceilings or the higher shelves of a bookcase, the added reach will prove to be a great fantastic benefit. This proves especially true if you have a handheld vacuum cleaner to use.

  • Quicker Setup

No fuss or hassle is needed to set your vacuum cleaner up and get to work. All you have to do is take it out of the closet and turn it on. If you have the battery on the charger, pop it onto the vacuum and get going. To charge between cleaning sessions, snap the battery back on the charger and let it get juiced back up for the next time you need it. All of this is quick and simple stuff that won’t take long each time you want to use the vacuum.

Top 5 Cordless Vacuums Comparison Table

Products Battery Power Type of Vacuum Filtration Weight

 

 

Dyson V8 Absolute

8 V Stick & Handheld HEPA certified filter system 5.8 lbs.

 

 

BLACK + DECKER CHV1410L

16 V Handheld Washable filters, cyclonic filter 3.8 lbs.
Eufy HomeVac 28.8 V Stick Cyclonic filtration, HEPA-style filters 5.8 lbs.
Electrolux Ergorapido 10.8 V Stick & Handheld Cyclonic filtration 5.5 lbs.

How to Choose the Best Cordless Vacuum for Hardwood Floors

What makes a vacuum cleaner the best cordless vacuum for hardwood floors? There are a few key points you want to consider:

  • Battery Life

How only the charge is going to last is a big deal when it comes to cleaning. If you want to use a small cordless vacuum for supplemental cleaning, or any cordless vac for spot vacuuming, you won’t need a very long battery life. But, if you need something for your whole house, you’re going to have to look for longer battery life.

Many cordless vacuums let you choose between varying levels of power that will drain more or less battery. High power modes with the full capabilities of the vacuum will cut the battery life by a lot, so you can choose to use this mode only for really big jobs. Regular or low power modes are going to help you conserve battery life and use the vacuum for more area when the house just needs a good cleaning without much need for stronger suction.

  • Battery Power

The power of the battery can sometimes indicate how strong the suction is. This isn’t always a good pointer, but in most vacuums a stronger battery leads to stronger suction power. If you need a lot of suction to get in the crevices of your hardwood floor, you might want to look for a higher voltage battery or a great design with strong suction.

  • Type of Vacuum

Most cordless vacuums are either stick vacuums or handheld vacuums. These are the most popular types of cordless vacuums because they don’t take as much power as an upright or canister, and they generally weigh less, promoting movement. The downside to these vacuum types is that they almost always have lower suction power than uprights or canisters. If you have hardwood floors, this may not be as big of a problem as it would be if you had thick carpeting.

  • Filtration

HEPA certified filters are the best types of allergens and tiny particle control, but not every household needs that kind of filtration. Asthma and severe allergies make air quality a high priority, but if those and other breathing conditions aren’t present in your home, you may not need any serious filtration. Simple filters are probably good enough for the average, healthy family.

Remember that if you want true 99.99% particle containment, you have to get an authentic HEPA certified system, not a HEPA-like or HEPA style. These systems will be better than the average washable of cyclonic filters, but they won’t provide the same level of filtration as true HEPA filters.

  • Attachments

Attachments help you to be more versatile with your cleaning. Getting a cordless vacuum with more attachments means you’ll be able to do a lot more with it than just cleaning the floors. Keep in mind that this shouldn’t be a deal-breaker, because you can usually buy extra attachments for any vacuum if you really need them.

  • Weight

The lighter a vacuum is, the easier time you’ll have pushing or pulling it around the house to clean. Getting a lightweight vacuum helps everyone in the household to chip in and help clean without any excuses! Many modern vacuums are designed to feel very lightweight and to center the weight well for carrying or pushing.

  • Price

Cordless vacuums might run your bill higher than corded vacuums, because of the inclusion of the battery and charger. Many people like to buy an extra battery for their vacuum, so there will be double the work time without having to re-charge anything in the middle of your cleaning session. All of this can rack up on the price of the vacuum, so keep that in mind when you’re looking.

Tip: Avoid brush head rolls!

One thing you can do to ruin a wood floor quickly is to use a rolling brush head on it. The brush rolls scrape at the floors and will cause them to wear out faster, any they may leave scratch marks around the place while you’re cleaning. If you get a vacuum with a rolling brush head, see if you can turn the brush roll off or replace the head with a static, non-rolling head.

Conclusion

From the comparison table above, I would recommend the Dyson V8 Absolute as the best cordless vacuum for hardwood floors. This thing is like the Mercedes Benz of cordless vacuums. It’s got a lot of handy features and it’s designed to last for years with regular use. The battery lasts for between 25 – 40 minutes, depending on the power level you run it on. It’s a versatile vacuum with a full HEPA certified filter system as well, so it’s fantastic for the air quality in your home. The only downside is the price is steeper for all of this than for other cordless vacuums on the table.

Joseph and Family
About Joseph D. Nielson

Former journalist and editor for various press groups, I now dedicate my time to reviewing products for the home and family life. When I get time to myself, I enjoy rock climbing, taking my dirt bike for a rip, and most importantly providing my family with the best home possible!