If you need to shop for a new vacuum cleaner, you might wonder if you should purchase a commercial one instead of a domestic one. A commercial vacuum cleaner tends to be more powerful and durable because it needs to be able to clean a larger area more effectively.
What other benefits do commercial vacuum cleaners offer? A commercial vacuum cleaner is designed for heavy use and it tends to perform better than a regular vacuum cleaner because it provides more suction power and cleaning capacity.
If you have a large office or home you want to clean thoroughly and with less hassle, you will need to get your hands on the best commercial vacuum. Read our guide to find out which models are the most effective.
Short summary
This professional vacuum cleaner is packed with many features to make cleaning your home or office a breeze. It’s got advanced swivel steering that allows you to move your vacuum cleaner easier to get into tight spaces, such as around furniture, which is great if you have a small living space.
It’s built with a detachable pod that also helps you to clean underneath pieces of furniture. You can even detach the nozzle to get a more comprehensive clean of your space, such as if you want to clean upholstery and stairs.
One of the best things about this vacuum cleaner is that it’s so versatile. Since it’s built with a wide upholstery tool, it has a wide cleaning path so you can remove dust, debris, and even pet hair from a variety of items in your home, such as lampshades, curtains, and couches.
For increased ease of use, it comes with accessories included in the pack. These are a crevice tool so you can clean in hard-to-reach places and a dusting brush, which is great for delicate items such as blinds and computer keyboards.
This best commercial vacuum is one of the most effective ones to purchase for your home or small office because it’s powerful while also being versatile for all-round cleaning.
Quick Facts
- Size: 45.7 x 12.1 x 12.2 inches
- Weight: 15.5 pounds
- Suction Power: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Pros
- This vacuum cleaner is built with LED headlights so you can see hidden debris.
- It has Complete Seal Technology which works with a HEPA filter to trap allergens in the unit.
- It has an XL capacity dust bag that means you can get away with emptying it less regularly.
- This commercial HEPA vacuum deep cleans your carpets while it has good suction on hard floors.
- The pod is lightweight so you can carry it around the home or up and down stairs.
Cons
- Some people who have purchased this vacuum cleaner have reported issues with the company’s customer service.
- It has plastic components which can break.
Runner-Up: Oreck U2000RB-1
Short summary
If you have to vacuum a large living space, it will be a smart move to buy a vacuum cleaner that’s up to the challenge by providing you with all the great features you need to make the process of cleaning your home much easier.
This Oreck vacuum cleaner ticks all the right boxes. It’s built with an ergonomic handle so you don’t have to bend your wrist or tighten your grip, which will make cleaning a larger living space much more comfortable.
It only weighs nine pounds, so it’s easy to move around the home without it feeling like a gym workout. What further makes it a great commercial vacuum is that it has a powerful suction.
Designed with balanced double-helix brushes that spin at up to 6,500 revolutions per minute, this vacuum cleaner will give you the suction power you need.
It can be used to clean a variety of floor types, such as wood, laminate, tile, and carpets. Best of all, you don’t have to manually change the height settings when moving from one type of floor to the other in your home.
For easier usage, this vacuum cleaner has a low-profile design. It almost lies completely flat so that it can get into hard-to-reach places and this also has the additional benefit of making it nice and compact to store when not in use.
Quick Facts
- Size: 9 x 13 x 48 inches
- Weight: 9 pounds
- Suction Power: 4.3 out of 5 stars
Pros
- This best commercial vacuum cleaner has a 12-inch cleaning path so it cleans more surfaces in less time.
- It has a 40-foot cord, so it’s great for cleaning a home or office with ease.
- It comes with an extra belt included to reduce downtime.
- It’s designed with a carry handle for easier transportation.
- It has a high-capacity bag that’s 630 cubic inches, so you don’t have to replace it as regularly.
Cons
- Some people who have purchased this vacuum cleaner have said it’s quite loud.
- It doesn’t work that well for cleaning areas of the home like stairs.
Alternative: Sanitaire SC886G
Short summary
This vacuum cleaner is one of the best commercial units on the market. It has an extended-life motor that offers 2,000 hours or more of intensive cleaning, which works out to be about five times more than the motor life that you’ll find in a standard household vacuum.
While it’s powerful, it’s surprisingly low maintenance because it has all the features it needs to remain in good condition. It has a hood made out of chrome that can tackle tough environments with ease and a tool-free brush roll.
It also has a Quick KleenTM Fan Chamber. This enables you to view and clear any blockages as soon as they occur so you can continue cleaning without any disruptions or downtime.
