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Best Vacuums for Shag Carpet 2020 - 2021 – Buyer’s Guide

by Thomas Hart, Last Updated - May 14, 2020

Carpet requires a vacuum, you know this. However, if you have the high pile carpet commonly known as “shag”, you also know that not just any vacuum is going to get the job done. Shag requires a vacuum that can reach down to the bottom of the pile to drag up dirt without getting tangled or overloaded by the carpet fibers.

the winner
Soniclean Soft Carpet Upright Vacuum Cleaner
The Best High Pile Carpet Vacuum in Our Rating
  • Easy to push and pull across thick carpets
  • Digitally controlled multi-speed motor
  • H13 HEPA filter bags
  • Ultra-soft brush roll
  • Jam protection feature
Check this product on Amazon

Best Vacuum for Shag Carpet

There’s good news and bad news when it comes to cleaning a thick carpet with a deep pile. The bad news is that just any cheap vacuum probably isn’t going to get the job done. Either the suction won’t be powerful enough to fully clean the frieze carpet, or the vacuum won’t be vented properly, making it impossible to push across surface of your carpet.

It’s difficult to know what kind of vacuum to get if you don’t have a specialty store near you. Trying out a vacuum in a big box store isn’t going to work because likely there’s tile or short commercial carpet.

Knowing where to start looking can be a little more difficult than typing “shag carpet vacuum” into an internet search bar. You’ll want to know how the vacuum performs with your kind of carpet, and you don’t want to spend months trying to choose.

At this point, you might be regretting your decision to put in shag carpeting, but you don’t have to despair just yet. We’ve heard your cry and have compiled the best vacuums for shag of 2020 - 2021. Each vacuum is chosen based on performance, suction, and other kinds of features that will make cleaning your house simple. Let’s take a look at which vacuums made the cut.

Best Vacuums for Shag Carpet 2020 - 2021

ImageModelWeight (lbs)Power Cord Length (feet)Filtration 
Soniclean Soft Carpet
/Editor’s Choice/
10.535HEPA filtration system Check Price
Shark Navigator Lift-Away Professional13.730HEPA Filter Check Price
Oreck Magnesium LW1500RS830HEPA Inner Bag Check Price
Oreck U2000R-19 (without cord)40Inner bag with Saniseal® automatic closing seal Check Price
Fuller Brush Speedy Maid830HEPA Media Check Price

1. Soniclean SFC-7000 Soft Carpet Vacuum Cleaner – Best Vacuum for High Pile Carpet Styles

Soniclean Soft Carpet Upright Vacuum Cleaner Soniclean has made a machine especially for soft style carpets. It features large wheels to prevent the machine from getting bogged down in a deep pile carpet, and gentle nylon brush rollers for soft cleaning.

Another feature is the adjustable vent system. Traditional vacuums can get pulled down into the fibers of shag carpeting, but this system allows the vacuum extra venting so that it glides over even high pile carpet.

It has an advanced HEPA filtration system designed for soft style carpets, and filters particles up to .3 microns. A sonic bar on the bottom of the vacuum vibrates at 12,000 vibrations per second to stir up dirt and dust so that the vacuum can achieve a deeper clean.

An added feature are fragrance pods. Not only does the vacuum clean, but it can also disperse a fresh scent as you are vacuuming. You can choose from a variety of scents to match the mood of your home.

Once you close the vents and turn off the sonic bar, the vacuum is ready to clean tile and hardwood. However, it doesn’t come with any tools, so if you plan to use a vacuum for other types of cleaning jobs, this might be a problem for you.


Pros
  • One of the few types of vacuums that can handle soft-style carpet
  • Ability to add scent pods
  • Can be adjusted to vacuum different kinds of flooring
Cons
  • No tools.

2. Shark Navigator Lift-Away Professional Vacuum (NV370) – Good for Pet Hair on Carpet

Shark Navigator Lift-Away Professional Vacuum (NV370) If disposable bags aren’t your thing, the Shark Navigator is a great choice. It features a large canister style vacuum with a one button lift away system. If you’re having trouble maneuvering the vacuum in your room, you can simply detach the canister and carry it in one hand.

