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The Best Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner

The Best Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner

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Cordless stick vacuums are a great alternative to traditional vacuums, because of their convenience and ease of use.

There a quite a few models on the market in Australia so we’ve put together this guide to highlight some of the best ones and compare their pros and cons. We’ll also explain some of the features to look for when choosing a stick vacuum.


1. Dyson V11 Absolute extra Cordless Stick Vacuum (Top Pick)


The Dyson V11 is our pick for the best stick vacuum cleaner on the market. It has the power to pull dust from the very depth of your carpet. The amount of suction adjusts automatically as the V11 senses the type of surface you are currently vacuuming.  

It’s easy to use; it’s light and the grip is comfortable, so it’s no problem vacuuming all over the house, on a range of floor types. You can vacuum most types of carpet, along with tiles and hardwood floors, as well as furniture and your car.

The wall-mounted charging dock provides your Dyson with up to 60 minutes of power and means it stays out of the way when not in use.

Some people may not like the trigger button as it must be pressed constantly while the vacuum is in use. Also. the price is a little steep, but you really are paying for quality. 

Overall, The V11 is powerful, easy to use and does a fantastic job. 


What We Like:

  • Powerful
  • Automatic suction adjust
  • Comfortable and easy to handle
  • Range of handy attachments including a crevice tool and mini soft dusting brush
  • Thousands of positive reviews

What We Don’t Like:

  • Expensive

2. Dyson V8 Animal Cordless Stick Vacuum (Best Value)


The Dyson V8 is a great cordless vacuum cleaner that has a lot of power. It doesn’t have as many features as the V11, but at half the price it’s a great alternative.  

It works great on carpets and tiles, and it pulls pet hair from furniture and mattresses with no problem. The suction is so good that it’s indistinguishable from a regular vacuum. It has a washable HEPA filter, so it’s great for people with allergies or asthma, and the unit is light and comfortable to use.  

The running time off one battery charge is around 40 minutes, so it’s enough to clean a medium-sized house. It only has two power settings, but that will be enough for most people.  

The V8 is an excellent vacuum for those who want the power of a Dyson but don’t want to shell out big bucks for the V11.


What We Like:

  • Great power
  • Easy to use and store
  • Good for pet hair 

What We Don’t Like:

  • Only two power settings
  • Fewer features than the V11

3. LG CordZero A9 Stick Vacuum


The LG CordZero Is an excellent competitor for the Dyson range of cordless vacuums. It has three suction strengths and runs for a good 40 mins on the low setting, or 80 minutes if you count the extra battery supplied with it. On turbo mode, it will run for about 6 minutes or 12 minutes over two batteries. 

It’s great for cleaning most surfaces and picks up pet hair really well. It’s quite comfortable and easy to hold and the suction control is on the handle for easy access. One great feature that Dyson doesn’t have is that the button doesn’t require you to hold it down. It stays on until you turn it off.  

The unit can be disassembled so you can wash out the filtration system, which is very convenient, although the collection bin is a little small and will need to be emptied regularly.  

Overall, this is one of the best upright vacuums around and a good alternative to a Dyson.  


What We Like:

  • Powerful
  • Comes with two batteries
  • Washable filtration

What We Don’t Like:

  • Small collection bin

4. Bosch Athlet 32.4V Rechargeable Vacuum Cleaner


The Bosch Athlet is easy to use and maneuver; it can even stand up by itself, so you don’t have to drop it when you have to stop and move something out of the way.  

The battery life is very good, running for about 75 mins on the low setting. However, the battery cannot be replaced, which may put some people off. One great feature is that you can remove the handle and attach a suction hose, then wear it like a backpack. This makes it perfect for vacuuming your car. 

It has a good amount of power and cleans carpet pretty easily. The collection bin is easy to empty and the filter is washable, so you can keep it in good working order.  

Overall, this is an excellent mid-range stick vacuum that is good for cleaning large areas and doing odd jobs. 


What We Like:

  • Good handling
  • Backpack mode
  • Several attachments including upholstery and crevice nozzle

What We Don’t Like:

  • Non-replaceable battery

5. PUPPYOO Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner


PUPPYOO WP536 Stick Vacuum Cleaner Cordless HEPA Filtration, Portable Lightweight 2 in 1 Upright Handheld Bagless Electric Broom, Lithium-ion Battery Rechargeable Cyclone Quiet Vacuum Cleaner

This stick vacuum from Puppyoo is lightweight and easy to operate with decent suction. It can’t be compared to the high-end vacuums like the Dyson but is more than adequate for most cleaning jobs.

At a fraction of the price of the big-name vacuums, it is a great choice for someone with a small apartment or someone who wants to try out a stick vacuum for the first time. 

It has two suction levels and runs for about 35 minutes on normal power. On high, it runs for about 22 minutes. It does a good job of picking up animal hair, and as long as you clean regularly, it’ll get most of the dust in your home.  

