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Quick Guide

VACUUM CLEANERS

Carpets top the list of critical cleaning chores, an area where upright models have traditionally excelled. But you may prefer a canister vacuum for other cleaning, especially on stairs.

Shopping tip
Some vacuums are easier than others to push, pull, and carry. See which feels best at the store.

What to iooi( for

A vacuum that's easy to push, pull, and carry, so try before I for most cleaning jobs you buy Bagless models if you have For better deep-cleaning of asthma or allergies, because carpets, an upright beats a emptying the dustbin and canister cleaning a filter is an especially dusty, messy chore For cleaning drapes, upholstery, on stairs, and under furniture, a canister is better What you'ii pay than an upright You'll find strong performers for as little as $50.
What to skip

Splurging on extra cleaning tools, when the basic tools that come standard should suffice
Scan this or see how. page 1!

For more buying advice, go to Coti.^umerReporls.org/vacuums

Brand & model similar models, in small type, Me compiirahle to tested model.

Price

Overall score

Weight Test results (ib.)

CZ O

2 0 100 P I F I G IVGl E

A
[7] 1

BAGGED UPRiGHTS Tbese tend to be better for carpets and are easier to store.
Hoover WindTunnel Anniversary Edition U6485-900 UH50000 Mieie 5 7210 Tviiist Kenmore Intuition 31100

21
22 21 22 1 6 1 7 21

g O e

0 [Z 0 Q Q 0

2 3

4 Mieie 5 7260 Cat &0og S Hoover Tempo Widepath US140-900 6 Hoover WindTunnel Max UH3O6OO 7 Panasonic MC-UG775

e e e ^ o 1 1 e e i1 e o 1 1 e e o i1 e o i1

e e

o o o e

1 1 1 1 1 1 1

NA 5 $2 5 NA 5

A 2 N
NA 6 NA 8

1 o 1 1 o 1

VACUUM Brand S model Similarmodels, ins are comparatile to tested model. Price Overaii score

CLEANERS

129

Weigiit Testresuits
(ib.)

s. s s
5
0 100

.i= re .a

S s
p I F I G IVGI E

A BAGGED UPRIGHTS continued

8 H o o v e r P l a t i n u m Bagged j . . .

UH30010COM 1 Kenmore Intuition 31810

*''"" 350 oo^ " 650 n ^'" 600 150 .-jr.

^'^ -.rn
''"

13 21 22 22 20 16 1 7 9 9 20 13 19 14 19 17 11

NA 0

a a

NA $5

10 iMieie S 7580 Bolero Swing. Tango 1 Miele S 7280 lazz Salsa 1 12 Eureka Boss Smart Vac 48701 ! 13 Sebo Felix Premium 14 Panasonic MC-LIG471 15 Riccar Supralite RSU
16 17 SimplidlyFreedomF36OO 2 Riccar Supralite RSL3
Simplicity Freedom F35OO 2

e a a e e

a 0 a e 0 e

0 $2 5 0 NA 5 0 NA 5
N A N A NA 3 3 8

0 0 2
2 3 NA

0 0 e 0 0 0 NA e

e e

NA

a a

NA NA

Riccar Brilliance Premium simplicity Synchrony Premium

gm

18 Kenmore Progressive Glide 30100 "" 19 Lindhaus Oiamante 380 900 20 DirtDeviiFeatherlite Bagged M085590 21 Sebo automatic X5 22 Panasonic MC-UG509 23 Aerus FreshEra 2 .n 820 300 500

NA 0

4 NA

4 NA
4

0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0

0 e 2 NA

0 0 0

NA

a a

NA 3 NA 4

24 Royai Eminence MRY975O 600 25 Panasonic MC-UG413 100

20
15 22 19

26 Cirrus Performance Pet CR99 450 27 Kobienz U610 ::

0 0 0 0 1 3 e 0 0 1 NA A 0 a 0 N 1

300

N A

0 2

N A

B
1

BAGLESS UPRIGHTS These trade a bag for a bin but are messier to empty.
Hoover WindTunnel T-Series Rewind Bagless
UH7O12O UH70110 3

1 8 22 2 1 1 8

e o o o o o a e o o a e e o o a

I 2

LG Kompressor Total Care LUV400T I 3 DYSon DC28 Animal I 4 Eureiia Airspeed ASIOOOA [ _ ., jswoiA G0J4 lgoM craigea

100

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Brand & model

g ^ -g Similar models, m small type. S are comparable to tested tnodel.

