Handheld and Cordless Cleaners Buying Guide

Cordless cleaners are a perfect accompaniment to your day-to-day vacuum cleaner, being ideal for spot cleaning. They come in two main variations: Stick Cleaners which are extremely lightweight versions of traditional upright vacuum cleaners; and Handheld Vacuums which are extremely small and therefore portable, and perfect for use in the car. Running off a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, there are no wires to get tangled up in during use.

Power

As handhelds and stick vacuums run off a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, power is measured in volts (commonly abbreviated to simply ‘V’). Quite simply; the higher the voltage, the more suction power the vacuum has and the more dirt and dust it will pick up.

Pets

Cordless cleaners listed as “pet” models are designed to be extra efficient at picking up stubborn pet hair, often coming with extra tools to provide extra effectiveness. Given the portable nature of a handheld vacuum, they are particularly useful for removing pet hair from sofas and other types of upholstery, ensuring your furniture looks and smells like new.

Running Time

Given that cordless cleaners run off a rechargeable battery, they do need charging before and after use to ensure they are ready to use when you need them. Most manufacturers list the vacuum cleaners running time, i.e. how long it should be expected to run after a full charge (typically 15-20 minutes but some can run for up to 90 minutes), and the required charging time. Using lithium-ion technology, most charge very quickly and shut off once fully charged, saving on your energy biils.