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Small spaces get dusty just as easily as big spaces do. But, unfortunately, tiny apartments can't always house a 40-pound vortex-sucking vacuum that you practically need a commercial vehicles license to operate. That's where the best small vacuums for apartments come in.
For the most part, all apartments and small houses have one thing in common: limited storage. If you're going to invest in a vacuum, you want to make sure it gets the job done, but you also want to make sure your closet door closes when you go to put it away.
The first course of action is to determine exactly what you need, so you don't end up with excess parts and features that just take up space. Do you have hardwood floors or carpets? Do you have pets that shed all over everything? Do you need something that stands upright in a pantry, or do you have an entire square foot of closet room for a small canister vacuum? These are all questions you need to ask yourself before you purchase a vacuum for a small apartment.
Thankfully, though, there are powerful yet compact vacuums for all of the above scenarios. Ahead, these are some of the best small vacuums, according to Consumer Reports and real Amazon reviewers.
1
A Canister Vacuum That's Actually Easy To Carry Around: The Bissell Zing
This small, lightweight canister vacuum cleaner weighs just 7.5 pounds and features powerful cyclonic suction that cleans both hard floors and carpets in one pass. It has a washable filter and no bags to change, ever, and a 15-foot cord that makes it a snap to carry from room to room. Thanks to its handle and compact design, it’s even light enough to use on stairways.
According to a reviewer: “I live in a small apartment in nyc with two roommates and two cats. Both my roommates are allergic to the cats. This vacuum does an awesome job picking up hair off my couch and helps me keep the dust and [dander] under control. The attachments are great for reaching high spaces, too. We’ve got hardwood floors and the headpiece does a pretty good job of sucking up dirt.”
2
A 3-In-1 Stick Vacuum With 66,000+ Reviews: The Bissell Featherweight Stick Vacuum
This lightweight stick vacuum is highly rated by Amazon shoppers and has earned over 66,000 reviews. And at only $34, it’s a great deal, too. The corded vacuum weighs just 3 pounds and works on hard floors and carpets, and it easily converts from a stick vacuum into a handheld or stair vacuum. It comes with a crevice tool and floor nozzle to clean hard-to-reach spots, and the bagless design is easy to empty when you’re done. Plus, it’s available in vibrant colors such as lime green and bright blue.
According to a reviewer: “We bought it to clean a 2 bedroom apartment. Makes daily cleaning a breeze without putting a strain on my back or wrist! Picks up hair & dust very well which is exactly what we bought it for. Works well on bare floors as well as rugs.”
3
A Handheld That’s Great For Pets: The BLACK+DECKER Furbuster Handheld Vacuum
Featuring motorized rubber bristles that help lift stubborn fur, the cordless Furbuster vacuum is ideal for cleaning up after your pets. It also features an extra-long crevice tool to reach hard-to-clean areas and offers two speeds, plus a Powerboost mode for extra suction. The vacuum is great for cleaning furniture and upholstery, and it has a large, easy-to-empty dust bin.
According to a reviewer: “This is the perfect pet vac to get my cats hair off of everything! I have a lot of dark colors and he has white fur. I pull it out anytime his hair is on the furniture and it gets all of it (and likely the dander) in one go.”
4
The Best Refurbished Vacuum That's A Steal: The Shark NV351
Although it's a bit bulkier than some of the other options, reviewers rave about amazingness of the Shark Navigator upright vacuum that expertly cleans carpets, bare floors, and — thanks to the removable canister — under furniture. The certified refurbished vacuum comes with various attachments for cleaning hard-to-reach spots, and the foam and HEPA filters trap 99% of allergens.
According to a reviewer: "Beautiful vacuum. I have cheap, dense carpet in my apartment and I vacuumed with my Dirt Devil the day before using this Shark for the first time. It picked up an email entire canister of grime! Definitely read the instructions because I acccidentally vacuumed my carpet on the bare floor setting, and was wondering what happened. The canister detaches and dumps out easily. I wish the attachments had a place on the actual vacuum body but oh well. It maneuvers around corners fine. It’s lightweight and just about full after vacuuming a (dirty) large bedroom and smallish living room."
5
The Best Convertible Vacuum For Multiple Surfaces: The Shark Rocket
If you've got a little bit of everything in your home, this one's for you. Weighing in at under 8 pounds, the Shark Rocket ultra-light upright picks up everything from large debris to fine dust, and it's got fingertip controls to easily switch from hard floor to carpet. It also converts into a hand vac for quick clean-up jobs and offers dual storage options for tight spaces.
According to a reviewer: “After three months of owning it, I've actually been able to vacuum my whole apartment more times than I used to in a year. It's not overly loud, it's light and easy to maneuver, and it really picks up hair [...] well even when I used it that first time (and the cat hair had been ground into the carpets for 6-12 months).”
6
The Best Budget Hand Vacuum: The BLACK+DECKER Cordless Dustbuster
A definite Amazon favorite, the BLACK + DECKER hand vac has more than 60,000 reviews and a 4.5-star overall rating. In addition to being cordless, rechargeable, and long-lasting, it also has a rotating slim nozzle to get into hard-to-reach places. It's also got a translucent bagless dirt bowl that's easy to empty out and wash. It weighs less than 3 pounds so it’s easy to tote around, and it’s even backed by a 2-year warranty.
According to a reviewer: "I use this at least once a day. It's plenty strong enough for everyday spills and dust and food scraps, and it's incredibly easy to empty out. LOVE it. Seriously a game-changer, especially for an apartment-dweller with limited space.”
7
A 2-In-1 Vac For $40: VonHaus Upright
The VonHaus 2-in-1 upright vacuum is an affordable and extremely convenient option for an apartment or small space. That's because it's lightweight, stores easily, and has a stick vacuum cleaner and hand vac in one. It also comes with crevice tools, a mini brush, and an extension tube, making it great for any job, whether it's carpet, wood, or furniture.
According to a reviewer: "It's lightweight, powerful, simple to assemble, gets into every corner with ease (under and around furniture), and is super easy to empty. It's essentially perfect for the downstairs area of my apartment. The attachments basically "press on" with no effort. The canister detaches readily, and the filter will shake right out.”
8
The Most Powerful Compact Unit: The Miele Pure Suction
If you’re tackling thick carpet, pet hair, or just want extra power in a compact unit, this Miele canister vacuum is a bit more of an investment, but it'll last for years. It uses a vortex motor and has six settings to choose from so you can clean just about any type of floor, especially hard surfaces and low-pile carpets. Plus, with a collection of accessories — like a dusting brush and upholstery tool — you can get into the nitty-gritty of deep cleaning your space.
According to a reviewer: “I live in a loft apartment in an old renovated mill, and there are huge cracks between the floorboards of the beautiful hardwood floors. Over the years, lots of stuff has fallen between them, especially considering I have dogs [...] The suction on this thing is so great that it sucked all that stuff right up from between the boards. I don't think this apartment has ever been cleaner than it is now.”
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