After 400 hours of testing the best vacuum cleaners on the market, these are the top-rated models I’d recommend to family and friends

Finding the best vacuum cleaner for your home and needs can hugely impact your cleaning habits. However, as Ideal Home's vacuum expert and someone who has tested more vacuums than I can count, I've learned that different vacuums suit different people. And different houses.

That's why my team and I have put a wide range of vacuum cleaners, including the best cordless vacuum cleaners, through our dedicated vacuum cleaner testing process. During this process, we use these vacuums for at least two weeks at a time, assessing everything from suction power and ease of use to performance, overall design and affordability.

With the information, specs, and first-hand reviews at my disposal, I've been able to break down the best vacuum cleaners into my top-rated options for those with different floor types, cleaning needs, and vacuum preferences. So, I have no doubts that your next vacuum is on the list below...

Quick list

Best vacuum cleaner 2026

Best vacuum cleaner overall

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Released in September 2025, the Dyson V16 Piston Animal was one of the many new Dyson products launched last year. It's officially Dyson's most powerful cordless vacuum cleaner, and it's been decked out in a whole host of new technology - including a tangle-free conical multi-floor floorhead and a CleanCompaktor bin that compresses dust and debris.

It has a powerful motor and up to 70 minutes of fade-free run time, and it even comes with a removable, swappable battery. So, you could technically use it for up to 140 minutes if you bought a spare. It's definitely the best Dyson vacuum cleaner you can buy (so far).

Features we loved during testing

The impressive power of the Dyson V16 Piston Animal was apparent during testing, and the new multi-floor floorhead is a significant improvement over the Dyson Gen5detect (which was previously the top pick in this guide before the V16 replaced it), which required swapping heads when transitioning from carpet to hard flooring.

It has all the same sensors and lasers you'd expect from a tech-forward brand like Dyson, and the new conical head made light work of pet and human hair in my home. The new CleanCompaktor bin also meant that I didn't have to empty it nearly as much as I'm used to. In fact, it has 2-3 times the amount of dust bin space of the average cordless vacuum.

If you have a lot of hard floors in your home, you could also buy the Dyson V16 Piston Animal Submarine (£899.99 at Dyson), which is the exact same vacuum but with an extra wet floor cleaning head.

Even more excitingly, Dyson will be releasing a self-empty docking station for this model soon - making it similar to the Shark PowerDetect Speed Clean & Empty Cordless Vacuum Cleaner in terms of the hands-free emptying. Of course, this does put the already-expensive price of this Dyson vacuum up even more.

Read our Dyson V16 Piston Animal Cordless Vacuum review for more details.

Best budget vacuum cleaner

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The best Henry vacuum cleaners come in many different shapes and forms, but the Henry HVR160 is the original, classic Henry. It doesn't have too many bells and whistles, but for under £170, you really do get a lot for your money. Or for an extra £20, you could level up to the equally impressive Henry Xtra.

What we love most is this model's reliability, and although our tester, Helen, reviewed it back in 2023, she still uses it weekly at home. Henry's classic bagged design is also perfect for those with allergies, as it ensures that the dust, debris, and hair you vacuum up stays put and secure until it's time to replace the bag. Not to mention, it ensures that its suction power doesn't falter – and while this Henry only offers one power level, you can rest assured that it is more than enough to clean up all sorts of messes.

Features we loved during testing

During testing, Helen loved just how easy this vacuum cleaner was to use - whether that was using the Combi floorhead to vacuum both hard floors and carpet, or using the three provided tools and attachments to clean everything from her blinds to her upholstery. There's even space for the floorhead and two of the tools onboard the unit itself.

Helen also found that it performed well when removing debris from her home - especially during intense (and very dusty) DIY sessions. The 6-litre dust bag also meant she didn't have to empty it for weeks, as its capacity was that large. This makes it perfect for families, particularly messy homes, or those who want to use it both inside and outside the house (like cleaning the car, for example).

However, it is worth noting that, because of its corded design and relatively large body, if you often struggle with storage space, available plug sockets, or have only one floor type in your home, you might be better off opting for a different model. The Henry Quick Corded is a great alternative, offering the same corded power but with a stick design. It's also very comparable in terms of price. Alternatively, the Henry HVB160 Cordless Vacuum Cleaner offers the same cylinder design but with a battery.

