If you have hardwood floors and you plan to maintain a clean/polished look, you can’t be too casual about your cleaning routine. You need to give your floors the proper treatment that’ll keep them well maintained and free of any dust, dirt, or other nasty particles. What you need is a vacuum cleaner – a small vacuum cleaner is a commonly popular choice. Small vacuum cleaners not only help you save up on costs, but they are compact, lightweight, easy to store, and also very effective at cleaning your hardwood floor.
Whether you’ve had hardwood floors for years or you recently added them in your home, it’s important to learn the best way to clean your hardwood floors. Surprisingly, small vacuum cleaners are the perfect tool for the job. Small vacuum cleaners are quite effective when it comes to cleaning floors, hair, and fine dust from crevices and upholstery. Smaller vacuums are also just as effective as larger vacuums with big canisters and huge bins. By choosing an effective small vacuum cleaner, your cleaning job becomes much easier and you’ll be able to give your floor a fresh new look.
In this post, we’ll go through some of the best top-rated small vacuums in the world. So, if you’re looking for the most suitable small vacuum cleaner for your home, our review below will help you pick the right model for you and your needs!
Factors to Consider when Purchasing your Small Vacuum Cleaner
The size and portability of your vacuum cleaner are very important aspects of a good hardwood floor cleaner. However, when you’re out in the market looking for the best vacuum cleaner for your home, there are a number of factors that must be put into consideration so that the vacuum cleaner you pick is capable of properly cleaning your hardwood floor, to the standards you require.
Suction Strength
A vacuum cleaner cleans by sucking up dirt and debris that have accumulated on your floor. Therefore, it’s important to ensure that the suction power of your machine is powerful and effective. The suction power of a vacuum varies according to the model and design of your cleaner. Most cleaners have motors attached to the head that release suction, sucking up dirt from your floor to the vacuum. Some vacuums have very high suction power, which is great for eliminating all kinds of unwanted material from your floor. Some vacuums have low suction strength and struggle to pick up dirt from your floors. This is always irritating, time wasting, and the signs of a bad vacuum. On the other hand, too much suction can also be dangerous, as some vacuums with very high suction strength may end up damaging your hardwood floor, leaving scratches and scuffs on the surface. NEVER compromise on the suction power of your cleaner.
Portability
As mentioned earlier, the size of your vacuum cleaner is a very important factor that must be considered when trying to find a vacuum. Small vacuums are typically designed with portability in mind and also offer different levels of mobility. Cordless vacuum cleaners are effective in cleaning your home without having to connect the vacuum to an outlet. Homes and institutions with hardwood floors and stairs benefit from small cordless vacuums. A portable, yet lightweight vacuum cleaner features compact and powerful motors that produce a strong airflow, eliminating debris from your floor and leave a very clean shine to your hardwood floors.
Portable vacuums are amazing as there’s almost no limit to the number of places and rooms you can clean with your cleaner. There are a number of small lightweight and portable vacuum cleaners that are very efficient and powerful, suitable for all cleaning tasks. However, some of these vacuums are only suitable for light cleaning tasks around your home.
Additionally, if you’re tight on storage space, these vacuums don’t take up much room.
Type and Model of Your Vacuum Cleaner
There are various different types and models of vacuum cleaners on the market to choose from. With the sheer variety and amount available today, you’ll easily be able to find one for your needs.
There are handheld vacuum cleaners, which are more suitable for getting to tight corners and small spaces that could be hard to reach. There are also stick vacuum cleaners, upright vacuum cleaners, canister vacuum cleaners, and even automatic robot vacuum cleaners.
The market also has different types of cleaners meant for different activities. Steam cleaners use steam to clean your floor, while spot cleaners focus on easily getting rid of hard stains on your floor. Different types of vacuums work better in different cleaning situations. The type and model that you’ll choose should suit your lifestyle and wants/needs. The power cord of your vacuum cleaner should be of a comfortable length – one that you’ll be able to comfortably use around your home. A cleaner with a shorter power cord will not be able to clean a larger room unless you connect it to an extension cable. Nobody wants to drag out an extension cable for vacuum cleaner! That would be a little ridiculous, and not the safest option either. A vacuum with a long power cord allows you to comfortably and effectively maneuver all around the room, under furniture, and tight corners without having to search for an additional power source or unplug and replug it constantly.
Power Consumption
This factor is often overlooked, however it’s quite important to check the power rating of your cleaner before you purchase. The amount of energy that your vacuum will consume is often placed on a stamp or label on the vacuum cleaner. Knowing the power power rating and consumption of your machine is important so you can avoid spending your hard earned $ on electricity bills.
Many small vacuum cleaners are cordless and operate on rechargeable batteries. These are quite easy to use. Before a cleaning, ensure that the battery of your vacuum is fully charged. This will save you time and effort so that you don’t have to stop in the middle of your cleaning to recharge your vacuum. Another overlooked factor that many people forget is the expected run time of your vacuum. If your vacuum has at least 30 minutes runtime, that’s usually sufficient for most people. However, you might need an hour runtime if you have a larger home, so battery life is something to consider. The market is also filled with a large amount of energy-saving vacuum cleaners. Energy-saving vacuums can still clean your hardwood floor effectively without consuming too much power and breaking your bank. You might not consider power consumption too important, but if you’re an avid cleaner, those dollar bills might add up.
Filters in Your Vacuum Cleaner
The more advanced small vacuum cleaners are built with a High-Efficiency Particulate Air filter otherwise known as a (HEPA) filter. This filter is designed to trap impurities such as dust, dirt, pollen, pet hairs, and even mold spores. HEPA filters can be re-used after, so all you have to do is wash it, then wait for it to dry. This is great especially for those who could be suffering from any allergies or respiratory diseases. There are other vacuums with an active filter that plays the same role in trapping impurities. The filters are made of different materials such as charcoal, glass, and even cardboard. HEPA and active filters work in purifying the air around you during the vacuum cleaning process.
