If we didn’t mention a particular model you’re curious about, we did actually consider it but decided not to recommend it. Repair technicians tend to love Riccar, Simplicity, and Fuller Brush uprights (all made by Tacony Corporation). We tested the Riccar Vibrance R20D a few years ago, based on some techs’ recommendations. It is a sturdy, American-manufactured machine made to be repaired pretty easily. However, it costs more than comparable models from other brands, it didn’t clean as well in our tests, and it is much heavier and harder to steer than our favorites (even the “lightweight” model). All vacuum cleaners represent a compromise to some degree, and we think that the Navigator Lift-Away handles those compromises in a way that will make most owners happy.
This makes the Shark – Apex the best canister vacuum for pet hair, or even for extra-long human hair. You’ll only ever catch a few strands on the roller, which eliminates the maintenance shark robotic vacuums needed on traditional roller designs. Rather than having a separate head for carpet and bare-floor cleaning, Kenmore gives you a convertible system called the “Crossover” head.
The Shark Navigator Lift-Away NV352 bagless upright vacuum cleaner is an effective, reliable vacuum at a great price. Of the hundreds of vacuum cleaners available today, this is the one that we think will make the most people the happiest. It should be reliable, thanks to its durable belt and hard-to-clog yet easy-to-clean design.
“You need to first decide your budget and what it is you’re looking for in a vacuum,” says Aaron Wilson, home appliance expert at JustAnswer. “A cordless vacuum is powered by a battery and has a lot of mobility and versatility. They are great for small household chores as well as great for cleaning out your car.” But corded vacuums “are typically more powerful and have more capacity,” he says. Micetich shark canister vacuum recommends that you consider a cordless vacuum if you live in a smaller home and want something for daily maintenance. “They’re easier to store and typically have multi-functional configurations so you can easily switch from surface to surface,” she says. Shark NV360 Navigator Lift-Away has many of the same features of our top pick, the NV356 Navigator, but this model is sold for a lower price.
These are the features that a vacuum cleaner needs in order to clean your entire home (bare floors, carpets, and some surfaces off of the floor, too) and to work reliably for more than a few months at a time. For excellent cleaning performance designed specifically for hardwood floors, the winner has to be the Bissell Hard Floor Expert canister vacuum. Accessories include — a hard floor cleaning head, multi-surface cleaning head, crevice tool, dusting brush, upholstery tool, shoulder strap, and cord wrap. Some vacuums perform better on certain types of flooring, so this is something to consider as you select a model for your home. For instance, the Shark SV1106 Navigator Freestyle Upright Stick Vacuum performs well on both hard floors and carpeting, making it ideal for homes with a combination of both.
In addition to sucking up pet hair quickly, we also love this vacuum’s large dust bin because you won’t have to worry about emptying it mid-clean. When it is time to empty the dust bin, keep in mind that it’s a little tricky to pull apart. We found that if we didn’t properly place the two pieces together, the vacuum lost suction power once restarted. We also had to pull some hair out of the dust cup from crevices that did not initially empty. This Shark model is a little bulky for a handheld vacuum, but we think the extra-large dust bin makes it worth it.