What to Look for in a Vacuum Cleaner for Wood Floors

A vacuum for hardwood floors offers the following 3 benefits:

I. Trapping Dirt and Dust Effectively

Dust mops are decent tools for cleaning hardwood floors since they trap dirt and dust rather than releasing it into the air as traditional brooms do. Hardwood floor vacuums, however, are far superior to dust mops since they not only lift away dirt, dust, and debris but all that is trapped in a canister, which makes cleaning easier and more effective.

II. Multi-Purpose Tools

Hardwood floor vacuums usually have extra tools and accessories such as crevice tools, brush rolls, etc. for more effective cleaning. In addition, they can also be used for vacuuming both hardwood floors and carpets, which makes them highly functional. That’s helpful even if you have hardwood floors throughout your home since you probably have accent or area rugs that require vacuuming.

III. Great Investment

If you use a dust mop for cleaning your hardwood floors, you will need to either replace or wash the pad whenever you use it. Unfortunately, this can be rather expensive or even frustrating if the mop head isn’t dry and you have a mess that needs cleaning. With a vacuum cleaner for wood floors, you will always be ready to deal with any messes. Most models have filters that require cleaning every month or even less often.  You could always opt for a vacuum and mop combo.

Vacuum Cleaner for Wood Floors Buyers Guide

If you are thinking about buying a vacuum cleaner for wood floors, here are several things to look out for:

1. Weight

The weight of the vacuum is one of the key considerations both in terms of storage as well as hauling it around the house. If you want the lightest models, you should be looking to buy a hand vacuum. However, a canister vacuum can still be an excellent option when it comes to weight since they are usually not too heavy.

2. Motor and Suction Power

Hardwood floors are not designed to use brushes, which means that they mostly have to rely on suction power to get the job done. So, when you are considering buying a vacuum for your hardwood flooring, you need to choose a model that has a powerful motor that will supply the powerful suction needed to effectively get rid of dirt, dust, and debris from your hardwood floors.

3. Rubber Wheels

If you plan to invest in a hardwood floor vacuum, it only makes sense to buy one that comes with rubber wheels. Rubber wheels glide over your floor more gently than the hard-plastic wheels found on many vacuum models today and will reduce the chance of the vacuum scratching the floor when cleaning and moving it to stow it away.

4. Padding

If you don’t find a hardwood floor vacuum with rubber wheels, you should definitely buy one that has padding at the bottom to avoid accidentally scratching or denting your hardwood floors as you move it around or set it down. The most common types of padding are rubber or felt stripes on the bottom of the vacuum cleaner. The padding is an important consideration in whether or not the vacuum is lightweight.

5. Cord-Free

If you plan to invest in a new vacuum to clean your hardwood floors, you should consider going the extra mile and making it a cordless one. If you have ever used a vacuum cleaner, you probably understand how difficult it can be to move both the vacuum and cord around each piece of furniture. A cordless vacuum, however, is battery-powered and offers a great alternative to traditional vacuum cleaner models and there are specific models for hardwood floors.

6. Filtration

Air filtration is a key consideration if you or any member of your household has allergies. A good filtration system can also be highly beneficial to pet owners too. Air filtration is essential since the air that is sucked in while cleaning your hardwood floors is released back into the environment. If there’s no filtration, the discharged air could be harmful to health. It is always advisable to look for vacuums with HEPA filtration that can capture up to 99.97% of particles.

7. Cleaning Attachments

The best vacuum for hardwood floors should come with the right tools to ensure proper cleaning. Most models are supplied with a crevice tool that can help you clean the hard-to-reach places. If you are fortunate enough, the model you buy will come with hose attachments for cleaning upholstery, stairs, or even curtains. Ensure that you double-check the cleaning attachments that come with the new vacuum cleaner before making the purchase.