The 10 Best Toy Vacuums
Special Honors
Fat Brain Toys Watch Me Clean! Magical Vacuum The Fat Brain Toys Watch Me Clean! Magical Vacuum has a magnetic plate in place of real suction that picks up the included discs, which feature images of real items one might find around the house, like paperclips and breadcrumbs. It has a durable construction made of wood and metal, and a clicking rotary dial that lets kids feel like they're adjusting the power of the toy. fatbraintoys.com
Top Toy USA Electric Functional Vacuum Cleaner Toy The Top Toy USA Electric Functional Vacuum Cleaner has ultra-low and safe suction and a flexible hose, allowing kids to actually do a bit of tidying. It has large on and off buttons, robust construction, and a light that goes on when it's operating. Also, the debris canister can be easily removed and emptied when kids are done using it. toptoyusa.com
Editor's Notes
August 11, 2020:
In selecting our toy vacuum cleaners, we kept in mind that children of different ages might be using these, so we aimed to include a variety that could appeal to a range of developmental stages. We chose some that come close to replicating the true experience of vacuuming, and others that really are just playthings. User-friendly features for small hands were important, as was robust construction.
For children transitioning into a phase of life of imitating grown-ups, wanting miniature versions of everything from tea sets to vanities, we added some toy vacuums that come very close to the real thing. The Theo Klein Miele 6843 is an exact replica of a real Miele vacuum, complete with a flexible hose, rolling base, and faux buttons that look just like the genuine ones. The handheld vacuum in the iBaseToy Nine Piece Cleaning Set produces suction, so children can actually clean up after themselves, and the Casdon Dyson Replica Ball also offers genuine suction. While the Kidzlane Pretend Play doesn't pick anything up, it does have several attachments, so youngsters can learn about the various tools used to tidy up a home.
If it's more of an entertaining toy you're after, there is the Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn FNR97, which plays fun music and sounds, and has a smiley face on the front that lights up and changes colors. The Spark.Create.Imagine My Light-Up should also provide hours of make-believe play for small children, with its swirling glitter and illuminated dust buster.
With durability in mind, we removed the the Play Circle by Battat and the Dirt Devil Junior as their parts don't stand up to rough handling and tend to break after moderate use. In their place we have the MMP Living Pretend Cleaning Cart because we appreciated the wooden construction of most of its pieces. Plus, the broom and mop have felt bristles that shouldn't fall out like real ones.
March 05, 2019:
After much consideration, we have decided to remove the Little Henry, despite its overall adorableness. It simply doesn't function well for the long haul, ultimately disappointing its small users. For real-world operation, the Casdon Dyson Ball is a better choice, although it should be remembered that it's a toy, not a rough-and-tumble cleaning machine, and should be treated accordingly. We also removed the Kidzlane Working Toy because of availability issues, but we replaced it with the MMP Living Pretend Play Cleaning Cart, which is a more well-rounded choice in general. Instead of one big plastic unit, it has plenty of fun accessories made from wood, which means that it can be shared and that it's better on the environment. Finally, we left the Minnie Mouse Twinkle Bows, despite some complaints that it's not for boys. True, it comes only in bright pink and is marketed for females, but it is a nifty 2-in-1 that anyone is welcome to use (and will especially please fans of Disney).