A lot of vacuums claim to be perfect for cleaning carpet. There are so many options that you may get confused. This article makes that decision easier. We will only discuss one type of vacuum: canister vacuum.
Want to learn all about this newer vacuum type? If so, then continue reading. We also provide a list of the 5 best canister vacuum for carpet.
In a hurry? Don't have time for the details? Here are our picks for Top Canister Vacuum for Carpets
Contents
- What is A Canister Vacuum?
- Canister Vacuums vs. Other Types of Vacuums
- Do I Need a Canister Vacuum?
- What to Look For In A Canister Vacuum For Carpet
- Top 5 Canister Vacuum For Carpet 2022
- Comparison Chart
- Top 5 Best Canister Vacuums For Carpet on the Market Reviews
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- How To Use Your Canister Vacuum For Carpet
- Carpet Cleaning vs. Carpet Vacuuming
- Final Words
What is A Canister Vacuum?
This type of vacuum got its name because of its shape. This vacuum type uses a cylindrical canister. That canister houses the engine and dirt collection bin. All of the cleaning is done by the extendable hose and cleaning head. Most often canister vacuums cleaner for carpet have a strong motor. They may also have a power cord. Cordless models are available. They are less common than the corded canister vacuums.
Canister vacuums work similarly to upright or drum vacuums. Plug the corded models into your electrical socket and turn them on. Then run the cleaning head over the carpet or hardwood floor. When you are done, turn off the canister vacuum for carpet.
We will discuss the entire cleaning process with a canister vacuum below. For now, just know that the canister vacuum is not very different than a traditional vacuum cleaner.
Canister Vacuums vs. Other Types of Vacuums
At this point you may be wondering about the differences between canister and other types of vacuums. You may also wonder if canister vacuums work better or worse. Those are all great questions. They will be answered in this section.
Let’s look at the first question first. Canister vacuums do not work differently than other types of vacuums. They are clearly shaped differently. This vacuum is not the only type of vacuum to use the drum shape. Garage drum vacuums also house their motor and dust bin in a single container. Their hose is used to reach the dirt and debris.
Drum vacuums are typically larger and more powerful than canister vacuums. They are not nearly as maneuverable as canister vacuum. Drum vacuums are occasionally called shop vacs for a reason. They are the perfect tools for the garage or workshop. Go with the canister vacuum in the house.
Traditional upright vacuum cleaners and canister vacuums cleaner are most often compared. Upright vacuum cleaners are the oldest type of vacuum. These are sometimes called traditional vacuums. Upright vacuum cleaners have the motor, dirt collection bin, and cleaning head all in the same unit. To clean with the upright vacuum cleaner, you push it in front of you.
Upright vacuum cleaners are less maneuverable than canister vacuums for carpet. They are heavier and cannot fit in tight places. There will be places that you cannot reach with your upright vacuum cleaner. They also do not have the sound-deadening abilities of canister vacuums. Upright vacuum cleaners will run louder.
Do I Need a Canister Vacuum?
An upright vacuum cleaner will work fine for many vacuuming jobs. If you have extremely dirty carpets or staircases, consider a canister vacuum for carpet instead.
Bagged vacuums and bagless canister vacuums are extremely powerful machines. They will clean a dirty carpet perfectly. Pay attention to your type of carpet, though. Powerful engines may cause damage to high pile carpets. For medium and low pile carpets, the canister vacuum for carpet is the way to go.
What to Look For In A Canister Vacuum For Carpet
The following features are all important when purchasing of a canister vacuum for carpet. Consider each category to narrow down your canister vacuum choices.
For Pets
All canister vacuums have a powerful motor. They all work pretty decently in homes with pets hair. This, of course, depends on the type of pets hair. If you have multiple large dogs prone to shedding, consider a canister vacuum for pets. If you have a small cat, a normal canister vacuum cleaners for carpets will work fine.
Manufacturers will say whether their product will work with pets or not. Often, canister vacuums for pets hair come with a special pet hair cleaning head. Motorized cleaning heads are the most common.
Weight
Weight is always an important factor. Heavy vacuum cleaners can be hard to push for long periods. They will definitely cause problems up and down stairs.