Price

Overaii score

Weigiit Test resuits (ib.)

I I I I I I I
- E l
100 F I G IVGl E

B 0 0 0 n 5 6 7 8

BAGLESS UPRIGHTS continued LG Kompressor LUV300 Hoover Platinum Bagiess

UH7OO15

22 22 23 16

o e
00

O O e

LG Kompressor LUV200 Bisseil CieanView Helix

Dirt Devii Featherlite Bagiess M085845 (Target) Siiark Navigator Lift Away
NV352 NV351 (walmarti

e e e o
o 0
e O

O O O O

13
.,

14 19 19 18 23 19

HooverWindTunnel Pet Rewind UH7021O s Hoover WindTunnel TSeries Purely Clean UH7O202 3 Bisseil Momentum 82G71 Kenmore Intuition 31040 Hoover WindTunnel Rewind PIUSUH7O2O5 3 Panasonic MC-UL915 Hoover WindTunnel Max UH70600 Siiark Navigator NV22L Bisseii Pet Hair Eraser 87B4 87B4-2 (LOe's). 87B4-3 (Best Buy) Eiectroiux Nimble EL860211 EL86O5ll(LO*e'5) Bisseii PowerClean 16N5-9 Bisseil Healthy Home 16N5-F Eureka Whirlwjnd+Pet Lover 327611 Bissen PowerGroom 92L3W

00

250

21 20 16 21 19 22 22 20 18 16 17

e o e o e e e o e o e o o e 00 o o o e e o o o e e o oo
o 00 o o o o

O O

e o e o o e o o e o o e o

e O o o o o o o o o o o o o o

Ratings Key Excellent Very good OGood Fair Poor D CR Best Buy These models offer the best combination of performance and price. Ail are recommended. I bd Recommended These are high-performing models that stand out.

VACUUM Price Overaii score

CLEANERS

131

Brand S modei g ^ similar models. In smalltype. S S are comparable to tested model.

Weigiit Test resuits (Ib.) g. fe

100 P I F G IVGl E

Si

S 2 b

BAGLESS UPRIGHTS continued

27 Kenmore Intuition 31811 28 Hoover WindTunnei Pet Cyclonic UH70085 29 Eiectroiux Versatility EL8505
EL8502

23 23 24 22 1 3 1 7 1 2
23

O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O
O O O O

30 Bisseil Lift-off MultiCyclonic Pet 89Q9 8909-4

(Kohl's). 8909-6 (BBB). 18Z6 (Target)

31 Hoover WindTunnei Air UH70400 32 Bissen ProLite Multi Cyclonic

17G5 I7G5-2 (Lowe's)

33 Dyson 0C24 Ball All Floors 34 Hoover WindTunnei Pet Rewind Plus UH70086

1 Comes with a mini canister vacuum that accepts tools; we did not test the canister 2 Does not accept tools. 3 The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission on May 27,2010, announced the recall of this model due to fire and shock hazards. See the CPSC recall notice for more details.

Brand S modei similar models, in s ! ,ire comparable 10 tested model.

