The 15 Best Vacuums for Shag Carpet (Vacuum Cleaners for High Pile)

How do you know which are the best vacuums for shag carpet?

Even though many vacuum cleaners make it easy to switch from cleaning hard floors to carpet, not all are equipped to handle long fibers.

There are two features to look for in a vacuum for high pile.

First, can you turn off the brush roller?

And second, can you adjust the suction?

Those two benefits ensure that your carpet stays in top condition.

Today we’re reviewing upright and canister vacuum cleaners for shag.

We hope this article helps you find the perfect tool for maintaining all the surfaces in your home.

Upright Vacuums

Upright vacuum cleaners are popular because they have powerful suction. Most come with attachments for cleaning the furniture and more.

But here’s the problem: not all uprights allow you to turn off the beater bar.

If you have carpeting with long fibers, you run the risk of entangling the bar in them. You could end up damaging the rug (1).

Although the beater bar or brush roller helps loosen dirt, it could fuzz up your carpet. That trouble is especially common when you have wool-blend rugs.

Moreover, if you want to use an upright vacuum cleaner on hard floors, it’s handy to turn off the brush roller then, too.

Soniclean Soft Carpet Upright Vacuum Cleaner

The Soniclean upright was created in collaboration with carpet maker Mohawk Industries. It also holds a certification for high performance from the Carpet and Rug Institute.

It’s safe to use on natural wool and synthetic carpets like SmartStrand and Stainmaster.

One of the reasons why you’ll love using this vacuum is that it’s easy to push. It has an adjustable vent system and large front wheels. As a result, it almost floats over soft carpet.

Also important, it weighs only 10 ½ pounds. That’s impressively lightweight for an upright.

But there’s more to appreciate. The Paramagnetic motor creates two hundred vibrations per second to loosen dirt all the way down to the backing.

Then, the hospital-grade HEPA H13 filter system captures particles as small as bacteria. Yes, you’ll need to change the bag on occasion.

While you work, you can lay the vacuum flat to clean underneath beds (because it’s only 7 inches thick). Plus, the power cord is remarkably long at 35 feet.

Finally, if you choose to use the fragrance dispensing system, you can perfume your home every time you clean.

Maytag M1200 Upright Vacuum Cleaner

Maytag’s M1200 weighs about twice what the Soniclean vacuum does. That may be because the Maytag has two motors: one for bare floors and one for carpet.

There are six carpet height adjustments including an automatic setting. Or once you press the button on the handle, you can also turn off the brush roller completely.

The vacuum sports a LED headlight and a 35-foot power cord. The three attachments include an upholstery brush, a crevice tool, and dusting brush, and they all store onboard.

Next, the 6-stage HEPA filter system has charcoal filters to absorb odor.

In conclusion, this vacuum was built to last. It has commercial-grade belts, reinforced base plates, and other metal parts instead of plastic.

Eureka NEU182A PowerSpeed Lightweight Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner

Eureka’s NEU182A lets you select from five height adjustments, from bare floors to medium pile to shag.

It has a 12.6 inch-wide nozzle to help you cover ground quickly. And since it weighs just 10 pounds, it’s not a beast to maneuver.

It comes with a stretch hose on a quick release handle, plus a crevice tool, dusting brush, and upholstery tool. In other words, it simplifies suctioning crumbs out from the couch cushions.

Then, when you’re done, just dump the dust cup and rinse the filter.

Hoover WindTunnel 3 Max Performance Pet Upright Vacuum Cleaner

Hoover’s WindTunnel 3 for pet owners offers several advantages over the typical upright. For example, it has a 15-inch floor head so you can finish the job faster.

The HEPA filter with activated carbon captures pet dander and eliminates unpleasant smells.

This vacuum has a 15-foot reach between the air hose and attachments. But what’s also nice is that it has a 30-foot power cord.

The attachments include a pivoting dusting tool, a crevice tool, and a motorized pet turbo nozzle. The latter scrubs hair off of furniture and stairs.

But what you really want to know is whether you can use this vacuum on your shag carpet. And the answer is yes because you can turn off the brush roller with the press of a button.

Hoover WindTunnel MAX Bagged Corded Upright Vacuum Cleaner UH30600

The Hoover WindTunnel MAX differs from the one above in a few details. It doesn’t include a motorized turbo tool for pet hair. But it does have an air-powered hand tool for stairs, a crevice tool, and a dusting brush.

Like the one above, it has HEPA filtration. But it doesn’t come with carbon to get rid of odors.

The control to turn off the brush roller is a pedal on the base. The roller also turns off when you lock it into the upright position to use attachments.

There are seven floor settings to adjust suction on all sorts of surfaces. The 30-foot power cord and 15-inch base make the work go quickly.

When it’s time to change the bag, just press a button to drop it into the trash.

Shark Navigator Lift-Away Professional NV356E

Shark’s Navigator NV356E allows you to turn off the beater bar for hard surfaces and deep carpet. It has HEPA filtration and useful attachments for furniture and dusting.

The highlight of this model is the fact that you can separate the canister from the upright frame. This makes cleaning overhead and on stairs a snap.

Dyson Ball Animal 2 Total Clean Upright Vacuum Cleaner

It’s hard to review vacuums without including a Dyson. The Animal 2 senses when you move between different types of flooring. It automatically adjusts suction to compensate. As a result, it’s very good at pulling up pet hair without damaging the typical carpet.

What owners have noticed is that when they switch it to bare floor mode manually, the roller retracts and stops spinning. That’s great news when you’re cleaning hard floors or high pile carpet.

The vacuum comes with six attachments and a tool storage bag. One of the attachments is a tangle-free turbine tool to pick up pet hair from upholstery.