Canister vacuums for carpet do not weigh as much as other types of vacuum cleaners. Upright vacuum cleaners and drum vacuum cleaners often weigh much more. This is because the canister vacuum’s entire weight is in the small canister. The hose and cleaning head do not add much weight. The canister will also likely have wheels on it. They make it much easier to move around you home.
Storage
Bagged and bagless canister vacuums are much easier to store. Most canister vacuums for carpet are compact appliances. You will likely need to put your canister vacuum away in a closet. They do not often come with wall hanging hardware.
The hose is the hardest part to store. You will need to curl is on top of or next to the vacuum. Some products will come with a handy hose hook. You should also make sure to store all accessories with your canister vacuum for carpets. There’s nothing worse than not having the cleaning head you need. You may want to find a product with a bag to store your accessories.
Accessories
Speaking of accessories, a wide variety come with canister vacuums for carpets. Manufacturer matters a lot. The most common accessories are the crevice tool and upholstery tool. You will also occasionally find pet cleaning tools.
The number and type of accessories you need will depend on your own personal needs. Ask yourself what types of surfaces you will be cleaning. Varied surfaces will require more accessories. Homes with just carpet will not need as many accessories.
Bagged or Bagless
Bagged and bagless canister vacuums are both common. Bagless vacuums are a new development in the vacuum cleaner world. Dyson is the brand that popularized the bagless vacuum model.
Bagless vacuums look and work similarly to upright bagless vacuums. They have a removable dirt collection bin. It can be emptied directly into your trash. No mess or hard-to-move bags are involved. Most dust bins on bagless canister vacuums have a fill line. It will tell you when it’s time to empty.
Versatility
By versatility we mean that your canister vacuum can clean many places and move around easily. Canister vacuums are more versatile than upright vacuum cleaners. They weigh less. They all can be easily moved from place to place and up and down stairs.
Canister vacuums for carpet vary in weight. Some may be more versatile than others. A few factors go into the versatility of a canister vacuum for carpets. These include the size of the canister, the length of the hose, and the length of the power cord. The longer the power cord and hose, the more places your canister vacuum can reach. Additionally, the size of the canister determines where it can clean.
Top 5 Canister Vacuum For Carpet 2022
Comparison Chart
| Image | Product | Features | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Miele Complete C2 Canister Vacuum Cleaner |
| VIEW ON AMAZON → |
 | Bissell Zing Bagged Canister Vacuum |
| VIEW ON AMAZON → |
 | Ovente ST2620B Bagless Canister Cyclonic Vacuum |
| VIEW ON AMAZON → |
 | Eureka Mighty Mite Bagged Canister Vacuum Cleaner |
| VIEW ON AMAZON → |
 | Eureka Whirlwind Bagless Canister Vacuum Cleaner NEN110A |
| VIEW ON AMAZON → |
Top 5 Best Canister Vacuums For Carpet on the Market Reviews
#1 Miele Complete C2 Canister Vacuum Cleaner - Best Overall
The Miele Complete C2 Canister Vacuum Cleaner has everything you could want. It is lightweight, has a powerful intermission, and should run at least 20 years. The Miele Complete C2 is lightweight and ergonomically designed. You can move it anywhere in your home. Its motor makes 1200 watts of power. The longevity of this product is just amazing.
If you want versatile, the Complete C2 is for you. This Miele canister vacuum can clean drapes, rugs, bare floors, and more. It comes with six different speeds. There are also a variety of accessories included.
#2 Bissell Zing Bagged Canister Vacuum 4122
Bissell’s Zing Bagged Canister Vacuum 4122 stands out from the competition. It is a great vacuum. It is also maroon. The Zing 4122 is a small and powerful canister vacuum for carpet. It still has extremely power suction. You will not want to use the 4122 on high pile carpet. It excels with all other carpet and bare floors and other flooring types.
The Zing 4122 comes with a telescoping wand, automatic cord rewind, variable suction power control, and a full bag indicator. Bissell has not included any attachments. They have still added some extremely helpful add-ons. All of the accessories make vacuuming your carpet easy.
#3 Ovente Electric Bagless Canister Vacuum
Ovente’s Electric Bagless Canister Vacuum is a great bagless option. It has a HEPA filtration system. It is pet specific canister vacuum. In order to take care of pet hair, Ovente has included a pet/sofa brush which is a very good option for pet owner. This is not the only accessory. There are many more included with the Electric Bagless Canister Vacuum.
