LEVEL UP YOUR CLEANING GAME
Guide to the best stick vacuum cleaners
Vacuum cleaner buying guide
What is a cordless stick vacuum?
A cordless stick vacuum cleaner has taken the traditional upright vacuum and made it more lightweight and flexible to use around the home. These cord-free vacuums have a slim shaft handle and are easy to manoeuvre from room to room without plugging and unplugging cables into a power supply. Instead, the stick vac’s compact yet powerful motor is powered by a rechargeable battery and the dirt is captured in either a canister, cup, or bag.
The convenience and versatility of cordless stick vacuums make them one of the most popular household cleaning appliances in the world.
Stick vacuums vs. handheld vacuums
So, what’s the difference between a cordless stick vacuum and a handheld vacuum? And do you need both?
If you’ve already got a mini handheld vacuum, such as the Kobold VC100 Handheld Vacuum (VC100), they’re perfect for quickly cleaning up small spills and accidental messes on furniture and in your car, or for taking on camping trips in your caravan.
A handheld vacuum is a super-compact, portable little machine that fits comfortably in one hand and can be carried around to clean on the go. However, a hand vacuum isn’t always ideal for floor cleaning. It’s more like a mini companion to your full-sized vacuum cleaner. That’s where your cordless stick vacuum comes in! Learn more about the benefits of mini vacs with our handheld vacuum guide.
Everything you need to know about cordless stick vacuums
Stick vacuum cleaners, or cordless vacuum cleaners, take the hard work out of cleaning. These flexible, portable vacuums clean your floors with a lot less fuss than a bulky corded vacuum. And with the right attachments, they can clean furniture, mattresses, cars and all those hard-to-reach places too. Learn everything you need to know about stick vacs with our guide to buying the best cordless stick vacuum and how you can level up your cleaning and free up more time to enjoy what matters most to you.
TYPES OF VACUUMS
BEST VACUUM CLEANERS
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
Stick vacuums explained
What is a cordless stick vacuum?
A cordless stick vacuum cleaner has taken the traditional upright vacuum and made it more lightweight and flexible to use around the home. These cord-free vacuums have a slim shaft handle and are easy to manoeuvre from room to room without plugging and unplugging cables into a power supply. Instead, the stick vac’s compact yet powerful motor is powered by a rechargeable battery and the dirt is captured in either a canister, cup, or bag.
The convenience and versatility of cordless stick vacuums make them one of the most popular household cleaning appliances in the world.
Stick vacuums vs. handheld vacuums
So, what’s the difference between a cordless stick vacuum and a handheld vacuum? And do you need both?
If you’ve already got a mini handheld vacuum, such as the Kobold VC100 Handheld Vacuum (VC100), they’re perfect for quickly cleaning up small spills and accidental messes on furniture and in your car, or for taking on camping trips in your caravan.
A handheld vacuum is a super-compact, portable little machine that fits comfortably in one hand and can be carried around to clean on the go. However, a hand vacuum isn’t always ideal for floor cleaning. It’s more like a mini companion to your full-sized vacuum cleaner. That’s where your cordless stick vacuum comes in! Learn more about the benefits of mini vacs with our handheld vacuum guide.
What makes the best stick vacuum cleaner?
Light and easy to use
The most obvious advantage of stick vacuum cleaners is just how versatile and flexible they are to adapt to almost any environment. Compared to traditional corded vacuums, cordless stick vacuums are lightweight and smaller in size, which makes them much easier to use and move around the home. When comparing stick vacuums, consider weight, size, shape and ergonomic design. All these factors can affect how easily they clean corners, edges and under furniture.
The Kobold VK7 is a sleek and lightweight portable cordless stick vacuum with an ultra-compact profile that makes it easy to move, a flexible pivoting brush head to effortlessly reach into and around corners, and click-on attachments for reaching trickier spaces. There’s even a shoulder strap and foldable handle so you can comfortably clean top to bottom and room to room, moving furniture, books and cushions with one hand while using the cleaning attachments with the other.
Stick vacuum in action
Handheld vacuums
Handheld vacuum cleaners are mini vacuums which are compact, lightweight, and smaller compared to traditional vacuums. These rechargeable portable vacuums are ideal to clean up small spills, crumbs and messes around your home, furniture, or car, and are a convenient cleaning companion to take on the go.
Whilst handheld vacuums shouldn’t replace your regular full-size vacuum cleaner, they are a great addition to use as a car vacuum cleaner or for those quick vacuuming jobs and getting to those hard-to-reach areas. The small size of hand vacuums also means that there is no need to find large storage spaces as these are easily tucked away out of sight! Learn more about mini vacs with our handheld vacuum guide.
Our recommendation
When it comes to buying a handheld vacuum cleaner, the Kobold VC100 Handheld Vacuum is the obvious choice. The Kobold Mini Vac has the same quality German design as the other Vorwerk vacuum cleaners, with a comfortable, ergonomic handle and modern look. And with the crevice attachment, you can easily get into any small and sensitive surface with ease. The handheld vacuum offers two powerful and reliable suction levels, and a heavy-duty lithium-ion battery to provide 13-20 minutes of suction.
2-in-1 vacuum mops
Vacuum mops are the ultimate multi-functional cleaning tool, enabling you to clean your hard floors in half the time! 2-in-1 vacuum mop combos saves you time, energy, and storage space, and are perfect for households with large amounts of wooden, vinyl, or tiled floors.
