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Known for its innovative products, it's no surprise that Dyson is the barrel vacuum cleaner winner. Aussies gave Dyson the top score for cleaning performance and storage.
A barrel vacuum cleaner is also known as a cylinder or canister vacuum. These vacuums have a motor in a container, or barrel, that gets pulled behind the vacuum while you clean.
Compared to upright vacuums that have a motor in the main body of the vacuum, barrel models are usually more powerful. However, they can be awkward to drag around.
| State | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Barrel |
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| Upright |
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Both barrel and upright vacuums are available in bagged and bagless versions. If you don't think either of these vacuum types are right for you, check out our buying guides to stick vacuums and robot vacuum cleaners.
If you're unsure what the differences are between bagged, bagless (bin) and water filter vacuums, here's a quick summary of the benefits and drawbacks of each type.
| State | Description | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bagged | Uses bags to collect dust and dirt that need to be thrown out when full. |
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| Bagless | Includes a bin that collects waste and needs to be emptied when full. |
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| Water filter | Comes with an attached water container to trap dirt and dust. |
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Before making a decision, here are the key features you should think about:
Suction power affects how well your vacuum cleans. Watts indicate how much power the vacuum has, but air watts are a more useful measurement of suction power. Filtration, airflow, brush head quality and nozzle and hose design can also influence suction power.
Not all models let you alter the vacuum's suction power. This can be a particularly useful feature when you want to lower or apply more power when cleaning curtains or getting rid of a stubborn spot on the carpet, for example.
How large do you want the capacity of your bin or bag to be? If you don't want to empty this frequently, you may prefer a model with a larger collection volume, though this will make the cleaner potentially bulkier and heavier.
Although you can't avoid making some noise while vacuuming, some models are designed specifically with quieter cleaning in mind. If you have young children or just prefer a quieter vacuum, look out for these specific noise minimising models.
For those with asthma, sensitivities or allergies, you should consider a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter, which can help to manage your symptoms. However, a HEPA filter will need to be cleaned more regularly or replaced yearly, which could cost you more.
A power head is a built-in motor with a rotating brush for removing dirt from the carpet. A turbo head also has a rotating brush, but it isn't motorised and is less effective. While these heads enhance a vacuum's performance, they also make the vacuum bulkier and heavier.
Check whether the vacuum includes an attachment for narrow corners, a dusting brush or an upholstery brush for cleaning furniture and fabric. Also, check if the attachments can be stored on the vacuum or if they require additional storage space.
Some models can reverse the airflow to continually blow air, which is particularly helpful for moving dust out of stubborn spots for easy collection and unclogging blocked hoses. It can also be used for blowing up an air mattress.
You may want to choose a model with this feature if your carpets have different pile heights, or if you have wooden or tiled flooring.
How easy is the vacuum to manoeuvre and how easily does the head move on the carpet and beneath low furniture?
This indicator means you won't have to keep manually checking whether your dust bag or bin is full.
Note that the warranty period of your vacuum motor may be different from other components of your vacuum cleaner. Make sure to check all warranty conditions before buying.
| Total Score | Overall rating | Value for Money | Cleaning performance | Ease of storage | Quietness | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dyson | 7.83 | 4.34 | 4.06 | 4.26 | 4.20 | 3.72 |
| Electrolux | 7.71 | 4.28 | 4.00 | 4.18 | 3.94 | 3.84 |
| Kmart | 7.64 | 4.14 | 4.36 | 4.14 | 4.20 | 3.80 |
| Miele | 7.58 | 4.24 | 4.05 | 4.15 | 3.85 | 3.61 |
| Philips | 7.38 | 4.03 | 3.86 | 3.97 | 3.69 | 4.00 |
| Hoover | 7.25 | 4.02 | 3.94 | 4.06 | 3.82 | 3.57 |
| Other | 7.12 | 4.00 | 3.93 | 3.93 | 3.84 | 3.21 |
| Volta | 6.83 | 3.85 | 3.69 | 3.62 | 3.62 | 3.54 |
| Vax | 6.77 | 3.74 | 3.79 | 3.94 | 3.59 | 3.38 |
| Stirling (Aldi) | 6.08 | 3.30 | 3.50 | 3.40 | 3.60 | 3.20 |
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