When it comes to cleaning your house, there are some areas that are simple and quick to clean, and others that are a pain to properly clean. Vacuums are one of the most handy and effective tools for cleaning, luckily.
However, stairs are the most difficult to clean by far. They’re awkward to get to with normal vacuums, they don’t have a lot of space to work around with, and because they’re in constant use, they attract a LOT of dust and dirt. However, you’ll be able to easily and quickly clean them if you have the one of the best handheld vacuums for stairs – a great handheld vacuum ensures that you’ll be well-equipped to handle this tricky task.
Getting into the nooks and crannies around and in stairs to remove dirt, dust, hair, and debris can be an insurmountable and exhausting task, especially if you’re going to be dragging your vacuum cleaner up and down the stairs for each step. While your upright vacuum may be good for your general vacuuming, it’ll be inefficient and cumbersome if you’re going to use it to clean your stairs. Before you buy a vacuum for your stairs, there are factors like weight, corded or cordless, filters, smooth-rolling wheels, and the strength of the motor that you need to keep in mind. This will help you select a vacuum that best fits your needs so that you can get the best handheld vacuum for you and your stairs.
Factors to Consider:
1. Type and Size
Handheld vacuums come in different types and sizes. Some vacuums have the whole body as one piece, others have a hose and a canister, and some have a 2-in-1 design like the stick-shaped vacuums. Most of them are good for cleaning the stairs, but some aren’t flexible enough. Handheld vacuums are usually limited to their use and can only clean small, flat areas like stairs. Some vacuums come with hoses and other attachments that are great for cleaning your sofas, curtains, and even car seats. Upright fully detachable vacuums are the best for cleaning your entire house.
2. Weight
If you’re naturally small or have other health issues related to carrying heavy objects, you don’t want to buy a vacuum that will cause distress, pain, or discomfort when carrying up and down the stairs when cleaning. For the most part, you want a vacuum that weighs less than 10 pounds so that you can vacuum with comfort and ease – especially when you’re using an upright vacuum.
3. Attachments
Attachments are very important in handheld vacuums as they help clean the hard-to-reach places other than just the flat surfaces around your home. Some of the attachments you should consider include:
- The crevice tool is useful in cleaning the tight corners of your staircase where a standard brush roll can’t reach. These tools are mostly small and pointy and most vacuums have at least one.
- A good brush can get deep into the fibers of your carpet and remove dust and debris. A motorized brush is better because it adds power which helps with your cleaning. Most vacuums come with a brush attached, but in some vacuums, you can remove it when cleaning other surfaces.
- Apart from these two, other attachments are for specific purposes like the rubber nozzle that you use to remove pet hair and others with a wider mouth nozzle for sucking in debris from hard floors.
4. Suction Power
A vacuum with a stronger suction power will be more effective at picking up dirt, dust, and debris. Manufacturers usually give a power rating of their products which helps let you know how powerful their suction is, and is usually given in amps or volts. However, many things affect the amount of suction in a vacuum, such as how the machine is built and more. The vacuum may lose suction because it’s getting old and the parts are wearing or are due for replacements. That’s why it’s important to check reviews so that you have a general idea of the longevity and quality of the vacuum before you purchase it.
5. Filtration System
When you’re cleaning the stairs in your home, you’ll probably be using a vacuum hose to suck up all the debris and dust that’s spread all over your staircase. This means you need a vacuum with a good amount of suction to get rid of all the dirt. Suction alone isn’t as important, but often, a strong suction power vacuum with a powerful filtration system is the key to deep cleaning your home with vacuums. When we’re talking about filtration systems, you should try to find a vacuum that’s going to remove all the dirt without shooting dust particles in the air or leaving any allergens lingering. A vacuum with a HEPA filtration system will be very effective in keeping your air clean and ensures there are no fine particles, allergens, or irritants lingering around after a cleaning. There are also other filtration systems like water filtration, simple filtration with washable and disposable filters, and cyclone filtration.
Comparison Table for the Best Handheld Vacuum for Stairs
| Vacuum | Features | Amazon Link |
|---|---|---|
| Shark Rocket Hand Vacuum HV292 | Motorized brush, stretch hose, crevice tool, 15 ft power cord, washable filters | View Price |
| Dirt Devil Plus 16V Hand Vacuum | Powered turbo tool, 16-volt lithium-ion battery, upholstery tool, power indicator, cordless | View Price |
| Shark Navigator NV360 Vacuum | Swivel steering, large dust cap, upholstery tool, crevice tool, HEPA filter, detachable canister | View Price |
| Black + Decker Cordless Dust Buster CHV1410L | Long-life 16-volt lithium battery, fade-free power, washable dirt bowl, rotating slim nozzle, powerful suction, flip brush, crevice tool | View Price |
Shark Rocket Hand Vacuum HV292
The Shark Rocket Hand Vacuum HV292 is a very powerful handheld vacuum that is designed to clean any surface – even stairs with no problems. It’s a corded handheld vacuum that’s very appealing if you’re looking for an all-in-one machine and you don’t mind paying a bit more to get it. This dustbuster has everything you need to tackle all of the dirt and dust in your home. It includes a wide mouth brush, crevice tool, a hose, and a fully motorized roller brush. You can use it to clean hard and soft floors, upholstery, and tight spaces. This vacuum is bagless, so it weighs less than 4 pounds which is a very ideal weight when you’re cleaning your stairs.
It comes with a dust cap that is very easy to use. All you need to do is hold it over the trash and press a button to release the contents. The washable and reusable filters help reduce your maintenance costs and you save money in the long run. The motorized brush helps suck up loose hairs and deep cleans your carpet by sucking up dirt and dust in the tiny fibers. The hose extension helps you reach tight corners easily. It comes with a 15 foot power cord that should give you more than enough length to vacuum the entire staircase.
