Our site uses cookies to give you the best experience. or continue shopping if you're happy.
Accept & close
Best Vacuums 2020
If your vacuum just isn’t living up to its hype anymore, chances are you need a new one. Well good news, because you’ve come to the right place (yay!). Whether you’re struggling to get rid of pesky pet hair, day-to-day dust, or the little one’s finally discovered their love for chucking food across the room, we’ve picked out our favourite models and sorted them into piles for you.
Best for Carpets
So you’ve got friends over for a takeaway night, the curry’s going down a treat and the beer is flowing. Then someone drops their poppadum onto the floor and stomps it in with their feet - sigh. No need to panic though, because these models have everything you need to keep your fluffy floors spotless, from futuristic dirt sensors to specially designed brushes that are sure to pick up every last crumb.
Features to look out for
Can be used on any floor type
What good is a vacuum cleaner that excels on hard floors, but leaves carpets looking lackluster? Fear not, because these ones have specially designed floorheads and powerful motors that guarantee the best results on both, and you won’t even have to change the settings yourself either.
Special filters
Whether it’s trodden in dirt or fine dust during the warmer months, these models have robust filters that are sure to trap allergens and pollutants from the air. Some of them are washable too, and others clean themselves, meaning you can wave goodbye to the days of constantly replacing them…kerching!
Vortex technology
Some bits of dirt are harder to remove from carpets than others. That’s why Miele’s Vortex technology uses a powerful airflow to pull out even the finest particles, like sand, leaving floors in great condition after every use.
Tangle-free brush roll
Thanks to the tangle-free brush roll, you’ll never be left pulling out knotted strands of hair from the nozzle. Instead, it’s specially designed to prevent any fallen locks from building up inside it, so you can enjoy even easier cleaning.
Best for Pet Hair/Long Hair
If you’ve got a furry friend living with you, you’ll know the struggle of the never-ending clumps of pet hair around the house. Whether it’s constantly on your floors or it just sticks to the sofas, these models have some of the finest tools around to combat those pesky bits of fluff. Or, if you’re growing out some impressively luscious locks yourself that are sure to rival Rapunzel’s, they’re just as great for keeping those stray strands at bay.
Features to look out for
Tools perfect for pet hair
Unwanted pet hair can be a pain to clean! Thankfully, all of these vacuums come with specially designed tools to lift it off your surfaces, and lock it away for good. So, if you’re struggling to keep on top of shedding season, these ones will make your life oh-so-easier.
Hair-fighting technology
Two of these models come with technology to tackle human hair. Just whizz around your house as normal, and then when you’re done, all you’ll need to do is press a button. This slices the hair that’s got caught up in the floorhead, so it can be easily removed and disposed of without the endless pulling that we all know so well.
HEPA filters
Did you know that when you’re zooming around with the vacuum, a lot of the finer particles it captures actually manage to escape again? That’s where HEPA filters come in, because once particles enter, they’re securely locked away with no chance of breaking out - keeping the air in your home as fresh as can be for you and your pet.
Can be used on any floor type
Whether it’s your pet moulting in the lounge, or it’s you in the bathroom, these products are equally as effective on carpets as they are on hard floors.
Best for Hard Flooring
Your partner’s raided the snack cupboard (again) and dropped a whole box of cereal onto the kitchen floor. Luckily, we’ve got the perfect selection of vacuum cleaners that’ll suck that dust right up, as well as keeping your tiles and laminate spick ‘n’ span.
Features to look out for
Crevice tools
All of these products come with a handy crevice tool. This means they’re all great at getting into tricky spaces, like in between cupboards and along skirting boards.
A pivoting swivel head
Nothing stops the flow of your cleaning spree quite as much as a rigid vacuum cleaner that refuses to twist when you need it to. The pivoting swivel head can smoothly rotate up to 180 degrees at once, from side to side. So, instead of painfully crashing into furniture and taking chunks out the walls, you’ll be able to swing around those bends with ease.
Dyson Digital Motor
The Dyson V11 Digital Motor promises better results on hard floors. It uses brushless magnets instead of different moving parts, creating a much more powerful performance. This makes it really durable and quiet too, and you’ll even be able to clean up those late-night spillages without waking the house up.