Price

Overall score

Test results

S
0 100
P I F I G IVCl E

o .S '

i S
o

A 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

BAGGED CANISTER Kenmore Intuition 28014 iMieleS5281Callisto Eiectroiux Oxygen EL6988I1 Kenmore Progressive 21514 Hoover WindTunnei 53670 Eiectroiux UltraOne EL707OA Panasonic MC-CG9O2 Eiectroiux Ultra5ilencer OeepClean EL70601J ultraSilencer tjeepClean EL7061II (Lowe's)

O O O o O O o O O
250 500

26 24 22 23 24 25 23

O e O

o o

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Brand & modei Similar models, m sinalltype,

Price

Overall score

Testresuits

E s 100 P I F G IVGl E A
9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

-a .

BAGGED CANISTER continued

Eiectroiux UltraSilencer DeLux EL7066 Panasonic MOCG983 Riccar Immaculate Premier Gusto Mieie S 2181 Mieie S 2121 Mieie S 2121 Titan Olympus Delphi

O O 9 O O O O 9 O o e O

23 24 27 17
16 16 17

O N N 13 A A

o e O9
A o e o N A o o o N

Eiectroiux UltraSilencer Green EL6984A Eiectroiux UltraSilencer EL6986A Metropolitan Professionals A0M-4PNHSF Aerus Lux Legacy Aerus Lux Guardian Ultra Sebo Air Belt C3.1

21 Sebo Air Belt K3 Volcano 22 23 24 Eureita Surtacemax 6833D Eiectroiux Ergospace EL4100 Bissen CleanAlong Canister 48K2

9 9 O OO o O 9 o
o o o o
160

9 O o 9 O O o 9

22 21 21 25 21

20 15 23

9 o o o

B
[^ [] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

BAGLESS CANISTER
IG Kompressor LCV900B Hoover Platinum Bagiess Canister S3865 Rainbow e-seriesE2 Hoover Elite Cyclonic S3825 Eiectroiux UltraActive DeepClean EL4300A Hoover Multi-Cyclonic SH40060 Hoover Zen Whisper SH40080 Dirt Devil Vision M082750

eOO9* OO9'

27 33 24

OO22 00009' 9e99* 1 7 2 0

VACUUM

CLEANERS

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Guide to the Ratings

Overall score is mainly cleaning, airflow, tiandling, noise, and emissions. Carpet is ability to lift embedded talc and sand trom medium-pile carpet. Bare floors is vacuuming sand without dispersing. Tool airflow is ttirough hose with increasing amounts of dust-simulating wood flour. Noise reflects decibel-meter results; models scored Poor mandate hearing protection. Emissions measures release ot small particles with motor on. Handlinq Is ease of pushing, pulling, and carrying. Pet hair is pickup of long hair on medium-pile carpet. Weight is vacuum and onboard tools. Baq costs are per bag. Under canister features, baq denotes whether the model has a disposable bag. Brush on/off indicates whether there's a switch for the rotating brush. Easy on/off refers to a switch that's located on the handle or where your foot can activate it. Manual-pile adjust changes the height of the machine to a carpet's pile height. Price is approximate retail.

i^ost & Least Reliable Canister vacuums

Fpu/pr ^

More

repairs

repairs

Ds n M H M K yo

K n ce H H H e mr

Mee ^ 0 ] il H oe ^ 1 1 1 ! o vr Ee tou ^ H i cr i x
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25%

Upright vacuums Fewer repairs More repairs

Among canister brands, Dyson and Kenmore were among the least repair-prone and Eiectroiux was most repair-prone. Kirby was among the least repair-prone brands of upright vacuums while Simplicity and Riccar were among the more repair-prone. That's what we found when we asked almost 96,000 readers who bought a vacuum between 2007 and 2011 about their experiences. The graph shows the percentage of models for each brand that were repaired or had a serious problem. Differences of fewer than 4 points aren't meaningful, and we've adjusted the data to eliminate differences linked solely to age and usage. Models within a brand may vary, and design or manufacture changes might affect future reliability. Still, choosing a brand with a good repair history can improve your odds of getting a reliable model. Source: Annual Product Reliability Survey. Consumer Reports National Research Center.

0%

5%

10% 15% 20% 25%

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