Worst Vacuums We Tested—and What to Buy Instead

Worst bagless canister: Atrix Vortex VR25BCV
Overall Score: 37

Compared with the other bagless canisters we tested, the Atrix Vortex VR25BCV just doesn’t measure up. It’s lousy at extracting dirt from carpets, and when we tried using it to vacuum up pet hair, the hair got caught up inside the nozzle brush, resulting in a low pet hair removal score.

Our testers also noted that even though the Atrix model claims a HEPA filter, particles seem to escape easily from the vacuum, raising questions about its effectiveness in containing dust and debris it picks up.

What to buy instead: Kenmore 500 Series DC5070
Overall Score: 74

We can’t really find fault with the moderately priced Kenmore 500 Series DC5070. It’s impressive at cleaning carpets, and even better at picking up pet hair and debris from bare floors, making it ideal for kitchens, bathrooms, and hardwood floors. It’s also excellent at capturing all the dust it picks up, earning it a first-rate score in our clean emissions test.

One of the features we liked the best about the Kenmore model is the handle located on the side of the bin, which makes it easy to carry and maneuver. We also think its hair eliminator nozzle, which helps loosen and remove tangled hair, deserves a special shoutout.

Worst bagged canister: Eureka Mighty Mite 3670G Vacuum Cleaner
Overall Score: 47

At less than $100, the Eureka Mighty Mite 3670G Vacuum Cleaner is inexpensive, we’ll give it that. But while it does well at vacuuming pet hair and debris from bare floors, it falls short in many other aspects: it’s noisy, has weak suction power, and is subpar at cleaning carpets. 

One of the features we found most inconvenient about the Eureka model is that there’s no retractable cord, and you have to manually wrap the cord around the bottom of the unit when you’re done vacuuming.

What to buy instead: Kenmore 200 Series 81214 Vacuum Cleaner
Overall Score: 72

While other, more expensive canisters scored higher, the Kenmore 200 Series 81214 Vacuum Cleaner offers solid cleaning performance at a reasonable price. It only costs around $200, which is a bargain considering that the median cost of a canister is a little under $400, according to our survey members.

Of the canisters we tested, the Kenmore 200 Series 81214 is the best at cleaning carpets, and is no slouch at vacuuming pet hair and bare floors, either. It has strong hose suction power and, unlike the Eureka Mighty Mite 3670G, comes with a retractable cord.