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If you have hardwood floors, you’re probably wondering what’s the best way to clean them. Is sweeping the best option, or should you vacuum instead?
Everyone seems to have their preferred ways to clean, but which method is more effective and efficient?
There are pros and cons to each type of cleaning method, and once you learn them, you’ll be able to make an informed cleaning decision.
Brooms don’t make any noise or leave scratches on your hardwood floors.
Vacuums, on the other hand, while noisy, is able to get into hard cracks and crevices that your broom cannot reach. Vacuuming is also much faster than sweeping.
Below, we’ll take a closer look at vacuuming for hardwood floors and which are the best options on the market.
Contents
- 1 Our Reviews Of The Best Vacuum For Hardwood Floors
- 2 BEST OVERALL
- 3 RUNNER-UP
- 4 Hardwood floors vacuum FAQ
- 5 Choosing The Best Vacuum Cleaner for Your Hardwood Floors
- 6 You Might also like
Our Reviews Of The Best Vacuum For Hardwood Floors
Bissell PowerEdge Pet Hardwood Floor Bagless Cleaner
BEST OVERALL
If you’re looking for a stick vacuum to clean hardwood floors, the Bissell PowerEdge Vacuum is the one.
It is specifically designed to clean around corners and edges effortlessly.
Everything about this vacuum shows the amount of innovation that went into making it from the unique design which safely and efficiently cleans both small and large debris off your hardwood floors to the rubber squeegees that pick up pet hair and dirt.
Cleaning your hardwood floors has never been this easy thanks to the innovative and practical design.
This vacuum allows you to get around your furniture, and appliances are also lightweight and versatile to carry up and down the staircase.
After cleaning, the vacuum is easy to empty thanks to its bagless technology.
Overall, it might be lightweight and easy to use; however, it’s one of the most powerful hardwood floor vacuums on the market today.
Pros
- Easily cleans around furniture
- Easy to empty
- Picks up fine debris
Cons
- Because the v shape center is plastic, getting around corners can prove challenging
Technical specifications
- Power: 6 amps
- Corded / Cordless: Corded
- Suction Power: 6 amps
- Weight: 7.5 lbs
- Dimensions: 10.6 x 11.3 x 43.3 inches
Bissell Hard Floor Expert Corded Stick Vacuum Cleaner
RUNNER-UP
If you’re looking for a stick vacuum to keep your place neat and tidy, then the Bissell Hard Floor Expert Corded Stick Vacuum Cleaner is the one for you.
This is one of the most convenient pieces of equipment, and if you’re looking for a corner or edge to edge cleaning inside your apartment or home, then this vacuum will ensure that no corner is left untouched.
This lightweight vacuum is capable of removing large and small debris and patches of dirt. In fact, it’s capable of cleaning better than any broom or dustpan can.
Thanks to its V-shaped technology, large pieces are guided into the center suction part of the vacuum while the ends of the stick vacuum suck up dirt on the edges and baseboards.
Its lightweight design makes it easy to carry up and downstairs and maneuver around the home.
No extra attachments are required as well so it’s convenient to use. Storage is easy thanks to the stick design, and it takes up very little space in your home.
It’s safe to use on hardwood floors, and in fact, it is recommended.
It is equipped with bumpers and soft roller wheels to ensure that your hardwood floors are not damaged in any way while making use of the stick vacuum.
Pros
- V shape technology
- Edge to edge cleaning
- Lightweight
Cons
- Width of canister makes it difficult to vacuum under certain pieces of furniture
Technical specifications
- Power: 5 amps
- Corded / Cordless: Corded
- Suction Power: Cyclonic
- Weight: 7.5 lbs
- Dimensions: 11.3 x 10.6 x 43.3 inches
MOOSOO Vacuum Cleaner Corded Stick Vacuum
If you’re looking for a stick vacuum with powerful suction that’s perfect for tile, marble, and hardwood floors, then the Moosoo vacuum cleaner stick is what you are looking for.
With a four-stage advanced filtration system and HEPA filters, it delivers a powerful cleaning experience.
Both the HEPA filter and cylinder is washable and contains a complete sealing design.
The rotatable brush head is flexible and easily fits under furniture, beds, and corners. The brush head can be controlled to move in the direction that you want.
That tube is also easily adjustable and can reach heights of up to 10 feet head, so cleaning ceilings and vents are now convenient and effortless.
The 17 Kpa suction power vacuum stick picks up all types of debris, such as pet hair, dog food crumbs, and even cat litter.
Although it’s not suitable for use on carpets, it is specially designed to be used on hardwood floors.
The lightweight design also means that it’s easy to maneuver and move around the house.
You can easily switch this device to the handheld mode by using the necessary attachments.
Pros
- 2 HEPA filters
- 4-stage filtration system
- Adjustable tube
Cons
- Prone to overheating
Technical specifications
- Power: 500w
- Corded / Cordless: Corded
- Suction Power: 17Kpa
- Weight: 2.8 lbs
- Dimensions: 50 x 8.7 x 9.8 inches
Bissell Zing Canister, 2156A Vacuum
The Bissell Zing Canister 2156A canister vacuum contains a powerful suction and cyclonic action.