Basically, the vacuum is three in one. You can maneuver like a regular vacuum for large areas, as a slim style vacuum with a detached canister for smaller, or hard to reach areas, and as a complete handheld for places like your stairs.

It has a hard floor attachment with two washable microfiber cloths to make dusting easy. The HEPA filtration system traps 97% of dust and allergens. Its swivel steering makes it easy to get behind and around furniture.

This Shark vacuum is particularly lightweight, which is wonderful in most cases. However, one of the drawbacks is that in detached mode, the hose itself is a bit stiff. It’s really easy to topple the vacuum over when the canister is detached from the unit.

Unless you plan to do a lot of vacuuming like this, the other features far outweigh this minor drawback. It has a powerful suction with multiple attachments that make it perfect for households with pets or large amounts of dust.


Pros
  • Extremely lightweight
  • 3 styles of vacuum in one system
Cons
  • Brush attachment is stiff
  • Easy to knock over

3. Oreck Magnesium LW1500RS – Best Filtration and Good for Plush Carpet

Oreck Magnesium LW1500RSThe Oreck LW1500RS is another commercial vacuum with a no-frills, but powerful suction system. It’s constructed from durable magnesium and has a 30 foot power cord to make cleaning large areas easy.

It features two speeds, high for heavy carpeted areas, and low for gentle cleaning of delicate rugs. The HEPA inner bag captures over 99% of dust and particles smaller than .3 microns including common allergens like pollen and mold. It lays completely flat to reach under furniture for a complete clean. It also has side brushes to make sure that all corners and edges are cleaned easily.

It has a long lasting life with a 7 year warranty and 5 tune-ups. It weighs only 8 lbs without the cord, making it simple to carry.

One downside is that it comes with no attachments. If you need a basic, reliable vacuum, this isn’t a problem, but if you need to clean lots of different areas this might be a problem for you.

Overall, Oreck is a solid commercial vacuum brand. The power cord is weighty, but allows you to clean a larger area without having to unplug and move. Homes with large open spaces will benefit from this type of cord, but in smaller homes it might not be necessary.


Pros
  • Vacuum itself is lightweight
  • Long cord eliminates need to replug
  • HEPA system that filters allergens to .3 microns
Cons
  • Long cord adds weight to the machine
  • No attachments

4. Oreck Commercial U2000R-1 – Simple and Lightweight

Oreck Commercial U2000R-1Although the Oreck Commercial U2000R-1 is a commercial cleaning vacuum, it’s a small, lightweight machine. It weighs only 9 lbs, but cleans carpets better than most upright canister vacuums.

There’s an automatic floor adjustment to make switching floor types easy without changing any of your manual settings. The on/off switch is located on the handle and the handle received recognition from the Arthritis Foundation for ease of use.

The brush roll has double helix brush strips to draw dirt and dust into the suction better than other brush rolls. It has an extra long cord that’s a little on the heavy side. The inner bag is disposable which cuts down on the overall cleaning and maintenance of the internal system.

Although the suction is powerful because it’s a commercial vacuum, it’s made for low pile commercial carpeting. This can take some practice to get the suction just right for shag carpeting but once you get the hang of it, the suction is unbeatable.
Pros
  • Commercial vacuum cord is extra long.
  • No frills disposable bag system cuts cleaning time
Cons
  • Made for commercial short pile carpeting.

5. Fuller Brush Speedy Maid – Best Vacuum for Frieze Carpet

Fuller Brush Speedy MaidThe last vacuum on the list is the Fuller Brush Speedy Maid, a powerhouse vacuum with a 30 foot power cord that makes cleaning simple without constant unplugging.

It has a 5.5 amps motor and a 12.2 inches cleaning path width that creates a powerful suction even for deep fiber carpets. The disposable bags are HEPA certified and make clean up easy. There’s no need to clean or empty the inner canister; simply replace the bag.

It’s a lightweight vacuum at just over 8 lbs and is easy to maneuver around furniture and into tight spaces. There’s an automatic height adjuster for other types of flooring.

One downside is that the bags can be hard to readjust when replacing. The hooks are difficult to secure, but if you have a strong grip, this may not be a problem for you.

