The 10 best vacuums to use for kitchen cleanup

Kitchen messes happen, whether it's a spilled bowl of cereal, dropped bag of flour, or broken plate. These little disasters are inevitable, and while you could just use a dustpan and broom to sweep them up, you can make the task a lot faster and easier with the help of a top-rated vacuum.

There are a variety of vacuums available today that are perfect for kitchen messes -- some are compact enough to store under the sink, while others can tackle both wet and dry spills at the same time. No matter your needs, one of the following vacuums, all of which get top marks from Amazon reviewers, is sure to be a welcome addition to your kitchen.

Read: Roomba gets an upgrade and a new floor mopping sidekick | The best robot vacuums of 2019: iRobot Roomba vs. Neato vs. the rest   

(While these vacuums are loved by many, no product is perfect, so make sure you take a look at some of the negative reviews as well to see what potential problems you might run into.)

Disclosure: CNET may get a share of the revenue if you buy anything featured on our site.

1. One of the best cordless vacuums out there: Dyson Cyclone V10 Absolute

Dyson

When it comes to cordless vacuums, no one can really compete with Dyson. The Dyson V10 Absolute has it all -- up to an hour of run time, a wide variety of attachments, a wall-mounted docking station, and more. It's lightweight and powerful, making it ideal for cleaning up small messes, and its soft roller head will pick up even the finest particles off of your kitchen floor.

Notable Amazon customer review: "The V10 Absolute doesn't disappoint. While it's weird to get used to holding this tiny piece of machinery, it really does an amazing job. I vacuumed with my Dyson floor vacuum first and then with the V10, it was incredible how much dog fur it still picked up! I was pretty grossed out to be honest, to think I lived in this atmosphere for this long 'thinking' it was clean is nuts!"

$500 at Walmart

2. A compact hand vacuum to store under the sink: Shark Wandvac Handheld Vacuum

Shark

This little vacuum is absolutely perfect for kitchen cleanup. The Shark Wandvac weighs just one pound, and it comes with a convenient docking station that you could put under your sink or even on the counter. It may be small, but it delivers powerful suction to pick up both big and small debris, and then you can empty it with the push of a button.  

Notable Amazon customer review: "Initially, I scoffed at the idea of spending $100 on a souped-up dustbuster, but as long as this unit lasts, it is worth it. I love the fact that this is super light and has excellent suction. I love the attachments. I love the super easy charging station, and that it only needs 2.5 hours to fully charge. I love the easy dump one button dirt canister. This hand vac literally has many, many uses around the house."

$126 at Amazon

3. A robotic mop to keep your floors immaculate: iRobot Braava Jet 240 Robot Mop

iRobot

If your family is always tracking dirt through the kitchen, you can keep the floors looking pristine with the help of a robotic mop. Despite sounding really fancy, the iRobot Braava isn't at the highest end of the price spectrum. It can do wet and damp mopping, as well as dry sweeping. It acts just like a robot vacuum, navigating around obstacles and getting into corners -- your kitchen floor will be cleaner than ever before!

Notable Amazon customer review: "I don't normally fall in love with an object so quickly (or any objects for that matter), but Mr. Cleanie (aka my iRobot Braava) is the best thing I've ever bought. He is like having a new pet that cleans up. We have vinyl wood floors and he glides over them, goes around table legs, goes underneath beds, couches and dressers. Best thing I've done for helping me around the house in the longest time. I wish I hadn't waited so long."

$179 at Walmart

4. A super affordable handheld vacuum: Black + Decker Handheld Vacuum 2Ah

Black and Decker

Already have a vacuum that you like? You might not want to spend too much on a supplementary cleaning tool, and in this case, the Black+Decker Handheld Vacuum is the perfect fit. It costs less than $30, and it's the ideal compact tool for cleaning up spills around the house. It even comes with a brush and crevice tool to help you get into the little nooks and crannies in your kitchen.

Notable Amazon customer review: "I feel so silly for not purchasing this sooner!!! I have two toddlers that throw crumbs and food everywhere at every meal time. It was such a pain having to pull out the big vacuum after every meal time because my toddlers would always get in the way or try to play with the cord, so I just needed something small and cordless that would pick up the crumbs quickly and this does exactly what it was intended to!"