Lightweight
Gone are the days of dragging your hefty vacuum cleaner along your precious oak floors. All 3 of these models are really lightweight, meaning they’ll not only be easy to cart around, but you’ll never be left with scratched surfaces either.
Best for the Elderly
If you’re helping Grandma find her brand spanking new vacuum cleaner, or you suffer with aches and pains yourself, there are lots of things to take into consideration when buying the right one. These days, they’re so much more than something that just ‘picks up dirt’ – whether you need something that’s easy to carry or simple to use, the choices are endless.
Features to look out for
Lightweight
Gone are the days of having to lug around a dead weight in the name of cleaning. All 3 of these models are really lightweight, so you’ll never struggle to move it from one room to the other, and you’ll never have to put your back out doing it either.
Handheld option
They can also be converted into handheld options, with a quick release of a button. So, if you’ve just finished up in the lounge and you’ve spotted one of those annoying strands of dust hanging from the ceiling, you’ll be able to quickly reach it without any trouble.
Washable filter
If you’re trying to find ways to produce less waste (and save money), washable filters are a great way to start your eco-friendly journey. They’ll just need a quick rinse under the tap every now and then to stay in great condition, so you won’t have to keep replacing them and throwing old ones away.
Easy to store
Some models can be folded down or quickly dismantled for easy storage. This means they’ll never be that bulky housemate in the corner, and you can just tuck them away in the little cupboard under the stairs.
Best for Stairs and Awkward Spaces
Having a vacuum that can do it all is vital. Whether that’s reaching behind the TV cabinet, into that tricky corner, or blasting up and down the stairs to combat your other half’s grubby footprints, these models have some great features to equip you for any task.
Features to look out for
LED headlights
Because the LED headlights illuminate the floor in front, you’ll never miss any bits of dirt as you zoom along. So, the next time you’re cleaning a naturally dimmer area, like under the cabinet, you’ll be sure to see every speck!
Lightweight
If you’re sick of lugging a dead weight behind you when you’re vacuuming the stairs, these models are really lightweight. This lets you move freely and easily from step to step, and means the days of it bashing against the skirting boards are over.
Crevice and dusting tools
The crevice tool is specially designed to get into tricky spots, and the dusting brush is perfect for giving your surfaces a good polish. Who says cleaning has to be difficult?
Can be used on carpets and hard floors
You can use these models on soft carpets and hard floors. Some of them use sensors to detect the type of surface too, and automatically adjust the settings to suit. So, if you’re focused on getting the job done, you’ll never have to stop and fiddle with buttons when moving from room to room.
Best for Suction
Having a vacuum that can keep up with family life, and most importantly do a good job, should be one of life’s necessities. Whether the kids love the sandpit, or the dog’s into digging, these models are powerful enough to hack it all.
Features to look out for
Turbo Tool
Shark’s powerful turbo tool uses a combination of thick bristles and strong suction to pull out embedded dirt from carpets. So, next time Garfield’s rolling around in the living room and leaving a mess, just pop the tool onto your vacuum and enjoy spotless results ASAP.
FiberTeQ floorhead
The FiberTeQ floorhead can be adjusted, making it great for use on all floor types. The special bristles work together to drive out even the finest bits of dust, for quick and easy results.
HEPA filters
Anything that’s been pulled out of the air will be securely sealed into a HEPA filter. This is good news, because the last thing you want is allergens and pollutants escaping into your environment again, and making it hard to breathe.
DuoClean floorhead
The DuoClean floorhead uses 2 motorised brushes to suck up dust as it moves along the floor, so those tiny specks of dirt won’t stand a chance.
Best for Allergies
We’ve met some famously friendly vacuum cleaners over the years, Noo Noo anyone? With lots of kind tech that’ll keep the air around you hygienic, these models are a must-have if someone in your household suffers from asthma or hay fever.
Features to look out for
Radial Root Cyclone™ technology
Dyson’s Radial Root Cyclone™ technology uses multiple cyclones to capture as many allergens from the air as possible. This increases the suction power too, delivering perfect results no matter the surface.
