Best Vacuum For Carpet and Hardwood Floors – Updated Reviews in 2020

Looking for the best vacuum for both carpet and hardwood floors? Scroll down for more information.

Vacuum cleaners have been one of the best helps that most households can get when it comes to everyday cleaning. The ease of operation and its added features are what make it versatile for cleaning areas around the house.

When it comes to buying a new vacuum cleaner, there are many things that have to be considered, and with many brands available in the market, it will definitely require some time to choose which one will work best for your needs.

The most common surface that vacuum cleaners are used for would be the carpets or hardwood floors. Different houses have different setups. This is why having versatile cleaning equipment is a must so that you also get to save on buying different cleaners for specific areas.

In this article, we will be reviewing some of the best vacuums for carpet and hardwood floors.

Top 6 Best Vacuum for Carpet and Hardwood Floors

Best Vacuum for Carpet and Hardwood Floors in 2020

#1. Dyson V6 Absolute Cord-free Vacuum

This vacuum cleaner is a handheld bagless unit that can easily be used in homes. It weighs 5 lbs and a major portion of the weight comes from the handle.  It is a cordless stick vacuum cleaner which provides more mobility without having to worry about the cord around the floor area.

It is an all-around cleaning machine that has a dust filtration system. It is a great feature if any resident of the household is sensitive to dust.

The Dyson V6 Absolute Cord-free Vacuum runs for about 20 minutes of full power with its motorized turbo head.

It has a turbo brush that is dedicated to carpeted areas while there is also a separate floor nozzle, especially for hardwood surfaces. This cleaning equipment also functions well when cleaning stairs and upholstery using its smaller motorized head.

It carries HEPA filtration that is placed at the end of the cleaner. The dust bin can only accommodate 0.105 gallons which are not that roomy. However, the cleaning part of it is very easy.

Aside from this, what makes this product one of the best vacuum cleaners for carpet is not only the features but also how easy it is to assemble the unit. When you hear the click, you can be sure the parts are assembled right.

On a different note, the noise it produces is quite tolerable unless you switch to Boost mode.

#2. Dyson V6 Cord Free & Hassle Free Vacuum

While there is always great value found in using heavy duty vacuum cleaners for big houses, the Dyson V6 Cord Free Vacuum works the other way around. Its lightweight feature is great for cleaning smaller houses with cleaning areas hard to access.

This cleaning equipment can be lifted with one hand. Reaching under the furniture and the ceiling or vacuuming upholsteries can be done with minimal stress on your muscles. Aside from its great design, the Dyson V6 Cord Free Vacuum comes with a wall mounted docking station for convenient storage.

It can run for up to 20 minutes with its v6 motor that spins up to 110,000 times pm. The runtime is all right for smaller apartments. In larger living spaces, it will take a few turns to vacuum the whole place.

Its power button is designed to be more efficient and battery saving as it does not have the usual on and off button.

Users would have to hold down the power trigger to ensure that the machine is not left running when not in use. The 0.4-litre dust capacity is one of the things that could be improved. However, considering its weight, portability and easy cleaning features, you will find it just enough for smaller living spaces.

#3. Shark Rocket Ultra (HV302)- Lightest Upright Vacuum

The Shark Rocket Ultra is a good choice for carpet and hardwood floors mainly because of its compact weight, versatility and affordability. It weighs 4.2 pounds without the attachments though none of the attachments are considered heavy.

The Shark Rocket Ultra-Light Upright Vacuum is not cordless. The full length of its 27 feet power cord lets you move around the room freely but no more. That means you can clean only one room at a time, without having to drag the upright with you.

It holds its own on both carpeted areas and hardwood floors. The Shark Rocket Ultra-Light Upright Vacuum has two cleaning modes. The first one is for cleaning bare floors while the second is for carpet cleaning. A brush roll is activated in the second mode to ensure deeper cleaning of carpets.

The size of the nozzle is 10.5 inches and 3ft tall. It also reclines completely which is advantageous for cleaning hard to reach spots. A wall-mounted docking station comes with it for easy storage.

The Shark Rocket is certainly a powerful vacuum cleaner with its 500-watt motor. The bin volume is measured at  0.118 gallons. The strong suction picks up so much but there’s little room to hold it. The dust cup will have to be emptied in between cleaning every other room.

