You should be vacuuming your home at least once a week, or even more regularly if you have pets. Choosing the best vacuum cleaner for the job is important to make your life less stressful.
Is a cordless vacuum worth it? A cordless vacuum cleaner has many benefits, such as ease of use and versatility, but a corded vacuum cleaner is usually more powerful.
Cordless vs corded vacuum cleaners: which one is the best choice for you? Let’s look at how these types of vacuum cleaners vary and what they have to offer.
Contents
What Is A Cordless Vacuum Cleaner?
A cordless vacuum cleaner doesn’t require you to plug it into a power source before use. It runs on batteries to give you enough power to clean your floors. There are three types of cordless vacuums:
Stick Vacuum Cleaner
This is the most common type of cordless vac. It can be taken apart so that you can use it as a handheld vacuum cleaner.
Cylinder Vacuum Cleaner
This is a vacuum cleaner that’s on wheels and it has a long, flexible tube.
Upright Vacuum Cleaner
This is larger and usually heavier than a stick vacuum, but it sometimes has a detachable canister to make it more versatile.
What Is A Corded Vacuum Cleaner?
A corded vacuum cleaner needs to be plugged into an electrical outlet so that you can use it. You can find a corded vacuum cleaner in a variety of machine types, such as upright, stick, and canister vacuums.
Cordless vs Corded Vacuum Cleaners: What Are Their Differences?
To find out which type of vacuum will work better for you, in this section we compare them according to different features and categories.
Suction power
Corded Vacuum Cleaners
It’s often said that corded vacuum cleaners have more powerful motors and this translates into a higher amount of watts that are used to enable strong suction.
Cordless Vacuum Cleaners
If you choose a cordless vacuum that has lithium batteries, this will perform well when it comes to suction, but it has to be a high-end model to be able to compete with a powerful corded vacuum cleaner.
Generally, cordless vacuum cleaners have an electrical input of around 20 to 200 watts, while a corded vacuum will have input that’s around 1,000 to 2,000 watts.
Flexibility
Corded Vacuum Cleaners
Corded vacuum cleaners are usually a bit heavier than cordless models, which can make them a bit more difficult to move around the home. You will always need to ensure you’re cleaning in close proximity to an electric outlet.
The cord can sometimes also be annoying, as you can easily trip over it. Some vacuum cleaners also don’t come with a cord-retracting feature, which can make winding up the cord frustrating at the end of your cleaning session.
Cordless Vacuum Cleaners
A cordless vacuum cleaner is lighter in weight and therefore easier to use around the house. It’s ideal for small living spaces. You can use a cordless vacuum to clean in a variety of areas, such as your stairs, in tight-to-reach places, and you can also use it to clean your curtains.
You’ll find that many cordless vacuum models on the market have two-in-one designs – they can be converted into handheld vacuum cleaners to achieve this purpose. It’s also worth noting that a cordless vacuum cleaner will be around six to 15 pounds lighter than a corded model.
Battery Life
Cordless Vacuum Cleaner
A cordless vacuum cleaner can last for between 20 and 45 minutes, so different models vary when it comes to how long you can clean with them for, but some come with swappable batteries. These enable you to charge one battery while using the other one.
Corded Vacuum Cleaner
Since a corded vacuum cleaner doesn’t rely on batteries, you won’t run out of power when you require it.
Cleaning Carpets
Cordless Vacuum Cleaner
A cordless vacuum cleaner can work well for quick cleanups on carpeted floors, or if your home has hard-to-reach carpeted areas, such as on the stairs.
Corded Vacuum Cleaner
A corded vacuum cleaner performs better on carpets than a cordless model. This is because of its higher level of power and suction, both of which enable it to dig deeper into carpets to give them a thorough clean.
Dust Bin Capacity
Cordless Vacuum Cleaner
A cordless vacuum cleaner has a filter that captures dirt and dust. Its dust bin capacity is around 0.6 liters. This is not that much, which means a cordless vacuum cleaner will require more regular maintenance in the form of emptying and cleaning the dust bin container.
Corded Vacuum Cleaner
A corded vacuum is able to hold around one or more liters of dirt. This greater capacity makes it easier for you to get through long cleaning sessions and it will allow you to clean the unit less regularly.
Cost
Cordless Vacuum Cleaner
A cordless vacuum cleaner can be more expensive than a corded vacuum cleaner. This is because of its various features, such as lithium-ion battery packs.
Corded Vacuum Cleaner
A corded vacuum is usually more affordable. This is because it’s got a simple design and you can find many different corded models on the market.
Lifespan
Cordless Vacuum Cleaner
A cordless vacuum cleaner lasts for around three to six years before you will have to replace its battery. However, studies have found that most cordless stick vacuums that are purchased will experience problems within five years. This is largely as a result of their batteries.