Special filters
These models all come with HEPA filters, which offer the best protection against pollutants and nasties in the air. Once dust particles have been captured, they’re locked inside with no chance of escape.
Anti-Allergen Complete Seal
Shark’s Anti-Allergen Complete Seal locks 99.9% of allergens inside the vacuum, and stops them from finding their way back into the air around you.
Lightweight
Because they’re lightweight, you’ll be able to carry them from floor to floor without getting out of breath.
Best Cordless Vacuums
These days, we don’t have to be tied down to wires and plug sockets to get the most out of our vacuums. With cordless models, you can enjoy a completely free reign of the house (and outside too) without compromising on results. These vacuums have loads of great features that equip you for any job, from the living room to the car.
Good
40 minute run time is enough to go over each room without it needing an extra boost
Shop now
Better
60 minute run time means you can do a few laps around the house from one charge
Shop now
Best
Double the batteries, double the power! This model delivers 120 minutes of suction from a single charge
Shop nowFeatures to look out for
Upholstery tool
If you’re anything like us, you’re a big fan of a drive thru burger. It can often result in crumb-overload though, and that’s why these cordless models come with upholstery tools - so you can take them out to your whip and give your seats a freshening up.
3-in-1 design
The 3-in-1 design means you can use it as an upright, handheld, or versatile stick. So whatever job you’re facing, whether that’s a grubby rug in the hallway or a couple of dusty skirting boards, you’ll always be able to get brilliant results.
HEPA AirClean filter
The Miele model comes with an effective HEPA AirClean filter. This captures allergens and pollutants from the air, and locks them away in a sealed bag – perfect if someone in your house suffers from hay fever or asthma.
Torque Drive Motorhead
Because Dyson’s Torque Drive Motorhead uses sensors to monitor the surface it’s on, it’ll adjust the settings to best suit them. This means you’ll never have to break your cleaning flow to fiddle with buttons, and you can glide from floor to floor with ease.
Best Upright Vacuums
After a long day in the office, the last thing we want to do when we get home is vacuum. As upright models are the most powerful ones of all, you can always count on them to do a great job quickly. Where there’s a plug socket, there’s a way.
Features to look out for
Can be used on any floor type
These models work just as brilliantly on a wooden floor, as they do on a deep pile carpet. So whatever the job, you’ll always be well equipped.
Bagless and easy to empty
Bagless models mean you’ll never have to waste money on buying replacement bags again. Once the cylinder is full, aim it over the bin and push the release button. Everything that’s been picked up will just fall away, and you’ll be ready for next time.
Ball™ technology
The days of struggling to manoeuvre your vacuum around the home are well and truly behind you. With Dyson’s Ball™ technology, there’s a special mechanism chamber that makes it really easy to navigate, so there’ll be no stopping you from swinging around bits of furniture and awkward bends.
Lift-Away technology
Shark’s Lift-Away technology means you can transform your upright vacuum into a handheld one. Just release the lever and the wand will detach from the base, for easier cleaning of higher up spaces.
Best All Rounder
If you’re still making up your mind, check out these 3 models below. They’ve got a bit of everything, from tools to deal with pet hair, to special technology that makes them the must-have addition for your home.
Features to look out for
Pet tools
Whether it’s mud in the car after a woodland walk, or paw prints dotted around the house, the pet tool makes cleaning up after your furry friends easy. With thicker bristles than a normal brush, these work hard to drive out all kinds of dirt from floors.
LED headlights
We all know the frustration of putting the vacuum away and then noticing the odd cobweb that we didn’t before. That won’t be the case with the Shark model, because it comes with LED headlights that illuminate the path before you, so not a single crumb will go unnoticed.
RobustAir
Bosch’s RobustAir system constantly delivers a great performance, even when the bin is full.
Anti-Hair Wrap technology
Thanks to Anti-Hair Wrap technology, you’ll no longer have to spend your free time untangling bits of hair from the floorhead. Whilst you’re in the midst of vacuuming, the brush will automatically clear itself of knotted hair, preventing future jams.
