The best vacuum cleaners for families 2024

vacuum cleaners

by Samantha Ball |
Updated on

After a busy day, there's nothing more tedious than vacuuming, so it makes sense to want the best vacuum cleaner that gets the job done quickly and efficiently.

Keeping a tidy house is one of life’s greatest displeasures. We spend hours scrubbing, mopping, tidying and sprucing just to do it again a week later, so it’s no wonder that more and more people are looking for ways to make the job as manageable as possible.

Best vacuum cleaners at a glance:

Best vacuum cleaner overall: Tineco Wet and Dry Vacuum Cleaner, £319.
Best robot vacuum cleaner: eufy BoostIQ RoboVac 15C MAX Robot Vacuum, £159.99.
Best handheld vacuum cleaner: Shark Cordless Handheld Vacuum Cleaner, £79.
Best vacuum cleaner with large bin capacity: Henry Compact HVR160 Bagged Cylinder Vacuum Cleaner, £149.
Best vacuum cleaner for pets: Shark Lift-Away with TruePet, £229.99.

It's no secret that children often leave a trail of crumbs or muck too, so you need a good vacuum cleaner to tackle the mess effectively. You might even want a vacuum cleaner that's also good for cars.

Whether you're looking for a corded vacuum cleaner or a Shark cordless vacuum cleaner, you'll find the right one for you in our buying guide.

Best vacuum cleaner overall

Description

The Tineco Wet and Dry Vacuum Cleaner is a great vaccuum because it not only does it hoover ervery day mess, but you can also clean up liquids with it. It's an all-in-one design. It's lightweight with low noise output and a powerful suction. It's also a cordless design, meaning it's easier to move around your home.

One review said: "One of the standout features of this vacuum cleaner is its all-in-one design. It's not just a vacuum—it also washes and dries my floors at the same time. This means I can tackle any mess efficiently, all without dealing with cords or heavy equipment. The lightweight and portable nature of the FLOOR ONE S3 make it incredibly convenient."

Pros

  • Separates debris from liquid
  • All-in-one design
  • Cordless

Cons

  • It's not got a large capacity

Best all-in-one vacuum cleaner

ON OFFER

Best vacuum cleaner Swan Dirtmaster Crossover All-in-One Hard Floor Cleaner
Price: £184.99 (was £249.99)

shop.swan-brand.co.uk

Description

Offering hassle-free cleaning across different flooring, the Swan Dirtmaster Crossover All-in-One Hard Floor Cleaner simultaneously washes and vacuums for maximum efficiency. It can move from wood and laminate to vinyl with ease and it can even freshen carpets and rugs. It has a detachable battery for up to 45 minutes of cleaning too. We love that it's cordless so there's no tripping you or your little one up!

This product is currently being tested by one of our Commercial Content Writers.

Pros

  • Self cleaning
  • Smart LED display
  • Vacuums and washes at the same time

Cons

  • You do have to charge it between uses

Best robot vacuum cleaner

Description

Make vacuuming easier by not having to do it yourself! This super thin design can help clean up dirt for up to 100 minutes when fully charged. It can also automatically increase its suction strength when needed.

One customer wrote: "I've had this hoover for a month and it's honestly the best purchase I've made this year. It's great for cleaning the floor before mopping. Really cleans every bit of anything in the floor. You can programme it to start and finish after certain hours. There's a spot cleaning programme that is great for rugs and carpets. It easily goes over thin rugs without getting stuck. You can also direct it with the remote control. There's others much more expensive than this one but I honestly think this one it absolutely worth it and cheaper than average. "

Pros

  • BoostIQ technology
  • Works with Amazon Alexa
  • Runs quietly

Cons

  • Might not have enough charge to do the whole downstairs at once

Best 2-in-1 vacuum cleaner

Description

The VonHaus Stick Vaccum Celaner is a two in one design and has a powerful suction and 1.3L dust capacity. It has an extendable handle too and can reach around even the trickiest of corners, including stairs, under the bed and around furniture. It also has a removable, transparent dus cup for ease of emptying.

