Best Vacuum Cleaners Of 2011

Shark Navigator NV22L Upright Vacuum

This pretty, lavender colored Shark is an excellent cleaner for any home, especially if you have pet(s). It's a lightweight, bagless upright vac that manages to clean better than some of the heavier models.

With two dust eating monster motors, a premium pet power brush, an easily stretchable hose for cleaning above-the-floor surfaces, and washable dust filters, this Euro Pro sweeper is the winner of our under $150 category because it 'doesn't lose suction' even with age.

When we tested the Shark, we were impressed by the fact that despite its small size, it had excellent suction ability that left a really clean home.

Equally effective on hard wood as it is on carpet, it'll be difficult to find a better vacuum cleaner that simply 'does it all' in this price range and with these features.

Hoover WindTunnel T-Series UH70120

The runner up in the under $150 category is the Hoover WindTunnel, a lightweight sweeper that can be moved around without any trouble.

For those of you who are plagued with back problems, the Hoover is an excellent choice as it doesn't strain your back while you vacuum your home.

Hoover's WindTunnel technology allows for effective vacuuming without blowing the dirt about.

While it's powerful suction pulls out even the most adamant debris and pet dander.

Also the fact that the Hoover has a long power cord with automated rewind function (not a common feature in this price range) makes it a worthy runner up to the Shark Navigator.

Conclusion

There are several decent vacuum cleaners in the under $150 category. However, like our winner Shark Navigator and runner up Hoover WinTunnel T-Series that offer amazing suction ability and incorporate advanced technology to do the cleaning, the other contenders such as the Bissell or the Dirt Devil, simply don't match up.

Either they have a short vacuum hose, badly designed dirt cup, noisy function, or suction that becomes poorer with age.

Since what you pay for is what you get in terms of quality, we recommend either the Shark Navigator or the Hoover WindTunnel UH70120 as the best vacuum cleaner in the Under $150 price category.

Electrolux UltraSilencer Green Canister Vacuum Cleaner, EL6984A

The Electrolux UltraSilencer Green Canister EL6984A is a lightweight, eco-friendly, and very quiet canister vacuum cleaner. The bagged Electrolux is loved by consumers for its effective and efficient cleaning of hard flooring surfaces like wood, linoleum, tiles, stone etc as well as its impressively low noise operation and as the name appropriately suggests.

Though, several consumers aren't happy with this vac's capability to clean deep pile carpets, but the adjustable suction power feature gives you the flexibility to choose the suction ability based on the cleaning area. Use less suction to clean lightweight rugs, and more suction to clean the carpets.

Since the hallmark feature of a good vacuum cleaner is to really clean dirt, dust, lint, pet dander, hair, big and small food crumbs etc, as per the reviews the Electrolux UltraSilencer turned out to be a voracious eater that feeds to clean, irrespective of the surface used upon.

The use of HEPA filters further enhances the UltraSilencer's ease of use. Add to that that almost 80% of its parts are made from recycled plastic, and you have a vacuum cleaner that is eco-friendly, easy to move around, carry up the stairs, and store.

Hoover Platinum Lightweight UH30010COM

The Hoover Platinum Lightweight Upright Vacuum with Canister is a well-chosen runner up as it scored just shy of the Electrolux UltraSilencer, both on our tests and consumer reviews. But, that being said it is a vacuum cleaner that does all that you'd expect from a under $250 cleaning machine.

You get two vacs for the price of one – the Upright and the Canister. While the upright model is quite impressive, we aren't too happy with the performance of the canister model, which is more like a handheld really.

That being said, the Hoover definitely makes up for its high price and the lacking canister with a 6-years warranty. Not bad at all! Finding vacs priced under $250 with such a lengthy warranty are difficult to find.

And weighing only 12 pounds, you can carry this lightweight sweeper up and down the stairs with ease.

While the upright picks up dirt easily on all types of rugs and carpets and leaves them looking like new, which we can vouch for because we tested it on different surfaces, we find the lack of a hose attachment for the upright unit a miss.

Conclusion

Well, a vacuum cleaner with a price tag of around $250 isn't cheap. That's why it's important to make the right choice; one that doesn't translate into regret a day later.

If you have hard flooring throughout your house with patches of carpets here and there, the Electrolux UltraSilencer is the one you should buy. But if you have carpeting opt for the Hoover Platinum with WindTunnel technology.

Both the Electrolux and the Hoover have some remarkable features like very quiet operation, excellent cleaning ability on different surfaces, lightweight, easy maneuverability, and adjustable suction power.

While vacuum cleaners such as the Electrolux Nimble Upright, the Oreck XL 2000 Upright Commercial, the Panasonic MC-V5210 among others were poorly rated by consumers due to their loud operation, low suction power, lack of common features like hose attachment, automated rewind cord etc, the Electrolux and the Hoover not just scored high on our tests but also received a very high number of positive reviews to become the best vacuum cleaners in the under $250 price category.

Miele S7210 Twist Upright Vacuum

Famous for their high quality vacs, Miele's S7210 Twist Upright Vacuum has made its mark in the lives of many happy world consumers and is part of their new S7 series of Premium and Comfort cleaner range.

Features such as automatic height adjustment, a 39 foot long power cord, adjustable suction control, and the powerful vortex motor, make the Twist a good vacuum cleaner. However, it doesn't have the special features available in the more expensive S7 series models like HEPA filters, LED headlight, new filter indicator, etc.

A problem that several consumers face with their vacuum cleaner is its inability to get under low lying furniture or furnishings. Fortunately, consumers who purchased the Miele S7210 Twist Upright Vacuum loved the amazing maneuverability that is a result of a combination of 360 degrees front castors and the patented "SwivelNeck" technology.

