Best Upright Vacuum For Hardwood Floors

When it comes to maintaining an elegant shine on your hardwood floors, you need to be careful when purchasing your household cleaner. Using a wet mop or any ordinary cleaner won’t necessarily do the trick. What you need to maintain your hardwood floors is a great and easy to use upright vacuum cleaner – created and designed with your hardwood floors in mind.

Cleaning your hardwood floor can prove to be a long, tedious, and complicated chore. In time, many homeowners begin to look for other quick ways to breeze through this task. Upright vacuums have proven to be one of the best cleaning utilities to use. There are numerous different styles and different models that have been introduced into the market and new models are released every year. However, not all vacuum cleaners work well or are designed for your hardwood floors. In this post, we’ll take you through some of the best upright vacuums available, helping you choose the best vacuum cleaner for your hardwood floor.

What to Consider Before Buying Your Upright Vacuum

Deciding which type of vacuum is best for you comes down to a few different considerations:

Size and Compatibility/Maneuverability

Cleaning your hardwood floor is a physical activity, therefore the amount of weight that you can move and push around with really matters. This is especially true if you have difficulty moving heavy objects or have arthritis, etc. If you’ll be cleaning a large room and possibly working around furniture, it would be better to maneuver around with a more compact and lightweight vacuum cleaner than a heavy one. A lighter vacuum cleaner is also preferable, reducing the risk of damaging your hardwood floor by causing accidental scratches and leaving scuff marks all over your floor. A number of light-weight vacuum cleaners are still strong, powerful, and very effective when it comes to cleaning your wood surface.

Features and Reliability of a Vacuum Cleaner

It’s important to find out the features of a vacuum prior to purchasing so that you can purchase a machine that best suits you and your hardwood floors. A vacuum with a flexible motor head that can easily suck up dirt under furniture and in hard to reach corners of your home is a great vacuum. Some upright vacuums are constructed with poor designs, making some parts easily fall off and making your vacuuming experience a nightmare. A vacuum with sturdy construction and higher quality parts makes it much more reliable, allowing you to easily complete your cleaning routine without frustration or issues.

Amount of Dirt that Your Upright Vacuum Cleaner Can Hold

Your floor is prone to a lot of dirt, dust, hair, pollen, mold spores, and many other unwanted impurities. The amount of dirt that your vacuum cleaner can hold is very important and truly matters. Some upright vacuum cleaners are fitted with bags, while others are fitted with containers that you could easily dispose of or re-use. Some people prefer bagless designs, while some prefer to use bags.

For much more dirty surfaces, an upright vacuum that can hold more dirt is the most ideal choice. It means that you won’t have to keep replacing the bag or emptying the container until you’re completely done cleaning, rather than emptying it mid-way. This can be frustrating to many people, so you should look for a vacuum that will have enough capacity to get you through an entire session.

Avoid Beater Brushes on Your Vacuum Cleaner

The brush head on your vacuum cleaner should be designed specifically to clean hardwood floors. There are many models designed with rotator brushes that are good for your floor. Other vacuums are fitted with rubber or stripe paddings that easily and effectively clean up your floor. Vacuums that are covered with thick bristles and beater brushes should only be used on rugs and carpets. If exposed to your hardwood floor, it can cause serious damage – potentially leaving a ton of scratch marks all over your floor.

Strong Suction Power

The suction power on your upright vacuum cleaner is one of the most important features that must be put into consideration. A vacuum cleaner with low suction power can only get rid of the more visible dirt such as the surface of your hardwood floor. A vacuum with stronger suction power, however, can easily clean out even the smallest particles of dirt that have become ingrained into the microscopic cracks in your floors. Purchasing a vacuum with strong suction strength is something that a majority of buyers are searching for.

Power Consumption

The amount of power that your upright vacuum consumes and the battery life of your machine are important factors that need to be considered. More powerful and efficient cordless upright vacuum cleaners don’t consume too much power and they can retain charge for a very long time. It’s imperative to do your research before making your purchase so that you don’t end up buying a machine that will make you regret your purchase.

Noise

A noisy vacuum cleaner could easily irritate you and other occupants in your home. If you live in a residential area or apartment, you might disturb your neighbors. It would be a smart decision if you purchase a vacuum cleaner that isn’t too loud. Granted, we are talking about vacuum cleaners, and there aren’t any vacuums that will be completely silent. However, there are differences in sound levels between models, and anyone sensitive to noise would easily be able to recognize that some are clearly more loud than others. An important factor to remember is that the amount of noise that your vacuum cleaner produces has nothing to do with its efficiency or power.

HEPA Filters

There are so many upright vacuum cleaners that come fitted with High-Efficiency Particulate Air filters otherwise known as HEPA filters. A filter is a mesh object that is used to trap impurities sucked up from the floor. There are many different types of filters such as glass filters, foam filters, charcoal filter, and more. A majority of these, if not all, are safe for the environment. If you or anyone around you is affected by respiratory issues or any other chronic problems involving the air around them, filters are very important in getting rid of impurities that could worsen any existing respiratory problems.

Reviewing the Best Upright Vacuums for Hardwood Floors

Comparison Table for Best Upright Vacuums for Hardwood Floors

Name	Weight	Cord length	Wattage	Check on Amazon
Shark Navigator Lift-Away Upright Vacuum NV352	12.5 lbs	25ft	1200 Watts	Buy here
Kenmore Elite 31150 Pet & Allergy Friendly Upright Vacuum	21 lbs	35ft	1200 Watts	Buy here
Oreck Commercial XL Upright Vacuum.	8.2 lbs	35ft	480 Watts	Buy here
Panasonic Vacuum Cleaner MC-UG471	17.6 lbs	4ft	1440 Watts	Buy here

Shark Navigator Lift-Away Upright Vacuum NV352

The Shark Navigator Lift-Away Upright NV352 Vacuum may not look like the most visually appealing vacuum, but this machine is very good for cleaning hardwood floors and is very easy to use, giving you a hassle-free experience when cleaning your floor.