This professional vacuum cleaner can clean an area of about 7,800 square feet. If you’re looking for a vacuum cleaner that will give your home or office space a really deep clean, has good suction power, and you don’t mind that it doesn’t come with too many extra frills, this is the one to buy.
Quick Facts
- Size: 13.75 x 12.5 x 45 inches
- Weight: 15.8 pounds
- Suction Power: 4.7 out of 5 stars
Pros
- With its metal clip bag-release system, this vacuum cleaner is easy to clean.
- It has a large shake-out bag that can hold up to 18 quarts of debris.
- It has a 50-foot cord so you won’t get tangled or have to change plugs too often during the cleaning session.
- It’s easy to move this vacuum cleaner on carpets to give them a deep clean.
- It comes with a dial on the top to switch from carpets to bare floors.
Cons
- It doesn’t work that well to clean in hard-to-reach places.
- It has some plastic components that can break.
- It doesn’t come with a wand attachment for above-floor cleaning.
Alternative: Hoover Commercial
Short summary
If you’re looking for a vacuum cleaner that’s powerful but also has extra attachments that you can use to clean around your office or home, this Hoover model is worth checking out. It comes with a 12-inch wand, a crevice tool, and a dusting brush, giving you more options when cleaning your home.
It comes with an extra-long stretch hose with a cleaning-accessory pack, so you can easily gain access to the tools you need for more detailed cleaning.
This Hoover commercial vacuum cleaner is bagless, so you don’t have to buy bags and this reduces how much maintenance you have to do on the machine. It’s also got an easy-change belt and brush roll feature – just use two levers and you’ll be able to change the unit’s belt or access its brushroll.
To keep your commercial or residential space clean and hygienic, this vacuum cleaner has a filter made with HEPA media. It’s powerful enough to trap 99.97 percent of dust, dirt, and pollen. The machine also has a filter-check indicator, so you can be alerted when the filter needs to be serviced.
Quick Facts
- Size: 12 x 16 x 32 inches
- Weight: 15 pounds
- Suction Power: 3.4 out of 5 stars
Pros
- This vacuum cleaner has a 35-foot cord so that it’s easy to use when cleaning a large space.
- It only weighs 15 pounds so you can move it with ease.
- The power cord is orange in color, so it’s got high visibility.
- This commercial bagless vacuum comes with a carry handle so it’s easy to carry around.
- It comes with a belt-view window so you can keep an eye on the belt condition.
Cons
- It doesn’t have as much suction power as other vacuum cleaners on the market.
- Some people have said that their vacuum cleaner clogged up easily.
- Others have noted that it’s quite loud.
Alternative: Bissell BGU1937T
Short summary
This bright green commercial vacuum is ideal if you want to be able to clean large surface areas, whether carpeted or bare floors. This versatile and powerful unit makes it easy to switch from one type of floor to another.
To achieve this, it has a five-position height adjustment that means it always has the correct brushroll height depending on the type of floor you need to clean, whether a carpet or hard floor.
It also has a large capacity dirt container so you can clean for longer periods of time without having to clean the machine too regularly. This makes it convenient to own and use, especially if you need to use it a few times a week.
It comes with accessories that include a combination dusting brush/upholstery tool, an extension wand, and a crevice tool so you can clean floors and upholstery. For increased convenience, these accessories can be stored in the back of the vacuum cleaner. This means they’re easily accessible when required during a cleaning session.
This commercial vacuum cleaner comes with a 13.5-inch cleaning path width so you can get to more areas of your home or office. To move it around your commercial space with ease, this vacuum cleaner has a comfort-grip handle.
Quick Facts
- Size: 13.2 x 13.5 x 44 inches
- Weight: 11.25 pounds
- Suction Power: 3.7 out of 5 stars
Pros
- This commercial upright vacuum cleaner comes with washable filters.
- It comes with a 30-foot power cord to make it easier to clean large areas.
- It has a carry handle for increased user-friendliness.
- It comes with three-stage filtration, which means it can eliminate more dirt and dust.
- It has an easy-release dust cup for user-friendly emptying.
Cons
- This vacuum cleaner doesn’t have as much powerful suction as other commercial units.
- It clogs easily if you suck up pet hair, so that’s something to be aware of.
- Although easy to empty, emptying this vacuum cleaner can be messy.
Commercial Vacuum Cleaners FAQ
Now that we’ve looked at some of the most effective, powerful, and durable commercial vacuums on the market, you might still want some information about how these commercial vacuums work.
For example, can you use a commercial vacuum in a restaurant and what features should you look for when shopping for a commercial vacuum? Let’s find out.
How do I choose a commercial vacuum?
