Best Bagless Vacuum Cleaner With Powerful Suction

Ian Mutuli
Updated on
Ian Mutuli

Ian Mutuli

Founder and Managing Editor of Archute. He is also a graduate architect from The University of Nairobi, Kenya.
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Bagless vacuums are vacuum cleaners that don't require bags which means that they require emptying of the dust cup after several uses. The best bagless vacuum cleaner is considered a better choice for people who don't want to go through the hassle of replacing the bags or the cost spent on buying bags.

Unlike a bagged vacuum cleaner, the bagless models have a lower recurring cost; however, this depends on whether or not you're using the disposable filters. These vacuums vary in size and shape, where they are all suited for different cleaning tasks.

To help you find the right vacuum for you, we have rounded up a review of the five best bagless cleaners in the market today, their pros and cons, as well as a buying guide to help you know what factors you need to consider before buying the best vacuum cleaner.

5 Best Bagless Vacuum Cleaners

1. Bissell Featherweight Stick Lightweight Bagless Vacuum

Bissell Featherweight Stick Lightweight Bagless Vacuum...
  • Powerful, convenient, and easy to use
  • Powerful suction makes it great for quick pick ups with...
  • Versatile cleaning three machines in one: A stick vacuum, handle...
  • With a crevice tool for furniture and a floor nozzle for stairs
  • Clean hard floors and surface dirt on carpets and area rugs....

The Bissell Featherweight Stick Lightweight Bagless Vacuum is an affordable stick vacuum that features an on and off switch as well as the ability to use it as a handheld vacuum. This upright vacuum is the best bagless vacuum cleaner because it is lightweight, quite portable, and easy to maintain.

It features a dirt compartment, a dust cup filter, and a pre-motor mesh filter, all of which are easy to access. However, the dirt compartment is fairly small and may require frequent emptying. It has two carrying handles, one on the stick and the other one on the vacuum body.

This vacuum has an impressive performance which is sometimes dependent on the status of the dirt compartment. When it's empty, the vacuum can suck large debris, but it may struggle to pick up the larger debris when it's almost full. It is great at picking pet hair and small debris, regardless of the status of the compartment.

This is a corded vacuum and that means it doesn't use a battery. It is a no-frills traditional vacuum where almost everything is operated manually. It comes with a crevice tool to help clean the hard-to-reach places.

Pros:

  • Lightweight construction.
  • Easy to maintain.
  • Great cleaning capabilities
    you can switch it to a handheld vacuum.
  • Portable.
  • Affordable.

Cons:

  • May struggle to pick large debris.

2. Eureka WhirlWind Bagless Canister Vacuum Cleaner

eureka WhirlWind Bagless Canister Vacuum Cleaner,...
  • Innovative Multi-Surface Vacuum: Deep clean with the whirlwind...
  • Lightweight And Easy To Maneuver: Vacuum anywhere around your...
  • 2.5L Dust Container, No Maintenance Costs: No bags or filters...
  • 2-In-1 Integrated Crevice Tool: The Eureka whirlwind canister...
  • Easy-To-Use: Spend more time cleaning and less time struggling...

The Eureka WhirlWind Canister Vacuum Cleaner is another budget-friendly bagless vacuum that offers impressive performance on different surfaces. It has a consistent suction performance and won't struggle in picking pet hair or bulky debris.

For a canister vacuum, this model is fairly lightweight, making it easy to carry around the room. The vacuum head features retractable bristles that help you clean the carpeted floors. Its dirt compartment is also decently large, which means you won't need to empty it very often.

This model uses washable filters, and that keeps the recurring costs at a minimum. The few parts and components that require servicing and maintenance are easy to access. However, it comes with a short power cord, and its hose is also fairly short.

Pros:

  • Great performance.
  • Affordable.
  • Large dirt compartment.
  • Retractable bristles on the head.
  • Fairly lightweight.
  • Washable filters

Cons:

  • The cord and hose are short.

3. Shark APEX AZ1002 DuoClean with Self-Cleaning Brushroll Bagless Upright Vacuum

Sale
Shark APEX AZ1002 DuoClean with Self-Cleaning Brushroll...
  • Shark APEX featuring DuoClean, Powered Lift-Away, and...
  • DuoClean Technology: Dual brushroll system deep-cleans carpets...
  • The vacuum that deep-cleans now cleans itself. The self-cleaning...
  • Powered-Lift Away: the pod detaches to extend the reach of the...
  • Anti-Allergen Complete Seal Technology and a HEPA filter trap...