The attachments include a dusting brush, crevice tool, pet upholstery tool, car detail kit, dust away hard floor attachment and an accessory bag.

#4. Shark Navigator Lift – Away (NV370) Professional Vacuum

One of the best things this vacuum cleaner has to offer is its Swivel Steering. There are times when navigating the machine to different cleaning areas is not easy. The Shark Navigator Lift-Away Professional features heavy-duty swivel wheels that make steering in every direction easy.

This vacuum has a 1200 watts motor. The suction is powerful. Coupled with that, the Deep Carpet Cleaning Technology cleans your carpets like no other.

It sucks all kinds of dirt effectively from both bare and carpeted surfaces. It can be used to vacuum walls and the corners. The microfiber pad cleans visible debris. A pet attachment is also available for removing pet hair from carpets and upholsteries.

It’s Anti Allergen Complete Seal Technology together with its HEPA filtration can suck all the dust and allergens in the house and keep them trapped in the vacuum’s bin. With 99.9% reliability, this is definitely a good choice for households with allergic residents.

#5. Hoover Vacuum Cleaner Air Lift 20 Volt Lithium-Ion Cordless Bagless Upright Vacuum BH51120PC – Upright Vacuum Cleaner

The main convenience here is its cannister detachment facility. Like the shark lift-away vacuum cleaners, you can detach the canister here too. What good it does? well try to sneak the vacuum cleaner under any appliances without detaching the canister, you’ll know what I’m talking about in no time.

The Hoover Air Cordless Series Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner sports one of the most eye-catching designs you will find among vacuum cleaners. It looks futuristic and elegant. And it does most of what it is expected to do when you use it.

This full-sized cleaning equipment has a bin volume of 1.05 liters. It can store a lot of wastage at once. That means you do not have to empty the bin every now and then.

This vacuum can last for about 50 minutes of cleaning time since the product offers two Lithium-ion batteries. It can cover an estimated 2,500 square foot area at a single charge. Impressive, right?

An LED light is there to signal the status of the battery life.

Aside from these great features, the Hoover Air Cordless Series Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner uses the WindTunnel 3 technology. It pulls dirt out of carpets with a strong force.

Being totally bagless, this upright saves a lot of time and money that could have been spent on buying and replacing bags. This machine is lightweight to ensure ease of use.

With its marvelous features, the Hoover Air Upright remains a strong contender for the best vacuums for carpets and hardwood floors.

#6. Bissel with OnePass-Most Fast & Easy Cleaning Corded Vacuum

The Bissel 9595A Vacuum is one of the most affordable yet efficient uprights there is.

The upright comes with a 25 feet long power cord, allowing you to clean within its radius.

It performs adequately on both carpeted and hardwood surfaces. Upholsteries and stairs are not neglected either. All in all, it is a versatile vacuum cleaner. Its extension hose reaches almost everywhere you want it to go. It comes with a reusable and washable filter that cuts down replacement expenses.

Users love its innovative brush tool that is designed to accumulate and pick up dirt and dust at every pass.

Bissel claims that only one pass is all that is required to clean a spot. No need to vacuum the same spot back and forth.

This vacuum rotates almost 90 degrees. Its filters are easy to use and clean after every use. The turbo brush tool is what makes it possible to clean surfaces other than floors.

The package includes a brush cleaning head, the Turbo brush and a crevice tool. What users liked about it the most is its cyclonic action technology. It never loses suction even when the dirt been is almost full.

Buying Guide for Best Vacuum for Carpet and Hardwood Floors

When it comes to choosing an ideal vacuum cleaner for both carpets AND hardwood floors, there are certain things you should keep in mind. They are two different surfaces that need different cleaning adjustments. What you are looking for here is versatility.

Here are some major factors that should contribute to the decision.

Power Modes: The vacuum cleaner in question should have at least two power modes. The same suction that cleans hardwood floors in the blink of an eye will be useless for high pile carpets. To clean carpets, you need stronger suction that penetrates the piled fabrics and pulls out dirt from beneath it.

If the vacuum cleaner has a regular suction AND a max suction mode, you can switch between them to adjust to the surface.

Good Suction: It goes without saying that the suction power of a vacuum cleaner should be up to the mark. A weak suction derived from a feeble motor will not clean anything efficiently.

