Whenever we’re on the hunt for a shiny and new vacuum cleaner, just about all of us are looking for the same thing… we want our vacuum cleaner to last as long as possible.
However, with so many different brands out there it’s hard to find a clear answer to this question:
How Long Should a Vacuum Cleaner Last?
What are the most reliable brands of vacuum cleaners? How do I know my vacuum cleaner will withstand the test of time?
Let’s dig into how you can find peace of mind with your vacuum cleaner purchase so that you won’t end up with a vacuum cleaner that you later regret.
Longevity of a Vacuum Cleaner:
Not only is a vacuum cleaner a powerful and well-designed cleaning utility, but it shares similar qualities with many other appliances and even cars.
Maybe you’ve had a poor experience with some appliance or utility in the past where it broke after just a few uses. Or, you’ve been using the same appliance for decades and you haven’t had any issues at all!
There are actually several different factors that come into play when we’re trying to determine how long a vacuum cleaner should last for.
Type of Vacuum Cleaner
The type of vacuum cleaner that you choose to buy will absolutely have an impact on how long it lasts.
Think about handheld vacuum cleaners. Many are cheap, battery-operated, and generally won’t last nearly as long as something as robust as a plain old-fashioned upright vacuum cleaner.
You would be nuts to think that a handheld vacuum cleaner with a non-replaceable battery would last nearly as long as a fully corded upright vacuum cleaner from a reputable brand.
Let’s take a look at which types of vacuum cleaners are likely to last the longest and which are likely to be the first to go.
Upright Vacuum Cleaners
Upright vacuum cleaners are your safest bet if you’re trying to look for a vacuum cleaner that lasts as long as possible.
It’s got tons of design choices that allow it to operate much longer than many other different types of vacuum. If you think about it, upright vacuum cleaners are definitely built to last, due to the following:
- No Battery – Although batteries offer tons of convenience and portability, they are prone to lose charge, can be damaged with excessive heat or usage, and if your vacuum cleaner offers no easy way to replace the battery, then you’re out of luck.
- Are Typically Corded – Even though it might be much easier to use a vacuum that’s more lightweight and has a battery, a corded unit is much less prone to malfunction. Plus, they are almost always more powerful than cordless vacuums.
- Ample Space for Parts or Components – Despite being bulkier, this is usually a good thing. The phrase “built like a tank” can even apply to some upright vacuum cleaners, as the manufacturer can pick and choose a more efficient design based on more available space than something such as a stick vacuum.
Above all else, these are some of the most commonly used vacuum cleaners.
After all, manufacturers have had more than a century to continuously perfect and improve the design of upright vacuum cleaners!
Canister Vacuum Cleaners
Canister vacuums and upright vacuum share many similar qualities, including durability.
Canister vacuum cleaners have been around for almost just as long as upright vacuum cleaners have been.
Another quality that canister vacuum cleaners share with upright vacuums is the fact that both of them are corded, which is another aspect that will add years to your vacuum cleaner’s lifespan.
Although canister vacuums are more portable and are designed to be moved around with you during cleaning, there is a chance that they might bump into objects and get damaged.
Stick Vacuum Cleaners
Regardless of how lightweight and convenient stick vacuum cleaners are, any type of appliance or equipment that’s designed to be lightweight will typically have one major flaw: durability.
This means that materials need to be lightweight, sometimes cheaper, and above all else, the entire vacuum needs to be designed with portability in mind. Cramming motors, filters, electronics, and other components in a conveniently sized package also sacrifices general durability and lifespan.
Still though, there are stick vacuum cleaners that are built surprisingly well given their price or form factor, but don’t expect them to last as long as an upright or canister vacuum.
Handheld Vacuum Cleaners
Handheld vacuum cleaners can be incredibly convenient and handy to own. They offer tons of power in a convenient and portable form factor that can be used for a wide variety of uses.
Handheld vacuum cleaners also are built with rechargeable batteries so that you can quickly pick them up and clean up a mess without having to use a cord, saving you time and effort.
However, handheld vacuum cleaners that don’t offer a quick or accessible option when it comes to replacing the battery will very likely only last a few years.
