More and more people are choosing a cordless stick vacuum cleaner. This type of vacuum is much more manoeuvrable than traditional cylinder vacuums. As there is no cable to get in the way, you can easily use it anywhere. There are also different types of cordless stick vacuums. Read on to find out everything you need to know about them, so you can choose the one that suits you best.
A stick vacuum cleaner is a modern vacuum with a long handle and, in most cases, a built‑in battery (without a cord). You can grab it quickly and start vacuuming straightaway. Instead of pulling a cylinder vacuum behind you, you simply push a stick vacuum lightly and straight in front of you. This allows you to move smoothly around furniture and under tables. In addition, stick vacuums do not require a dust bag.
Compared to a traditional cylinder vacuum, a stick vacuum is more manoeuvrable and often just as powerful. Many models have a motorised brush that loosens dirt, so you can also vacuum carpets and easily remove pet hair. Another advantage is that you can often very easily transform a stick vacuum into a handheld vacuum, allowing you to quickly pick up crumbs from the sofa or in the car. Stick vacuums are now gaining more and more features, such as a built‑in mopping function and extra attachments.
In addition to the traditional cordless stick vacuum, there are 3 other variants: a 2‑in‑1 stick vacuum, a stick vacuum with mopping function, and stick vacuums with a flexible wand. Below, we explain each of them along with the main pros and cons.
A 2‑in‑1 stick vacuum cleaner combines a stick vacuum and a handheld vacuum in a single device. You can detach the motor unit with the dust container from the stick, allowing you to use it as a handheld for smaller surfaces.
Pros & cons:
+ Suitable for floors, furniture and small corners.
+ Handheld vacuum is quick to detach.
+ No separate handheld (crumb) vacuum needed.
- Often a somewhat smaller dust container.
- Limited battery life.
Stick vacuums with a mopping function pick up both dry and wet dirt from your floor. They can even remove stains straightaway. This means you can vacuum and mop in one go, which is convenient for hard floors such as tiles or laminate. With some stick vacuums that include a mopping function, you can detach the mopping attachment.
Pros & cons:
+ Vacuuming and mopping at the same time.
+ Ideal for hard floors, daily cleaning and homes with pets.
+ No separate mop and bucket needed.
- The mopping function only provides a light clean; stubborn stains often need a more thorough mopping.
- Extra maintenance: mop pads and the water tank need to be cleaned.
- Not suitable for all floor types (for example, untreated wood and carpet).
A stick vacuum cleaner with a flexible wand has a bendable stick. You click or push the wand into an angle, so you can easily reach under low furniture, beds or cupboards without bending down.
Pros & cons:
+ Ergonomic: less bending and lifting.
+ Very handy for hard‑to‑reach places, such as under sofas.
+ Greater reach without having to move furniture.
- The appliance is sometimes a bit heavier.
- Often slightly more expensive than models without a flexible wand.
- If not used carefully, the bend point may break in the long term.
To choose the right stick vacuum cleaner for you, there are a few factors to consider:
For cordless stick vacuums, the battery is very important. It determines how long you can vacuum in one go. If you often use the highest power setting, the battery of the vacuum cleaner will run out faster than when you mainly vacuum on the lowest setting. With a battery life of around 50 minutes, you can vacuum on the normal setting without interruptions. After vacuuming, you place the stick vacuum back in its holder so it can start charging immediately. Fully charging an empty battery takes around 3 hours on average, but this varies per model.
Stick vacuums are generally heavier than traditional cylinder vacuums, because the motor unit with dust container is attached directly to the handle. Vacuuming for longer periods can therefore become heavy on your arm. When choosing a stick vacuum, pay close attention to the total weight and to the position of the motor and dust container: are they at the top of the handle or nearer the bottom? This makes a noticeable difference to how heavy the vacuum feels in your hand. On the other hand, stick vacuums are much more flexible than cylinder vacuums. Because they are almost always cordless, you can easily move around and under furniture without a cable getting in the way. You also don’t need a plug socket while vacuuming.
A stick vacuum cleaner usually produces between 65 and 80 decibels of noise, comparable to a loud TV or passing traffic. When choosing a stick vacuum, pay close attention to the specified maximum noise level in decibels.
When choosing a stick vacuum, pay close attention to the size of the dust container. As it’s smaller than on a cylinder vacuum, you will need to empty it more often. Do you vacuum large areas or have pets? Then choose a model with a larger container. If your arm quickly gets tired, opt instead for a more compact, lighter dust container.
Stick vacuums work without a dust bag. Instead, the dirt is collected in a dust container. You click the container open and empty it into the bin. This can easily release dust clouds, which isn’t ideal if you suffer from allergies. To reduce this, you can empty the container deeper into the bin or choose a cylinder vacuum with a bag instead. You can also use stick vacuums with HEPA filters (or add HEPA filters to your current vacuum cleaner) to capture and retain dust particles more effectively.
Stick vacuums are ideal if you have pets and often need to remove pet hair. You can grab it quickly and easily switch to extra functions, such as mopping or using the handheld vacuum for the sofa and car. Make sure you take your household situation into account. If you need to vacuum frequently because of small children, decide whether you prefer a stick vacuum that is always within easy reach but needs to be emptied more often, or a cylinder vacuum with a larger dust container that lets you vacuum for longer in one go.
When choosing a type of stick vacuum cleaner, pay close attention to which floor types it is suitable for. Some models perform better on hard floors; others are designed more for carpet. Stick vacuums with a mopping function (wet & dry) should only be used on hard, moisture‑resistant floors and not on carpet or untreated wood. If you have a combination of different floor types in your home, pay extra attention to the supplied brushes and settings, so you can vacuum safely and effectively everywhere.
There are many good brands that offer stick vacuums. Bosch and Rowenta have several models with a flexible wand, while Philips offers a range of 2‑in‑1 stick vacuums. Dyson and Samsung are also popular brands with powerful, fully featured stick vacuums.
Stick vacuums are now very popular thanks to their ease of use, strong suction power and great flexibility. In addition to the traditional stick vacuum without extra functions, you can choose from 3 variants: a model with a mopping function, a 2‑in‑1 stick vacuum with handheld unit, and a stick vacuum with a flexible wand. Each type has its own pros and cons. When choosing the right stick vacuum, there are a few key points to consider: long battery life if you vacuum frequently or for longer periods, a large dust container if you don’t want to keep emptying it, low weight if your arm quickly gets tired, and suitability for the type of flooring in your home.