Check the motor’s air power. Find out what kind of suction technology is at play here.

Bin Capacity: If you are going to be cleaning carpets and hardwood floors, a good vacuum cleaner will pick up a lot of dirt. The bin capacity has to be large enough to store all that stuff.

If the bin is relatively small, it will have to be emptied frequently. We recommend you get a vacuum cleaner with a large bin that does not interrupt your cleaning sessions.

Accessories: Does the vacuum cleaner come with accessories for cleaning carpets? Perhaps, a motorized brush head?

Does it have a floor tool for gently sweeping hardwood floors?

Take a good, hard look at the attachments that are included with the vacuum cleaner. Understand the purpose of each tool. The more diverse and useful the accessories, the better!

HEPA Filters: No matter what surface, HEPA filters are always recommended when you buy a vacuum cleaner. They help clean the air in your house by capturing allergens and tiny dust particles. Sure, they cost a bit more. But the health benefits you receive surpass that.

How to Vacuum Carpets Correctly?

All the effort behind finding a suitable vacuum cleaner is fruitless, if you don’t know how to vacuum your carpets the right way.

Many users vacuum their carpets without knowing how to do it and frown at the outcome. If you are not vacuuming your carpet right, dirt will stick to the roots of carpet fibers. The texture of the carpet may even get disfigured.

Instead of going crazy on the carpet, there are some measures you can take to ensure your carpet is clean and undamaged.

Compatibility between the carpet and the vacuum

There are all sorts of carpets – area rugs, cut-pile carpets, shag carpets and so on. Area rugs are made of expensive but delicate fabric. High pile carpets are shaggy and hard to breach.

Know the type of your carpets. And get a vacuum cleaner that suits them. You can ask the manufacturer for information.

Remove All Obstacles from Carpet

This is a pretty obvious tip. You cannot leave things lying around and expect effective cleaning.

Pick up all small objects you left on the floor before you start vacuuming. This way, you can get the actual vacuuming done a lot quicker and thoroughly.

You can avoid losing valuable things. Some objects can get sucked by the vacuum cleaner only to clog up the filters. Trust us, being careful is a whole lot better than unclogging them.

Check the Dirt bin

Before you start cleaning, check the status of the bin. Does it have enough room left to pick up all the dirt from your carpets? Does it need emptying?

If the bin is full, vacuuming would be of no use. Empty the bin if you need to before you start. Finding the bin full mid cleaning will cause inconveniences. Dirt may get spilled from the bin on to the carpet. It would mean that you have to vacuum that part again.

Use the Crevice Tool

Some parts of the carpet can be under the furniture. You cannot move your furniture every time you vacuum the carpets.

Let your crevice tool come to the rescue. Attach the crevice tool to vacuum under the furniture. Your carpet will be clean from corner to corner, even if some parts are blocked with furniture.

You don’t want to leave the edges of your carpet unattended. The crevice tool can be used to vacuum around the corners and edges as well.

Start from the Furthest Corner

Take your vacuum cleaner to the corner that is the furthest from the door and start there. If you start from the door, you have to make your way in and out vacuuming. This may unnecessarily ruffle the carpet fibers and drain the battery.

Vacuum & Reverse

Once you have started, vacuum in one direction and then go reverse. If you have gone right first, go left next to reverse it. Go forward and then go backward too.

If you vacuum and reverse, the fibers of your carpet regain their natural fluff. You cover the cleaning area thoroughly a couple of times too. Dirt that managed to stay behind the first time will be removed after a few passes.

Vacuuming and reverse vacuuming is recommended for every carpet owner. Low pile carpets and area rugs can benefit from this technique too.

Conclusion

There are hundreds of vacuum cleaners on the market. Even though we have narrowed it down to only 6 models, it can still be hard to find your perfect match right away.

Rely on our buyer’s guide to compare different vacuum cleaner models. They will guide you in the right direction. The rest depends on your budget and preference.

Regardless, we recommend the Bissel OnePass, if you are tight on budget.

For large living spaces, Hoover Air Cordless vacuum cleaner would be wonderful because of its large dust capacity.

If you live in a small apartment and like your vacuum cleaners cordless, go for the Dyson V6 Absolute.