Once the battery life degrades to the point where it can barely hold a charge, if your specific handheld vacuum offers no battery replacement, then there’s nothing left for you to do other than purchase a new unit.
We suggest that if you do need a handheld vacuum cleaner, considering they can be excellent for cat litter, pet hair, or even cleaning up a quick mess here and there, go with a corded handheld unit.
Even though you lose the convenience and portability that a cordless handheld vacuum offers, you can potentially gain many years of life from the vacuum if you don’t have to worry about the battery going bad.
Robot Vacuum Cleaners
Robot vacuum cleaners are efficient, smart, and they do all the work for you. If you’re strapped for time, scheduling a quick cleanup of your home is a wonderful option to have.
Because the technology is so new and hasn’t been as refined nearly as much as an upright or canister vacuum, they won’t last nearly as long either.
Even though you might be able to get 5 or more years out of a well-designed robot vacuum cleaner, there are lots of things you should consider when it comes to what’s actually inside a robot vacuum cleaner.
- Sensors – Robot vacuum cleaners are equipped with tons of intricately small and delicate sensors, among other electronic equipment located inside the unit. Because these units are so compact, automated, and relatively new, they are prone to failure, especially due to design flaws.
- Heat – Because robot vacuum cleaners need to be on the relatively more quiet side of things, they are more prone to failure from excessive heating and cooling, like many other electronic equipment.
- Battery – Once again, battery can be a major convenience or flaw. If you have no easy way to replace the battery with your specific manufacturer or model of robot vacuum cleaner, then all you’ve really got is a fancy paperweight. Although batteries are designed to give us many years of usage, battery technology is not at a point where we can comfortably not have to worry about replacing them for a decade or more.
It really is amazing when you consider everything that’s inside a robot vacuum cleaner.
Despite the fact that robot vacuum cleaners are one of the greatest cleaning inventions in the modern world, they certainly aren’t the longest lasting vacuums out there.
All Cordless Vacuum Cleaners
Even if there are a huge amount of cordless vacuum cleaners in the market today that make vacuuming effortless and fast, their main downside is the battery.
If you’re trying to squeeze out 6 to 10 years or more from your vacuum cleaner, don’t even consider trying to purchase a non-corded unit.
Although there are certain things like replacing the battery and other specific parts to keep things running smoothly, if your vacuum offers no simple way of replacing individual parts, there’s a slim chance that it will last nearly as long as you hope.
Of course, if you are a very technical person and can comfortably rip open a vacuum cleaner and solder on a new battery, all the more to you.
Frequency of Use
One of the most basic, yet overlooked aspects regarding your vacuum cleaner’s lifespan is the frequency of use.
If you’re a neat freak and your friend is a slob, and there’s a good chance that your vacuum cleaner has a higher chance of malfunctioning or biting the dust first due to the increased frequency of use.
The same can be said for most utilities or appliances as well.
Even if you vacuum way more often than most people, there are still other factors to consider in the grand scheme of things.
Your Home’s Overall Cleanliness
Consider just how different all of our homes and environments truly are from each other.
Some of us have pets, some of us don’t.
Some of us have messy children, while others might live alone.
It would be foolish to overlook the wide variety of materials, debris, dust, and more that are substantially unique from home to home.
In fact, just having a pet alone is a huge factor when we’re talking about lifespan of the vacuum.
Here are a few aspects to consider that will greatly affect your vacuum’s well-being and likelihood of needing repairs or not:
- Type of pet, number of pets, and length of pet hair
- Type of flooring
- Someone who might have messy kids versus someone who has no children (toys, food, and other foreign objects)
- Overall cleanliness and hygiene of your environment (i.e. do you regularly vacuum bits of food or not)
Pet hair can be difficult to vacuum or can cause clogging, children can be messy and leave toys or other small objects that can damage your vacuum, and so on.
Vacuum Cleaner Upkeep and Maintenance
Remember how we mentioned how a vacuum cleaner’s lifespan is similar to that of an appliance or even a car?
The same concepts of maintaining and ensuring things are working as well as possible play a huge role in how long your vacuum will live for.
Parts will break, filters will clog or need to be replaced, batteries will degrade, etc.
It doesn’t matter what type of vacuum cleaner you have, as each and every single type that exists will need some sort of regular maintenance at some point in time.