Pros
  • HEPA certified
  • Extra long power cord
  • Lightweight and easy to maneuver
Cons
  • Bags can be hard to replace

6. Panasonic MC-CL945 – Best for Thick Carpet and Easiest to Push

Panasonic MC-CL945The Panasonic MC-CL945 is a lightweight vacuum with a bagless canister that’s easy to maneuver around furniture and into tight spaces. It has a quiet operation, but an incredible suction.

It’s designed to clean all carpet types, including plush, with a 12 volt motor. Twin vents open and close automatically to increase air flow when vacuuming thicker carpets. With traditional vacuums, the head gets pulled into thicker carpet, and that makes it difficult to maneuver. With this type of system, even cleaning thick pile is easy.

It has a zero turning radius to make vacuuming into tight spaces simple. It also includes a wide array of tools, including a pet brush that removes hair from many different surface types without clogging.

The HEPA filter helps reduce allergens while the selectable nozzle height allows you to adjust to clean a variety of floor types. This kind of vacuum is great for houses with different carpet depths and hardwood or tile. There’s also a telescoping wand and a narrow nozzle for a full cleaning in any room.

One downside is that the nozzle doesn’t lock into the canister the way other vacuums do. This can be annoying when you are storing the machine as it doesn’t stand on its own. If you have to readjust while vacuuming this might also be annoying. You many also have trouble with the wheels sticking while maneuvering.


Pros
  • Zero turning radius makes maneuvering easy.
  • Comes with attachments to clean a variety of surface areas.
  • Adjustable nozzle.
Cons
  • The nozzle doesn’t attach to the unit

7. Maytag M1200 – Two Motors for Efficient Suction

Maytag M1200The Maytag M1200 is a highly versatile vacuum with six different settings. You can use it on bare floors in the kitchen, and adjust to handle the deep pile of shag.

It also has a patented dual intake system. This uses two motors to create suction instead of the standard one, so there’s more power and more efficient suction. To handle the extra dirt and grime, it has a six stage HEPA filtration system that traps particles inside a self sealing bag that locks in place to prevent dust spillage even while emptying. Bag capacity is 20 times that of a standard vacuum.

It cleans in a radius of up to 17 feet, plus includes a telescopic wand and a full board of standard attachments. It has a metal brushroll and bottom plate, and the brush strips are replaceable. LED lights and a lifetime belt round out the features. It is assembled in the USA.

One of the drawbacks is that the dial to adjust the height might be difficult to maneuver for some customers. If you don’t plan to do a lot of height adjustment, this would be a non issue, but as a whole house vacuum with different types of floors, struggling with the adjustment knob might get old.

Another small drawback is that it’s difficult to maneuver under furniture due to a release lever system. Unless you plan to vacuum under your bed every day, this should only be a small annoyance.


Pros
  • Dual Intake System for more efficient suction
  • Six height settings
  • Six stage HEPA filtration for all the extra dirt trapped in a shag carpet
Cons
  • Height adjustment is difficult to operate
  • Going under furniture is awkward
  • Kind of heavy at 21 lbs.

Vacuum for Shag Carpet Buyer’s Guide

When you have a high pile carpet, it can be difficult to find vacuums that are equipped to handle cleaning these kinds of carpets. There are a few things you need to look for when shopping.

See also: Reviews of the best portable carpet cleaners

Venting

Vacuum VentingFirst, a vacuum needs to have extra venting somewhere on the machine so that the vacuum head doesn’t get sucked down into the carpet. Vacuums rely on venting to create an air flow that preserves suction without sticking the vacuum to the floor.

Improper venting is fine when you are vacuuming hard floors or short commercial pile carpeting. The head is able to stay away from the floor, gliding over and suctioning dirt. Deep pile rug pulls the machine down into the fibers and it can be very difficult to push the vacuum over the carpet. Extra venting ensures that suction is unaffected while allowing you to maneuver the vacuum over the surface of the frieze carpet.

HEPA filtration

Another thing to look for is HEPA filtration. High pile carpets will store dirt and dust within the fibers. As you vacuum, these particles will be released into the air without proper filtration. Vacuums with HEPA systems will filter out much smaller particles than a simple vacuum filter and won’t release those particles back into the surrounding air.

