No matter where you live if you have carpet, you need a vacuum cleaner. Dust, dirt, and pet hair accumulate in the carpet, and the best way to get all of it out of the fibers is to use a powerful vacuum cleaner. If you have a home that has stairs, then you know how difficult they can be to clean. Stairs have a plethora of corners where the dirt can hide if you do not have the right tools.
Hefting a heavy vacuum up the stairs can be difficult, but with the right device, you can get your carpeted stairs nice and clean. In this guide, we will take a look at five great products as well as some of the considerations that you should make before purchasing the best vacuum cleaner for stairs.
Best Vacuums For Stairs 2018
| Model | Power Rating | Weight (lbs) | Power Cord Length (feet) | Filtration | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shark Rocket Corded Hand Vac (HV292) (Editor’s Choice) | Watts: 400W Amps: 3.4A | 3.7 | 15 | Washable filters (Foam&Felt) | Check Price |
| Dirt Devil Quick Flip Plus (Editor’s Choice) | Battery Volts: 16 V | 2.2 | Cordless | Replaceable, Rinseable | Check Price |
| Holife Handheld Vacuum | Battery Volts: 14.8V Max Power: 90W Suction Power: 22AW | 3.3 | Cordless | Washable filter | Check Price |
| BLACK+DECKER CHV1410L 16V | Suction Power: 15.2AW, Battery Volts: 16V | 2.6 | Cordless | Washable Filter | Check Price |
| BISSELL Pet Hair Eraser, 33A1B | Amps: 4A | 5 | 16 | Multi-Level Filtration | Check Price |
1. Shark Rocket HandVac – Best Vacuum for Stairs
The Shark Rocket Hand Vac is a corded handheld vacuum that is designed to be a powerful tool that can clean any surface, including stairs, without an issue.
The unique attachments that come with the vacuum are a great concept; the only issue is that the amount of suction that you can get using the attachments decreases from the main suction of the vacuum. The pet brush does not pick up the pet hair the first time over, so you need to go over it twice to get a proper cleaning. In addition, there is not a soft bristle brush attachment that comes with this vacuum.
Verdict
The Shark Rocket HandVac a great handheld vacuum to purchase if you are looking for a lightweight model that is easy to maneuver on the stairs, but if you plan to use it on upholstery or furniture, the proper attachments are not included with the vacuum.
- The filters can be easily washed and reused.
- It’s a very lightweight vacuum that is easy to carry on stairs.
- It comes with a large dust cup that is easy to empty.
- The price point makes this a great deal.
- The suction is good, but it is not the best.
- The cord can be annoying when you are trying to clean the stairs.
- The handle is at the end of the vacuum, which can be awkward.
2. Dirt Devil Quick Flip Plus Handheld – Cordless Vacuum for Carpeted Stairs
The Dirt Devil Quick Flip Plus handheld vacuum is a cordless unit that is designed with a powerful motor. The stair tool is also powered with a good bit of suction so that it can deep clean all of the fibers in the carpet on the stairs that are often missed. There is also a QuickFlip tool that is designed to get into the crevices of the stairs to all of the dirt that has accumulated there as well.
Charging the batteries can be a bit annoying because there is not a dedicated charging station. You will need to plug the vacuum into the charger that comes in the packaging. In addition, a full charge only gives you about 20 minutes of vacuuming time, which can be an issue for a bigger home that has a lot of carpeted staircases.
Verdict
Overall, this is a great vacuum for cleaning up small jobs. Of course, the charge does not last a long time, but it is not a vacuum that is designed to clean a huge area. Dirt Devil Quick Flip Plus very powerful, so if you need it for cleaning up litter or mud on the stairs, this may be a great option for you.
- It has a large dirt cup that is really easy to empty when it is full.
- This vacuum is a powerful little machine.
- It is small, compact, and cordless, which makes it the perfect vacuum for cleaning a lot of stairs.
- The brush roll has its own motor for deep cleaning.
- The charge does not last that long; in fact, it only averages 15 to 20 minutes per charge.