One customer wrote: "This little vacuum cleaner is much more effective than it has any right to be at this price point. It's light, simple to put together and on hard floors and short carpet it's absolutely fantastic. The motor is so powerful that in handheld mode the start-up torque will twist your hand slightly if you're not ready for it. It's very good at dust and particulate matter BUT I wouldn't recommend it for anyone with pets."

Pros

  • Powerful suction
  • 2-in1 design
  • Comes with cleaning accessories

Cons

  • Not suitable if you have pets

Best for hard-to-reach areas

Description

The Bosch Unlimited 7 comes packed with smart solutions to make life effortless. With this cordless vacuum cleaner you can take the guesswork out of cleaning with the Auto Detect function, and let the Flex Tube do the bending under low furniture.

Review: "The main feature of the Unlimited 7, and easily my favourite feature, is that the vacuum head tube can ‘fold’ so it’s flexible, to fit under sofas and other furniture.  I’m really impressed with the Bosch Unlimited 7 overall, I think for a cordless vacuum the suction and battery life is brilliant. They say it’s as powerful as a corded vacuum cleaner and I would agree. I absolutely love the flex tube function, I don’t think I’ll ever be able to own another vacuum that doesn’t have this feature!"

Read the full review of the Bosch Unlimited 7 on Yours.co.uk.

Pros

  • 10 year motor warranty
  • Strong suction
  • Great battery life
  • Flexible for easy cleaning

Cons

  • Bin capacity is quite small

Best handheld vacuum cleaner

Description

With powerful suction, the Shark Cordless Handheld Vacuum Cleaner is portable and easy to use. It can be used on all surfaces too, making it handy for small amounts of dirt or crumbs on the sofa, stairs or floor. It also has up to eight minutes run time and can be stored in its charging port when not in use.

One review said: "I am absolutely thrilled with the Shark Cordless Handheld Vacuum Cleaner! This little powerhouse has transformed my cleaning routine. Its lightweight design and powerful suction make it a breeze to clean up messes around the house, whether it's crumbs on the kitchen counter or pet hair on the upholstery and even taking it out to use on the car! The convenience of being cordless means I can easily move from room to room without any hassle. And the bonus is it looks good, very good!"

Pros

  • Powerful cleaning
  • Lightweight
  • Convenient to use

Cons

  • Only up to 8 minutes run time

Best Amazon vacuum cleaner

Description

The Amazonbasics Powerful Cylinder Bagless Vacuum Cleaner is quiet and efficient with an easy to empty dust cup. It's a versatile vacuum cleaner too, with plenty of different upholstery accessories for your cleaning needs. It also has a washable HEPA filter, which captures 99.5% of harmful dust particles from the air.

One customer wrote: "After spending a lot in the past and it not lasting I didn't want to spend a huge amount. The Amazon vacuum was reasonably priced and had positive reviews. I am impressed. Having been used to a cordless I was worried about going back to corded. However it's so light and easy to manoeuvre I haven't missed the cordless. It has good suction and it's easy to clean and empty."

Pros

  • Easy to empty dust cup
  • Anti-allergen filter
  • Adjustable hose

Cons

  • Some mentioned the suction isn't always reliable

Best vacuum cleaner with large bin capacity

Best vacuum cleaner Henry HVR 160-11 Bagged Cylinder Vacuum
Price: £129 (was £159)

www.very.co.uk

Description

With an improved tool for cleaning the floor, this Henry Compact HVR16011 Bagged Cylinder Vacuum Cleaner has a large six litre bin capacity. It has a cable and storage rewind system that's trouble and spring free, helping to keep everything neat and tidy between uses. It also has a 10 meter long power cable so that you can reach more spaces at once when hoovering.

One review said: "I bought this three weeks ago and it is brilliant. It's nice and lightweight and has a long hose. Henry hoover can get to all the places I need it to and has a great tool kit that comes with it and you also get a spare dust bag. Nice and powerful and not loud one of my best buys."