Reviewing the Best Small Vacuums for Hardwood Floors
Comparison Table for Best Small Vacuums for Hardwood Floors
| Name | Weight | Cord Length | Energy Consumption | Check on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bissell Cleanview Deluxe Corded Handheld Vacuum | 4.65 lbs | 18ft | 4 Amps | View Price |
| Shark Rocket Corded Ultra-Light Hand Vacuum | 3.7 lbs | 15ft | 500 Watts | View Price |
| Tineco A10 Hero Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner | 5.03 lbs | Cordless | 10-30 Minutes Battery Life | View Price |
| Shark Pet Perfect II Cordless Hand Vacuum | 4.5 lbs | Cordless | 15-30 Minutes Battery Life | View Price |
Bissell Cleanview Deluxe Corded Handheld Vacuum
The Bissell Clean View Deluxe Corded Hand Vacuum is lightweight and very convenient to use for cleaning hardwood floors. The vacuum is very portable, providing an easy and effective way to remove fine dust, pet hair, dirt, and more from your floor. Its small and compact size makes it easy to carry and move around with. Moving from room to room is effortless, plus the long power cord makes it great to use, even in large rooms.
This vacuum comes with a number of attachments including a canister, a rubber nozzle, a hose adapter nozzle, a crevice tool, and a 2-foot hose. It also has an impressive filtration system, filtering out all impurities from the surrounding environment. The vacuum has a handle grip which is great to use when trying to clean out the dirt under your furniture and in tight corners. The bin of this vacuum is transparent, allowing you to easily see the dirt collected. It’s also easy to open up the bin and empty out all the dirt inside. The vacuum is very durable and reliable too, which is always something to look for when buying any product.
Pros
- Small and compact
- Extremely affordable
- Great suction
- Various attachments
- Long power cable
Cons
- Handle grip might be uncomfortable to some people
- Filters on the vacuum can get loose when using high suction power
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Shark Rocket Corded Ultra-Light Hand Vacuum
The Shark Rocket Corded Ultra-Light Hand Vacuum is very compact and lightweight making it one of the best vacuums out there. It comes with a ton of additional attachments, including a dust bag, a removable head brush and a filter. The brush head has soft bristles that clean out hard and sticky stains without causing any damage or leaving any cracks on your hardwood floor. Disposing the collected dirt from your dirt bin is effortless and simple. The vacuum is bagless, so you don’t need to purchase any additional bags.
The vacuum’s small size and lightweight nature makes the cleaner very easy to carry around your house. The cleaner is also very effective when it comes to eliminating hair, dander, dirt, and debris from the floor surface. The suction power is strong enough to suck up accumulated dirt from your floor. The vacuum also has built-in filters. These re-usable filters are easy to take out and clean. The Shark Rocket Corded Ultra-Light Hand Vacuum is actually one of the most affordable vacuums in the market!
Pros
- Small in size and very portable
- Comes with many helpful attachments
- Affordable
- Bagless design saves you $
- Has a nice long power cord
- Has reusable filters
Cons
- Vacuum rollers and bristles can be difficult to clean
- Difficult to store once detached
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Tineco A10 Hero Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner
The Tineco A10 Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner is quite compact and perfect for cleaning your hardwood floors. This vacuum cleaner is flexible at effectively handling all kinds of cleaning jobs. Its portable nature makes it a breeze to use on your hardwood stairs and you can quickly carry it around from room to room. The suction power of this vacuum is strong enough to extract even the smallest dust and debris from your floors.
The vacuum also has a number of different features like an LED light that helps illuminate your floors to help you suck up any potential hidden dirt and dust. The turbo suction setting allows users to have more control during cleaning sessions, making your work much easier. The vacuum also has a very impressive four-stage HEPA filtration system that can trap even the tiniest particles, cleaning up all the air around you. It’s easily detachable and easy to store even in small spaces.
Pros
- Small and portable
- LED light
- HEPA Filter
- Amazing suction power
Cons
- The dust bin is small in comparison to other vacuums
- Expensive
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Shark Pet Perfect II Cordless Hand Vacuum
The Shark Pet Perfect Cordless Vacuum is a very compact and easy to use vacuum that’s a great choice, especially for those who live with cats, dogs, and any other hairy pets. It’s lightweight and comes with a number of additional tools and accessories such as a crevice tool and a motorized brush. The motorized brush roll makes the vacuum especially good at getting rid of pet hairs, fur, and dander from your floor. The crevice tool can easily navigate around your furniture and in tiny spaces eliminating the accumulated dirt and pet hair.
The vacuum has an LED light that tells the user when it’s fully charged. The vacuum also has a reusable filter and a dirt cup which means that you don’t have to purchase disposable dirtbags. This vacuum is very budget-friendly and quite effective at eliminating all kinds of pet hair and fur from your floors.
Pros
- Small and portable
- Cordless
- LED Light
- Helpful accessories such as the crevice tool
- Very affordable
Cons
- When using the motorized power brush, the vacuum will only run for about 15 minutes
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Final Thoughts
A number of small vacuums can do an exceptional job of getting rid of dirt, dust, and dander from your hardwood floor. In our opinion, the Shark Rocket Corded Ultra-Light Hand Vacuum is the best option that’ll leave you with a clean and spotless hardwood floor. These vacuums will leave your home smelling fresh and clean, while getting rid of all your pet hair and fur scattered around your home. Any pet owner knows how messy cats or dogs can be, but you’ll be able to manage by using one of the compact size vacuums in this review.
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.