Cleaning stairs can be a challenging and tiring chore. Especially, when you have to haul a bulky upright vacuum up the stairs and back down again.
Also, using an upright vacuum for stairs can be least rewarding as they tend to miss the nooks and crannies. The place where a maximum amount of dust and pet hairs dwell.
No more worries…
I’ll show you 3 best vacuums for stairs that will make you stair cleaning an enjoyable and rewarding.
But before that, let’s discuss what qualities make a vacuum suitable for stairs.
Weight
It’s obvious, nobody enjoys dragging a heavy vacuum on the staircase for vacuuming. Hence, lightweight vacuums are preferable as they are easy to handle and carry. A good vacuum for stairs should not weigh more than 10 lbs.
Vacuum Type
Canister and Handheld vacuums are best suitable for efficiently and conveniently cleaning stairs. Thanks to their lightweight and ergonomic design.
Depending on how you intend to use the vacuum, you can either opt for a canister or a handheld model.
Canister vacuums are great as a primary vacuum. They’re lightweight, compact, and includes specialized attachments for tackling any cleaning challenge.
Handheld vacuums are great if you already own a primary vacuum.
Cord vs. Cordless
Although cordless vacuums seems more enticing than their corded counterpart. Each has their pros and cons when it comes to cleaning stairs.
Corded models are a good option if you have a lot of stairs. They provide consistent power and no-fade suction to handle the stairs without stopping.
3 Best Vacuums For Carpeted and Hardwood Stairs
1. Miele Compact C2 Electro+ Canister Vacuum
If you’re looking for a full-size vacuum that can also handle your stairs, the Miele Compact C2 Electro+ will be perfect for you.
The Electro+ canister is an ultra light vacuum. It’s easy to carry and occupies very less room for storage. Due to its compact size, the canister sits nicely on stairs.
For maneuverability, it includes 360 degree rotation rubber caster wheels. The unit glides effortlessly on any floor type. The rubber wheels are gentle on hardwood and laminate floors and doesn’t scuff them.
The suction is incredible due to its 1200W powerful vortex motor. It comes with 6 variable motor speed levels for efficient cleaning of any floor type. There’s a dial on the main unit to adjust the suction speed.
It provides a cleaning radius of 33ft. So, you can reach anywhere in the house without frequent unplugging and replugging. This will be very helpful for house with lots of stairs.
The Miele C2 Electro+ includes 3 levels of filtration.
- Bag – Miele bags have multilevel filtration and are 99.9% dust air free.
- Motor protection filter
- HEPA AirClean exhaust filter
The Electro+ canister has a motorized electric brush for deep cleaning carpets. It features 5 level height adjustment for cleaning all carpet heights.
Besides, it also includes a Parquett hard floor nozzle, upholstery tool, crevice tool, and dusting tool.
Pros:
- Miele C2 are well-known for their German engineering quality.
- HEPA air filtration. Completely sealed system.
- One-touch cord retracts.
- Quiet
- Telescopic Wand
- Easy to switch between carpet and bare floors
- Easy to lift up and down stairs
Cons:
- Small bag
- Electrostatic discharge
2. Shark Rocket DuoClean Ultra-Light Corded Bagless Vacuum (HV382)
The Shark Rocket DuoClean is a corded stick vacuum with dual brushes. A nylon bristles brush for deep cleaning carpets while a soft brushroll to grab large debris on the floor.
The two brushes works together to pick up debris, dust, stuck particles from hard floors and carpets.
The Shark Rocket DuoClean is a versatile ultra-light vacuum weighing under 10 lbs. It converts into a handheld vacuum for above surface cleaning.
It includes a motorized floor nozzle, pet multi tool, and crevice tool. The motorized floor nozzle has two speed setting – one for hard floor and rug, second for carpet.
Pros:
The Shark Rocket corded stick is a great vacuum for cleaning stairs than a cordless stick. User says it relates to a cordless Dyson V8 Absolute. At half the price of Dyson, this vacuum outperforms the V8 Absolute with regard to power . The Rocket Complete DuoClean has a 600watts while the V8 absolute has only 115watts.
The motorized floor nozzle is 2″ shorter in width than an upright Shark Rotator model. It’s ultra-light weight and smaller nozzle makes it perfect for cleaning stairs.
The cord length is 32′. Owner says they don’t have to frequently change outlets.
Cons:
Users with pets find the dust cup to be small and they have to empty it often to avoid blocking.
3. Shark Rocket Corded Ultra-Light Hand Vacuum (HV292)
The Shark Rocket HV292 is an inexpensive yet powerful handheld vacuum. This ultra-light corded deliver performance comparable to high-end Dyson cordless handheld units.
It weighs under 4 lbs and very easy to handle and move around while cleaning. It includes a 400 watts motor that provides consistent power for non-stop cleaning.
The unit comes with a TruePet mini motorized brush, flexible hose, crevice tool, and dusting tool. The mini motorized brush is ideal for cleaning carpeted and hardwood stairs. The brush head is adjustable on the horizontal and vertical surface of stairs.
The 15 foot cord makes this handheld unit super reliable for tackling long sets of stairs. Unlike the cordless handheld, you will clean all your stairs in one go.
Pros:
Users simply love cleaning their stairs using this vacuum. Reviewers says this the Shark Rocket hand vacuum is unbeatable for use on stairs. Users were amazed of the amount of pet hair and dirt it picked up from their carpeted stairs.
Users like motorized head that pivots and auto adjusts itself for optimal suction. They no longer have to hold the vacuum at a perfect angle and squat down while doing stairs.
Cons:
While most users praised the cords length few users find the length to be short for their needs.
Before concluding the post let me summarize and make it quick and easy for you to choose the best vacuum for stairs.
The Miele Compact C2 Electro+ is perfect if you want a full-size vacuum. Its compact size and lightweight makes it suitable for cleaning stairs as well. Its also completely sealed with HEPA filtration that justifies its price tag.
The Shark Rocket DuroClean is a great option if you want a vacuum that won’t break your bank. You’ll get a full-size stick vacuum as well as a versatile handheld for all round cleaning. The DuroClean performs incredibly well on hard floors, carpets and stairs. But, you have to compromise wityh the air quality as it lacks HEPA filtration.
The Shark Rocket HV292 is the one you should opt if you a looking for the best handheld vacuum for stairs. This ultra-light portable vacuum outperforms its competitors by a stretch.