Are you bored of using your old, bulky, traditional vacuum cleaner? Opt for a Stick Vacuum cleaner, but do stick vacuums work on carpet?
It’s more than important to vacuum your carpets, but if you are using a traditional vacuum cleaner, you might agree that they are not easy to use, and because of their size, you need extra space to store them.
This is where Stick Vacuum cleaners come into play with their plethora of benefits. Let’s understand what is a Stick Vacuum, how it works, and what to look for when buying one.
What Is A Stick Vacuum?
Stick Vacuums are a compact version of traditional vacuums. While traditional vacuums are bulkier and require more space to store them, a stick vacuum is light in weight and requires less space to store them.
It doesn’t have any added baggage, hose, or attachment to it, but you get a floor or carpet brush, dustbin, and the dust release button.
Despite their slim structure, they are efficient in cleaning any type of hard floor. They are also efficient and effective in cleaning dust and debris that gets accumulated in your house every day.
How Stick Vacuum Works On Carpet?
Stick vacuum cleaners run on lithium-ion batteries, which are easy to recharge or remove from the device.
As with traditional vacuum cleaners, all the debris and dust are collected in a large bag with filter inserts, but in the case of stick vacuums, the dirt is collected in the dustbin.
These dustbins are easy to remove. You simply have to detach the dust bin from the device and empty it after each use.
Many styles of stick vacuum come with a shut-off feature that allows to disengage of the roller, which comes in handy when cleaning wooden floors or hard surfaces.
Do Stick Vacuums Work On Carpet?
A stick vacuum can effectively clean any type of hard floor, and there’s no evidence to say that a stick vacuum doesn’t work on carpet.
In fact, many people stick by stick vacuums for their everyday carpet cleaning and rely on traditional vacuums to clean bigger spills and heavily soiled floors.
There are various types of stick vacuums available in the market; while some work great on all types of carpets, others are only best suited to low-pile carpets.
What Are The Benefits Of Using Stick Vacuums?
There are many reasons to use stick vacuums over upright vacuums. Let’s look at some of the benefits that a stick vacuum offers:
1. Lightweight
The most common benefit of a stick vacuum is its lightweight feature. If you use regular vacuum cleaners, you know that they are too heavy, and carrying them from one room to another becomes a more hectic task.
But in the case of stick vacuums, they are useful for regular cleaning and are easy to carry because of their lightweight.
2. Noise-Free
Traditional vacuums can be a pain in your ear, and especially if you have toddlers or babies, then the device creates a lot of noise. The bigger the device, the more sounds it will make. But because of the slim structure of stick vacuums, they produce less noise, almost negligible.
3. Functional
Stick vacuums are functional devices. They are versatile, meaning that you can use them in many different ways. You can use them as regular cleaners and also as cordless cleaners in high areas.
These vacuums make it easier to clean the wardrobes or curtains with a sleek, hand-held vacuum. And because of their slim design, you can also clean the stairs quickly and efficiently.
What Are The Downsides Of Using Stick Vacuums?
Just like any other home appliance, a stick vacuum also comes with a set of drawbacks:
1. Less Powerful
Stick vacuum cleaner is small in size, so they don’t offer all the benefits a regular vacuum cleaner offers. The motors are also less powerful, which might make it difficult for heavy-duty cleaning purposes. Also if you have a large area to clean, then the process might be exhausting because of the small size of the machine.
2. Heavly Dependant On Batteries
If you have cordless stick vacuum, then they run on batteries. These batteries have limited running time and are not always long-lasting.
3. Small Dustbin
Stick vacuums come with small dustbins rather than large bags. These small dustbins get filled up fast within a short time, and you need to empty them quite frequently.
What Are The Key Features To Consider Before Buying A Stick Vacuum?
In case you are planning to buy a stick vacuum, here are a few key features you might want to consider before buying one:
1. Type Of Stick Vacuum
Typically, there are two types of stick vacuums- corded and cordless. The cordless ones are battery-operated and are apt to clean the farthest nook of your house.
On the contrary, corded stick vacuums have cords, which require an electric plug in order to use them.
2. Charging And Running Time
When buying a stick vacuum, look for one that will run for a useful length of time and doesn’t take too much time to charge.
Ideally, some stick vacs require charging overnight, while some might take roughly four hours to charge and allow 13 minutes of runtime, depending on the power setting and where you are using them.
3. Floor Heads
Many stick vacuums come with motorized heads, which make them suitable for both carpet and hard floors.
The stick vacuums for hard floors have special fluffy or soft heads, while some high-end vacuums also come with a special feature of detecting the surface you are vacuuming and adjusting the suction accordingly.
4. Light, Quiet And Easy To Handle
Try out the vacuums in the shop to examine if they are lightweight, quiet, and easy to handle for you. Also, look for stick vacuum models, which are easy to move on both carpets and hard surfaces.
Normally, most stick vacuums weigh 5.82 pounds on average, which are quiet and easy to handle, but it becomes challenging if you are reaching up to clean fans or ceilings.