The Miele Twist can be adjusted to work on different surfaces and you can clean hard and delicate surfaces and upholstery as per your requirements. For example you can clean lamp shades and chandeliers with the Twist, without damaging them. The Twist, Salsa, Jazz and Cat & Dog belong to the Miele S7 Comfort class range.

The main difference between the Twist and the Salsa, which we have reviewed, is that the Salsa has the LED light and it includes the HEPA filter which is optional with the Twist.

Dyson DC24 Ball All-Floors Upright Vacuum Cleaner

The Dyson DC24 Ball All-Floors Upright Vac is a one of its kind upright in the market. We have reviewed the Dyson DC24 and suggest that you visit your nearest store to test it, even if you already have a vacuum cleaner at home.

Seeing how the Dyson DC24 cleans even the smallest of visible particles and how easy it is to maneuver may compel you to buy one as a Christmas gift to yourself!

The Dyson DC24 has a lot going for it like its lightweight structure, exceptional powerful suction and unique ball design that allows for the head to "turn on a dime". So whether you want to push, pull, tug, or turn the DC24, you can do so with a smile on your face!

When we were subjecting the Dyson to various tests to determine its strength of character, we found that the Root Cyclone technology ensures full-on suction without any blowout. Also, the filtration system is near perfect, making it the vacuum cleaner to buy if you have an asthmatic or allergy prone person in the family.

So is everything great with the Dyson? Not quite. We found it to be quite expensive compared to others with similar features and were disappointed by the average length of the power cord. Also, clipping the reversible wand on/off is a struggle.

Conclusion

While both, the Miele Twist and Dyson DC24 are designed to move and operate with ease, they have their own individual features that make choosing either tricky. Also, the hefty price tags on both needs to be taken into account, for you may get cheaper vacuum cleaners though without such world-class features.

You can consider the Eureka Commercial Upright, Royal Upright Vac, or the Oreck Pilot Vacuum Cleaner that are all no-frills sweepers at a cheaper price, but with limited features.

Miele S5281 Callisto Canister HEPA Vacuum Cleaner

The lightweight Miele S5231 Callisto Canister HEPA Vacuum Cleaner can be lugged up and the down, to and forth, with convenience and comfort.

Technological additions like the ‘noise optimized' fan and ‘integrated silence' ensure that the Callisto gives a noiseless performance, and we can vouch for that as we tested it and were majorly impressed by its silent operation.

Miele vacuum cleaners are the BMWs in the vac market and though they come with hefty price tags, they also have some excellent standard features that make it impossible to resist one if you have the means!

Vortex motors, HEPA filters, automatic cord rewind buttons, crevice & upholstery tools, dusting brushes, and the onboard tool boxes are some well-thought off and designed features that keep Miele vacuums ahead of the competition.

Designed ergonomically and featuring five varying height adjustments for different types of pile carpeting, this Miele will not strain your wrist, hand, or back.

If cleaning deeply embedded pet hair, precious hardwood, or laminate floor have been giving you nightmares, worry not... the Miele Callisto deals with all your cleaning worries with cool and classy sophistication, solid build, and fantastic vacuuming technology!

Read an in depth review of the Miele Callisto on our website to know why it's chosen as a winner in this category!

Miele S7580 Bolero Upright Vacuum Cleaner

The latest offering from the Miele stable, the S7580 Bolero Upright Vacuum Cleaner belongs to the S7 series of vacuum cleaners that include 3 Premium class dirt eaters namely, Swing, Tango and Bolero and 4 Comfort class machines namely, Salsa, Jazz, Cat & Dog, and Twist.

Fast gaining reputation as THE vacuum for those with allergies, the Bolero has an Active HEPA filter and auto-sealing dust bags that ensure very limited exposure to pet hair, dander, dust, and other allergy causing particles.

Everything about the Miele Bolero spells classic design and elegance, whether it's the deep black body color or the beautiful swivel-neck, or the amazing 58 foot wide cleaning radius.

If you love the convenience of a canister, but the lightweight of an upright, the Miele Bolero is just the vacuum for you as it combines both flexibility and deep cleaning capability.

So what's the difference between the Premium range of Miele S7 vacs and Comfort Class range?

Well, the Comfort Class range lacks HEPA filter, Filter change indicator, Thermal cut-off indicator, and Automatic suction and therefore, has a lower price tag.

You can also check out our review of the Miele Salsa to figure out whether the lack of these features is well worth the extra dollars you will end up paying, or is it simply easier to just buy a HEPA filter and replace the existing on a Twist or Salsa.

Anyways, look no further than the Bolero if you need a durable and contemporary vacuum cleaner and suffer from allergies as it is beautifully equipped to handle all your cleaning requirements. The lack of a self-winding cord is just a small inconvenience.

Conclusion

The pros of buying Miele vacuum cleaners are that they are made in Germany. They have a sturdy build, 7 year warranty, and spell functionality and elegance in bold! However, if you are willing to forgo some features like perfect HEPA filtration, great maneuverability and quiet operation, you can buy a good quality upright like a Dyson or a Eureka for a considerably lesser price.

But if you are fussy like us, and won't settle for anything less than the best, then look no further than the Miele S7 range of vacuum cleaners.

We hope our Best Vacuum Cleaners of 2011 list will help you find a suitable vacuum cleaner for your home. These Super 8 vacuums are all winners in their own rights and we can confidently say this based on our own tests and the consumer reviews and ratings for each of these dirt devils.