STICK AND BROOM VACUUM CLEANERS
Information and Review of the Best Stick or Broom Vacuum Cleaners
 |
Features and Uses For Stick Vacuum Cleaners
Stick vacuum cleaners work best in small areas, for hardwood floors, and for picking up those spills that often plague us. While more powerful than handheld vacuums, they are not as powerful as most canister or upright vacuums, but they have their place in our homes. If you just need a quick touch-up and don't want to bring out the big vacuum, or if you have a small spill or small area to clean, a stick vacuum cleaner may be just what you're l ooking for. Many of them have the same attachments and features as the full-sized models. Here are the basic features you should find on most stick vacuum cleaners:
• Lightweight and easy to manage
• Most models have a dust cup rather than a bag to empty
• Many are cordless, so operate from battery power
• Easy to store due to their compact size
• Usually includes attachments such as a crevice tool and brush
• Most models are reasonably priced
Top-Rated Stick Vacuum Cleaners
Following are the top-rated stick vacuum cleaners, according to online sources such as Howstuffworks.com, epinions.com, smartguider.com, Vacuumwizard.com and ConsumerSearch.com:
- Eureka EZ Clean 421A
Both Howstuffworks and Epinions gave top ratings to this model. Features include a large dirt cup which has near the capacity of many bagged vacuums, a 12 amp motor, and a telescopic handle for easy storage. - Proctor and Gamble Swiffer Sweeper
Howstuffworks gives this an excellent rating for ease of use, lightweight, and price. "It's not quite a broom, and not quite a vacuum, but replaces them both," to paraphrase from Howstuffworks. It only costs around $30 so is a good price if you're on a budget. It's rechargeable, so keep it plugged in so it's ready to use at a moment's notice. Downsides to this one is that it's less durable than some makes, and requires purchase of dust cloths to use with it. - Bissell Featherweight Vacuum 3106-3
Another vacuum which gets great reviews from Howstuffworks, this model is also known as the "Featherweight" or the "Three-Way." As its nickname implies, you can use this model in three different ways: as a regular stick vacuum; as a hand vacuum if you remove the stick and nozzle; as a multipurpose vacuum with the floor nozzle or crevice tool. It features a 16 foot power cord, which can be cumbersome for those quick pick-ups, floor nozzle and crevice tool. It also has a great price: $20-$35. It's bagless and has a small dirt cup, some say too small, but it helps to keep this vacuum sleek and easy to use. - Bissell Perfect Sweep Turbo Cordless 2880
With a full charge, this vacuum can run for up to an hour for your quick pick-ups. Ideal for picking up pet hair, leaves, grass and other dry spills. It won't replace your full-sized vacuum, but is great for those quick jobs, and for under furniture that a full-sized vacuum just can't take care of. Prices range from about $33 to $45. - Hoover Quik-Broom S2569
This vacuum is lightweight, yet powerful, and features a 14-inch nozzle for faster vacuuming. Also has two motor speeds: the higher speed for floors and carpets, the lower speed for drapes and upholstery. It's bagless, and dirt is held in a see-through container that is easy to empty and replace. You'll find this one priced as low as $38.
Parting Thoughts
As always, there are more available stick vacuums on the market than we can hope to cover in this article. Therefore, we've only reviewed the top-rated cleaners. We've found the most helpful information on Howstuffworks.com, Epionions.com, Smartguider.com, and ConsumerSearch.com. And of course, since new models are undoubtedly going to be added as time goes by, you should be able to use the above sources for up-to-date information on stick vacuum cleaners, as well as any other vacuum cleaner you may be in the market for.