Vacuuming isn't exactly the most enjoyable job, so if you're going to do it, you might as well make it as easy as possible, right?
Whether you have mobility issues, hate lugging a heavy vacuum up the stairs or want to start your five-year-old on the vacuuming, we've got you covered: here are three of the easiest to use vacuums on the market.
We thoroughly test vacuums in our NATA-accredited labs, assessing them for cleaning performance, pet hair removal and ease of use. For ease of use, our expert testers score them based on how easy they are to manoeuvre, operate and empty, plus we report on weight, length of cord and accessories. Ease of use makes up 30% of the final score.
Remember though: not all vacuums are created equal. Check our vacuum reviews before you buy to make sure you don't end up with a dud.
Only CHOICE members can access our detailed vacuum testing data. If you're not yet a member, join CHOICE to get instant access to all of our expert, independent reviews.
Here's everything you need to know about vacuums.
Vacuum 1
- Recommended
- CHOICE expert rating: 81%
- Ease of use score: 83%
- Price guide: $500-$700
This vacuum impressed our testers in the pet hair removal test and the complete carpet clean score, and was awarded a very good cleaning performance score of 78%. It's only OK at cleaning corners and edges, but its ease of use and complete carpet clean scores more than make up for it. It has a very long power cord, washable HEPA filter and claims to be made of 60% recycled plastic.
It's relatively lightweight (6.2kg), has a good range of tools that store away neatly onboard and a dust bag that's easy to install and throw away.
Vacuum 2
- Recommended
- CHOICE expert rating: 79%
- Ease of use score: 82%
- Price guide: $400-$600
This vacuum ticks a number of boxes, receiving excellent scores for pet hair removal and ease of use. It also performed very well on our complete carpet clean test, and scored 74% for cleaning performance. It has a very long (11.5m) power cord, weighs a respectable 7.4kg and has a washable HEPA filter.
The vacuum's head is very easy to push over carpet, and it has excellent reach under low furniture and a good range of tools that are easily stored on board. The only downside we found is that the bin is a little messy to empty.
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Vacuum 3
- Recommended
- CHOICE expert rating: 78%
- Ease of use score: 82%
- Price guide: $800+
It's not the cheapest on the market, but this vacuum received excellent results on almost all our tests, scoring 83% for complete carpet clean, 78% for cleaning performance and 76% for quick carpet clean. It has a good range of tools (with on-board storage for all of them), excellent controls and a very long (10.4m) power cord.
It weighs 7.4kg, too, so it's not too heavy to lug around the house while you clean. However, our expert tester found the head is a little more tiring than others to push over carpet, so it might not be the best option for a fully carpeted house.
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CHOICE tester Matthew puts each vacuum through its paces.
How we test
To calculate the ease of use score, our expert testers assess each vacuum for:
- how easy it is to manoeuvre the cleaner
- how easy it is to move the cleaning head on the carpet and under low furniture
- how difficult it is to empty and change the dirt receptacle (the bag or bin)
- operation of the controls
- how easy the supplied accessories are to use and store
- weight
- reach from power point.
Ease of use makes up 30% of the overall score.
Still curious? Here's exactly how we test vacuum cleaners at CHOICE.