Vacuums

Stellar scores in our latest brand-repair survey and stout metal parts instead of the usual plastic could make the $1,350 Kirby Sentria upright the closest thing to a lifetime vacuum. But our latest tests of 100 models show that you can get top performance without the heirloom price.  

Hoover's WindTunnel T-Series UH30300, $140, and Pet UH30310, $150, are two additions to a long list of picks that include models priced at $200 or less. Both bagged uprights whisked away embedded grit and pet hair. We also found top bagless uprights for as little as $50.

Prefer a canister? Kenmore's new Progressive 21614, $300, is among the lower-priced bagged models that ranked high in our Ratings. The months we spent vacuuming carpets and floors and measuring the airflow critical for tools also showed us that some lighter new models are lightweights at cleaning. Here are the details:

Promises trump performance. "Never loses suction" is the claim for Eureka's $80 bagless Endeavor NLS 5400A upright. Suction for tools was strong. But that low-priced vacuum was dead-last at the carpet cleaning that comes first in most homes. Electrolux boasts that more than 50 percent of the plastic in its JetMaxx Green EL4040 canister, $400, is recycled. But carpet cleaning and airflow were so-so. 

Forever could be short. Oreck touts a limited lifetime warranty for its Forever Series uprights, the $600 Edge and Pilot. It also says its motors should last at least 25 years. But like most warranties, it covers only defects, which usually show up in the first couple of years. And while those models did well at cleaning and were easy to handle, the Edge includes only a light-duty crevice tool, and the Pilot does not accept tools.

When light means lite. Two other new bagged uprights from Oreck—the Graphite, $350, and XL Element Professional Series, $200—weigh under 12 pounds but offer mediocre carpet cleaning. Dyson's DC26 City Multi Floor canister, $400, is similarly wispy. But airflow, a selling point for other Dysons, was poor. And like the brand's larger and heavier DC23 Turbinehead canister, this one was subpar at carpet cleaning.

Start by choosing a type. Uprights do better overall on carpets, while canisters are easier to maneuver, especially on stairs. Here's what else to consider:

Check the features. Major ones are a brush on/off switch to safeguard bare floors and prevent scattered debris, and a motorized brush, rather than suction alone. Manual pile-height adjustment is also a plus, as is suction control for drapes and edge tools for corners.

Consider bagless carefully. Bagless vacs save you the cost of bags but still require filters. And the dust and mess of emptying their bins is a concern if you have asthma or allergies.

Try it out. Even if you order your vacuum online, go to a store first. Push, pull, turn, and lift models you're considering. Check out the controls and features; for example, using tools with the Kirby means removing the powerhead, rather than simply attaching a hose. And ask whether the store is willing to match the lowest price you find in your online search.