Another great feature is the energy saving speed control. This allows you to choose the level of suction needed for each flooring type. The less suction you use, the more energy and power you save. If energy efficiency is important for you, consider this canister vacuum for carpet and hardwood floors.
#4 Eureka Mighty Mite Bagged Canister Vacuum Cleaner 3670H
The Mighty Mite Bagged Canister Vacuum Cleaner 3670H weighs less than nine pounds. It is one of the smallest and easiest to move of all canister vacuums. The 10-amp motor also provides powerful suction.
While the 3670H is a bagged canister vacuum. It comes with a mess-free dust bag replacement. This replaceable bag means that you don’t have to touch the dust bin. Eureka has also included an extra-long extension wand. You don’t have to worry about tripping over the electrical cord. It comes with built-in cord storage. That storage will increase the lifespan of the 3670H.
#5 Eureka Whirlwind Bagless Canister Vacuum Cleaner NEN110A
The Whirlwind Bagless Canister Vacuum Cleaner NEN110A is the second Eureka product on our top five. It can be used on carpets, hard floors, and upholstery. In fact, the NEN110A comes with settings for those three floor types. The Whirlwind NEN110A is another very light and small canister vacuum. It weighs only eight pounds. It is easy for anyone to use.
What sets this product apart is the 2-in-1 integrated crevice tool. It is easy to adjust this tool. You can easily switch between a crevice tool and dusting brush. All-in-all, the Eureka Whirlwind NEN110A is a great canister vacuum.
How To Use Your Canister Vacuum For Carpet
Using your canister vacuum for carpet is not hard. All of the important techniques are the same as for an upright vacuum. In this section we will discuss tips for effective use.
- Take out your canister vacuum for carpets. Attach the required cleaning head, and plug it in.
- Turn on the canister vacuum. Begin using it. You should vacuum in straight, overlapping lines. Vacuum everything in the hose’s area before moving the vacuum.
- Move the canister once you have vacuumed everything the hose can reach. You can either pick up or pull the canister. Canister vacuums all come with wheels.
- Finish vacuuming your home. Change accessories as you go.
- Unplug the canister vacuum for carpets. Put everything away together. This way you will know exactly where everything is.
Carpet Cleaning vs. Carpet Vacuuming
Carpet cleaning and carpet vacuuming are not the same thing. Both will get your carpet clean. They do not work in a similar way. Here are the major differences between the two.
Carpet Cleaning
Carpet cleaners use steam or water to deep clean your carpet. The water and cleaning chemicals go deep into the carpet fibers. They wash them from the inside out. One disadvantage of carpet cleaning is that it will leave your carpet wet. Wet carpet can develop mold. You will likely have to use fans to dry everything out. You will also need to stay off of the carpet until it is dry.
Carpet Vacuuming
On the other hand, carpet vacuuming does not leave your carpet wet. Not water or steam is involved in vacuuming. Instead the machine uses suction. Vacuuming will clean your carpet. It will not wash the carpet fibers. Vacuuming must be done more often than carpet cleaning.
As you can see, carpet cleaning and carpet vacuuming are very different processes. Do both regularly to keep your carpet as clean as possible. Carpet cleaning only needs to be done once every six months to a year. Vacuuming with your canister vacuum should happen at least once per week.
Final Words
If you have carpet, consider one of the best canister vacuums for carpet. These machines make cleaning your home much easier. Most canister vacuum for carpets will also clean other floor types. You may even be able to clean upholstery and furniture. Canister vacuums for carpet are extremely versatile and useful machines.
This article discusses what to look for in a canister vacuum for carpet. We have given you every other piece of information you need. This even included our top five canister vacuums for carpets. Now you should be able to find a wonderful canister vacuum for your home and family. If not, don’t hesitate to leave a comment below.
Jennifer is a work-from-home freelance writer, editor, and dog mom. So, like Angela, she understands how important it is to keep her floors clean. Jennifer currently lives in a home with carpet and tile floors. Therefore, she is an expert in cleaning those specific types of floors.
When you don’t find Jennifer at her computer writing and editing, you will see her with a vacuum in hand. She greatly appreciates the chance to provide content for this website with Angela and looks enjoys spreading her floor cleaning knowledge with the world.