Read our full Henry HRV160 Vacuum Cleaner review for more details.

Best cordless stick vacuum cleaner

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It's been some time since the release of the Shark Stratos IZ420UKT, but it's still holding up as great as one of the best vacuum cleaners we've ever reviewed - and we recently reviewed it a second time to ensure it was still worthy of this position. It's also a constant bestseller on the Shark website, making it one of the best Shark vacuums, too.

The Clean Sense IQ Technology is a standout feature that works brilliantly to detect and act on the level of dirt or debris on all floor types, resulting in a thorough clean without much effort. The 120-minute run time across the two batteries is also rare for cordless vacuums, and even the 60 on the single-battery model is generous.

Features we loved during testing

During our tests, the Shark Stratos IZ420UKT cordless stick vacuum showed unbelievable suction power, leaving carpets visibly cleaner, with no issues of leftover pet or human hair. The ease with which this vacuum removes hair is astounding, making it particularly great for households with pets (and without, of course). Both our Kitchen Appliances Editor, Molly, and I found it to be the perfect amount of suction for everyday cleaning.

A major perk is that it'll transform into a smaller handheld in seconds, and I loved that I could reach for the smaller attachments whenever I needed to quickly resolve smaller messes all over my home.

One standout feature that I love across much of the Shark cleaning range is the anti-odour capsules that help banish those musty smells when cleaning and emptying the vacuum. The smell that lingers after cleaning also makes the house feel so much fresher.

These features, combined, earn it a podium spot as one of the best vacuum cleaners in our guide for most people, as I understand that the Dyson V16 Piston Animal's price tag is above average. And while the Shark Stratos IZ420UKT is, of course, still an investment, you can regularly find it on sale for less than £250, making it an extremely viable alternative if you want to indulge in the benefits of advanced cleaning technology and suction power without breaking the bank.

Read our Shark Stratos IZ420UKT cordless vacuum review for more details.

Best upright vacuum cleaner

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More and more people are turning back to corded, upright vacuums due to the immense cleaning power they offer, and the Shark PowerDetect Powered Lift-Away Upright Pet Vacuum Cleaner AZ3900UKT is perfect for deep-cleaning a home. In fact, it performed consistently across carpet, hard flooring and tiles during testing.

While it does have a cord to contend with, the 8m length means you don't have to unplug and re-plug in every room, and it picks up all kinds of debris - including pet hair - in a single pass. It also offers unlimited run time, which means you don't have to wait for it to charge. However, it is large and heavy, so it won't suit everyone... or every household.

Features we loved during testing

During testing in my small home, its size was noticeable - especially when it came to storage. However, I appreciated how this model seamlessly combines an upright design with Powered LiftAway technology, allowing you to transform it into a smaller, more portable vacuum by lifting the canister away from the stick to carry it upstairs, tackle smaller nooks and crannies and even clean car interiors. This is great for getting up the stairs, but reassembling the vacuum can take some getting used to if you're new to upright models.

This model is also decked out in many of Shark's most impressive technologies, including Dirt, Floor, and EdgeDetect technologies, which allowed it to react to changes in floor type and debris amount in my home, as well as clean right up to the edge of my skirting boards.

As this is a pet model, it also comes with a Pet Tool, Crevice Tool and Multi-Surface Tool, which allowed me to clean everything from my steep staircase (without having to balance the entire vacuum on a step, thanks to the Lift-Away capsule) to the cobwebs in the corners of my ceiling.

All in all, it's a powerhouse for deep cleaning, but just be warned that you do need the space to use and store it to really get the most out of it. So, it might not suit smaller homes or those who don't have to clean regularly.

Read our Shark PowerDetect Powered Lift-Away Upright Pet Vacuum Cleaner AZ3900UKT review for more details.

Best vacuum cleaner for hard floors

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The Dreame V20 Pro Cordless Vacuum comes with interchangeable heads suitable for different floor types. As a result, it's ideal for any home with different floor types, but it excels particularly on hard flooring, where it thrived during testing. Of course, you do need to switch between these floorheads during use, which is something to consider.

