The 10 Best Upright Vacuums
10. Eufy HomeVac Duo
- cordless operation
- eco mode for up to 60 minutes of use
- doesn't pick up pet hair very well
| Brand | Anker |
|---|---|
| Model | AK-T24001L1 |
| Weight | 9.1 pounds |
| Rating | 4.0 / 5.0 |
9. VonHaus EPT2
- crevice tool and shoulder strap
- quick-release power cable
- it's rather small
| Brand | VonHaus |
|---|---|
| Model | EPT2 |
| Weight | 6.2 pounds |
| Rating | 3.6 / 5.0 |
8. Panasonic MC-UG223
- has a 12-amp motor
- 14-inch wide nozzle for large areas
- vacuum is a bit noisy
| Brand | Panasonic |
|---|---|
| Model | MC-UG223 |
| Weight | 18.4 pounds |
| Rating | 3.5 / 5.0 |
7. Hoover Air BH50140
- 3-channel suction for deep cleaning
- built-in led headlights
- plastic wheels are rather flimsy
| Brand | Hoover |
|---|---|
| Model | BH50140 |
| Weight | 18.4 pounds |
| Rating | 3.5 / 5.0 |
6. Bissell 1646 PowerGlide
- extension hose is included
- nimble and easy to maneuver
- canister requires emptying often
| Brand | Bissell |
|---|---|
| Model | 1646 |
| Weight | 21.5 pounds |
| Rating | 3.9 / 5.0 |
5. SharkNinja NV752
- includes mini motorized pet brush
- advanced swivel steering technology
- it's a bit on the heavy side
| Brand | SharkNinja |
|---|---|
| Model | NV752 |
| Weight | 30 pounds |
| Rating | 4.4 / 5.0 |
4. Prolux 9000
- washable hepa filter
- ergonomically-designed handle
- thermal reset switch
| Brand | Prolux |
|---|---|
| Model | prolux_9000 |
| Weight | 24.7 pounds |
| Rating | 3.8 / 5.0 |
3. Oreck LW100
- 102 miles per hour of airflow
- long-lasting endurolife belt
- lies flat for under-furniture use
| Brand | Oreck |
|---|---|
| Model | LW100LR |
| Weight | 12.5 pounds |
| Rating | 4.8 / 5.0 |
2. Dyson 206900-01
- radial root cyclone technology
- comes with an instant release wand
- rigorously tested for suction power
| Brand | Dyson |
|---|---|
| Model | 206900-01 |
| Weight | 22.4 pounds |
| Rating | 4.9 / 5.0 |
1. Miele Dynamic U1
- charcoal filter neutralizes odors
- rotary dial control
- four power settings
| Brand | Miele |
|---|---|
| Model | 41HAE030USA |
| Weight | 26.4 pounds |
| Rating | 4.8 / 5.0 |
Who Invented the Vacuum Cleaner?
The earliest incarnation of the vacuum cleaner took the form of manual brooms and carpet beaters. It wasn't until 1876 that Melville R. Bissell invented a carpet sweeper, after he grew tired of constantly cleaning sawdust off the carpet in his crockery shop. Soon enough, his friends started asking where they could get their hands on such a device, and a new business was created. Bissell died several years later, and the business was taken over by the first female CEO in America, his wife.
In 1901, Hubert Cecil Booth invented a gasoline-powered vacuum system that pulled dirt out of carpets (there was one that blew dirt off of them and he improved it). His vacuum system was so big that it was paraded around town by horses.
The modern, electric, portable vacuum was invented in 1907 by an asthmatic janitor from Ohio named James Murray Spanger. Tired of coughing and wheezing at work, he came up with a system that ran on electricity, but he didn't have the capital to market or produce such an idea. His cousin, William Hoover, looking to divest from the saddle industry, invested in (and eventually became president of) Spanger's Electric Suction Sweeper Company, now popularly known as the Hoover Company.
Very little has changed in the principle of the vacuum cleaner since then. The biggest difference is in the amount of suction, airflow, and filtration the devices now offer and the methods by which they incorporate such features.
So How Does an Upright Vacuum Work, Anyways?
Vacuums work by lowering the air pressure around the fan so that the air outside of the machine rushes in to fill the space. The friction caused by moving air pulls all the dirt and debris into the machine, while the device's rotary brush moves it into the intake of the vacuum itself.
According to Bernoulli's principle, the narrower a space is, the faster the air has to move through it and the lower the pressure will be.
Airflow and suctionare two distinct concepts when it comes to vacuum cleaner operation. Suction is defined as the flow of a gas or liquid into an area of low pressure, whereas airflow is the amount of movement of air around the vacuum's intake into the machine, both of which are needed for a cleaner to run.
Although some may argue that HEPA filters are overkill, the National Library of Medicine recommends them for people with asthma. The Nemours Foundation recommends them for families of children with allergies.
Does a Fancy Cyclonic Vacuum Work Differently?
The first bagless vacuum was invented by James Dyson in the 1980s. Dyson vacuums make use of cyclonic centrifuge chambers that work by pushing the air around the chambers through many different cones, leveraging Bernoulli's principle to increase air velocity until the dust is thrown against the sides of the chamber where it falls away and is finally collected. The clean air then comes out of the top of the cone.
This method has been applied to industrial dust separation efforts before, which you've probably seen if you've done any country driving. Dyson isn't even the first to create a cyclone vacuum cleaner. He is, however, the first to create a small, bagless vacuum.
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Gabrielle is a writer and hopeful entrepreneur who hails from a tiny town in Virginia. Earlier in her career, she spent a few years in Southern California before moving back to the east coast (but she misses LA every day). An avid and enthusiastic home cook, she is somewhat of an expert at fending off attempted food thievery by her lazy boxer.