Pros
- Comes with many useful attachments
- Has a motorized brush that makes cleaning easier
- The dust cap is very easy to use and clean
- The cord is long enough to complete an entire staircase + still have some additional room for cleaning
Cons
- The cord doesn’t retract so you have to wind it up
- Not as convenient as a cordless handheld
- Has no storage mechanism
Verdict
A lightweight handheld vacuum that’s easy to maneuver when cleaning the stairs. Also, it works wonderfully for furniture and upholstery. This is a very versatile vacuum that gets the job done quick!
Dirt Devil Plus 16V Hand Vacuum Cleaner
The Dirt Devil Plus 16V Hand Vacuum Cleaner is a cordless hand vacuum that’s designed with a powerful motor that runs on a 16-volt lithium battery that can last for a good amount of time. The batteries recharge fast so you don’t have to wait for long to use the vacuum again. This stair vacuum has good suction, so it’ll deep clean the carpet on your stairs with ease. It comes with a quick flip tool that is designed to clean dirt hidden in the crevices of your stairs. The dirt cup has a large capacity, so you don’t have to keep emptying it before you finish your cleaning.
Apart from cleaning the stairs, this vacuum has an upholstery tool that will be very helpful at picking up pet hair with minimal effort. The fact that this vacuum is cordless makes it very convenient and allows you to easily move from room to room without having to deal with tripping on the cord or constantly unplugging it and moving it to another outlet. It also has a power indicator that alerts you when you need to recharge the battery.
Pros
- Brush roll helps to deep clean
- The crevice tool makes it easy to collect all nasty debris in the places that are tough to reach
- Great suction
- Cordless
- The large dirt cap makes it easy to empty and clean
Cons
- Doesn’t come with an extra filter
- Battery charge only lasts for 20 minutes
Verdict
A great vacuum cleaner if you’re not cleaning a large area, but charging can be annoying as there is no specific charging station for the batteries. This would be a great choice for people with smaller homes/apartments.
This is an upright vacuum that comes with a detachable canister so that you can use the vacuum as a handheld. This means you can use the vacuum to clean your floors normally when the vacuum is upright, then switch quickly to a handheld that you can easily carry up and down the stairs as you clean. The hose is good length and you can attach it to the wide brush head when you’re cleaning your carpet. It also comes with a crevice tool that you can use to clean the tight corners in your staircase. It has a large capacity dust cap with an anti-allergen seal that helps to trap allergens and dust inside.
This unit also comes with a fully sealed HEPA filter that will capture and clean all the fine particles, pollutants, and allergens in the air and ensures they don’t escape back into the air you’re breathing. Although it’s not the very best for cleaning your stairs, it has an all-in-one solution for helping you clean your entire house.
Pros
- Option to use as an upright or handheld vacuum
- It uses a HEPA filter that helps prevent fine particles or allergens from lingering in your air
- Performs well on many surfaces
- Great suction
- Wide variety of helpful accessories/tools
Cons
- Swivel design puts a strain on your shoulders and back
- Canister is small
Verdict
An excellent two-in-one vacuum that you can use to clean the entire house and even turn it to a handheld to clean your stairs. It uses a HEPA filter which is always a great and effective feature in a vacuum cleaner.
Black + Decker Cordless Dust Buster CHV1410L Hand Vacuum
This is a cordless dust buster that uses lithium technology, powerful suction, and fade-free power. It has a transparent bagless dirt bowl that you can see and easily clean after use. It’s a small vacuum that has powerful suction – it uses cyclonic action to remove all the dirt and grime that are embedded deep in your carpet’s fibers. It has a crevice tool and brushes on the side that you can flip when you need to use them.
You can easily clean the cup and the filter is machine washable. The lithium batteries automatically shut off when charging so you can conveniently store the vacuum on the charger. You can use this vacuum to clean everything from your carpet to your furniture, tiles floors, and more.
Pros
- Very easy to clean the vacuum
- Has amazing suction
- Rotating nozzle makes it easy to clean tight corners
- Charging station makes it easy to recharge the vacuum and grab it when you need it
Cons
- It’s quite a loud vacuum
- Mixed reviews
- The battery has a short life and it’s not replaceable
Verdict
A very powerful small compact vacuum that is excellent for small cleaning jobs. It has a large dirt cap that you can easily empty and clean and has accessories that are conveniently built into its design.
Conclusion – Our Pick – Shark Rocket Hand Vacuum HV292
When you’re looking for the best handheld vacuum for stairs, you should remember that there are different types and they all require a bit of lifting to get the job done. Choose a vacuum with enough suction power so you’ll be able to clean your stairs without any issues. A vacuum that gets the job done quick saves us that time, energy, and money.
The Shark Rocket Hand Vacuum HV292 is a powerful handheld vacuum that has great suction with a motorized brush, stretch hose, and crevice tool to ensure your stairs get properly cleaned. This vacuum will make it much easier to clean your house in a quick, efficient way without any additional or unneeded stress.
Laura
Laura Smith is an author and philanthropist; runs several trust funds and teaches people in different forums the importance of developing actionable solutions, to help in the conservation of energy while limiting environmental degradation. She is passionate about everything tech and has written different reviews on a myriad of electrical gadgets. Technology and environmental degradation are a major challenge around the globe today, and many companies produce gadgets without a guideline on how to dispose of, after they have served their purpose. Laura has thus dedicated her life to finding eco-friendly solutions in the disposition of electrical gadgets in the middle of technological advancements.
love my dyson, 4 years old
Dyson is a great brand! They make great and reliable vacuums!