The five-year warranty includes free parts, labor, and shipping.

Sebo X5 Upright Vacuum Cleaners – Blue by Sebo

The European-made SEBO X5 might be expensive, but it is designed to last up to 20 years. It has an electronic sensor that automatically adjusts for different kinds of carpet including shag.

The double brush roller is made to take good care of everything from wool to Berber to cotton.

Instead of HEPA, it has an S-Class filtration system, which is about the same. It includes a 3-layer filter bag, electrostatic microfilter, and an exhaust filter that captures particles as small as 3 µm.

The manufacturer offers a 5-year warranty on the motor, a 3-year warranty on non-wearing parts, and one-year free labor.

New Miele Dynamic U1 Cat and Dog Upright Vacuum

Miele is another top manufacturer of vacuums. They offer an astonishing 7-year warranty on the motor and casing plus a one-year warranty for parts and labor. That’s no surprise when they test their products to withstand up to 20 years of use.

The U1 pet vacuum is perfect for cleaning up after Fido and Fluffy. It has an Electro Plus floor head and two motors: one for carpet and one for bare floors. One press of a button turns off the brush roller to protect your shag rug.

Choose between 4 suction settings for any surface from carpet to drapes. Then use whatever attachment you need, from the dusting brush, the crevice tool, or the Turbobrush. Meanwhile, the LED headlight lights up the dust bunnies under the sofa.

Although there is no HEPA filter, Miele’s own AirClean system retains 99.9% of harmful particles.

Panasonic Vacuum Cleaner MC-UG471

We included Panasonic’s MC-UG471 because it can adjust to clean bare floors, low pile, and high pile carpets including shag. But as far as we can discover, it’s not possible to turn off the brush roller.

The advantages of this upright vacuum include HEPA filtration, a 15-inch cleaning path, and automatic cord rewind. It includes two wands, a crevice tool, and a dusting brush.

Canister Vacuums

Canister vacuums may be a better choice for you if you frequently clean stairs. That’s because they tend to have long air hoses, so you don’t have to lift the body of the vacuum steps.

The canister vacuum cleaners in our article today are suitable for carpet and bare floors.

Furthermore, these vacuums come with plenty of attachments for cleanup of furniture and vehicles.

Electrolux EL4335B Corded Ultra Flex Canister Vacuum

One of our top picks for canister vacuums for shag carpet is this one from Electrolux. Although it only has three height adjustments, it has a button to turn off the brush roller.

There’s something you should know about the brush roller, though. It cleans itself when you press the button to detangle it.

Next, the 33-foot cord helps you clean large spaces without hunting for another power outlet.

Also, note that it has a HEPA filter even though there’s no bag.

Kenmore Elite 81714 Pet-Friendly Ultra Plush Bagged Canister Vacuum

The Kenmore Elite pet vacuum is made to move smoothly on plush and super plush carpets. That’s because the nozzle keeps the air flowing so that it doesn’t get stuck. It’s also good at picking up pet hair from a variety of surfaces.

The HEPA filter captures dander and other allergens. Plus, the vacuum comes with a motorized pet attachment and three other tools. Then when you’re done, just hit the switch to retract the power cord.

Miele Complete C3 Marin Canister

Miele’s C3 Marin is German-made to last. It’s ideal for carpet and bare floors. Use the Electrobrush floorhead for your rugs and the Parquet Twister for tile, hardwood, and laminate. Both fit easily underneath furniture.

The motorized floorhead even adjusts suction when you move from one surface to the next.

The motor is noticeably quieter than some leading brands. Moreover, this vacuum cleaner has a 30-foot-plus cleaning radius. Once you’re done, hit the button to retract the cord.

New Miele Complete C3 Brilliant Canister Vacuum Cleaner

The C3 Brilliant has more advanced features than the C3 Marin. It’s power efficient and has a 6-stage variable-speed motor that you can control with your fingertips.

The premium Electrobrush floorhead has an integrated LED light and five adjustable height settings. It’s even better suited to cleaning shag carpet.

The package also comes with the Parquet Twister that rotates 180° to clean hard to reach places.

Other details you may appreciate include the AirClean filter system, a velvet bumper strip to protect furniture, and a light underneath the body to help you park the vacuum in dark closets.

Hoover Quiet Performance Bagged Canister Vacuum, SH30050

Hoover’s SH30050 has a switch on the handle to turn off the brush roller. It also features 5-speed suction control. If you pair that last feature with the dusting brush, it will become your new favorite way to clean lampshades and drapes.

The HEPA filter helps keep allergies at bay. And the hard floor brush simplifies cleaning laminate and tile.

Tips for Cleaning Shag Carpet

We’ve all been guilty of vacuuming the wrong way (2). But if you want your shag to stay pristine, try these tips.

• Vacuum once a week or more if necessary
• Dust the room first, working from top to bottom, then use the vacuum cleaner on the floor
• Slow but steady gets the job done right—you’ll get a deeper clean
• Make passes east and west, north and south, not just in one direction
• Empty the bag or canister when it’s half to two-thirds full to keep suction strong

Taking a few extra minutes to do it right means your carpet stays fresher, cleaner, and prettier for longer.

Conclusion

We hope you discovered the perfect match for your cleaning needs today. It’s not hard to protect your shag carpet when you have the right vacuum cleaner.

Drop us a comment below to tell us about which vacuum you chose and what you think about its performance.

Resources:

1. https://carpet-rug.org/carpet-for-homes/cleaning-and-maintenance/ accessed 06 May 2019
2. https://www.housebeautiful.com/lifestyle/cleaning-tips/tips/a2833/vacuuming-mistakes/ by Jamie Wiebe, published 26 November 2016, accessed 06 May 2019