The Shark APEX AZ1002 DuoClean with Self-Cleaning Brushroll Vacuum is a great bagless vacuum that boasts the ability to filter out tiny particles. The performance is great on both bare floors and carpeted areas. This is it can convert from an upright vacuum to a canister vacuum with a press of a button.

It can tackle the stairs and tight spaces, for example, below the furniture. The entire vacuum has been sealed to prevent dust from escaping, and it includes a HEPA filter that needs to be washed every now and then.

This model is also a great choice for pet owners because it features a brush roll that helps to reduce hair clogging. It has smooth maneuverability of carpets and hard floors and maintains powerful suction all through the cleaning process.

Pros:

  • Can switch from an upright to a canister vacuum.
  • Anti glide technology.
  • DuoClean technology.
  • Brush roll to reduce hair tangles.
  • HEPA filtration system.
  • Noise reduction technology.

Cons:

  • Quite expensive.

4. Eureka 3670M Canister Cleaner, Lightweight Powerful Vacuum

Eureka 3670M Canister Cleaner, Lightweight Powerful...
  • Dust bag capacity is up to 2.5 liters. Lightweight & Lifetable...
  • Powerful Cleaning: The 10-amp motor provides continuous, powerful...
  • Blower Port: Conveniently blows away dirt and debris to clean...
  • Multi-surface Cleaning Tools: A crevice tool, dual purpose...
  • Messy-free Dust Bag Replacement: With the replaceable the dust...

The Eureka 3670M Canister Cleaner, Lightweight Powerful Vacuum, is another best lightweight vacuum cleaner that works great on bare floors. It will pick up both small and large debris, including dust and pet hair making it a handy tool.

The overall cleaning performance of this vacuum on carpeted floor types is good, but you may struggle with picking small debris. Its wand is made up of two separate pieces, which means to can shorten it to use it for hard-to-reach spaces.

It is easy to maintain and maneuver, but the range is a bit short. The vacuum comes with other tools like a dual-purpose dusting brush, upholstery nozzle, and crevice tool. It has a blower port that helps to blow dirt and debris away, leaving the outdoor spaces extra clean.

Pros:

  • Picks up small and large debris.
  • Five dirtbags included.
  • Low maintenance required.
  • May pick up some pet hair.
  • Great for bare floors.
  • Lightweight.
  • Great dust bag capacity.

Cons:

  • Short-range.
  • The build quality is not the best.

5. Shark IZ163H Rocket Pet Pro Cordless Vacuum Cleaner

Shark IZ163H Rocket Pet Pro Cordless Stick Vacuum with...
  • Powerful suction for whole-home cleaning: dirt, debris, pet hair,...
  • Self-cleaning brushroll with Dirt Engage technology allows...
  • Dirt Engage technology delivers unbeatable cleaning performance...
  • MultiFLEX technology allows you to bend the wand to easily reach...
  • Up to 40 minutes of runtime in Standard mode, measured at the...

If you're in search of a cordless stick vacuum for your bare floors, then you should consider getting the Shark IZ163H Rocket Pet Pro Cordless Vacuum Cleaner. It is a lightweight cordless stick vacuum or handheld vacuum which delivers exceptional performance on bare floors.

This stick vacuum cleaner for pet hair can easily clear up all pet hair and small debris. It features a slim design and a rotating head that make it easy to maneuver and also portable. The vacuum can work as a handheld model, which comes in handy to clean up tight spaces like the car's interior and stairs.

It comes with several accessories that include brushes and tools that aid in different jobs, for example, a crevice tool for tight and narrow spaces and an upholstery tool for cleaning the fabric over the furniture. However, it has a short battery time of about 10 minutes of continuous cleaning with the most powerful setting and 40 minutes with default power settings.

Pros:

  • Picks up pet hair easily.
  • Easy to maintain.
  • Great for all surfaces, including bare floors, low and high pile carpet.
  • Self-cleaning brush roll.
  • Powerful suction.
  • Comes with useful tools.

Cons:

  • Small dirt compartment.
  • Shorter battery life on the most powerful setting.

Factors to Consider Before Buying the Best Bagless Vacuum Cleaner

1. Types of Vacuums

With the different types of vacuum cleaners, it can be difficult to know the right vacuum cleaner that matches your needs. Here are some common types of vacuums;

a). Upright Vacuum Cleaner

An upright vacuum is best used in large carpeted houses because of the turbo brush that is effective in picking the hair and dust from carpets. It also features a wide floor head which means it can cover larger areas faster. The upright vacuums are also easier to maneuver and more stable. However, it might not be easy to reach under furniture or use on stairs with the design.

b). Cordless Vacuum

Stick vacuums are becoming popular due to their cordless design and powerful performance competing with corded vacuums. The best cordless vacuum cleaner should feature a lightweight stick body, a smaller canister, and attachments like the upholstery tool, crevice tool, and sometimes a pet hairbrush.