Maintaining Your Vacuum Cleaner Properly:
If we are really trying to get the most bang for our buck, we can’t be cheap when it comes to regular maintenance.
Just like how your vehicle needs a regular oil change to avoid damage to the engine, your vacuum cleaner needs ongoing maintenance too.
Although some types of vacuum cleaners may not need as much maintenance as others, but these are the main things you should look out for:
Filter Maintenance
It’s important to visually inspect your vacuum cleaner somewhat regularly, especially if you think it might be malfunctioning, losing suction, or otherwise potentially faulty.
Filters can become clogged, degrade, and even damaged. In fact, filters are one of the most important parts of a vacuum cleaner.
Considering if you have a filter that isn’t working properly or is past its lifespan, whenever you vacuum, you’ll essentially be dispersing dust, dirt, and dander back into your environment because it’s not being captured properly.
If you feel like your vacuum cleaner isn’t doing the job anymore or starts to become smelly, the filter might be clogged or in need of a replacement.
Some filters will be washable, while others are non-washable.
Some filters will be rated for a lifetime, while others might need to be replaced every few months.
Although you might not want to replace the filter due to costs, if you don’t have a vacuum cleaner with a filter that’s working properly, it can cause additional problems later on. Above all else, you should always replace your vacuum cleaner filters because a damaged or old filter will not capture dust or debris effectively.
So, unless you enjoy vacuuming your home while not effectively capturing dust or dander particles, always regularly clean, maintain, or replace your filter as instructed by the manufacturer or model.
Vacuum Cleaner Belt Maintenance
If you weren’t already aware, your vacuum cleaner belt will need to be replaced eventually. If you’re wondering how long a vacuum cleaner belt should last for, the answer is generally one year or more.
Like we already mentioned above, frequency of use and overall maintenance of the other components will have an impact on your vacuum cleaner belt’s lifespan.
A vacuum cleaner belt can serve a wide variety of uses including spinning your vacuum cleaner’s brush roll, or even turning or moving it.
If you notice that your vacuum cleaner smells like burnt rubber, has a decrease in suction power, or that your vacuum is leaving behind a trail of un-vacuumed areas, your vacuum cleaner belt is likely due for a change.
Not all vacuum cleaners use belts, so depending on your model and type of vacuum cleaner, you might not have to worry about changing the belt at all.
Brush Roll
Make sure that you regularly inspect your brush roll and keep it clear of debris, hair, or anything else that can reduce its efficiency.
A brush roll is one of the most important parts of your vacuum cleaner, so if it’s not working properly, your vacuum cleaner’s performance will suffer.
Some vacuums offer self-cleaning brush rolls so that as you vacuum, the brush roll cleans itself, which is time saving for sure.
However, if you have an old-fashioned brush roll that might need some cleaning, check out this video below on how you can clean a vacuum brush roll:
The Brand and Type of Your Vacuum Cleaner
Just about all of us are constantly on the lookout for any type of product that can give us years and years of usage and still hold up. It’s one of the first things that we research when we’re researching about a new vacuum cleaner that’s caught our eye.
Even though it’s always smart to go with a reputable vacuum cleaner company such as Hoover or Miele, how long your vacuum lasts for still depends on the model you choose.
Yes, even reputable and long-lasting vacuum companies can release poorly constructed or designed products.
With all that said, here are some frequently asked questions about some popular vacuum brands and how long you should expect some of these vacuums to last for:
Dyson:
Although Dyson hasn’t been around nearly as much as other companies such as Hoover or Miele, they still make vacuum cleaners that many people enjoy using, mostly due to their unique engineering and premium feel.
However, even Dyson vacuums are subject to the exact same faults as many other appliances. Batteries can degrade quickly over time, brush rolls can get clogged or worn down, parts can break off, etc.
How Long Should a Dyson Vacuum Last For?
The answer to this question is not as cut and dry as you might imagine. Every factor that we mentioned above plays a part in directly impacting your Dyson vacuum cleaner’s lifespan.
In fact, how could we even possibly give you a general answer? Given the wide variety of different types of vacuum cleaners that Dyson offers, the longevity of let’s say, a Dyson V8, will have much different circumstances surrounding its lifespan when we compare it to that of a corded model, such as the Dyson Ball vacuum cleaner.