- The charging time for this unit is a bit longer than it should be.
3. Holife Handheld Vacuum – Most Lightweight Vacuum for Stairs
Holife Handheld Vacuum features a lightweight design that is not only easy to carry on the stairs, but it has an ergonomic design that will keep your hands and wrists from becoming overly fatigued as you clean up your home.
The vacuum is a cordless model that is perfect for cleaning the stairs in your home because it has the ability to run for a period of 30 minutes straight without losing its suction. When the battery dies, all you need to do is recharge it for the next time that you need this handheld vacuum.
Verdict
If you are looking for a lightweight vacuum that is easy to maneuver, has a powerful suction, and keeps a pretty good charge, then this may be a great option for you. It is not great for vacuuming liquids, but if you are purchasing this to clean your stairs, then it works pretty well.
- The handle has a great design that is shaped in a way that will keep your wrist and hands from getting fatigue.
- The battery of this unit lasts quite a while, so you can clean everything that you need on one charge.
- The suction on this handheld vacuum is exceptional.
- The lightweight device weighs less than four pounds.
- It takes quite a while to recharge the device.
- It is a bit difficult to clean the dirt cup.
- Purchasing additional filters for this vacuum can be difficult.
4. BLACK + DECKER CHV1410L Hand Vac – Best for Saving Energy
This Black and Decker handheld vacuum provides a lot of suction power for a small vacuum. In fact, it utilizes cyclonic action to get all of the dirt and grime that are embedded into the fibers of the carpet.
The suction of this vacuum is quite good, but it does not have a very large nozzle, which means that it cannot pick up a lot at once. If you are cleaning a small area such as stairs with this unit, it will serve you well. In addition, the dirt cup is rather small, which means that you will need to empty it out at least once while you are cleaning a full-sized staircase.
Verdict
If you are looking for a powerful vacuum that is great for small jobs, then this is a great option. It has a small dirt cup, but the power and the battery life of this machine more than makes up for it. If you are looking to save energy, then maybe this is the vacuum that you’ve been looking for.
- This vacuum is very easy to clean.
- All of the accessories are conveniently built into the design so that you never need to worry about misplacing them.
- The suction of this handheld vacuum is amazing.
- The charging station makes it easy to recharge the vacuum as well as grab it quickly when it’s needed.
- It has a rotating nozzle that makes it easy to get into the hard-to-reach corners.
- It is a pretty loud vacuum.
- The charging light is very bright.
5. Bissell Pet Hair Eraser (33A1B)– Best Handheld Vacuum for Pet Hair
Bissell 33A1B handheld unit is a model that you plug into the wall, which makes it a powerful option, especially if you have pets.
It comes with two nozzles that can be switched out as your cleaning needs change. The first is a soft, contoured nozzle that is made out of rubber that is designed to get down into the fibers of softer surfaces to remove dirt and pet hair with ease. It also has a harder nozzle that is more effective at getting the dirt off of hard surfaces.
Even though this vacuum has a powerful suction, air comes out of the side vents as you are using it. This means that when you are vacuuming loose dust on a bare floor, it can blow the dust around instead of vacuuming it up.
Verdict
If you are looking for a vacuum that can clean your pet hair with ease, then this is a powerful vacuum that is perfect for getting pet hair off of carpeted stairs. It is not the best on a bare surface, but that is only because the vents prevent the vacuum from sucking up the dust.
- This vacuum utilizes a HEPA filter, which is great for reducing the allergens in your home.
- The cord is very long.
- This is a vacuum that is lightweight and easy to use.
- It picks up pet hair with minimal effort.
- This vacuum is quite loud.
- Bursts of air come through the vents, which disrupts the dirt that you are cleaning.
- There are no brush attachments.
Best Vacuum for Stairs Buyer’s Guide
When you are looking for a new vacuum, there are a lot of considerations that you should make, especially when you are looking for a vacuum that can effectively clean the stairs in your home. The first consideration that you are going to want to think about before anything else is the type of vacuum cleaner that you want.