The battery is removable, so it can easily be replaced, and all the components are washable, so this will last for quite a while if you take care of it.  

Overall, this is the best budget stick vacuum around.


What We Like:

  • Great value
  • Washable components
  • Removable battery 
  • Options for stick and handheld design

What We Don’t Like:

  • Low-end vacuum that lacks the power of the expensive models

6. Dyson Cyclone V10 Animal+ Cordless Vacuum


The Dyson Cyclone V10 Animal+ is a fantastic all-round option that is strong enough to tackle all tasks including pet hair. This is a strong stick vacuum that can be used on all floor types and the 60 minutes of power gives you enough time to clean the house on one charge.

There are 3 different modes on this model so whether you want to quickly clean hard floors or deep clean carpets, you can.

This cordless cleaner comes with 5 tools including a flexi crevice tool, a combination tool and a mini motorised tool so there are options to suit a variety of cleaning tasks and floor types.

It also transforms easily into a handheld cleaner which is the best option for cleaning stairs and more compact areas.

The Dyson Cyclone V10 has been engineered to keep the noise levels down while still offering powerful suction. The large collection bin is ideal for bigger jobs and the pull lever makes it easy to empty the debris into the bin without having to touch it. 

The docking station neatly holds and recharged the cordless vacuum cleaner when not in use.


What We Like:

  • Converts into a handheld vacuum
  • Neatly stores away and recharges on the docking station
  • Powerful suction

What We Don’t Like:

  • It only runs while you are holding down the power trigger

7. Vax Blade 2 Max VX82 Cordless Handstick Vacuum


The Vax Blade 2 Max stick vacuum offers great value for money. This is a practical and efficient vacuum that offers up to 45 minutes of suction per 3-hour charge.

The suction power is ideal for use on carpet and hard floors and the vacuum length makes it easier to get to those hard to reach areas.

This cordless vacuum cleaner uses a brushless motor to help maximise its efficiency and has a 3 stage filtration system to remove dust as well as a dual electrostatic filter to remove even finer particles too.

This model has a detachable handheld vacuum too which is perfect for vacuuming stairs and cleaning the car.

The Vax Blade 2 Max is comfortable to hold and features LED headlights so you can easily see where you are cleaning, ensuring no spots are missed.

The onboard tool storage is convenient as it ensures you have everything you need within reach.


What We Like:

  • Affordable model
  • Easy to empty
  • Effective filtration system

What We Don’t Like:

  • May feel like cheaper materials compared to higher-end models

Cordless Stick Vacuum Buyer’s Guide


Stick vacuums are extremely popular as they are cordless, convenient and don’t weigh much.

Vacuuming the house is easier using cordless vacuum cleaners, they give you more manoeuvrability and allow you to get more done in a shorter period of time without having to worry about unplugging and plugging in the power adapter as you move from room to room.

There are lots of different cordless vacuum cleaners available, each one varying in their features, power and run time. This buyers guide will help make sure you find the best stick vacuum for you.

Battery 

One of the key factors to consider when choosing between stick vacuum cleaners is battery life. As the battery charge runs out, the suction of some stick vacuums will slowly reduce as well.

It is best to choose a vacuum that has a longer battery run-time than you need so that you get the maximum cleaning time with full suction power.

Some vacuums have removable batteries so you can put in a fresh one to extend your cleaning time if needed but others do not have removable batteries so they can only be used for the length of one battery charge. 

When you are looking at the battery, there are a few key factors to consider:

  • Run time – this is how long the vacuum can be used for from a single charge. The run time can vary from 10 minutes to over an hour depending on the model. The best cordless vacuum cleaners will last long enough for you to clean your house.
  • Charging – the amount of time the product takes to charge is also very important, some take 60 minutes while others need to be charged overnight.
  • Max vs standard power mode – some stick vacuums offer an adjustable suction power. Using the max modes tends to drain the battery life considerably quicker (some vacuum cleaners can be used for just 7 minutes when on max mode).
  • Power trigger – a lot of stick vacuums have a power trigger that you need to constantly hold down while you are vacuuming, this is to help save battery life but it may not be suitable for everyone. If you don’t want to be holding down the trigger while you are cleaning, look for options with an on/off switch instead.

Weight

Another important factor to consider when looking at different stick vacuum cleaners is their weight. Their low weight is one of the reasons they are such popular options, on average they tend to weigh less than half a corded vacuum weighs.

The option you choose needs to be lightweight to make it easy to carry and use. The weight also needs to be balanced as a poorly balanced option will feel a lot heavier than it actually is. The best stick vacuum cleaners weigh less than 3kg.