Because there are so many different parts and design aspects that vary so greatly between different models, there’s no clear-cut answer. What we can do is try to narrow down what you can expect, based on the general wear and tear of certain parts.
With proper care and maintenance, your Dyson vacuum can last anywhere from 2 to 5 or more years. There are far too many factors that come into play to give a conclusive answer.
How Long Should My Dyson Battery Last for?
Even Dyson specifically states that your Dyson battery life, regardless of the model, will depend on multiple factors.
If you’re trying to find out how long your V6, V7, V8, V10, or V11′ s battery will last for before needing to be replaced, you should at least expect to get a minimum of 2 years usage out of it.
Even if the battery decides to conk out on you before those 2 years, Dyson states that they will replace the battery free of charge. This is assuming that you have purchased it from a reputable or authorized dealer.
If you follow proper battery care guidelines, you’ll be able to extend your battery life by many years.
How Long Should My Dyson Filter Last for?
If we are talking about either the filter inside the cyclone, or the post motor HEPA filter, the answer should still be the same. These filters are washable and reusable, so if properly cared for and well-maintained, your Dyson filters can last many years.
Most Dyson filters in the V series lineup can be washed and reused. If you neglected care and are looking for replacements, Dyson also offers those.
If you haven’t cleaned your Dyson filter or checked on it in a long time, visit the Dyson filter maintenance page for more information on how to properly care for your specific model.
Because upright models such as the Dyson Ball are designed completely differently than their stick vacuums, filtration maintenance and information may differ based on the model.
Miele
Miele is definitely one of the most trusted companies when it comes to the world of vacuum cleaners. Considering they’ve been in the business for more than 100 years, it’s not that difficult to understand why so many people trust their lineup of vacuum cleaners.
Many people expect their Miele vacuum cleaners to last a very long time. We’re talking decades here.
How Long Should a Miele Vacuum Last for?
With proper care and maintenance, your Miele vacuum can last for decades. There have been plenty of owners were still using a Miele vacuum that they purchased 20+ years ago. Even the entry-level Miele C1 is capable of lasting as long.
The Miele C-series offer tons of powerful, quality vacuums, too.
Assuming you don’t get any duds and you take good care of your vacuum cleaner, what makes Miele vacuum cleaners last so long is the fact that a majority of their parts are actually interchangeable.
You can even replace the entire power cord in the event that it gets damaged. That’s definitely not common in other brands.
As long as you purchase Miele genuine bags and always empty them whenever need be, your vacuum cleaner should last a minimum of several years. Speaking of bags…
How Long Does a Miele Vacuum Bag Last?
Depending on which type of bags you choose, how often you vacuum, and the amount you vacuum, you can expect to change the bag anywhere from 1 to 3 months.
If you have pets or are a neat freak, you should expect the lower end of that estimate, and potentially even more frequently than a month.
Although you might be upset if the bag fills too quickly, it actually is a visual sign of proof that your vacuum cleaner is working very effectively.
Miele bags are actually fairly affordable, too.
Hoover
Just like Miele, Hoover is another company that’s been around for more than 100 years. In fact, Hoover created the 1st upright vacuum cleaner in existence in 1908!
For a company that’s been around for so long, we expect their products to hold up naturally. If they’ve been around for that long, they certainly are doing something right for the design and usability of their vacuum cleaners.
How Long Does A Hoover Vacuum Last?
Another similar aspect that many Hoover vacuum cleaner owners share with Miele owners is that both of their products can take a beating and last a very long time.
There are plenty of Hoover vacuum owners that swear by the company, mainly due to the fact that they been using their same vacuum cleaner for decades, just like Miele vacuums.
How Long Does A Hoover Bag Last?
If we’re talking about any type of bags that Hoover offers, the same general time frame can be applied to many other brands. You should expect to change them as frequently as a few weeks, to potentially a month or more.
Although the size of the bag always plays a part in how often you will have to replace it, how often you vacuum, what you vacuum, and other factors will play a part in the frequency of needing to change the bags.
If we’re talking specifically about Henry Hoover bags, you can expect them to last about a month, give or take.