Pros

  • Large bin capacity
  • Long power cable

Cons

  • You will have to change the bags

Best vacuum cleaner for smaller spaces

Description

This Russell Hobbs vacuum can be transformed into a handheld quickly and easily. It also has cyclonic technology, meaning it pulls dirt and dust through the filter to leave your home as clean as possible.

One review said: "I bought this Hoover to replace my Dyson V10. I was skeptical at first as the price was quite low. But it is absolutely great value for money. The power is good and suction was amazing and worked great on carpet as well as laminate. It is ultra lightweight aswell. "

Pros

  • Ideal for smaller spaces
  • Lightweight
  • 2-in-1 detachable handheld

Cons

  • Some mentioned the cord isn't that long

Best vacuum cleaner for pets

Best vacuum cleaner Shark Lift-Away with TruePet
Price: £139.99 (was £229.99)

www.currys.co.uk

Description

There's LED lights to show up hidden dust and pet hairs, swivel steering and a stretched hose. The Shark Lift-Away with TruePet can switch easily between carpet and hard floor cleaning with a flick of the button, making cleaning between different suraces so much easier.

One review said: "Brilliant vacuum. Plenty of suction power and not as loud as people mentioned in different forums. Absolutely love the modular design as it's much it more easier to handle."

Pros

  • LED headlights
  • Anti-allergen seal traps
  • Swivel steering

Cons

  • Some mentioned it's a bit heavy

Best compact vacuum cleaner

Description

Designed to be compact but tough, the Vax ONEPWR Pet Vacuum Cleaner has interchangeable battery technology, and comes with an additional pet tool for multi surface cleaning. It's cordless and has up to 45 minutes run time when fully charged.

One customer wrote: "Having gone through various hoovers over the years this has to be the best on the market. So much power for something so small. And manageable."

Pros

  • Cordless design
  • Multi-surface cleaning with no loss of suction
  • Mini-motorised pet tool

Cons

  • Some mentioned that it is a bit heavy

Best vacuum cleaner with tangle-free turbine

Description

With a powerful Motorbar cleaner head that cleans deep into carpets and seals in suction on hard floors, the Dyson Ball Animal Corded Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner is designed with multi-purpose cleaning in mind. It has a tangle free turbine tool too, meaning it cleans up hair easier.

One customer wrote: "Bought this to replace an old trusted Dyson which had started to become noisey through years of use. This new model is far lighter making it easy to move around, it packs some good suction and is oh so quiet! We use it on hard floors and carpet and stairs and everything about it makes it perfect for the home."

Pros

  • De-tangling Motorbar cleaner
  • Effortlessly reaches difficult dirt
  • Suitable on all surfaces

Cons

  • Some mentioned it is a bit heavy

What type of vacuum cleaner should I get?

When it comes to choosing the right vacuum cleaner for your home, it can seem a bit of a chore when there are a range of different styles.

Corded vacuum cleaners are your standard type. They vary in cord length so it's worth checking on the vacuum details to see how long the cord is. These can run longer as they are plugged into the mains.

Cordless vacuums are extremely handy for moving around the home and not having to worry about a cable. They often use a rechargeable battery and have a limited run time of up to 45 minutes.

Robot vacuums can help take away some of the pressure off vacuuming up little crumbs. A robot vacuum cleaner can be set to a route around your home and controlled through an app on your phone. They have their own charging station and will make there way around hoovering, so you don't have to get the big vacuum out.

Bagged vacuum cleaners might seem outdated, but many people prefer them as they make the job a much cleaner one. Easily replaceable, bagged hoovers are hygienic and a good option for those with allergies as they stop the dirt from being released into the air when being emptied.

Bagless vacuum cleaners offer pretty much the opposite experience; while being cheap to maintain as you don’t have to replace the bags, they can be messy when you come to empty them. As many canisters tend to be see-through, it’s ideal for checking if you’ve picked up anything you shouldn’t have and when it’s full, but if damaged, they can be costly to replace.

Samantha Ball is a Commercial Content Writer for Mother&Baby and freelanced for the website for two years before joining the team full time. She's a mum of two and loves browsing for the best products and cute outfits.

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