The vacuum can be easily assembled and separated by just the press of a button. Separating the canister of the vacuum from the body has never been easier. The brush head of the vacuum is small enough to fit in small spaces such as under the couch, cabinets, and tables, and cleans up any accumulated dirt/dust. The vacuum is very lightweight and is easy to maneuver around your furniture with.

The Shark Navigator is also designed with a wide brush that can be attached to the motor head. The brush is perfect for removing pet hairs, dirt, and dust from your floor and from any small cracks that could be on your floor as well. You can also increase the suction of the vacuum with a simple press of a button. Plus, if you feel that the suction is too much, you can easily change it. Reducing suction power also helps in avoiding scratch marks and cracks on your floor.

Pros

• Lightweight, making it easy to move and control
• Adjustable & Great Suction – catching dirt in tight corners and spaces
• Wide brush attachment is useful
• Easy to assemble and use

Cons

• Cord is quite short
• The power button is located in an odd place
• The canister for this machine is fairly small

 

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The Kenmore Elite 31150 Upright Vacuum Cleaner

The Kenmore Elite 31150 Upright Vacuum Cleaner is a good choice for most people. It’s a bagged vacuum cleaner that effectively eliminates pet dust and many other particles in the air. It comes equipped with HEPA filters that trap and filter allergy causing enzymes, giving you the chance to breath in and out and feel at ease knowing that your air is clean.

The vacuum cleaner has great features that help in thoroughly cleaning your floor. It runs on a two-motor system and has great suction power, ensuring that dirt isn’t left behind. It has several helpful attachments that allow you to easily maneuver with the machine, reaching sharp corners and tight spaces. It also features an LED light that helps you see dirt in small crevices and even under furniture or beds.

You can also adjust the height of this vacuum, which will making your cleaning routine much easier. Features like height adjustment are a great way to help you get your cleaning routines finished quickly.

Pros

• Plenty of attachments
• Adjustable head height
• Fitted with a HEPA filter
• The two-motor head system makes it a very powerful cleaning tool

Cons

• Attached hose is fairly short
• Recommended bags for this vacuum are a bit pricey
• Might not work too well with pet fur
• Mixed customer reviews

 

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Oreck Commercial XL Upright Vacuum Cleaner, XL2100RHS

The Oreck Commercial XL Upright Vacuum Cleaner XL2100RHS is actually one of the best vacuums for those who find it difficult to reach dirt under furniture. It has a flat design and the motor head is quite wide – it’s fitted with a brush roll that’s effective for getting rid of pet hairs, dust, and mold. The side brushes also help in thoroughly cleaning the corners of your floor.

This vacuum cleaner also has soft wheels that allow it to smoothly glide over your hardwood floor without leaving any scratch marks. Because it’s lightweight, you can easily carry it up and down the stairs. It has a strong filtration system, effectively keeping you safe from any allergy causing enzymes that may be present on your floor.

This vacuum has received recognition globally and the Arthritis Foundation actually recommends this product because of how portable and easy to use it is – plus, it’s very effective in cleaning your hardwood floor.

 

Pros

• Very lightweight – Good hand grip
• Recommended by the Arthritis Foundation
• The brush rolls easily clean your floor and help maintain a polished look
• Very affordable
• Significantly higher rated than other upright vacuums

Cons

• Not as flexible as other vacuums
• Noisy
• Canister is quite small

 

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Panasonic Vacuum Cleaner MC-UG471 Upright Vacuum Cleaner

The Panasonic MC-UG471 Upright Vacuum Cleaner is a great vacuum at a fair price. The head motor effectively cleans up your floor and around corners & edges. It runs on a single motor system which allows you to save up on energy costs while still getting rid of all the dirt and pet hairs on your floor. It’s also a very quiet device, perfect if you’re trying to clean without disturbing anyone nearby.

It’s also designed with a HEPA filter that effectively traps allergy causing particles – allowing you to easily breath in and out without the risk of a sneezing or coughing fit. The vacuum is designed with an automatic headlight that ensures that you don’t miss out on any dirt. For anyone who needs great suction power, this is definitely a great choice.

The 12.5-foot hose is sufficient enough for small areas of the house. You can easily reach dark corners, plus, the automatic height adjustment makes it so much easier to work around in dimly lit areas.

Pros

• Very quiet – great for those sensitive to noise
• Designed with an automatic headlight – ensuring that you don’t miss any dirt or dust
• Very powerful machine with lots of suction power – delivering a strong cleaning performance

Cons

• The length of the cord might not be suitable for larger homes/areas
• Not light-weight
• The door that protects the bag can be difficult to move

 

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Final Thoughts

Finally, you understand why it’s so important to do to some research prior to purchasing your vacuum. There are many different needs based on the user, their house size, the types of floor they have, and so much more.

In our opinion, the Oreck Commercial XL Upright Vacuum Cleaner, XL2100RHS is the best upright vacuum for hardwood floors. Not only is the price fair, but it’s high quality, very favorably reviewed, recommended by the Arthritis Foundation, lightweight, and an overall amazing vacuum – giving you a healthy, clean environment that helps your hardwood floor maintain a breathtaking look of pure sheen and cleanliness.