With up to 80 minutes of run time, three power modes and 210 Air Watts of suction power, it easily cleaned every speck of dust and dirt during testing - and our tester particularly loved how lightweight it was. Plus, how manoeuvrable it was, thanks to its ability to bend under furniture and offer impressive edge cleaning.

Features we loved during testing

The USP of the Dreame V20 is its lightweight design. At just 3.2kg, it's significantly lighter than the other vacuum cleaners in this guide, though not quite as light as the Dyson V12, which previously held this spot. Because of this, it's ideal for grab-and-go cleaning.

During testing, our reviewer, Rebecca, found its ability to bend the wand under furniture to be a huge bonus in her family home, as it allowed her to clean under sideboards and other awkward spaces that you wouldn't typically be able to clean with a static, solid wand.

The GapFree technology also made a difference to her cleaning experience, allowing her to vacuum right up to the edges of skirting boards. This is where the Auto mode worked its magic, too, adjusting its suction power as dirt levels changed.

Thanks to the hard roller floorhead, Rebecca found that it passed the debris test with flying colours on her hard flooring and loved how effortlessly it glided across the floors. However, the multi-surface brush was just as impressive on carpets and rugs.

There are sacrifices to be made with this hard floor hero, though, and those with larger homes may struggle with the smaller 0.5L dust bin. Rebecca noted that she needed to empty it regularly when cleaning her 3-bedroom house, but that it was a small trade-off compared to the vacuum's cleaning power.

Read our Dreame V20 Cordless Vacuum Cleaner review for more details.

Best vacuum cleaner for carpets

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The Shark PowerDetect Speed Clean and Empty Pet Pro Cordless Vacuum IA3241UKT seriously proved its worth during testing, even surpassing the Shark PowerDetect Clean & Empty Cordless Vacuum Cleaner that we've always rated so highly. That's largely because it offers similar cleaning power, but at a smaller footprint thanks to its compact auto-empty dock.

Thanks to Shark's impressive FloorDetect technology, it's also a game-changer for different floor types - and it's particularly impressive on carpets. And that's before I mention the other three detection technologies, the anti-odour technology, a Flexology wand for cleaning under furniture, and two tools for cleaning smaller nooks, crannies, and pet hair.

Features we loved during testing

Although I test a lot of vacuum cleaners with varying levels of complexity, I loved testing this Shark vacuum because it's technologically complex yet incredibly easy to use for grab-and-go cleaning. And knowing that the vacuum was detecting changes in my floor type and debris levels without any input from me is truly appreciated.

It performed excellently in the debris test on hard flooring, but it thrived on carpets, where it easily tackled everything from loose dirt to embedded pet hair. Then, with the Pet Hair Tool as an extra (which neatly stores on the auto-empty dock), I was able to replicate that cleaning ability on everything from my dog's bed to my sofas.

Alongside this, it was extremely lightweight and easy to manoeuvre across all floor types, and the auto-empty dock is ideal for those who don't want to empty their vacuum cleaner regularly. My only real negative with this model is the long charge time, which seems a little excessive at 6 hours.

Read our Shark PowerDetect Speed Clean and Empty Pet Pro Cordless Vacuum review for more details.

Best vacuum cleaner for pet hair

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As the paw-rent of a particularly fluffy cocker spaniel, I'm regularly testing the best vacuum cleaners for pet hair. And after testing the Miele Duoflex HX1 Cat & Dog cordless vacuum for a few weeks, I'm confident that it has beaten the competition to become the best option for vacuuming pet hair in a home. And not just because it’s specifically designed for those with furry friends.

While it’s slightly different from the canister vacuums for which Miele is known, this model features a modern design, up to 55 minutes of run time, and impressive suction power for a cordless vacuum. And while it may be on the pricier side, you really do get what you pay for when it comes to this German manufacturer. It’s sturdy, stylish, and extremely innovative.

Features we loved during testing

Designed to address the challenges faced by pet owners when cleaning their homes, the Miele Duoflex HX1 Cat & Dog cordless vacuum is well-equipped to handle pet hair, dander, and everyday household dust. The intelligent electrobrush with automatic power adjustment makes it easy to spot (and clean) the problem areas of a house with very little effort, and it leaves the whole area feeling clean and fresh thanks to the 99.99% dust retention capacity and additional hygiene filter.

