small accidents easily happen when vacuuming a hardwood floor. Using the wrong vacuum brush can result in scratches or streaks on delicate floors. However, this can be prevented by using a parquet brush or a multi-surface brush. Soft bristles ensure that the vacuum cleaner brush does not directly comes into contact with the floor, while there is still an enormous suction power.
To ensure you that make the best choice when buying a vacuum cleaner, we have selected the best vacuum cleaner for hardwood floors. From a cordless stick vacuum to a lightweight bagless vacuum cleaner on wheels, we made a selection of the best choices per vacuum cleaner model.
Best vacuum cleaner for hardwood floors in the United States in 2021
Philips FC9745/09 Power Pro Expert
Philips Performer Silent FC8780/09
Dyson Omni Glide
What is important in a vacuum cleaner for hardwood floors?
When you are looking for a vacuum cleaner for a vulnerable floor, it is important to pay attention to the degree of protection that the suction brush offers. For example, a parquet brush is provided with long andsoft bristles, which minimize the risk of scratches. The squeegee is raised from the ground a bit, which differs from a brush suitable for a vacuum cleaner for carpet, for example.
But not only a soft parquet brush is an important requirement. The wheels of a vacuum cleaner are perhaps just as important, because if they do not have rubber edges they can quickly cause streaks or scratches on your hardwood floor. The manoeuvrability of a vacuum cleaner also plays a major role here: if the vacuum cleaner can’t make bends ealisy, it can cause damage.
If the wheels of the vacuum cleaner do not have a rubber edge, this can quickly cause streaks or scratches on your hardwood floor
For these floors, choose a vacuum cleaner with a parquet brush
Although we focused in our research on hardwood floors, there are many other floors that are prone to scratches and marks. We labeled the following floor types as vulnerable:
- PVC floors
- Laminate floors
- Parquet and wooden floors
In our view, it is necessary to use a parquet brush or a multi-surface brush when vacuuming the floors mentioned above. Please pay attention to the following when using a multi-surface brush: if you forget to switch between brushes when you change from vacuuming the carpet to a vacuuming a hardwood floor, there is a change of making scratches. Our preference is therefore a parquet brush.
How we selected the best vacuum cleaner for hardwood floors
In our research to the best vacuum cleaner for hardwood floors, we are looking much further than just to the presence of a parquet brush. We for example, also check what kind of wheels the canister vacuum cleaner is having and how manoeuvrable it is. Does the vacuum cleaner easliy follows when vacuuming? Or are the wheels unable to handle a sharp turns, which can result in stripes on your floor?
Research Factors
In order to select at the best choice for vulnerable wooden floors, we have examined the following factors below.
- Supplied suction brushes: does a vacuum cleaner comes with a soft parquet brush? Almost every vacuum cleaner comes with a combi nozzle, which is also suitable for vacuuming hardwood floors. This brush however does not have our preference.
- Suction power on hard floor types: there must be a very good suction power on hard floor types. What is the suction performance in terms of dust pick-up on hardwood floors?
- Maneuverability: how easily does the vacuum cleaner follows us? Can the vacuum cleaner bend easily and is it also possible to vacuum under the cupboard?
- Weight: the weight of the vacuum cleaner is also an important feature. The lighter the weight of a vacuum cleaner, the less chance of damage if it accidentally falls on the ground or hits your furniture.
In addition to the above factors, we also check characteristics such as the noise level and dust emissions of a vacuum cleaner.
A stick vacuum or a vacuum cleaner on wheels?
In our research into the best vacuum cleaner for hardwood floors, we highlighted three models: a vacuum cleaner with a dust bag, a bagless vacuum cleaner and a stick vacuum. Every vacuum cleaner has its own unique advantages, also when when it comes to the vacuuming vunerable floors.
If we look at a stick vacuum cleaner you don’t have to drag the vacuum cleaner behind you, as is the case with a canniter vacuum cleaner. With the abence of wheels there is no chance of any damage or rubber stripes on you floor. In addition to that, a cordless stick vacuum is much more mobile than a cannister vacuum cleaner and it can aslo be used as a hand vacuum for the small corners.
However, if you prefer buying a vacuum cleaner on wheels, you don’t have to worry about maximum battery life and the charging time. You simply put the plug in the socket after which you can vacuum endlessly. However, there is also another decision te make: do you want a bagged or bagles vacuum cleaner? Keep in mind that a canister vacuum cleaner with a bag reguarly needs new vacuum cleaner bags, But on the other hand, emptying a bagged vacuum cleaner is a lot more hygienic than empyting a bagless one. Therefore is a bagged vacuum clenaer is a better choice for people with a dust allergies.
However, with a bagless vacuum cleaner you no longer have to buy vacuum cleaner bags and you enjoy a constant suction power. Even if the dust container becomes full!