It makes it easy to remove dirt, pet hair as well as other types of debris.
The vacuum is also lightweight enough to move from one room inside your home to another effortlessly.
The cyclonic technology ensures continuous suction when irrespective of whether you are vacuuming carpets or hardwood floors.
The compact design and swivel steering makes maneuvering this vacuum cleaner around furniture and corners is an absolute breeze.
It contains an easy-empty dirt cup that is designed to keep dust off your hands.
The vacuum is suitable for multi-surface cleaning, and you will never wrap a cord again, thanks to the automatic cord rewind function.
This allows you to wrap a 15-foot power cord automatically and conveniently.
Pros
- Easy-empty dirt cup
- Automatic cord rewind
- Air flow regulator
Cons
- Head disconnects from the tube
Technical specifications
- Power: 9 amps
- Corded / Cordless: Corded
- Suction Power: Cyclonic
- Weight: 7.5 lbs
- Dimensions: 14 x 11 x 12 inches
Eufy BoostIQ RoboVac 11S (Slim), Robot Vacuum Cleaner, Super-Thin
The eufy BoostIQ RoboVac 11S (Slim), Robot Vacuum Cleaner, is one of the most competent vacuum cleaners on the market.
Created by Digital Trends, it has a slim design and quiet operation.
Suction power is at 1300 PA, and it can automatically increase suction power within 1 to 5 seconds when and as it is needed.
The robovac provides a quiet clean even while vacuuming up to 100 minutes continuously.
Ultimately, the most powerful suction is no louder than your average microwave.
Some of the extra features include an anti-scratch tempered glass top, drop sensing technology that prevents the vacuum from falling down stairs, as well as an infrared sensor that keeps it from bumping into obstacles.
It also automatically recharges, so it’s always ready to clean.
Pros
- Automatically recharges
- Infrared sensors
- Powerful suction
Cons
- Gets stuck into objects
Technical specifications
- Power: 1300pa
- Corded / Cordless: Cordless
- Suction Power: 1300pa
- Weight: 5.73 lbs
- Dimensions: 12.8 x 12.8 x 2.9 inches
Hardwood floors vacuum FAQ
Lots of people still believe in sweeping their hardwood floors. In fact, they believe it’s the best option.
However, contrary to popular belief, and thanks to the evolving technology used in creating vacuum cleaners, it’s now easier than ever to clean your hardwood floors and preserve them at the same time.
How often should you vacuum your hardwood flooring?
Lots of people are not entirely sure of how often they should be vacuuming their home.
This might sound like a fairly simple question; however, when you’re overwhelmed with your household chores, it’s quite a common one.
There are a few different factors or aspects that are taken into consideration before deciding how often to vacuum.
Although the amount of time you vacuum will depend on your floor type, vacuuming is entirely up to personal preference as well as the number of people in the family, the amount of traffic in any specific area of the home, and whether you have pets or not.
Ultimately, if you have hardwood floors, they are much easier to clean than carpets, therefore, vacuuming the less is acceptable.
You can choose to vacuum hardwood floors daily or weekly. Ultimately it all depends on how dirty your hardwood floors get on a daily basis.
You can choose to vacuum the floors daily if necessary. However, you should categorize or separate your daily vacuuming from your weekly or monthly vacuuming tasks.
For example, it should include vacuuming your home whenever there are visible dust and debris.
When it comes to weekly vacuuming tasks, you can choose to move your furniture and vacuum under the beds, as well. So this can be done on a needs only basis.
You should also have times each year where you do heavy-duty vacuuming in each room of the home.
This is also referred to as spring cleaning and is perfectly okay if you do it at different times of the year.
It should be said that the more often you vacuum, the better it is. If you like to keep a spick and span home, then vacuuming on a daily basis is definitely recommended.
Ultimately a clean home is more welcoming and inviting to family and friends. Vacuuming more often also has health benefits.
Since floors tend to hold dirt, dust, and allergens, the bacteria can breed on your hardwood floors and leave behind bad smells.
A good vacuuming and cleaning will ensure that your home smells fresh and is hygienically clean.
Ultimately, if you have pets that you keep indoors, then vacuuming each and every day is a requirement.
This is especially so if you have small children inside the home. This is essential to the health and well-being of your children.
Vacuuming regularly can benefit your pets as well since there are lots of pets that are actually allergic to dust.
What type of vacuum is best for hardwood flooring?
Hardwood floors are often seen as a challenge to clean. This is mainly because it is on the most delicate types of flooring out there.
Ultimately, the wrong vacuum can leave permanent damage on your floors.
When it comes to vacuuming hardwood floors, you need to choose both the brand and model, or else you would cause possible damage to your hardwood floors.
Hardwood floors, on the other hand, can last for generations if it is correctly cared for.
So by choosing a proper vacuum cleaner, you ensure that your floors stay in mint condition for generations to come.
Ultimately, when it comes to choosing the right vacuum cleaner for your hardwood floors there are certain features to look out for.
