Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. This means that at no cost to you, we may earn a small commission for qualifying purchases.
Vacuuming is more efficient and easier than sweeping. It removes more grime in less time.
But wait, you say you’re worried about scratching the finish?
No worries, just use one of the best cordless vacuums to keep the bare floors clean. They have the technology to clean hardwood floors safely and effectively.
If you don’t have time to read the complete article, here are our top picks.
[amazon box=”B0798FVV6V, B01MSZ036Q, B001PB8EJ2″ template=”table” numbering=”true”]
The Dyson Cyclone V10 lightweight cordless vacuum is a top of the line stick vacuum. These stick vacs were measured against competing models and found to have more powerful suction than other brands. It’s one of the best cordless vacuums for wood and carpet. You might want to consider this as it is easy to maneuver, that is the reason these are way better than corded vacuums.
Not only is it powerful, but it also has HEPA filtration system.
Another important benefit of these stick vacuums is that the battery life last longer for up to 60 minutes of cleaning time. Of course, that’s if you don’t use the motorized tool to scrub Fido’s fur off the couch. This is the best lightweight vacuum out there.
If you do use a motorized tool (like the soft roller for dusting hardwood floors), it reduces the forty-minute run time. But even the V11 torque drive brush head for carpets still gives you twenty minutes to get the job done. We feel this is the best cordless vacuum out there. This V11 torque drive is much better than the v10, but this is lightweight and easy to maneuver or move around.
You may also be pleased to know that these stick vacuums transforms into a hand vac for stairs and car interiors.
If you don’t need such a long runtime or a HEPA filter, the Dyson V7 operates up to 30 minutes on a charge. Unfortunately, when you use a motorized tool, it may drop as low as six-minute run time MAX mode.
If you get the V7 Animal stick vac instead of the less expensive Motorhead, it’s one of the top cordless vacuums for hardwood, pet hair, or cat litter, this is the best choice for pet owners.
Other features of this stick vac include the ability to transform into a handheld vacuum, a low-profile head for cleaning under furniture, and an easy empty dust bin. We feel this is the best overall but is not better than the Dyson v8.
The Hoover Linx often gets compared to the Dyson cordless vacuum. It’s a popular model, and not just because it’s less expensive.
Hoover Linx does not state how long the battery life lasts. The onboard fuel gauge shows you an approximation of how much charge you have left. We feel this is the best cordless vacuum out there.
Although it’s a stick vacuum, you can lay it flat to reach underneath the bed. Plus, the floor nozzle has edge-cleaning bristles to get the fine dust and dirt out of corners. This is the best lightweight vacuum out there for any kind of floor type and to remove fine dust particles.
When you’re done working, just lift the over the trash can and press the button to dump the dirt and debris cup.
Shark makes several different vacuum cleaners including more than one cordless type. We selected the IONFlex Duoclean because it has three standout features.
With this cord-free vacuum, the batteries are removable. That’s important in the future if you need to replace them.
Second, this cord-free vacuum has MultiFLEX technology. What that means is this folds up for compact storage, and it bends to reach underneath furniture. Moreover, it transforms into a hand vacuum for cleaning overhead or on stairs. We feel this is the best cordless vacuum out there.
And third, this cordless vacuum has both a soft roller to dust hardwood floors and tile and a soft dusting brush roll to clean low-pile carpets.
By the way, the filters are washable and reusable and come with great cleaning performance.
Also Read: Shark IONFlex vs Dyson V8 Comparison
Shark’s ION P50 bagless vacuum may not flex to fit underneath the furniture, but it comes with a HEPA filter. It captures 99.99% of allergens that measure 0.3 µm or larger.
If you have pets, you’ll appreciate the strong suction power of this that picks up hair and dander, this is best for pet hair.
This runs up to fifty minutes depending on which model you select. The longest-running option is a handheld vacuum mode. But you can also clean rugs in the upright format and cleans all the hard to reach places and tight spaces.
The Shark Navigator S-V11 Freestyle weighs only 7.5 pounds, but this cleans both low-pile carpets and bare floors. This has steering for rapid maneuvering around corners and furniture legs, And the mini motorized dusting brush roll lifts pet hair out of the carpet if needed and is the best choice for pet owners.
Eureka’s operates up to thirty minutes in normal suction mode. This weighs just 6.5 pounds which makes it convenient for carrying up and down stairs and around the house.
One button press switches from cleaning the hard floor to low-pile carpets. At the same time, the LED headlight ensures you don’t miss a single dust bunny.
Since this converts to a hand vacuum and this vacuum come with an upholstery tool and a crevice tool, it’s suitable for cleaning a variety of places.
Like many similar vacuums, this comes with an easy to empty dust cup without dirtying your hands. Furthermore, the removable battery keeps costs down in the future if you need to replace it.
Power tool manufacturer Makita says there isn’t just for workshop clean-up. It can also handle deep cleaning carpets.