Corded Vacuum Cleaner
A corded vacuum cleaner can last for a longer time, however, it’s important to note that you have to consider the vacuum cleaner brand to be sure that you get a high-quality model that’s more durable.
Environmental Features
Cordless Vacuum Cleaner
A cordless vacuum cleaner is generally less energy-efficient than a vacuum cleaner that you plug into the wall.
Although a cordless vacuum only draws energy when charging, which means it uses less electricity, it is less powerful when you use its battery. That’s important to bear in mind.
Corded Vacuum Cleaner
A corded vacuum cleaner doesn’t experience any battery problems, which makes it better for the environment because you don’t have to worry about battery disposal.
However, when purchasing a corded vacuum, it’s best to choose a smaller motor so that it will consume less energy than a larger model.
Cordless vs Corded Vacuum Cleaner: What Are Their Pros And Cons?
Now that we’ve looked at some important differences between cordless and corded vacuum cleaners, let’s explore the pros and cons of both of these vacuum cleaners.
Cordless Vacuum Pros
A cordless vacuum cleaner is less bulky than a corded vacuum cleaner model. This type of vacuum cleaner can be carried around the house, so it’s great for on-the-go cleaning or if you need to clean something that’s far away from an electrical outlet.
Since it’s got a compact design, a cordless vacuum cleaner can be stored in small places. This makes storage easier, even if you live in a tiny home or apartment.
A cordless vacuum cleaner can be used to clean in difficult-to-reach or awkward areas in the home because of its small size. This is ideal for you if your home has lots of nooks and crannies that a regular vacuum won’t reach.
Cordless Vacuum Cons
A cordless vacuum cleaner isn’t as powerful as a regular vacuum cleaner.
Its battery could run out during cleaning tasks.
Its battery could take a long time to recharge, depending on the model.
Corded Vacuum Pros
You don’t have to worry about running out of battery life when using a corded vacuum cleaner. This makes it ideal for cleaning large living spaces.
It can be less maintenance to own a corded vacuum cleaner because it’s usually equipped with a larger dust bin. This means you won’t have to empty it very regularly.
A corded vacuum cleaner has more power than a cordless one, which makes it more reliable. This is especially the case when you want to clean carpets.
Corded Vacuum Cons
A corded vacuum cleaner can cause you to feel restricted by its power cord. You will also have to step over it and this can become annoying.
A corded vacuum cleaner is usually heavier than a cordless one.
Cordless vs Corded Vacuum Cleaners: Which One Should You Get?
If you regularly clean your car as well as your home, or you want a versatile vacuum cleaner that will enable you to clean upholstery as well as floors, you should consider purchasing a cordless vacuum. Most of these models are stick and hand vacuums in one.
On the other hand, if you have a large living space and need to use your vacuum cleaner for extended periods of time, a corded vacuum cleaner will make more sense because you don’t have to worry about waning battery life.
It also enables you to maintain it less, thanks to how corded vacuums tend to have larger-capacity dust bins.
What To Look For In A Cordless Vacuum Cleaner
When you want to purchase a cordless vacuum cleaner, you should look for some important features to ensure that you get an effective model.
It Should Switch To Handheld Mode
A cordless vacuum should give you the option of detaching it so you can use it as a handheld vac. This is great for cleaning in hard-to-reach places.
It Should Charge Quickly
You don’t want to wait around for your cordless vacuum to be ready for use. Choose one that can be charged within a few hours or less for increased convenience.
Check For Swappable Batteries
Some cordless vacuums come with a spare battery so that you always have a fully charged battery you can use.
Look At Its Maximum Run Time
While some cordless vacuums will appear to have a long run time, this is usually when they’re not using the maximum amount of power.
What To Look For In A Corded Vacuum Cleaner
If you’ve decided to go ahead and purchase a corded vacuum cleaner instead, here are the features to look for:
Portability
If you want a vacuum cleaner that’s versatile, you should look for one that can detach so you can use it to clean tight or difficult-to-reach areas, such as stairs.
Low weight
Since a corded vacuum is generally heavier than a cordless model, you should look for one that’s as lightweight as possible. This will make it easier to use.
Suction modes
To make it easier to clean a variety of floor types, your vacuum should have different cleaning modes for carpets and hard floors. Make the most of the vacuum’s suction power!
Lengthy cord
A corded vacuum cleaner can make you feel restricted by its power cord, so check for one that’s long enough to make cleaning around your home easier.
Related Questions
How Long Does It Take To Charge A Cordless Vacuum?
To charge your cordless vacuum cleaner battery, could take between one to four hours, but some models can take up to eight hours.
How Long Does A Cordless Vacuum Battery Last?
Once fully charged, you’ll find that a cordless vacuum battery can last for anything between 15 and 40 minutes.
Conclusion
If you need a strong, durable vacuum cleaner, you’ll have to question if you should purchase a cordless or corded vacuum cleaner.
In this guide, we’ve looked at what you need to know about these different vacuums and which one is best for your home.