With handy accessories and tools, it’s also easy to carry the Miele Duoflex HX1 Cat & Dog cordless vacuum around the house - and I've used them on everything from a dog bed to a hair-covered sofa and carpeted stairs. This vacuum even comes with a handy accessory holder so you can carry the attachments around on the main unit.

It’s this focus on pet ownership and pet-specific problem-solving that has allowed this model to replace the Halo Capsule X, a non-pet-specific vacuum that previously took this spot in our buying guide. And while the Halo is a bagged vacuum that has a much larger dust capacity, if you want a pet vacuum that really gets the job done and don’t mind the smaller dust bin, the Miele can’t be beaten. Not yet, anyway.

Read our full Miele Duoflex HX1 Cat & Dog Cordless Vacuum review for more details.

Best handheld vacuum cleaner

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The Dyson Car+Boat is the best handheld vacuum cleaner that we've tested so far, offering up to 50 minutes of run time on Eco mode, which is almost double that of our runner-up. This makes it ideal for grab-and-go cleaning throughout the week, so you can tackle everything from smaller messes to nooks and crannies or even the car.

In Boost mode, that runtime does reduce to just five minutes, but our reviewer rarely found the need to use it due to Eco mode's 115 Air Watts of power. This makes it as powerful as the Dyson V8 Absolute, a full-size vacuum. However, this model offers it in a compact, handheld size. The only real downside is the price.

Features we loved during testing

During testing, our reviewer loved how the Dyson Car+Boat offered the power of a full-size vacuum in a smaller size for more targeted cleaning jobs. She used it to vacuum her sofa, skirting boards, and the space between furniture that a full-size vacuum wouldn't be able to clean.

She also used it to give her carpets a deeper, more concentrated clean, and found that the mini motorhead was the best at this - but she did note that the handheld vacuum does need to be held at a certain angle to successfully pick up every speck of dirt or debris.

The 1.9kg also made it carry around from room to room, and the 0.54L makes it comparable (and in some instances even bigger) to the dust bins offered with other cordless vacuum cleaners. So, she didn't need to empty it regularly.

However, the downside of the Dyson Car + Boat is the price tag. At £250 it's significantly more expensive than alternatives, including the Lakeland Cordless Handheld Vacuum Cleaner, which is just £69.99.

Read our Dyson Car + Boat Handheld Vacuum review for more details.

Best robot vacuum cleaner

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If you have your eye on one of the best robot vacuums, the Eufy Robot Vacuum Omni E25 is our top-rated model and perfect for hands-free cleaning. With multi-room mapping, you can set it up to both vacuum and mop your entire home (as long as there aren't any big steps or thresholds), and it's pretty stylish, too.

With 20,000Pa of suction, it offers power that's way above the average of around 4,000-6,000Pa, and the HydroJet mopping - coupled with the separate clean and dirty water tanks and the cleaning solution provided - means your hard floors will be left sparkling.

Features we loved during testing

There are many things I wish I knew before buying a robot vacuum, but the Eufy Robot Vacuum Omni E25 didn't leave me with any regrets. It's powerful, practical, and left both my carpets and hard flooring cleaner than ever. I was particularly impressed during the debris test, when it easily tackled all debris sizes and managed to vacuum up deep-rooted pet hair on my carpets and rugs.

The high-tech model also offers faultless obstacle testing, which is ideal for busy homes with toys or regular clutter lining the floor, and the auto-empty, auto-refilling docking station was both a practical and stylish addition to my home.

Of course, the elephant in the room is that a robot vacuum isn't a replacement for a regular vacuum. But if you don't need to replace your old vacuum, having a robot vacuum to hand can instead make a huge difference. And while this one is expensive, it's well worth the investment and will undoubtedly take the hassle out of cleaning.

Read our full Eufy Robot Vacuum Omni E25 review for more details.

Vacuum comparison at a glance

Runners-up

I've spent hundreds of hours testing the best vacuum cleaners, so if my top picks above don't suit you, here are some runners-up to consider.