The major downside of this vacuum is that the run time is only fifteen minutes long. But the upside to this con is that it’s powered by the same type of 18V battery pack used on their power tools and cleans all the hard to reach places.
There’s yet another bonus: the cordless vacuum weighs just 2.7 pounds with the battery onboard.
Black + Decker’s stick vacuum looks like their famed Dustbuster mounted on an extended frame. That’s basically what it is.
This cordless vacuum stands up in the corner by itself when you don’t need it. Or when it’s inaction, the LED indicator shows how much battery charge is left.
The swivel steering and strong suction make floor cleaning a straightforward process.. Also, you can pop off the motorized brush rolls when you don’t need it to clean rugs.
It seems like no cordless vacuum review would be complete without the venerable Dustbuster. But this version has some important updates you may need to know about.
To begin, the lithium battery holds a charge for up to eighteen months when it’s off the charger.
Next, the Smart Charge Technology ensures that it consumes half the energy older models used to need to charge the battery.
Finally, this cordless vacuum has a rotating nozzle, crevice tool, and a washable filter.
Our next couple of picks physically resemble the Dyson 2 in 1 vacuum. They have the pistol grip with the dustbin at the top part of the handle.
This 2-in-1 cordless vacuum from Deik offers twenty-five minutes of operating time plus a replaceable HEPA filter. If you want more run time, you can purchase a spare battery.
Next, this 2-in-1 cordless vacuum has LED lights on the electric brush nozzle. If you turn this cordless vacuum to max mode, you’ll lose time but engage the brush roll to the deep-clean carpet.
Lastly, the manufacturer offers a thirty-day money-back guarantee and a fifteen-month warranty on this cordless vacuum.
Tineco’s stick vacuum weighs less than 3 pounds and has a detachable battery. It runs up to twenty-five minutes on a charge, but you can swap out the battery for a fresh one to extend your time.
If your hand gets tired from holding the button to a cordless vacuum, you can lock on the switch. Then when you’re done, press the button to dump the easy to empty dust cup.
Bissell’s Air Ram cordless vacuum looks like an electronic version of a push sweeper. But it has swivel steering and a handle that lays flat to go underneath furniture.
At the same time, the bright LED lights illuminate your path. Using the light doesn’t reduce the 40 minutes run time.
If you choose to use the brush roller on hardwood, it’s soft enough to prevent scratches. It’s also powerful enough to lift pet hair off carpets.
Once you finish cleaning, the handle collapses for storage.
Dirt Devil’s combination of dust mop and vacuum cleaner will help you maintain hardwood, laminate, linoleum, tile, and other bare surfaces.
This cordless vacuum comes with a washable microfiber pad that picks up dirt and debris on the floor and along the baseboards. You’ll never be able to pick up this much dust with a conventional broom.
Ryobi cordless vacuum lets you power this vacuum cleaner with its standard 18V battery pack. If you already have Ryobi power tools, then you can swap batteries and extend your run time.
Unfortunately, that’s the main high point of this product. This is a convenient tool, but there are other cordless vacuums with better features for less money.
How can you know if your vacuum cleaner is safe to use on hardwood?
For one, you can follow the advice that major flooring manufacturers provide. They recommend vacuum cleaners for the hardwood that have at least one of these two features:
If you don’t have a beater bar, or you don’t use it, you’re much less likely to scratch the surface.
The next question you might have is whether it’s worth it to get a cordless vacuum cleaner. If you’re in doubt, consider the following questions.
Undoubtedly, there are pros and cons to owning a cordless vacuum cleaner.
Even if you feel the pros outweigh the cons, you might’ve had a negative experience in the past with a cordless vacuum. Early models tended to have less suction.
Also, those that ran on NiMH or Ni-Cad power packs required the owner to condition the battery to keep it in top shape
Today’s cordless vacuums overwhelmingly have lithium-ion batteries. That fact means they have superior suction right up to the end of the charge.
Next, they weigh less because the power packs are lightweight.
But most importantly, their batteries hold up well whether you run them down each time or not. You don’t have to worry about the memory effect.
The battery’s capacity isn’t reduced even if you only use it for thirty seconds then plug it in again.
Most of us don’t like to spend money on a one-trick pony.
We want a cordless vacuum that can clean more than a single type of surface. For example, we’d like the vacuum hanging in the kitchen to clean tile and remove pet hair from upholstery.
The good news is that the top vacuums for hardwood floors are usually good for area rugs, linoleum, and more.
Now that you’ve had a good look at the top cordless vacuums on the market, how often will you have to use the one you get?
That depends on how often you need it. High-traffic areas like the kitchen might require daily cleaning. Just imagine how easy that will be with a cordless vac!
The bottom line is most floor manufacturers recommend vacuuming once a week, minimum. This makes sure that grit doesn’t get ground into the surface.
Once you go cordless, you may never have the patience to use a corded vacuum again.
Which cordless vacuum will you be using on your hardwood floors? Let us know what you think about its performance in the comments below.
Resources:
Join our newsletter for the latest updates!