$29 at Walmart

5. A wet-dry vacuum for hard floors and carpets: Bissell CrossWave Floor and Carpet Cleaner with Wet-Dry Vacuum

Bissell CrossWave Floor and Carpet Cleaner with Wet-Dry Vacuum

Bissell

Where has this vacuum been all our lives?! With the Bissell CrossWave, you can mop up wet messes and suck up debris at the same time -- ideal for cleaning up cereal spills and other kitchen mishaps. You can use it on tile, hardwood, carpet, linoleum, and more, and the best part it that it's surprisingly compact and easy to stash in the closet, unlike many other carpet cleaners.

Notable Amazon customer review: "My Crosswave just arrived today and I was on my way out but decided to stay home as I was excited to try it out. We have a large area consisting mostly of wood but have some tile and marble areas. What a breeze it was not having to use different cleaning products and mops and I could just go right through the house on different surfaces without even vacuuming."

$270 at Walmart

6. A lightweight vacuum that excels on hard floors: Fuller Brush Spiffy Maid Bagless Broom Vacuum Cleaner

Fuller Brush Co.

Most kitchens have hard floors, whether it's wood, tile, or linoleum, so you need a vacuum that does well on these types of surfaces. Luckily, there's the Spiffy Maid Bagless Broom Vacuum from Fuller Brush, which will blow you away with its ability to pick up dirt, dust, hair, and more off hard floors. Reviewers say it has amazing suction and is incredibly lightweight and easy to use.

Notable Amazon customer review: "This is the perfect lightweight vacuum, electric broom, whatever you want to call it. I have a Dyson and it's a great vacuum but it does not work well on tile floors. Others may disagree but mine have little grooves in the detailing and it just didn't do the job. This Fuller product is awesome, it picks up EVERYTHING in it's [sic] path."

$98 at Amazon

7. A slim robotic vacuum to clean under furniture: Eufy BoostIQ RoboVac 11S

Eufy

Modern robot vacuums models are incredibly efficient and much more affordable than they used to be. In particular, people love the budget-friendly eufy BoostIQ RoboVac, which has a short 2.85-inch height that allows it to clean underneath most furniture, including couches and coffee tables. It can run for up to 100 minutes per charge, and it will keep your kitchen floor spotless without you having to move a muscle.

Notable Amazon customer review: "I don't consider my house clean unless the floors are spotless. With 2 dogs and 2 cats (one of whom sheds enough to knit a sweater each year), my house rarely meets my own unattainable standards. Eufy gets me close."

$224 at Amazon

8. A unique v-shaped vacuum for hard floors: Bissell Hard Floor Expert Corded Stick Vacuum Cleaner

Bissell

This vacuum might look a little funky at first glance, but the V-shaped brush head is actually pretty smart. The Bissell Hard Floor Expert Stick Vacuum uses its unique shape to trap debris in its path, and it makes it easier to clean in crevices and around furniture. However, as you may have guessed by its name, this vacuum is designed for use on hard floors -- great for the kitchen, but maybe not so much for other areas of the house.

Notable Amazon customer review: "This thing sucks up every last dang thing on your floor."

$55 at Walmart

9. A powerful vacuum with a lift-away canister: Shark Navigator Upright Vacuum with Lift-Away Handheld HEPA Filter

Shark

The Shark Navigator is a top-rated canister vacuum among reviewers thanks to its light weight, HEPA filter, powerful suction, and lift-away canister. Its many features make it a versatile cleaning tool, and if you're in the market for a new vacuum to use in the kitchen and beyond, this product should definitely be on your short list.

Notable Amazon customer review: "This Shark is a very powerful, compact, and maneuverable vacuum! It pulls more crud out of my carpets than any other vacuum I've ever used. The rotating beater bar pulls the unit through even very plush carpets with ease -- very similar to the feel of a self-propelled mower."

$140 at Amazon

10. One of the best overall vacuums you can buy: Miele Electro+ Canister Vacuum

Miele

If you're tired of using vacuums with mediocre suction, it might be time to upgrade to a high-end model like the Miele Electro+ Canister Vacuum, which is one of the best overall vacuums available today. It has adjustable suction control, a five-height carpet brush head, a specialized hard floor head, a HEPA filter, and more. Yes, the price is up there, but if you're ready to retire your old vacuum and upgrade to a new one that you can use all around the house, this product is worth the investment.