Unlike the traditional mop and bucket method which pushes around the recycled, dirty water, vacuum mops have refillable tanks and changeable cloths for effective, easy cleaning and sparkling, streak-free results.
Our recommendation
With vacuum mops becoming a must-have household appliance, there is no doubt that you will love the convenience of the Kobold 2-in-1 Vacuum Mop (SP7). Vorwerk’s vacuum mop attachment partners up with the Kobold Cordless Vacuum (VK7), offering a complete floor cleaning system.
This cordless 2-in1 vacuum mop offers a smart design, enabling you to control the cleaning modes, suction levels, and water release at a click of a button. The high-powered, lithium-battery technology provides up to 60 minutes of cleaning time from a single charge. The vacuum mop bundle comes with universal microfibre cloths to grab and hold stubborn dirt, and a concentrated cleaning agent that works with the oscillating mop head to remove bacteria without harsh chemicals.
Learn more about vacuum mops with our vacuum mop buying guide, or shop the bundle online!
Vacuum mop in action
What is the best vacuum cleaner?
Now that we’ve identified the different types of vacuums and their functions, how do you choose the right vacuum for your home? The best vacuum cleaner will depend on your individual needs, so you should start by asking yourself the following questions:
- Do you live in a small apartment or a house?
- What are you using the vacuum cleaner for?
- What type of floors do you have?
- How often do you vacuum?
- Do you have pets?
- Do you have allergies or are sensitive to dust?
Once you’ve established your needs, you can now compare the features and functions of each vacuum cleaner to see how they stack up. The features you should be looking out for are listed below.
What to look for when buying a vacuum
Suction Power
The performance of a vacuum cleaner relies heavily on its suction power. If you’ve predominately got carpeted or high-pile rug areas you wish to vacuum, make sure to look out for vacuums which have turbo or higher suction power settings. Most vacuum cleaners will feature around 100-200 watts, whilst Kobold’s cordless vacuum has a max setting of 230 watts.
Households with pets would also require vacuums with high suction power to remove that pesky pet hair that can get caught in carpets and other areas. However, this should be used in conjunction with effective brush heads to get into upholstery surfaces such as furniture and cars. The Kobold Cordless Vacuum VK7 Mattress and Upholstery Set is a great option when attached to the powerful cordless stick vacuum, making it the perfect cordless pet vacuum cleaner!
Flexibility, Tools & Attachments
Modern households often have various types of surfaces and materials to be cleaned. Therefore, having a vacuum cleaner which will adapt to different uses is critical for functionality and value for money. Stick or handheld vacuums are known for their flexibility when compared to their corded counterparts, and when paired with vacuum accessories such as the Kobold Cordless Vacuum VK7 Accessory Set (VK7), you can get to all those hard-to-reach spaces such as crevices and skirting boards. For gentle, yet thorough cleaning on delicate fabrics, opt for the Kobold Cordless Vacuum VK7 Upholstery Brush (PB7). Learn more about how to use these extras with our vacuum attachments and accessories guide!
Battery Life
A long battery life is important if you live in a larger household or like to vacuum often. Most cordless vacuum cleaners with rechargeable batteries will have a runtime of around 20-30 minutes, but this will depend on the suction power/mode used. This will be enough for you to do a vacuum of a standard household before needing to recharge. However, Kobold’s stick vacuum, when used on its own, lasts up to 80 minutes of uninterrupted cleaning from just one charge! For longevity, we’d recommend making sure you can purchase a replacement battery to use after years of effective cleaning.
Dust Bin Capacity
If you’re a daily vacuum-user, then choosing a vacuum cleaner with a large dust bin capacity is important. Most cordless vacuums have around 0.6-1L capacities and should be emptied and cleaned often to prevent blockages and ruining the vacuum.
The main difference of Kobold’s stick vacuum cleaner compared to other cordless vacuum models is that it uses premium filter bags which can be easily removed and disposed without any mess.
Unlike regular handstick vacuums dust bins which use canisters to hold the collected dirt and must be emptied after each use, these vacuum cleaner bags only need to be changed every 6-8 weeks. This minimal dirt contact is great for hassle-free cleaning, especially those with allergies!
Filters & Filtration Systems
Vacuum cleaner filters are an important consideration, especially those with allergies. Without an adequate filtration system, the dust particles and dirt will simply be sucked up and back straight back out into the room. Many stick and bagless vacuum cleaner models use a cyclone filter, with a HEPA filter, whilst other filters include foam, cartridge, or cloth filters.
Kobold’s vacuum cleaners perfect for allergy sufferers as use TÜV-Nord certified filter bags as the primary filter, capturing up to 99.9% of allergen particles, including pet hair.
Ease of Use
When it comes down to it, no matter how amazing a vacuum’s features are, if it’s not easy to use, you’re going to be reluctant to use it. Be sure to understand how to use the vacuum cleaner and take advantage of all its functions before purchasing.
Ultimately, buying a new vacuum cleaner for your home can be a difficult decision, but with flexibility, convenience, and quality design of Kobold’s vacuum cleaner collection, you can clean smarter, not harder and take your cleaning to the next level.
Still unsure? Feel free to contact us online, or view our many helpful tips, tricks, and tutorial videos!
Want to see a Kobold in action?
Own a Kobold and want to learn more?
Interested in how Kobold began?