Choosing The Best Lightweight Vacuum For Hard Floor Surfaces
Whether you are looking for a rustic, elegant, classy, modern, or warm look for your home, you can’t go wrong with hardwood floors. But when dust bunnies, hair, crumbs, and other unidentified scraps litter the floor, the personality of your entire room begins to fade. It is moments like these when you should arm yourself with the right arsenal to clean and restore your beautiful wooden floor’s luster.
(Photo Credit: Jason Meredith)
Cleaning hardwood floors is all about delicacy. If you don’t have that magic touch and are inclined to use abrasives, brushes, and chemicals, it is best to stay away.
Having the right vacuum cleaner will make your life easier, your house tidier, all while maintaining the youth of your floor. This is why we always recommend picking up the best lightweight vacuum that’s in your budget.
With an incredibly wide range of options available in any shopping center, choosing the perfect cleaning machine can be quite a challenge. As a rule of thumb, you want to look at more than just the weight. Consider these 4 additional features before proceeding any further:
- Versatility
- Suction power
- Accessories
- Attachments
What to Look For
- Of all things, it should be lightweight and portable; this will make it easier to maneuver. Handheld vacuums are a great example of this and they are perfect if your home isn’t too big.
- Long attachment hose that will make it easier to reach those tight and enclosed spaces underneath your couch or furniture.
- Bagged vacuums are easy and clean to empty, but at the same time suction is seriously reduced as they begin to fill; they are a good choice if you suffer from asthma or dust allergies.
- Bagless vacuums are easy to empty and have a better suction power, but can become a little messy.
- Suction power is very important because it should be able to easily absorb all dust particles (no matter how big or small), hair, and other debris.
What to Avoid
- By no means should it have beater brushes.
- Carpet vacuums can seriously damage your wooden floors because their rough wheels can cause scratches and dents. (Learn more about how to deal with minor surface scratches)
- Avoid machines with cleaning brushes, or go for the ones with an on/off brush switch.
- Rotating brushes will scatter the dirt and will also scratch the surface.
Upright Vacuum Cleaners
Upright vacuums are the most popular choice when it comes to vacuuming, but they are often too rough on your sensitive surface, causing scratches and dirt. They tend to:
- Cost less than canisters.
- Weigh more than canisters.
- Have a better suction power.
If you do choose an upright model, make sure it has a long hose and no beater brushes.
Canister Vacuum Cleaners
Canister vacuums are much easier to use than upright models. They tend to:
- Come with rubber wheels, making them perfect for new wooden floors as they prevent scratches.
- Come with a long hose and numerous accessories, which makes them better for cleaning stairs or hard-to-reach places.
- Have better maneuverability.
Stick Vacuum Cleaners
These types of vacuums tend to be:
- Extremely lightweight.
- Portable.
- A great choice if you already own an upright.
- Equipped with a lower suction power.
- Suitable for cleaning hard-to-reach places.
- Inexpensive
In the end, the best vacuum for hardwood floors is the one that successfully removes all dust, hair, and debris without scratching your valuable floor. These types of vacuums tend to belong to the category of stick and canister. If you’re a bit more adventurous, you can even try out a lightweight backpack vacuum.