Notable Amazon customer review: "It is amazing -- my carpets have never been so clean! I actually like vacuuming now, and it's so quiet, the cat doesn't freak out and hide when I turn it on. If you are on the fence, like I was, get it! You won't regret it."

$699 at Amazon

Best Vacuums for Allergy Sufferers

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A good vacuum can be a game-changer for anyone who suffers from seasonal allergies. But if your vacuum spews more dust and debris than it picks up, you could be doing yourself more harm than good.

That’s one reason Consumer Reports measures emissions when we test vacuum cleaners. The best vacuums keep dirt well-contained and the air clear.

If you’re especially sensitive to dust and allergens, buying a vacuum with a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter is a good starting point.

“There are newer vacuum cleaners that have different filtration systems, but we always recommend that a HEPA filter is there somewhere,” says Sanaz Eftekhari, vice president of corporate affairs and research at The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. “The HEPA filter will trap the matters and molecules that are coming in, so they won’t go back into the air."

Another consideration is whether the vacuum has a bag. Though many of the bagless vacuums in our tests have low emissions, emptying the bin of a bagless vacuum can create a dust cloud that's difficult to escape.

We asked Sue Booth and Frank Rizzi, who conduct our vacuum tests, to recommend bagged vacuums with the lowest emissions, and they suggested several solid picks from Kenmore and Miele. As a bonus, most of these options perform well at picking up another allergy trigger—pet hair.

Below—in alphabetical order, not in order of CR rank—are the bagged upright and canister vacuums from our tests with the lowest emissions. For more choices, see our full vacuum ratings and recommendations.

1

Bagged Uprights With the Lowest Emissions 

Kenmore Elite Pet Friendly 31150

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CR's take: Strong airflow for tools and superb pet-hair pickup are top attractions of the bagged Kenmore Elite Pet Friendly 31150. Though you can get a fine performer for less, its price includes helpful features, such as a brush on/off switch, which safeguards a bare floor's finish and prevents scattering of debris; suction control, which protects drapes; and manual carpet pile-height adjustment. It earns an Excellent rating for clean emissions.

2

Miele Dynamic U1 Cat & Dog

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CR's take: A Very Good upright vacuum cleaner overall, the Miele Dynamic U1 Cat & Dog does an impressive job removing embedded dirt from carpets and hardwood floors. It spits little if any dust or debris back into the room, earning an Excellent rating for clean emissions. Its pet-hair pickup is a benefit for dog and cat owners who might be tackling piles of fur on carpets or bare floors. It’s easy to handle and quieter than many vacuums in our tests.

3

Miele Dynamic U1 Maverick

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CR's take: The Miele Dynamic U1 Maverick boasts an Excellent rating for its performance on our emissions tests. It fares well at carpet cleaning and has superb pet-hair pickup but could be better at cleaning bare floors. The Miele also includes a brush on/off switch to safeguard bare floors and prevent scattered dust and debris. It's easy to handle but noisier than some of the vacuums in our tests.

4

Bagged Canisters With the Lowest Emissions 

Kenmore Elite Pet Friendly UltraPlush 81714

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CR's take: The Kenmore Elite Pet Friendly UltraPlush 81714 is indeed friendly for pet owners and earns an Excellent on our pet-hair test. It’s also a champ at cleaning bare floors and a solid performer at cleaning carpet, making it a smart choice if you have a combination of flooring. Although it made the grade in our emissions test, there are quieter choices.

5

Kenmore 81614

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CR's take: If you have bare floors and a dog, the Kenmore 81614 is the vacuum for you because it aces both of those tests. It doesn't do quite as well on carpet. And of the two Kenmore canisters, it’s the better deal for pet lovers. Emissions are clean, although you’ll find that this vacuum is a bit noisy as you work. This vacuum is a CR Best Buy for its top performance at a good price.