5. Filter
When buying a stick vacuum, look for one with a HEPA filter, especially if you have asthma or allergies. These vacuums are designed to filter at least 99.97% of dust particles 0.3 microns in size.
Also, the filters should be easy to remove, clean, or replace.
6. LCD Display
Many mid to high-end stick vacuums come with a display that works to display the remaining battery time or even the amount and size of dust particles.
They may also inform you about any obstruction in the vacuum or if the filter needs cleaning. A basic stick vacuum cleaner will inform you about the battery by using different colored lights or a progress bar.
7. Tools
The standard items in stick vacuum include dusting brush and crevice tools. Other items might include a mopping attachment, flexible crevice tools for hard-to-reach areas, or pet hair.
Also, some tools can be stored on the vacuum itself, while some tools are stored on or inside the charging cradle/dock, depending on the model of the stick vacuum.
8. Self-Cleaning Stick Vacuums
Some manufacturers like LG and Samsung come with self-cleaning stick vacuums that empty the bagless dust bins into larger dust bags.
You might have to pay a premium price for these models, but they come in handy if you have allergies.
9. Wet And Dry
A stick vacuum also comes with a feature to suck the wet material or liquid. However, they only take a fairly small amount, say about 150 ml.
After using it, the bin and the filter need to be cleaned separately. It is also recommended not to fill the bin with liquid past its indicated maximum level.
10. Battery Details
The most common type of battery used in stick vacuums is Lithium-ion (Li-ion). These batteries are generally better performing and long-lasting than nickel-cadmium and lead-acid batteries, which are found in older vacuum models.
Moreover, many manufacturers also offer the ability to remove or replace the battery easily. Also, check the warranty of the battery. Some warranties only cover the battery for a few months.
3 Best Stick Vacuum Cleaners
1. Samsung Bespoke Jet Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner
Samsung Bespoke Jet Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner comes with a charging and self-emptying station. It has a powerful suction and three cleaning modes- min, mid and max which is suitable for any types of floor.
The controls are easy to navigate and display how much battery life you are left with. Some of the key feature are below:
| Weight | 6 lbs |
|---|---|
| Run time | 53 min. |
| Removable battery | Yes |
| Charging caddy | Free standing self-empty tower |
| HEPA filter | Yes |
| Attachments | Floor nozzle, extending crevice tool, combination tool, mini pet hair tool, second battery and flexible elbow |
2. Bissell IconPet Turbo Edge
This stick vacuum cleaner has a lot of cool features and it the best pick in its price. It has a dust cup which is very easy to remove and replace. It also includes tangle-free brush roll, lighted crevice and dusting brush tool, a flexible hose and a sealed system to remove dust and allergens.
| Weight | 7.4 lbs |
|---|---|
| Run time | 54 min. |
| Telescoping wand | No |
| Removable battery | No |
| Charging caddy | Yes |
| HEPA filter | No |
| Attachments | Floor nozzle, extension hose, LED crevice/dusting brush tool, LED lighted turbo brush tool |
3. Dyson V12 Detect Slim Cordless Vacuum Cleaner
Dyson stick vacuum comes with a laser bean attached to it which makes the tiny dust particles visible and you can easily eliminate them. So, you don’t have to worry about the tiny pieces of dust and hair that you can’t easily see in normal light.
| Weight | 5.2 lbs |
|---|---|
| Run time | 50 min. |
| Telescoping wand | No |
| Removable battery | Yes |
| Charging caddy | Wall mounted |
| HEPA filter | Yes |
| Attachments | Two floor nozzles, crevice tool, hair screw tool, combination tool, mini soft dusting brush, stubborn dirt brush |
Conclusion
Stick vacuums are equally effective in cleaning any type of floor as traditional vacuum cleaners are. Instead, they are much easier to handle and store.
There are many models and styles available in the market which come with different features. Therefore, when buying a stick vacuum, opt for the one that is suitable for your needs.
We agree a stick vacuum comes with a plethora of benefits but also has some downsides, which you must consider when buying one.
FAQs
How to maintain stick vacuum cleaners?
After vacuuming the carpet, try to clean the brush roll and the filter every now and then. Empty the bin after regular use and wipe it with a damp cloth to ensure that it lasts long and gives the best results.
How Much Does A Stick Vacuum Cost?
A stick vacuum can cost as little as $79 for a budget kmart model and as much as $1400+ for high-end LG and Dyson models, with a median price of $599.
Which stick vacuum is best for carpet?
The Dyson V15 Detect is the best cordless stick vacuum cleaner. It has an excellent overall performance on bare floors and low and high pile carpets.
Daleyza knows a lot about carpets! She has worked with carpets for over 7 years and can help with things like putting them in, keeping them clean, and replacing them. She really likes carpets and spends most of her time learning about new ways to work with them. When she’s not learning about carpets, she enjoys reading books. She’s really good at helping people choose the right carpet for their homes and making sure they’re happy with it. If you want to know more about carpets, Daleyza is the person to talk to!