Dyson Gen5detect Absolute (★★★★★)

Best overall runner-up

This Dyson vacuum cleaner was number one in this guide for years before its successor knocked it off the top spot. It's not quite as powerful as the V16 Piston Animal, but it's still a 5-star buy that won't disappoint.

Read our full review here.

Shark PowerPro Pet Cordless Stick Vacuum(★★★★)

Best budget runner-up

This budget Shark vacuum is a perfect all-rounder if you don't want to spend a fortune. The suction power could be better, but for average daily use, it should still be enough to keep your floors clean. Plus, it'll suit homes with pets.

Read our full review here

Dyson V8 Cyclone(★★★★½)

Best cordless stick runner-up

Dyson's V8 is a classic for a reason, and the V8 Cyclone is a souped-up version of this older model. It doesn't offer too many bells and whistles, but it does offer effective cleaning.

Read our full review here

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Miele Guard M1 Cat & Dog Flex (★★★★½)

Best for pet hair runner-up

An alternative option for pet owners, this bagged pet vacuum is a powerful cylinder that seriously impressed me during testing. Sure, the cord may be annoying for some, but the suction and the onboard tools will definitely win you over.

Read our full review here

Gtech AirRAM Platinum (★★★★½)

Best for carpet runner-up

If you prefer upright vacuums, this Gtech model scored extremely highly during testing. It thrived on carpet, and it has an impressive run time of up to 1 hour. However, it doesn't come with any additional tools.

Read our full review here

Dyson V15 Detect Absolute (★★★★½)

Best for hard floors runner-up

This model is powerful, lightweight, and perfect for homes with pets. Like the new Dyson V16 Piston Animal, this model also comes with a Submarine wet floor cleaning head if needed.

Read our full review here

Gtech Multi Platinum Handheld Vacuum (★★★★★)

Best handheld runner-up

Although it doesn't have the 50-minute run time of the Dyson handheld, this Gtech model does offer up to 30 minutes - and a large 0.4 litres dust bin. It also has an excellent range of accessories.

Roborock Saros 20 Robot Vacuum with Mop (★★★★½)

Best robot vacuum runner-up

Incredibly powerful with 36,000Pa, this robot vacuum cleaner offers seriously impressive vacuuming and mopping power. The app is a little overwhelming, though, so it's better suited to those already familiar with robot vacuums.

How we test vacuum cleaners

At Ideal Home, we take how we test the products that come through our doors very seriously. We believe that the only way to give our honest verdict on the best vacuums and to rank them is to test them in a home environment or in our dedicated testing facility, where we can mimic cleaning conundrums that others face on a daily basis. You can find the detailed process in our how we test vacuum cleaners guide.

In short, however, a member of our team has reviewed every vacuum in this list, and we all follow the same testing process to ensure validity across the board, no matter which review you are reading.

Where we can, we've also sought to keep hold of these vacuums for long-term testing so that we can give feedback on just how they deliver after years of use so you can rest assured in the investments you're making.

For each vacuum we test, we ensure to see how it fares on three different floor types: hardwood, carpet, and linoleum. For each floor type, we scatter cereals (both crushed and whole), a mix of flour and sugar, as well as hair in individual tests. The vacuum's ability to pick up these examples of fine and heavy debris will determine how we score them on performance and suction power.

These tests are what allow us to see how well the vacuum lives up to the manufacturer's claims; namely, their ability to pick up large amounts of dust and debris and how effective their smart features are. These can include anything from hair-repelling functions, to LED headlights, lasers, and more.

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When we test vacuums, we try to consider everything to mimic the consumer's journey, starting from unboxing, assembly, use, and even cleaning and maintenance. As well as suction power and performance, we assess factors like runtime for cordless models, how easy they are to empty and maintain, and how effective any included accessories and attachments are.

Where possible, we always try to compare the review vacuum with other vacuums on the market too. This may be different models from the same brand (for example, there may be a newer model with different functionalities that would suit you better), or models from a different brand that has similar functionalities but at a different price point.

With all of the above at our disposal, we can then assign the vacuum cleaners a dedicated star rating. They are as follows:

5 stars - an exceptional vacuum cleaner that does exactly what you expect and cannot be faulted.