6

Miele Complete C3 Marin

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CR's take: Even though it’s a bit pricey, the Miele Complete C3 Marin is worth a look for its fine cleaning and pet-hair pickup. It earns an Excellent rating on our emissions test. Carpet cleaning and airflow for tools are both impressive, and pickup on bare floors is superb. Other pluses include manual carpet pile-height adjustment, suction control for drapes, and a brush on/off switch for bare floors. The Miele is one of the quietest vacuums in our tests.

Top 5 Best Electric Brooms in 2019: Buying Guide

Whether you have children, pets or fly solo, unexpected messes are a part of everyday life. If you’re in a hurry, it doesn’t make sense to pull out your vacuum to get rid of the cookie crumbs your two-year-old scattered on the carpet. Why expend what’s left of your energy on sweeping your kitchen floor after your dinner party guests have left?

When your vacuum is too much of a hassle and you’re too tired to use a bristle broom, the cleaning tool to reach for is an electric broom. This type of broom is a hybrid between a stick vacuum and a standard broomstick. Electric brooms are perfect for times when you need to quickly clean a small mess of your hard or carpeted floor.

tl;dr Top 5 Electric Brooms

1	2	3	4	5
Bissell BG9100NM	VonHaus	Bissell 28806	LIGHT ‘N’ EASY V9101	Shark V2930
5 pounds	4.88 pounds	4 pounds	3.25 pounds	2 pounds
90 Minutes	40 Minutes	60 Minutes	40 Minutes

Best Electric Broom

5 Bissell Commercial BG9100NM Rechargeable Cordless Sweeper Review

Equipped with an 870-watt motor, this Bissell BG9100NM model is tough enough to pick up all kinds of messes from your floors. With Bissell’s inclusion of titanium bushings, you don’t have to worry about the rolling brush failing prematurely. Plus, the head has a viewing window, so you can make sure the brushroll is performing as intended at a glance.

Weighing just 3.9 pounds, you’ll have no problem maneuvering this electric broom. The housing is designed to withstand hard impacts, and the belt’s gears have teeth, which reduces the likelihood of it slipping. You get the benefit of a wide, 11.5-inch cleaning path and a telescopic handle. Plus, the wheels and brushroll are laser-balanced, ensuring the broom glides effortlessly across your floors.

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4 VonHaus Electric Hard Floor Sweeper Review

You’ll appreciate the fast charge time of this electric broom by VonHaus. It has a 30-watt motor that controls the rotation of the brushroll with double-V bristles. This electric broom also comes with a reusable microfiber pad that’s designed for dusting floors like tile and hardwood.

With a weight of 5.25 pounds and a height of 44 inches, this electric broom is easy to control. The wand is strong and made of aluminum alloy. Plus, the handle is bent, so you can push, pull and lift the broom without experiencing discomfort in your hand.

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3 Bissell 28806 Perfect Sweep Turbo Review

This electric broom is user-friendly and versatile. The 7.2-volt Bissell 28806 electric broom contains a motorized brushroll that’s gentle enough to use on hard floors and low-pile carpet. For your convenience, the head is see-through, allowing you to keep an eye on the brushroll for potential clogs and wound strands of hair.

With its wide grip, your hand will never get tired. Thanks to its weight of just 4 pounds, your arm won’t become fatigued either. The smooth, oversized wheels mean you can count on the Perfect Sweep Turbo to move flawlessly on any surface. If you need to clean your stairs, you can remove the wand for handheld usability.

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2 LIGHT ‘N’ EASY Electric Sweeper Broom Review

Light N’ Easy’s electric broom is ideal for homes of all sizes. It has a 5.5-volt motor that delivers reliable, strong performance. To make sure that no debris is left behind, Light N’ Easy decided to use a double-spiral brush for particle pickup.

If you’re looking for a lightweight electric broom, you’ve found it as this appliance weighs a mere 3.25 pounds. It also has a circular looped handle to give you a firm grip. The wand is constructed of durable aluminum, and you can lock it into an upright position to keep it from falling to the floor. You’ll also appreciate how easy it is to clean under and around furniture thanks to the 360-degree swiveling head.

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1 Shark 10″ Rechargeable Floor and Carpet Sweeper (V2930) Review

There are several innovative features on this electric broom that streamline the floor-cleaning process. With a spiral brushroll placed underneath a clear viewing window, using and maintaining this Shark carpet sweeper is no trouble tall. The 4.8-volt electric broom’s rolling brush measures 10 inches in length, allowing the broom to cover a lot of floor per pass.