There are a number of different options when it comes to a vacuum cleaner for cleaning the stairs in your home, and each one works well. The type of vacuum that you select will be based on your needs first and foremost, but your preference will also come into play.
The most common types of vacuums to use to clean the stairs are:
- These are the most common type of vacuum for cleaning a carpeted floor, but some may not like it for stairs. If you have a small staircase, you can leave the vacuum at either the top or the bottom of the stairs and use the hose and attachments to clean the stairs.
- This is a great option for those of you who have a split level home. If you are unfamiliar with this term, it means that there are three levels of the home, each of which is separated by a small set of three to four stairs.
- When you choose an upright vacuum, you need to think about your ability to lift the vacuum up the stairs if the hose does not reach, which is why a lightweight model may be best.
- Canister Vacuums – These are a great option because you never need to lift the vacuum to clean the stairs properly. As long as the hose is long enough to reach all of the stairs, and you have the right attachments, you will be able to clean them easily with a canister vacuum.
- Again, these are a great option for a split level home; you’d simply keep the vacuum on the middle level to make sure that both sets of stairs can be reached easily.
- How to choose portable carpet cleaner.
- Handheld Vacuum – These are small, more portable options that are great for larger staircases. They are easy to transport up and down the stairs, and they have enough power to clean the stairs without issue.
- The main issue with a handheld vacuum is that it is not large enough to be used in the rest of your home. You will need to consider whether it is beneficial to have a vacuum that is designed for your stairs and other small areas.
What are other features that are important to consider?
Cord Vs. Cordless
When you are looking for a vacuum, you will need to decide whether a corded version is best for your needs or whether you prefer a cordless option. If you select a vacuum cleaner with a cord, you will need to worry about moving around with the cord and make sure that there is an outlet in reach to clean the stairs. You also will need to be careful that you do not trip over the cord because doing so could cause you to fall down the stairs that you are cleaning.
Amount of Suction Power and Type of Filtration System
When you are cleaning the stairs in your home, it is very likely that you will be sucking up the debris through the vacuum’s hose. Since the dirt will need to travel a larger distance, you will most likely want a vacuum with a good amount of power.
When it comes to the filtration system, you want something that is going to clean the dirt up without leaving the dust particles and allergens in the air that you are breathing. A HEPA filtration system is going to be the most effective at keeping the air clean, but there are also water filtration systems, cyclone separation filtration systems, and simple filtration systems with washable and disposable filters.
Length of the Vacuum Hose
When you are purchasing a vacuum, especially a corded model, you will need to take the length of the hose into account. If the hose is not long enough to reach all of the stairs as well as the power outlet, then you will not be able to clean them effectively.
Weight of the Vacuum
If you are a small individual, you do not want to get a vacuum that will be impossible for you to carry up and down the stairs. In most situations, you want a vacuum that is less than 10 pounds. In fact, the lighter the vacuum is, the easier it will be to vacuum, especially when you have an upright model.
Attachments
Stairs have a lot of hard-to-reach crevices. These tight corners cannot be reached with most vacuums, so having a stair tool will be the best way to suck up all of the dust and debris that ends up on the stairs. There are also brush attachments that can and extended wand attachments that you may want your vacuum to have as well.
What is the Easiest Approach for Cleaning Steps?
Cleaning stairs takes time, and most of the methods do not offer a large cleaning path, so with a handheld vacuum, you will need to go over each part of each stair as you move up the staircase. It is best to start at the back of the stairs and work your way to the front. You also want to start at the top of the stairs and work your way down; leave the vacuum at the bottom if you are planning to use the hose so that it does not fall down the stairs onto you.
Final Thoughts
If you have stairs that are carpeted, all of the vacuums that we’ve covered are great options. There are a number of different types of vacuums to choose from, but they all require you to do a bit of lifting to get the job done. Who knows, maybe in the future there will be robot vacuums that can take care of the stairs in our homes as well as the main floor. Whether we reach this point or not, as long as you have enough suction power in your vacuum, it will be able to get your stairs clean without issue.