The different types of vacuum cleaners on the market are designed to clean both carpet and hardwood floors.
However, if you use the wrong type of vacuum cleaner for your surface, it can prove to be aggressive.
Some vacuum cleaners have rotating brushes, and it can tend to damage hardwood floors.
So when it comes to choosing a vacuum designed for hardwood floors, they are a few features you need to look out for such as:
There are a few vacuum cleaners on the market that are designed to clean both hardwood floors and carpet.
On the plus side, it’s a major convenience to have the versatility of a carpet and hardwood vacuum cleaner in one device.
So if it is within your budget, purchasing a vacuum cleaner to clean the carpets and hardwood floors are recommended.
Your hardwood vacuum cleaner also needs to be lightweight.
This is mainly because heavy vacuums are not suitable for hardwood floors as they create too much pressure on the surface and could leave dents and damage the coat.
So ultimately, the best vacuum for your hardwood floors is something that is lightweight and allows you to move it around effortlessly.
You should try to avoid rotating brushes at all costs.
This can cause damage to the delicate hardwood coating, and it’s also a challenge to vacuum your floor since they also tend to move dirt around the room.
So ultimately, a suction-only nozzle vacuum cleaner is suitable for hardwood floors.
When it comes to suction, higher power wattage usually means a more powerful suction.
So in cases where the actual suction power of the vacuum is not specified, you can use the wattage as an indicator of this.
Vacuum cleaners are available with different types of wheels and all types of designs and materials.
However, the most suitable for hardwood floors include rubber wheels. Soft rubber wheels also glide smoothly over the surface without scratching or denting it.
They don’t make noises and therefore is the most suitable for hardwood flooring.
SHOULD YOU VACUUM FLOORS BEFORE OR AFTER SWEEPING?
Some people prefer to reach for the broom when a mess hits the floor. Then the others are preferred to check out the vacuum.
Sweeping and vacuuming are both effective at cleaning up the mess; however, there are fundamental differences between the two cleaning methods.
There are some situations where vacuums are best in other times that a broom and dustpan are called for.
Sleeping involves moving dirt around until you are able to pick it up and dispose of it.
Ultimately after sweeping your dirt in a pile, you should pick it up with a dustpan and ultimately throw it in the garbage. Thereafter you should bring out the vacuum.
Sleeping should usually be done before vacuuming. Ultimately this is because your broom will not pick up the amount of dirt and debris that your vacuum cleaner will.
So once you sweep up your dirt and pick it up in a dustpan, it’s time to bring out the vacuum cleaner to then suction up all of the remaining debris that your broom couldn’t get.
Are vacuums safe for hardwood floors?
If you don’t have much experience with vacuum cleaners and you hesitated in the past to vacuum hardwood floors because you were not sure if it could cause damage or not, then you made the right choice.
The wrong type of vacuum cleaner can damage your hardwood floors.
However, using the right vacuum cleaner can preserve your hardwood floors for generations to come.
Vacuums are usually suitable for cleaning hardwood floors; however, you cannot use a vacuum that is too heavy as it can cause pressure on the surface of your hardwood floors and ultimately leave dents.
Lots of stick vacuum cleaners also have a beater brush that’s made of nylon bristles, and this can damage the coating on hardwood floors.
These bristles are usually rough and leave marks on your floors.
Ultimately if your vacuum cleaner has plastic wheels, this can also leave scuff marks on your hardwood floors.
Ultimately, the idea is to use an upright vacuum cleaner on your hardwood floor. However, it has to be a certain kind of vacuum.
If you’re planning on replacing your broom and dustpan, then you need to choose an upright vacuum cleaner that’s lightweight and glides around easily.
One that has double reels and won’t leave stuff marks on your floor is also recommended.
Cordless vacuum cleaners are often more convenient to use and easy to move around as compared to corded vacuum cleaners.
Choosing The Best Vacuum Cleaner for Your Hardwood Floors
There are quite a few recommended vacuum cleaners on the market for hardwood floors.
Ultimately, you want to make sure that the vacuum cleaner you choose is specifically designed to clean and preserve the life of your hardwood floors.
At all costs, try to avoid plastic wheels and beater bars as this is one of the most common culprits when it comes to hardwood floor damage.
You can still choose to do your sweeping before your vacuuming however ultimately vacuuming is more effective than sweeping.
Brooms push around debris while vacuums suck them out of cracks and crevices.
Your hardwood floor vacuum should have a good exhaust air filter that removes dust from the air as well.
Vacuuming should be done approximately once a week if your home is not heavily trafficked and you don’t have pets.
However, if you do have children and pets, then you should vacuum approximately every day or every second day.
Following up your vacuuming with a damp mop is recommended as it keeps hardwood floors nice and shiny.
Always ensure that your damp mop is used with a cleaning solution that is specifically designed for hardwood floors, or else it could diminish the shine over time.
Ultimately, preserving hardwood floors is easy, and by following a few precautionary measures and exercising due diligence during cleaning, your hardwood floors can stay looking beautiful for years to come.
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