Get the Most Out of Your Vacuum Attachments

Below are seven common vacuum attachments that can make certain cleaning tasks easier. If you’re interested in any of these brushes and tools but your vacuum didn’t come with them—or you’ve lost them over the years—check the manufacturer’s website to see whether you can buy them separately.

Comes with: Upright and canister vacuum cleaners

How to use it: An airflow brush looks like a smaller version of your vacuum’s powerhead. You can maneuver the brush into tight spaces where a larger powerhead won’t fit, and some manufacturers recommend using the attachment to clean upholstery as well.

Comes with: Upright, stick, canister, and handheld vacuum cleaners

How to use it: Because it’s so thin, a crevice tool can get tiny debris out of tight spaces, such as around the wooden valance of a window or in between couch cushions. You can also use this slim tool to clean the front of your bookshelves where dust collects.

Comes with: Upright vacuum cleaners

How to use it: Of course, canister vacuums feature a hose. But many uprights come with accessory hoses to use as attachments. Generally made of plastic tubing, a hose can be attached to an upright vacuum to help you maneuver in cramped spaces, such as underneath a bed, where an upright won’t fit. It also makes it easier to vacuum stairs. Pro tip: If you attach an airflow brush to the end of the hose, you’ll get some of that suction action across the tread of the stairs.

Comes with: Upright, stick, canister, and handheld vacuum cleaners

How to use it: This small, round tool has soft bristles and a circular head. It can be attached to an extension wand or a hose. Use it for gentle cleaning, such as around picture frames or ornate mantelpieces, or on the fins of your window air conditioner.

Comes with: Upright, stick, canister, and handheld vacuum cleaners

How to use it: These slim, cylindrical plastic or metal wands are your ticket to vacuuming hard-to-reach places. They usually attach to the end of a crevice or brush tool. With both the extension wand and the tool in place, you can easily clean the corners of your ceiling where cobwebs collect, as well as along door mantels and behind furniture such as media cabinets.

Comes with: Canister vacuum cleaners

How to use it: A floor brush is the lighter-weight head of a canister vacuum cleaner. Full-sized canisters typically include a floor brush instead of a powerhead to use on wood floors. If you have an upright, you can also purchase a hardwood floor brush as an attachment to avoid damaging your floors. Or just make sure to turn off the motorized brush roll to avoid scattering dust or scratching the floor while you clean.

Comes with: Upright, stick, canister, and handheld vacuum cleaners

How to use it: An upholstery brush usually has a short, flat head with tough bristles. It can be used on your couch or an overstuffed chair to remove pilling and dust.

Upright vacuums are the traditional big-body models that stand tall, allowing you to push them around your house with ease. Below are three of the best upright models from our ratings that score highly in our suction tests and come with useful attachments.

Canister vacuums are smaller models that primarily rely on a long hose attachment for maneuverability. They can be easier to move up and down stairs as needed. The highly rated models below all performed well in our hose suctions tests and come with attachments.