When shopping for a commercial vacuum cleaner, you should look for features that indicate the model will provide a deep, thorough clean. Here are some features to look for:
- A long power cord. If you’re using your vacuum cleaner in a large area, such as an office, you should ensure it has a long power cord, such as one that’s around 30 feet or longer.
- HEPA filtration. This is a good feature to look for in a commercial vacuum cleaner because it is 99.97 percent efficient in removing particles that are as small as 0.3 micrometers in diameter, so it’s great for removing dust and allergens. This is important to keep your facility or home hygienic.
- Bagged or bagless. There are commercial vacuums that come in bagged or bagless varieties. Both of these have their pros and cons. For example, bagged vacuums have dust bags that ensure the dirt stays contained in the unit and this reduces how often you have to maintain the filter. However, you will have to replace the dust bags with new ones that you’ll need to buy. By comparison, a bagless vacuum means you don’t have to buy dust bags but you’ll have to replace filters regularly.
- Extra accessories. Some commercial vacuums come with extra accessories and tools that enable you to clean above the floor, such as your upholstery and stairs. This is something to consider if you want your vacuum cleaner to be a more versatile machine.
- User-friendly features. If you’re cleaning a larger area, you will want to ensure the commercial vacuum you’re using will have features to make carrying and moving it around easier, such as a carry handle, an ergonomic handle, and a lightweight design.
- Wide cleaning path. When using your vacuum cleaner for an extended period of time, you want it to have a wide cleaning path so that it will get the job done faster. This is especially important in a commercial setting.
Can you use a vacuum in a restaurant?
If you own a restaurant, you might wonder if you can use a vacuum cleaner to clean it. Obviously, this is not something you should use to clean the restaurant when diners are present as a vacuum cleaner can be highly disruptive and noisy.
But, when the restaurant is empty you certainly can use a vacuum. The key is to choose the best vacuum cleaner for restaurants. You should ensure that the vacuum is compact and you can move it around furniture.
This is why a backpack vacuum cleaner is an excellent commercial unit. You can conveniently carry it on your back so you free up your hands to be able to move tables and other furniture around so you can give the restaurant a thorough clean.
Another good vacuum cleaner to consider for cleaning a restaurant is a canister vacuum. It’s lightweight and has a flexible hose, and these features ensure you can clean under tables and chairs with greater ease.
How long should a commercial vacuum last?
When you invest in a commercial vacuum cleaner, you’ll naturally want it to last for a long time. A commercial vacuum cleaner usually has a shorter lifespan. This is because it usually gets used a lot more than a domestic vacuum cleaner. This is why it’s said that a commercial vacuum cleaner can last for around two to three years.
That said, choosing a commercial vacuum cleaner that’s of a reputable brand can help it to last for a longer period of time. You can also make your commercial vacuum cleaner last longer by maintaining it well.
It helps to have a vacuum cleaner that will give you information about when it needs its filter or belt changed, such as the Hoover Commercial TaskVac Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner that we featured in our reviews. This helps you to stay on top of maintenance so your vacuum cleaner can last longer.
Other things you can do to extend your vacuum cleaner’s lifespan include:
- Regularly check and clean the dust bag or canister.
- Checking and replacing bristles of the vacuum brushes to ensure they’re performing at their peak.
- Wiping down the exterior of the vacuum cleaner to prevent debris and dust from making its way into the unit.
- Cleaning the interior of the vacuum cleaner. Whenever you change the filters or bags, you should wipe down the inside of the unit so that you prevent debris from accumulating and affecting the components.
How many watts is a good vacuum cleaner?
Generally, commercial and industrial vacuum cleaners will have between 1000 and 4000 watts, whereas a vacuum cleaner for small domestic use requires around 1000 to 1500 watts.
However, if you’re cleaning a small apartment, you can get away with a vacuum cleaner that has around 250 to 300 watts, as this will ensure it can perform well enough to clean your home.
However, it’s important to note that a vacuum cleaner’s watts are not a clear indication of how well the vacuum will perform. The watts just refer to how much power the vacuum cleaner draws.
The best way to determine the vacuum cleaner’s performance is by checking its suction power and airflow. However, note that high suction power usually means that the vacuum cleaner will need a stronger motor – and this will require it to have and use more power. This is how the suction power and watts of a vacuum cleaner are linked.
Conclusion
If you want a heavy-duty vacuum cleaner to tackle all your cleaning jobs, you should invest in a commercial vacuum cleaner. Which one should you buy? In this buying guide, we’ve featured some of the best commercial vacuum cleaners that are packed with all the features you need to get a thorough clean in your large living space or commercial building.
We’ve also looked at some important information you need to know about commercial vacuums and how to pick one that will be up to the challenge of cleaning all the nooks and crannies in your home or office.