4.5 stars - we always look at products with a critical eye, so any vacuum that leaves us wishing for a bit more will take that crucial half-mark.

4 stars - an amazing vacuum cleaner that is worth your money but may need some fine-tuning before it suits everyone.

3 stars - a good vacuum cleaner that works well but doesn't blow us away. It may be under-specced, too expensive, or difficult to use.

2 stars - the vacuum lacks key features but is affordable, so it may suit someone if they're in a rut.

1 star - the vacuum does not work as intended, and we would advise you not to buy it.

Meet our testing team

Lauren Bradbury

Lauren is the Content Editor for House Manual, meaning she's an expert in all things cleaning and home maintenance. Before joining the team permanently, she was a freelance contributor for Ideal Home and tested everything from vacuum cleaners to electric mops.

Lauren is also Ideal Home's Certified Expert for Vacuums, so she knows all of the ins and outs of vacuuming - from using a vacuum cleaner more efficiently to effectively vacuuming pet hair (something that comes in handy as the pawrent of a very fluffy pooch).

Helen McCue

Helen is a freelance contributor who trained as a Home Economist. After starting her career in the food industry, she moved into home appliance reviews and has since reviewed countless vacuums for Ideal Home.

Helen is our go-to for testing vacuums in real-world settings, and she still uses the same Henry she tested for this guide three years later.

Katie Sims

Katie is a freelance contributor who tests all manner of household appliances in her home, including many of the best vacuum cleaners. She's tested dozens of models so far, and has even more on her to-do list.

For this guide, she tested the Dyson Car+Boat Handheld Vacuum, and it's still a staple in her cleaning caddy.

Rebecca Lawton

Rebecca is another one of our trusted freelance reviewers, who regularly tests floorcare and cleaning appliances. She tests them all from her family home, which is the ideal testing ground with three kids making a mess!

For this guide, she tested (and loved) the Dreame V20 Pro Cordless Vacuum Cleaner.

How to choose a vacuum cleaner

If you buy cheap, you buy twice, which is why I consider a new vacuum cleaner to be an investment. In fact, a high-quality vacuum cleaner will last you years if you choose the right one - and you can even extend your vacuum’s life expectancy if you care for it properly. That’s why I’d suggest checking out our larger guide on how to choose a vacuum cleaner so you don’t waste your money on the wrong one.

If you don’t have time to read a larger guide and want a condensed version, a considerable portion of choosing the right vacuum cleaner for you and your home revolves around the type of vacuum.

Upright vacuum cleaners are very ergonomic to push around, so they’re ideal for cleaning large floor areas in open-plan kitchens. Their powerful, rotating brush bars are great for picking up hair from pets and humans in thick living room carpets. But they are tall and bulky to store and not so good for cleaning stairs or if you want to hide a vacuum cleaner.

Stick vacuum cleaners, on the other hand, are convenient for quickly cleaning around the house because of their often compact and lightweight build. However, they tend to have smaller dustbin capacities and may deliver less suction power than their upright counterparts. On top of these factors, there are plenty of other nuances to consider, which we cover in more detail in our stick vacuum vs upright vacuum explainer.

Cylinder vacuum cleaners are usually smaller and lighter, so they pack away better. The power cable is typically stored neatly inside, and hopefully, there's onboard storage for tools. But, they might not have a motorised brush head and their capacity may be smaller, so they might not suit every home.

It’s essential that you weigh up your needs and decide which type of vacuum is right for you and your home, but you also need to consider if you want a corded or cordless vacuum and whether you want a bagless or bagged vacuum cleaner. They all come with their perks and downsides, so proper research is key.

Vacuum power is also something you need to consider, and knowing how much suction power a vacuum cleaner has is key. This should be measured in AW (Air Watts), but some manufacturers only offer specs on the power of the motor in W (Watts). Whatever the case, though, the higher the number, the more powerful the vacuum.

If, after making these choices, you're wondering which set of accessories you need alongside your vacuum to ensure it works its best, then our guide to what vacuum tool is right for each job makes for essential reading - especially if you live in a home with children or pets (or particularly hairy humans!).

Then, you should feel confident enough to make your purchase and start using your new vacuum cleaner. Just make sure you don’t forget the places you're probably forgetting to vacuum.

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