Since they are cordless vacuums, they entirely depend on the battery life, so you need to charge them before use. They are quite compact to store since some can be mounted on the wall, and they tend to be more lightweight and comfortable to use than the cylinder and upright vacuums.

c). Cylinder Vacuums

A cylinder vacuum is lighter and portable than upright because its body sits on the floor and is being pulled behind you. They are either bagless or bagged and come with a wide range of tools. Their design comes in handy for those who struggle with heavier vacuums.

Moreover, this is one of the best vacuum cleaners when it comes to cleaning under the furniture and along the stairs because of their long and flexible hose. However, some models might be bulky and difficult to store because of the long hose.

d). Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Robot vacuums are little machines that use sensors to clean and avoid bumping into things. You can map where they've passed through around the room to ensure that there is no area that is neglected. A robot vacuum or robotic vacuum often has larger dust canisters, great pick-up power, and is high-tech.

Most robot vacuums are wifi compatible which means that you can set it to clean even if you're not at home. Using a robot vacuum, you can also block some rooms or set no-go areas of places you don't want to be cleaned.

e). Handheld Vacuum

The best handheld vacuum cleaner will help clean the quick spills in tight spaces such as staircases and car interiors. They are more portable, but they depend on battery and have a smaller dust capacity. Most cordless upright vacuum cleaners can also function as handheld vacuums.

2. Weight

The weight of the vacuum cleaner matters, especially when you have an extended cleaning session or you have to carry it up the stairs. Fortunately, most vacuum cleaners have been designed to weigh but still sturdy.

Upright vacuums tend to have the most weight, but they have powerful motors, wide floorheads, and larger dust bags. Canister vacuums have lightweight and heavier models, while handheld vacuums, sticks, and cordless vacuums are mostly lightweight. The best bagless vacuum cleaner should be lightweight enough for easy maneuverability and portability,

3. Brush Roll

The brush roll determines the flooring the vacuum is best suited for. Some vacuums have no brush rolls, and they are considered best suited for tile flooring and hardwood floors because the stiff fibers on the brush roll may send dirt in all directions or scratch the floors.

However, some vacuums with a brush roll come with the ability to turn off the rotation of the brush which means you can use them on hardwood floors and other types of hard flooring. On the other hand, vacuums with a brush roll are great for carpets since it agitates the carpet fibers to remove the dirt and the debris including pet hair and dust that had settled in the carpet.

While most brush rolls will work great on a low pile or flatweave carpet, the high pile carpet to medium pile rugs may need an adjustable pile height setting to ensure the fibers won't get tangled in the brush roll.

4. Filter

The best vacuum cleaner comes with a filtration system that is meant to trap the fine particles of dust that might otherwise escape with the exhaust of the vacuum. Some of these filters feature a sponge-like material that is washable, rinses easily, dries quickly, easy to maintain, and also affordable.

Other filters have a paper-like material that needs to be replaced to maintain their effectiveness. The HEPA filter is also an important aspect of vacuum filtration, and it means High-Efficiency Particulate Air. They are ultra-fine filters that trap very tiny particles.

The HEPA filtration system is recommended for allergy sufferers or someone looking to reduce dust and other small particles. However, the HEPA filter may need to be replaced constantly to maintain its effectiveness but a few modern models come with a washable HEPA filter.

5. Accessories

Before buying the best vacuum cleaner, you want to ensure that the model has the right accessories for your cleaning. Some models come with additional tools to improve the vacuum's suction power, but you may need to buy them separately for other models.

These tools main include an upholstery tool, crevice tool, extension wands, etc. Some may have pet cleaning tools, for example, fine-tooth combs, stiff brushed, and nozzle attachments with grippy surfaces to remove pet hair from the surfaces.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Bagless Vacuums

1. Do you need a HEPA filter?

HEPA filters are an amazing way to trap microscopic particles like dust mites, pollen, etc., and are also great for people who have allergies. However, the filter alone is not enough, and the vacuum should be well sealed to ensure anything that comes out passes through the filter.

2. What is the best bagless vacuum cleaner on the market?

Although the best vacuum cleaners may vary depending on the needs and preferences, we recommend the Bissell Featherweight Stick Lightweight Bagless Vacuum simply because it is lightweight, affordable, portable, and easy to maintain.

Ian Mutuli

About the author

Ian Mutuli

Founder and Managing Editor of Archute. He is also a graduate architect from The University of Nairobi, Kenya.
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