How do you choose a stick vacuum?
Choose a stick vacuum
A stick vacuum is lighter than a canister vacuum and often runs on a battery. But there are many different types of stick vacuums. When you make a choice, keep the following things in mind:
- Battery life
- Weight and agility
- Noise level
- Handheld vacuum and accessories
Replacement of a canister vacuum
A stick vacuum is a useful replacement for your old canister vacuum. That's because it's agile, lightweight, and compact in size. This way, you can easily grab it. When you make your choice, mainly look at the battery life and the accessories you need for your home.
Battery life and parking mode
How important is the battery life?
Stick vacuums are cordless, which is why the battery life of a stick vacuum is very important. The longer the battery life, the longer you can vacuum. That's why we recommend an average battery life of at least 30 minutes for larger households. Keep in mind that the average battery life sometimes is a bit shorter in practice. Especially if you often vacuum in the turbo mode.
Parking mode
If a stick vacuum has a parking mode, you can quickly put it to the side without having to worry that it'll fall over. When you set it to parking mode, you can click it in place without having to balance it against the wall. That's ideal when you're vacuuming and the doorbell rings, or when you want to move the dining table chairs.
Weight and agility
There's a good chance you want a stick vacuum because it's easy to move. This is true, because a stick vacuum is a lot lighter than a canister vacuum. But stick vacuums have quite a range in terms of weight, ranging from 2.5 to 7kg. Also consider the location of the motor. It's often on top, which means you carry the heaviest part of the stick vacuum on your wrist. With some models, the motor is at the bottom. That feels a lot lighter when you vacuum.
Noise level
Unfortunately, stick vacuums generally aren't silent. Especially when compared to canister vacuums, they're relatively noisy. Because stick vacuums are made of a light material and don't have a vacuum cleaner bag, the sound of the motor isn't really muffled. There are stick vacuums that are relatively silent. When you make your choice, keep the maximum noise level in mind.
Handheld vacuum and accessories
Many stick vacuums have a built-in handheld vacuum. That's useful because you can easily grab it when your child is a messy eater. Do you have pets? Make sure you have a turbo brush for your new stick vacuum. This allows you to easily remove pet hairs from furniture and stairs. With other accessories like an extra battery, a crevice tool, or a dusting brush, you can increase the options of your stick vacuum.