Conversion Into A Handheld Vacuum 

A lot of stick vacuums offer a 2-in-1 feature where they quickly convert to a handheld vacuum by removing the extendable head or the handle. This is very convenient for cleaning furniture or curtains, and hard to reach places. You can buy standalone handheld vacuums but having a 2-in-1 stick vacuum is convenient and is an ideal option for effectively cleaning your whole house as well as your car with ease.

RELATED: The Best Car Vacuum Cleaner

What Are You Cleaning? 

Hard floors and tiles will be much easier to clean than carpet and you may not need as much power to get great results. If you have pets, you will need to get a vacuum with stronger suction to collect all the hair, so you will most likely need to be looking at a high-end stick vacuum to get the results you want.

You may also want to opt for an option that includes a brush roll, which is a cylinder with bristles that rotates at high speed to extract dirt and pet hair. Most stick vacuums are good for regular carpet, but they will not work well on thick shag and high-pile carpet. Make sure you choose a vacuum that is suitable for the areas you will be cleaning. 

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Attachments

Generally, stick vacuums come with a crevice tool and an upholstery brush as standard. There is a range of attachments available and different situations (and floor types) will need different vacuum attachments. Here is a summary of the most popular and widely available attachments:

  • Crevice tool – a long, skinny tool that has an angled tip and is perfect for skirting boards, radiators and tight spots.
  • Upholstery brush – a wide brush tool that is perfect for sofas, cushions and curtains.
  • Dusting brush – a medium soft-bristled brush that is best for quickly cleaning windowsills, bookcases, keyboards and lampshades.
  • Extendable brush – a long brush that is great for cleaning the ceiling and other hard to reach areas.
  • Parquet brush – this is designed to be gentle on delicate surfaces so is well suited to use on wooden or tiled floors.
  • Motorised brush – also called a turbo brush, this is best for cleaning pet hair and giving cut pile carpets a deep clean. These brushes need to be regularly cleaned to keep them working at their best.

There’s no need to have lots of attachments as you may not actually use them all but you will still need to store them somewhere. Usually, 2 or 3 quality attachment options that you will make use of can make vacuuming and cleaning the house (or car) much easier. The attachments we recommend as a bare minimum would be the crevice tool, the upholstery brush and a motorised or turbo brush for dealing with pet hair or more difficult materials.

Filter 

Some vacuums come with a HEPA filter. This stands for High-Efficiency Particulate Air, and these filters remove dust particles as small as 0.3 microns with over 99% efficiency. This is the filter to look for if you have allergies or asthma or other health concerns relating to dust particles. 

Even if your vacuum has a regular filter it can still be very efficient. To get the most from it, look for filters that can be removed and washed. This will ensure the filter is working at its best and will also help to significantly extend the life of the filter.

These are some of the most popular features that may be worth considering:

Headlights – these lights illuminate the floor just in front of the vacuum so you can see the dust more easily. This is particularly useful when vacuuming under furniture, in corners or in darker spaces.

Sensor – some cordless vacuums have a sensor that senses the floor type and adjusts the suction power accordingly. This can help save battery power to increase the run time while still delivering the best cleaning results.

Battery level indicator – it is very frustrating when the vacuum runs out of battery life halfway through cleaning. Some stick vacuums have a time indicator that lets you know how much battery life is remaining. This can be a very useful feature and is certainly one worth keeping in mind.

Capacity – the dust capacity of stick vacuum cleaners tends to be quite low which is good for their size and weight but does mean they will need to be emptied on a more regular basis. The average capacity for stick vacuums is 0.6L.

Bagged or bagless – most stick vacuums are bagless which means you may have more contact with the collected dust when emptying the full container. However, if the vacuum has a good emptying system this shouldn’t be much of a problem. There are a few bagged options available which can be good for people with allergies but having a bagged cleaner also means you need to have a stock of vacuum bags (and buying these bags will be an ongoing cost).

Bar slit – some vacuum cleaners have a slit along the bar that allows you to slot scissors in to easily cut away long hair. We all know how long hair can tangle up the vacuum head so this bar slit helps by removing the awkward and fiddly job of dealing with caught up hair from underneath the cleaner. If this is an issue you have experienced in the past this simple feature can be a great addition.

Smart technology – as with most modern appliances there are now stick vacuums that can be used alongside an app or smartphone connection. This can be useful for monitoring the run time, remaining battery life and various usage/ cleaning statistics. If you love all things tech-related then a vacuum that utilises smart technology may be right up your alley.


Stick Vacuum FAQs


Which is the best Dyson stick?

The Dyson V11 is the best Dyson stick, it is powerful, comfortable to use and automatically adjusts the suction depending on the surface. This is an efficient and high-quality vacuum that makes light work of all vacuuming jobs.

Are stick vacuum cleaners good?

Yes, lightweight cordless vacuums are great, they are incredibly popular thanks to their ease of use, versatility and convenience.




This article was written by Julia Warren

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