Canister Style

Carpet Cleaning with VacuumAnother consideration is if you would like a detached canister. With upright vacuums, you have the ease of an all in one machine that stands on its own and has a smaller storage footprint. The downside to these is less maneuverability. It can be difficult to push these around or under furniture.

If you opt for the detached canister, the head of the vacuum is small and easy to maneuver around and under furniture. It is able to get into tight spaces and eliminates the need for a few different types of vacuum attachments. The downside is that the storage footprint is larger and more cumbersome. The nozzle doesn’t always fit into the canister for storage, and this can be annoying to try to store neatly.

Attachments

Speaking of attachments, an important feature is deciding if attachments are necessary for the type of cleaning you plan to do. If you are merely vacuuming the floor, then no attachments are necessary. However, if you also need to be able to clean pet hair from couches, or reach into very tight or very high spaces, then attachments are going to be an essential part of your decision.

Brush Types

Roller BrushRoller brush types are a different kind of consideration. For very soft carpet styles, brush rollers will need to be gentle so that they do not damage your thick carpet while trying to clean. The bristles need to be effective however, and so you’ll want to look at the different kinds of roller brushes, and ways that they capture dirt.

Other Features

Other kinds of technologies may also be important to you. For example, some vacuums feature sonic vibrations that help to lift dirt and dust from the inner pockets of deep pile carpeting. Other features are lights on the end of the nozzle so that you can see under furniture or in tight corners.

  • Bagless. Vacuum bags can be disposable or reusable. If you don’t like the idea of replacing bags then buying a canister that empties will be at the top of the list. It’s simple, environmentally friendly, and doesn’t require spending extra money on bags.
  • Bagged. On the other hand, disposable bags are simple to clean and require no extra disinfection. When they are full, simple replace the bag. There’s no chance of releasing materials into the air while emptying. It’s convenient and easy, and you won’t spend a ton of time trying to clean out a dirty canister.

The Takeaway

Having shag rug and other kinds of soft or high pile carpet doesn’t mean settling for dirt. Vacuums have come a long way and there are machines out there able to handle cleaning shag. Finding one doesn’t have to be difficult, nor does it require testing out a hundred different machines at a big box store.

Remember that investing in a good vacuum will pay off in the long run. Keeping your plush carpet well-cleaned prevents you from having to replace it sooner than necessary. For hardwood and tile, the right vacuum ensures that you don’t have to replace tiles sooner than you have to, or refinish a floor ruined by abrasive dirt. It’s worth it to spend a little more for exactly the right vacuum for your household needs.

Have you made your final decision yet? Know someone who could benefit from our research?
Let us know in the comments which vacuum you chose and how it works with your shag carpet, and be sure to share this article with those overwhelmed by finding the right vacuum!

Table of Contents

  • Best Vacuums for Shag Carpet 2020 – 2021
  • 1. Soniclean SFC-7000 Soft Carpet Vacuum Cleaner – Best Vacuum for High Pile Carpet Styles
  • 2. Shark Navigator Lift-Away Professional Vacuum (NV370) – Good for Pet Hair on Carpet
  • 3. Oreck Magnesium LW1500RS – Best Filtration and Good for Plush Carpet
  • 4. Oreck Commercial U2000R-1 – Simple and Lightweight
  • 5. Fuller Brush Speedy Maid – Best Vacuum for Frieze Carpet
  • 6. Panasonic MC-CL945 – Best for Thick Carpet and Easiest to Push
  • 7. Maytag M1200 – Two Motors for Efficient Suction
  • Vacuum for Shag Carpet Buyer’s Guide
    • Venting
    • HEPA filtration
    • Canister Style
    • Attachments
    • Brush Types
    • Other Features
    • The Takeaway
Thomas Hart

About Thomas Hart

Co-founder of "Cleaners Expert" website (cleanersexpert.com).
After moving in to our new house, I realized there were few independent guides and resources to assist customers in finding household cleaning appliances. I wanted to provide a solution to assist homeowners, contractors, and other readers when searching for new household or commercial appliances. We review dozens of products for each article and provide our opinions on the best products currently available. We hope our information helps you in your decision making process!
Read more about me.

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