109 Best Bagless Upright Vacuums of September 2021

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No More Vacuum Bags

If you’re in the market for a new vacuum and want to know more about the pros and cons of getting a bagless upright vacuum, this guide is here to help you learn. The upright vacuum is considered a traditional vacuum and comes with or without bags, but many people consider bagless models the best ones on the market. This guide is for the bagless models. For people that want to be more environmentally conscious, having a bagless vacuum might be a great idea. The upright vacuum is a great choice as it typically has more suction power and a wider cleaning path, compared to other types of vacuums. So what are some of the things you should be looking for before you decide which model to buy? In this guide we’ll take you around some of the most important things to consider, before choosing a bagless upright vacuum cleaner.

How Does the Bagless Upright Vacuum Work?

Bagless upright vacuums are considered one of the best vacuum models out there for demanding households. Most of them work well for both carpeted floors, hard wood floors, and everything in between, and due to the bagless design, it is a very attractive choice for those in demand of frequent cleaning, e.g. pet owners, allergics, or those with large homes. The bagless upright vacuum cleaner comes in different designs, but for most models this is how its different parts are divided:

1. The handle makes steering easy, and this is usually where the on/off switch is located.
2. Directly attached to the handle you’ll find the upright canister, which contains the motor and dust bin. Some models have an internal storage for the retractable cord and some of the attachments, but usually these are stored externally.
3. Below the canister you’ll find the floor piece, which on many models is attached to the dust bin and motor through an external hose. This is quite clever, because the hose can be detached and used with different types of attachments, e.g. crevice tool, upholstery tool, etc.

Most people know how this type of vacuum cleaner works, since it’s the preferred type among most private households. In contrary to the canister vacuums, it’s designed to be pushed in front of you, rather than being dragged behind you. This makes it considerably easier to use it on most types of floors, but it might struggle a bit when maneuvering sharp corners or narrow spaces. It is a bit heavier to handle due to its design, but there are lighter models available for those in need of a more compact version. Some even have a detachable canister, which makes it possible to easily carry it on stairs, or to the car. There are a few cordless models as well, but if you need an upright vacuum with enough power to clean an entire house, you’d probably want a corded model.

Things to Consider Before Choosing:

Since the bagless upright vacuum is considered one of the best vacuum types by many people, there’s a very large selection of different makes and models available on the market. The features and price varies greatly from model to model, and you don’t necessarily have to buy one of the most expensive models, to meet your needs. Below are some of the most important features to consider, if you’re in the market for a bagless upright vacuum:

• Dust bin capacity: Since it’s bagless, it’ll come with a bin for the dirt. Look for one that’s easy to empty and has a large bin, so you don’t have to empty multiple times during cleaning. But make it a habit to empty whenever you finish cleaning, as it’ll keep the filters nicer and lasting longer.

• Best attachments: Extension hose and narrow tool to get to those out of reach places and up higher without having to lift your vacuum. An upholstery brush is useful to vacuum furniture and other fabrics in your house.

• HEPA filters: High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) – is a filter that traps a large number of tiny particles that other vacuum cleaners would recirculate back in the air. For people that suffer from allergies, using a HEPA filter is definitely recommended.
• Cord length: Most Upright vacuums come with power cords, which makes them more powerful than ones with batteries. Look for one with a longer cord to avoid having to change outlet more than necessary!
• Accessory storage: Many upright vacuums come with the accessories attached to the base of the vacuum, which makes it super handy and easy to get to if you need to change the attachment while vacuuming. If it does not come attached, an idea would be to designate a box somewhere for the attachments, so you don’t misplace or lose them.
• Weight and dimensions: The upright vacuum is one of the heavier ones, but since you don’t have to lift it, that doesn’t really matter. They average around 20 lbs. and the height is adjustable which is a major plus for taller people or if you suffer from back problems and want to avoid bending down while vacuuming.
• Price range: The price range for a bagless upright vacuum is between $100-$500. The range is very wide as there are so many options out there, but you can most definitely get a nice vacuum in the lower end of that range. The more expensive vacuums will most likely have more functions and gadgets as well as real HEPA filters.

