Even if you enjoy sticking to a regular cleaning schedule, there are some areas of your home that you will always dread cleaning. The staircase is one area, in particular, that is very tempting to avoid. Because stairs are frequently used, they can become filthy quickly—especially if you have a pet. That is why it is critical to invest in a stair-friendly vacuum.
There are many different types of vacuum cleaners on the market, so determining which are the best for stairs can be difficult. We researched the top options on the market to help you find the best option for your stairs, taking into account their weight, style (handheld, upright, stick, etc.), ease of use, battery life (if cordless), and overall value.
How To Select The Best Vacuum Cleaner for Stairs
There are thousands upon thousands of highly rated vacuums on the market, making it difficult to narrow our list down to just seven picks. We wanted to select a set of vacuums that would work for a variety of lifestyles and household needs, such as carpeted and hardwood flooring, homes with pets and children and winding or unusually shaped staircases.
We looked at hundreds of high-quality consumer reviews to learn about the little details that manufacturer descriptions don’t tell you, as well as our own testing to narrow down the best of the bunch. For cordless models, we prioritized weight and bulk, suction power, and battery life. We also looked at vacuums at different price points to see where a little extra money makes a big difference and where it buys flashy features you don’t necessarily need.
Weight
The first thing you should consider is whether you’ll be comfortable carrying your vacuum up and down the stairs on a regular basis. Some of the most popular upright vacuums can weigh up to 20 pounds, which may not seem like much, but it’s enough to make things difficult when you have to pick it up and put it down on each step. Not to mention the possibility of it slipping while cleaning, particularly on winding staircases.
If you’re going to be cleaning a lot of stairs, we recommend investing in a lightweight vacuum that you can easily transport. If you already have a large vacuum that works well for you, you could get a handheld vacuum designed specifically for the stairs and other difficult-to-reach areas. Although upright vacuums are heavier, they usually have a lot of suction power and are much better for carpeted surfaces, so we wouldn’t recommend them as your primary cleaner.
Corded or cordless
You should also consider whether you want a cordless vacuum or one that plugs into the wall. Many modern vacuum cleaners have cordless designs, which make vacuuming the stairs much easier and safer than having to keep an eye out for a cord under your feet.
Having said that, most cordless vacuum cleaners have poor battery life. Many last less than an hour on a single charge and require several hours to fully recharge. According to our research, a good option should last at least 40 minutes. While you may not need them to last very long, there’s nothing worse than having your vacuum break down in the middle of a cleaning.
Cleaning Hardwood vs. Cleaning Carpet
Vacuuming rugs and carpeted areas is a completely different process than vacuuming hardwood floors. Carpets require more suction power to clean thoroughly, as well as a vacuum capable of trapping common household allergens such as dust and pet dander, which become trapped out of sight in the depths of the textile.
Bissell Featherweight Stick Vacuum
You can’t beat the $30 price tag on Bissell’s stick vacuum, which can be used as a traditional vacuum, hand vacuum, or stair vacuum (a.k.a. a hybrid of the other two). Despite being the least expensive option on this list, the best-selling vacuum is still lightweight, portable, and versatile. Because it does not have the strongest suction, it is best suited for small cleaning jobs on hard surfaces and low-pile carpets. The vacuum has a 15-foot cord, so even though you can only go so far away from an outlet, you won’t have to worry about the battery dying (unlike cordless models).
MOOSOO Cordless Vacuum
This well-liked Moosoo cordless vacuum also took first place on our list of the best vacuums for hardwood floors. More than 11,000 customers gave it a perfect five-star rating, citing the vacuum’s affordability and lightweight design as two of their favorite features. The vacuum’s head has convenient LED lights that allow you to see every bit of dirt and dust as you clean your stairs. A high-density HEPA filter removes up to 99.99 percent of tiny dust particles. “We needed a new vacuum because our old one didn’t work well on our hardwood floors, and having a dog that sheds a lot can be a bit problematic,” wrote one customer.
BLACK+DECKER 20V Max Flex Handheld Vacuum
The Black+Decker Max Flex vacuum cleaner has a slightly different design than typical handheld models, but customers say it’s still comparable in size and even lighter (just over three pounds). It has a four-foot flexible hose, allowing you to leave the vacuum’s body at the bottom of your staircase while vacuuming each step, then simply move it up as needed. When it’s time to dust your blinds or ceiling fan, you can use one hand to hold the vacuum and the other to extend the hose and clean. Consider this version, which comes with an attachable floor head, if you want to use it for larger cleaning jobs. (Remember that the dirt bowl only holds 17 ounces of debris.)
Dirt Devil Plus Vacuum for Stairs
The Dirt Devil Plus is reasonably priced while providing a robust feature set comparable to more expensive competitors, such as a completely bagless design that makes it simple to empty debris and clean it. This is also a very light, 2lb, a portable vacuum that can be operated with one hand because it does not require a power cord while in use. This vacuum comes with a number of useful attachments, including an excellent tool for cleaning stairs that also does a good job vacuuming upholstery and other similar surfaces. And, while bagless vacuums are easier to clean, bagged vacuums trap more dirt and dust, as our Hoover Windtunnel Max UH30600 review demonstrates.
Eureka EasyClean Vacuum for Stairs
The Eureka EasyClean is a versatile handheld vacuum that works well on stairs, in cars, in the garage, on upholstery, and on almost any surface type, including carpeting and hardwood floors. This is a very light corded vacuum, weighing only about five pounds, with an easy-carry handle and a long suction hose that can reach into difficult-to-reach places. We also appreciated the powerful dual motor design and the simple debris canister. There are also guides to help you maintain your vacuum, such as how to repair a vacuum hose.
Despite the fact that this handheld vacuum is lightweight, it is not cordless, despite the power cord measuring an impressive 20 feet, just like one of the best car vacuum cleaners. We also liked the exhaust vent because it helps to reduce heat, but it blows quite hard, which can blow dirt and debris around.