Shark
Even though Shark (officially called SharkNinja) is much newer than other vacuum cleaner companies, they still pride themselves on offering affordable and powerful vacuum cleaners that get the job done.
Because these vacuum cleaners are so affordable, it also means that they won’t last nearly as long as some other brands.
How Long Should a Shark Vacuum Last?
Offering powerful vacuum cleaners at an affordable price sounds like a dream come true!
However, things aren’t always as great as they appear. There is no simple way to make your product last if the components used are cheaper or of lower quality than competitors.
That’s not to say that Shark vacuums won’t last long at all, but more so that they won’t last nearly as long as a Miele or Hoover will.
With all of the above said, Shark still makes plenty of great vacuum cleaners that are powerful and affordable.
You can expect vacuums from Shark to last anywhere from 3 to 8 years.
It’s also worth mentioning that Shark offers very generous warranties on many of their vacuum cleaners, so in the event that it dies or has problems within the first several years, Shark will likely cover the repair.
Because the majority of Sharks vacuums do not use bags (none in the last decade), you won’t need to worry about changing the bag, but you should still empty the dust container regularly.
Bissell
Yet another dependable, trustworthy, and great vacuum company, Bissell has been around for over a century.
They pride themselves on their pet foundation, which is donated to for every purchase that you make from Bissell.
They also make a wide variety of vacuum/carpet cleaners that are excellent for pet owners, especially messy ones.
How Long Does a Bissell Vacuum/Carpet Cleaner Last?
If you’re wondering how long a Bissell vacuum will last for, you’ll be happy to know that most Bissell vacuum cleaners will last around 7 to 8 years or more.
As long as you properly maintain your vacuum/carpet cleaner, you can easily get several years worth of usage without any problems.
Always remember to change the dirty water container regularly, keep the brush roller clean, and read the manual for any other maintenance that needs to be regularly completed.
How Long Does Bissell Carpet Cleaner Solution Last?
You can expect Bissell carpet cleaning solution to last roughly 6 to 12 months, especially if it’s been opened.
Luck
What many people overlook, even manufacturers, is that luck plays a huge part in how long your vacuum cleaner lasts for.
Maybe your friend or family member has been trying to get you to buy their vacuum cleaner for years now. They keep praising it and telling you how awesome it is! So, you finally bite the bullet and purchase it, maybe even at a great price.
When it finally arrives and it’s time for a test run, it breaks after 10 minutes! Now it won’t even turn on! Frustration and anger courses through your veins, as you now have a useless appliance that needs to be either returned or sent in for repairs.
Sometimes, there’s actually nothing that you did wrong at all. Perhaps a very slight factory defect, or a bad batch of vacuum cleaners are to blame.
Some of us have had the same appliances for decades and swear by them, while others will never give a brand that let them down another chance.
If you’ve ever been in a similar situation, the only real options are to try returning to get a replacement, or going with an entirely different model or brand.
If you know how to maintain your equipment well and take good care of it, yet your fairly new vacuum cleaner was a huge letdown, sometimes, you just simply had unfortunate luck and there’s not much else you could have done differently.
Purchase an Extended Warranty
Sometimes, an extended warranty can be a great idea. It can give us peace of mind with our purchase, even if we may or may not need it.
Determine if an extended warranty will be worth your money based on how long you expect to use your vacuum for.
In Conclusion
All of us want a dependable cleaning machine that keeps our home smelling fresh and hygienic. Whenever we’re trying to search for a vacuum cleaner, regardless of the type, we often look for dependable brands to get the most out of our purchase.
With proper care, maintenance, and following manufacturer guidelines and tips, we can extend our vacuum cleaner’s lifespan as much as possible.
Although the type of vacuum cleaner and brand that you choose to go with has a huge impact on the longevity of your vacuum cleaner, sometimes, and it’s unfortunate when it happens, you get a dud.
Consider recycling your old vacuum cleaner after you’ve purchased another one too!
There are other precautions you can take such as purchasing extended warranties, which may or may not come in handy.
These are all the aspects that you should consider when you’re trying to find a vacuum cleaner that lasts long.
A long lasting vacuum cleaner that gets the job done time after time, year after year, is a dream vacuum cleaner!
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.
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