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Weve tested hundreds of vacuumsthese are our favorites for preventing damage while cleaning your floors.
Credit:Better Homes & Gardens
Details like rubberized wheels and soft bristles will pick up debris without causing damage.
But which vacuums are the best for hardwood floors?
For more on how we tested these models, see our testing process below.
Credit: Dyson
The handle is a bit awkward as it doesnt have a natural place to put your hand.
If youre looking for a vacuum that takes the effort out of cleaning, consider theDyson Omni-Glide.
Thepremium stick vacuumearned the top spot in our books during the testing process thanks to itspowerful suctionand user-friendly design.
The Omni-Glide’s distinctive head is covered in nylon, which helps catch larger debris on hard surfaces. The anti-static carbon filaments help to remove fine dust.Credit: Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock
The handle folds down flat, enabling us to get all the way under couches and chairs.
The smart feature speaks very loudly, which is jarring.
TheTineco Pure One S15 Proticks off all the right boxes and then some.
We found that itworked just as well for cleaning upholsteryas it did on hardwood floors.
It was easy to fix, thanks to an included cutting tool.
The vacuum easily picked up more than 90 percent of the debris in just one pass during lab testing.
LED lights on the head were essential for seeing our white dogs hair when using the vacuum at home.
The canister can be a bit tricky to emptyyou might need two hands.
TheTineco Pure One S11 Tango Smart Stick/Handheld Vacuumis our top stick vacuum pick for hardwood floors.
Its incredibly user-friendly thanks to its 40-minute battery life and included accessories designed tomake cleaning quick and painless.
Though it struggled with larger pieces like Cheerios, most debris came up with 35 seconds to 1 minute.
It also converted easily from a stick to ahandheld vacuumand worked well on upholstery.
One issue we noticed is that the canister can be a bit tricky to empty compared to other options.
The self-emptying feature can stick with larger debris.
We immediately noticed how well the vacuum learned the layout of our space and avoided obstacles.
It would even reroute around our dog when he sat in its path.
We liked how easy it was to set up and start using, especially for a smart vacuum.
It leaves a bit of streaky residue behind.
TheDreametech H12 Pro Wet Dry Vacuum Cleaneris an updated model of the previously-tested H11 Max.
We were impressed by how quietly the H11 ran and expect that the new version will be similar.
It wasnt at all disruptive, even when running on the highest mode.
Wed still take convenience over aesthetic perfection.
It doesnt maneuver as well on hardwood as it does on carpet.
TheShark AZ1002 Apex Powered Lift-Away Upright Vacuumis our favorite upright vacuum for hardwood floors.
Credit: Amazon
We found that the vacuum was particularly well designed and appreciated the small bristles and powerful suction.
It was very gentle on hardwood and left absolutely no scratches.
Weight
The vacuums on our list range from well under 10 pounds to over 20 pounds.
The Tineco Pure ONE S15 worked as well on upholstery as a handheld model as it did on hardwood floors.Credit:Better Homes & Gardens
Lighter options are more ergonomic and portable.
For corded vacuums, youll want to pay attention to the cord length.
Accessories and Attachments
Accessories and attachments can take a vacuum to the next level.
Credit: Tineco
Your Questions, Answered
Do you need a special vacuum for hardwood floors?
Yes, it is important to invest in a vacuum specifically designed for hardwood floors, explains Jain.
She recommends machines with rubberized wheels and gentle suction options to avoid scratching the floor.
The Tineco Pure One S11 transitioned beautifully from carpet to hard flooring, making it a nice choice for homes with area rugs.Credit: Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock
Some of these vacuums even have brushes that are created with soft bristles or felt strips on their heads.
Is it better to sweep or vacuum hardwood?
Jain actually recommends vacuuming over sweeping hardwood floors.
Pushing debris around and sweeping cancause scratchingor leave residue behind.
Do vacuums scratch hardwood floors?
Its possible, but using the right vacuum and attachments should cut down on the risk, Jain says.
Investing in top-notch tools made specifically for your key in of floor pays off eventually.
She used testing results and her own research to put together the best vacuums for hardwood flooring.
She also consultedPrerna Jain, owner of Ministry Of Cleaning.
What is BHG Recommends?
In these cases, we use the same testing criteria we use to test the purchased products.
Credit: Amazon
This robot-vac-mop combo’s base has a self-emptying bin that holds up to two months' worth of vacuum dirt and debris for a hands-free cleaning process.Credit: Better Homes & Gardens / Dera Burreson
Credit: Amazon
The Dreamtech H11 has a water tank that easily attaches and detaches to the machine.Credit: Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock
Credit: Amazon
Though we were very impressed with overall performance, we found it difficult to attach the brushroll to the vacuum head.Credit: Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock
Credit:Better Homes & Gardens
The vacuum’s main head easily picked up larger chunks of pet hair on shelves during our testing.Credit:Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock
Credit:Better Homes & Gardens