Like the other electric brooms on our list, this one is lightweight, coming it a just 4 pounds. However, its wand is unique to other electric broom models. Instead of being stiff and unmovable, the broom’s wand folds at a center-placed joint, so you can easily clean under furniture without bending over.

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Electric Broom Buying Guide

Like any other home appliance, you don’t want to buy an electric broom without knowing the ins and outs of the features that are available. To help make the decision process easier, we created this mini-guide that tells you all that you need to know about electric brooms. From working times to dirt capacities, there are several key features to consider before you whip out your credit card.

Electric Broom Battery Life

When it comes to cordless electric brooms, you don’t want to be halted by a low-performing battery. Preferably, you should get an electric broom with either a nickel-metal hydride battery or a lithium-ion battery because they offer longer working times and shorter charging times.

If you go for one with a nickel-cadmium battery, make sure to read what the manufacturer lists for its run time. Never settle for an electric broom that runs for less than 30 minutes. As far as charge times go, these appliances can take anywhere from 4 to 12 hours to recharge. Usually, the recharge time is listed in the product’s specs.

Electric Broom Wand Design

The way an electric broom’s wand is made determines how easily you can clean the nooks and crannies under your furniture and elsewhere. A wand that bends backward until the handle almost touches the floor will allow you to reach underneath your sofa, bed, and tables, saving you the hassle of moving your furniture to clean.

Some wands may be detachable, so you can clean stairs, upholstered furniture, and other above-floor surfaces. A lot of electric brooms have a wand that rotates at the head, which allows the nozzle to swivel. This gives you precision cleaning power when navigating corners.

Electric Broom Comfortable Usability

If an appliance that’s meant to make life easier is uncomfortable to use, that appliance is not worth buying. In terms of electric brooms, you want a model that is not heavy. Any weight over 5 pounds is considered heavy for an electric broom.

The height of the electric broom also matters. If it’s too short, you’ll risk wrenching your back. If it’s too tall, you’ll have difficulty maintain control over the broom when you use it. Of course, the right height is directly related to your own height, so there is no one-size-fits-all answer.

A handle can also make or break your electric broom experience. Some models have a straight, slim handle, which is fine for short cleaning sessions. If longer cleaning sessions are in your future, you need an electric broom with an ergonomic handle.

Electric Broom Storage Solutions

By nature, electric brooms are slim; therefore, they won’t take up much space in a storage closet. If your closet is already jam-packed with must-have cleaning supplies, you may want to consider an electric broom that comes with a wall mount. If you plan to store your new electric broom on the floor, make sure it can stand upright on its own, so you don’t have to worry about it falling over.

Electric Broom Dirt Capacity

If you’re in a hurry, you don’t want to stop several times while cleaning to remove the dirt and debris from your electric broom’s dust pan. This is why a large-capacity pan is a non-negotiable feature. It also helps if the dust pan is easy to remove and won’t dirty your hands while you dump its contents.

FAQ

Isn't an Electric Broom the Same as a Stick Vacuum?

Although people mistakenly interchange the two terms, an electric broom is different from a stick vacuum. While both of them are lightweight, electric brooms are generally lighter and slimmer. On a stick vacuum, the dust bin is on the vacuum’s handle. On an electric broom, the bin is inside of the head.

Since they have a smaller motor and mostly rely on a spinning brushroll, electric brooms don’t have the suction power of stick vacuums. Therefore, most electric brooms are unable to lift large, heavy debris. This also means that electric brooms perform better on thin carpet and hard floors.

Who Benefits From Owning an Electric Broom?

Should I Buy a Corded or Cordless Electric Broom?

What Type of Batteries Do Manufacturers Put in Electric Brooms?

Top 5 Electric Brooms

1	2	3	4	5
Bissell BG9100NM	VonHaus	Bissell 28806	LIGHT ‘N’ EASY V9101	Shark V2930
5 pounds	4.88 pounds	4 pounds	3.25 pounds	2 pounds
90 Minutes	40 Minutes	60 Minutes	40 Minutes

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