Pros and Cons of a Bagless Upright Vacuum

While bagless upright vacuums are great at many things, it does have a few disadvantages as well. Below are some of its most important advantages and disadvantages listed:

Pros:

• No need to bend down while cleaning
• More suction power than cordless
• Great on most surfaces
• Wider brush = wider cleaning path

Cons:

• Can be loud
• Can be quite heavy
• Power cords are not always handy
• Can sometimes be harder to maneuver around and underneath furniture.

What to Expect of a Bagless Upright Vacuum?

The bagless upright vacuum is a great choice for those in search of a versatile, and user friendly vacuum cleaner. Not only does it stand in an upright position on its own, it doesn't need bag replacements, and is therefore very cost efficient. Bags can be quite expensive and hard to find some times, but with a bagless vacuum cleaner you just have to detach the canister and empty it in the garbage can. As simple as that. Most upright vacuums come with a detachable hose, which is useful for those hard-to-reach places, e.g. underneath furniture, shelves, the couch, and everything above the floor level. The upright vacuum itself is usually equipped with a rotating brush, which helps pick up dust and debris from carpets, by lifting and dividing the carpet fibres, to gain access to those things nestled among them. While most bagless upright vacuums are quite easy to use, the noise level is considered high by most people. With great power comes noise, which is usually the case with vacuum cleaners of this type. The bagless construction means the canister can't be isolated the same way as bagged models are, but some models manage to have a decent noise level anyways, due to the way they are designed. You shouldn't expect your bagless upright vacuum to be completely silent, though. But for most people, this is a feasible trade off, since it is quite powerful and efficient for most purposes.

Facts About Bagless Upright Vacuums

Why is the bagless upright vacuum considered one of the best types for private households? Does it need any kind of regular maintenance? Is it suitable for pet owners? Find the answers below.

What makes the bagless upright vacuum a great choice?

There are many reasons, but one of the most important reasons is the bagless canister. Instead of a bag it features a dust bin, which is detachable and easily emptied into a garbage can. The upright design makes it able to stand on its own, so you can easily pause and resume the vacuuming, without having to bend down and pick the handle from the floor. Simply let go of it and turn it off whenever you need it, and the vacuum will remain standing on its own, until you’re ready to resume. All in all, the user friendliness is the key selling point of the bagless upright vacuum.

Is it true, that it doesn’t need any regular maintenance?

Unfortunately this is not true. Though the canister is bagless, and therefore doesn’t need regular bag replacements, you still have to keep the filters clean and go through the system from time to time to remove hair and other things, that tend to get stuck along its way to the dust bin. It is still quite low maintenance though, and you don’t have to buy expensive vacuum bags regularly. A few minutes of maintenance every month might suffice, which for most people is quite feasible.

Is the bagless upright vacuum a good choice for pet owners?

The bagless upright vacuum is considered one of the best choices for pet owners. This is due to its design and the way it works, as it is simple yet powerful. This makes for an efficient mixture, and hair is easily picked up from both carpets and hard floors. Even though your pets shed a lot of hair, the bagless design makes it a very economic choice. Just empty the dust bin directly into the garbage whenever it fills up, and you’re ready to continue vacuuming shortly after.

What about the elderly - are they able to use this type of vacuum?

While the bagless upright vacuums aren’t among the lightest models out there, it is definitely easy to use for the elderly. Its upright position makes it very easy to handle for those with back problems, and it is easily pushed in front of you. Whenever you need to let go of it, you simply let it go, and it will stand on its own. This feature makes it a great choice for both elderly and those with various types of physical problems, as there are no need to bend or lift it during use.

Is the bagless upright vacuum suitable for carpets?

Yes. Most bagless upright vacuums are among the best for carpeted areas, because the floor piece usually features a rotating brush, which makes sure carpet fibres are divided to easier pick up dust and dirt between them. There are a bit of difference between the models though, so you should perhaps consider investing a bit more, if you’re specifically in the market for an upright vacuum for carpets. The cheapest models might not suffice, as they are less powerful and perhaps not as efficient as some of the more expensive ones.

Should I choose a compact upright vacuum?

It highly depends on your needs. If your house is not that big, e.g. 1,000 square feet, a compact upright vacuum is a great choice. Even a stick vacuum might be enough for you. You don’t necessarily need a big powerful vacuum, if you live in a small home, especially not if your floors are mainly wood or tiles.