Best Vacuum for Hardwood Floors

Shark vacuums are known for consistent quality, and the DuoClean Rocket upholds that standard. The Shark Rocket DuoClean HV382  is billed as an upright, but can’t actually stand on its own. This upright/stick hybrid attempts to split the difference between the power of an upright with the versatility of a stick, and generally manages to do so.

Despite our earlier criticisms of brush rolls on hardwood flooring, the DuoClean’s dual brush rolls manage to pick up dirt and debris without making a mess. The bristles should be soft enough for most wood, but if you’re worried about the long-term effects, they can just as easily be turned off.

The litany of attachments and accessories also add to the DuoClean’s all-in-one approach to cleaning, so anything from hardwood to carpet and sofas can benefit from this product. However, the bin can be a bit small for tackling larger messes, and emptying it out may require some poking and prodding.

The suction power is powerful—but isn’t quite as strong as some of our other models. If you should face issue with your product over time, the warranty might not cover every issue to satisfaction. Luckily, owners of the Shark Rocket DuoClean HV382  report no loss of suction and little maintenance seems to be required to keep this vacuum running for years to come.

There may not be another cordless vacuum quite as powerful as the Dyson V8. Offering a max power mode that would rival any corded vacuum, this V8 cordless can utilize a firmer brush roll for carpets and an included soft brush attachment for hardwood floors. While carpets remain an option, hardwood seems to be the focus for this stick vacuum—that is, when not used in handheld mode.

That power comes at a cost, however. The Dyson V8 doesn’t often last longer than 20 minutes when using a tool, and since a trigger needs to be pulled to operate the vacuum, there’s a certain amount of fatigue that can come from extended use. Dyson is not afraid to admit, even on their product page, that some settings drain the battery in under 10 minutes. Once drained, you’ll need to wait for a little under four hours before heading out for a second cleaning.

For a vacuum that costs twice as much as many of our other options, these issues, alongside the limited warranty, can seem worse than they actually are. If you’re a Dyson fan who can take the pros with the cons, then the V8 is second to none in quality and power. For those who need different features or a longer-lasting battery, purchasing this unit can be a hard pill to swallow.

Fans of the V8 should also consider the Dyson V10, which promises a few extra minutes of battery and features a unibody design with a larger bin for bigger rooms and pet hair. The price jump from the V8 to the V10 is a bit steep, but with several of the minor issues with the V8 worked out in the premium model, it may be worth the extra expense.

Bissell’s stick vacuum, designed exclusively for hardwood floors, seems to perform far beyond its low price tag. Instead of utilizing a soft brush roll like the Dyson V8 or Shark DuoClean, the Bissell PowerEdge 81L2A  opts for a unique V-shaped design that works larger debris closer to the center while making corner cleaning far easier. Because of this, the PowerEdge Pet is as gentle as a vacuum can be on hardwood floors. This design also allows the PowerEdge Pet to run with few moving parts, so there’s less maintenance required and, as the name implies, it excels at pet hair removal.

The simplicity of the machine, however, and the affordable cost came at the sacrifice of a few significant features considered standard for this type of vacuum, as well as features other products on our list have universally. For instance, there are zero attachments to be found with the product. The simplistic design also lends itself to clogging, and consistent check-ups may be required to make sure suction isn’t lost over time.

Still, it is a hard product to beat in this price range. Bissell PowerEdge 81L2A is a quiet, effective product that’s designed for the budget-savvy in mind.

For the severely allergic or those with several pets, there’s almost no use in recommending any other vacuum than the Kenmore Kenmore Elite Pet-Friendly 31150, which provides an experience that’s perhaps as hypoallergenic as possible for a vacuum. Its user manual notes to the user that height adjustments and a two-motor system will maintain powerful suction whether cleaning high pile carpet, low pile carpet, or hardwood. Other attachments round out a feature list that’s long enough to tempt anyone who’s sworn off going back to bags.

Those features are not without drawbacks in design. TheKenmore Elite Pet-Friendly 31150 is not only the heaviest vacuum on our list, but it also is the least focused on cleaning hardwood floors. The vacuum performs well on hardwood floors but can cause some wear and tear that may scare off a few that lack carpet in the home.

If a vacuum that doubles as a workout is not a problem for you, or if your home manages several types of flooring and carpeting, the Kenmore Elite Pet-Friendly 31150 will stop the sneezing that comes from a good cleaning. If those categories don’t apply to you, however, it is more difficult to suggest the Kenmore Elite Pet-Friendly 31150 over some of the other vacuums on this list.