Need to know
- Our CHOICE experts have tested 30+ barrel and upright vacuums and 60+ stick vacuums from brands such as Dyson, Hoover, Kmart Anko, Miele, Vax and more
- We score each vacuum on how easy they are to manoeuvre, operate and empty, and how easy the supplied accessories are to use and store
- For CHOICE members, we reveal the vacuums we rated as easiest to use
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 or dexterity 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.
We'll explain how we test vacuums and whether a stick or robot vacuum could make your life easier. Plus, exclusively for CHOICE members, we'll reveal which easy-to-use vacuums came out on top in our tests.
If you just want to get straight to the best products, you can jump to the results now.
How we test
We thoroughly test vacuums in our NATA-accredited labs, assessing them for cleaning performance, pet hair removal and ease of use.
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 easy 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 (for traditional vacs).
Still curious? Here's exactly how we test vacuum cleaners at CHOICE.
CHOICE tester Adrian puts each vacuum through its paces in our NATA-accredited labs.
What's in a score?
Ease of use makes up 30% of the CHOICE Expert Rating for our traditional and stick vacuum tests. The rest of the score relates to cleaning performance.
So while some models in our reviews might rate well for ease of use, they may score less favourably for actual cleaning, which means that CHOICE experts are unable to recommend them.
This is why it's vital to do your research before buying a product to understand how products perform based on the factors that are most important to you.
A vacuum that's easy to use is probably not much good to you if it doesn't do the job you need to do, so we've selected the models below that stood out as good performers on both fronts.
Can a stick or robot vac replace a traditional vacuum?
We're going to sit on the fence here and say 'maybe'.
Robot vacs can reduce the amount of vacuuming you'll need to do, but they won't completely eliminate it: you will need to pull out your corded vacuum (or your stick vac, depending on how good it is) to get things properly clean.
And while stick vacs are a far lighter option than traditional barrel and upright vacuums, they do have some limitations: you can only clean until the battery runs out, and if you have carpets or rugs you'll probably need to shell out for a high-end vac that costs $1000 or more.
Here's our expert advice on switching to sticks or robots:
- Stick vs corded vacuums: Which is better?
- Is a robot or stick vac right for your home?
- Should you buy a robot vacuum?
The best easy-to-use vacuums from our tests
We independently test and review dozens of new vacuums each year in our onsite labs, and our experts know exactly what to look for to help you find the best product.
Our detailed vacuum data is available exclusively for CHOICE members. If you're not yet a member, join CHOICE to get instant access to all of our expert, independent reviews, from fridges and freezers, toasters and TVs, kettles and cots, and more.
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