Pesky dog hairs, tea-time crumbs, and cars that never stay clean are no match for a good cordless vacuum. Our shopping team has tested and rounded up five of their favourite models, chosen for strong suction and value for money.
Nisha's pick: Hoover HF4 Hydro Wet & Dry
Nisha, who has tile flooring downstairs and carpet upstairs, wanted a cheap cordless cleaner to whizz around the lower floor without hauling the big corded vacuum down. Then she discovered 2-in-1 vacuum-mop combos. Her eye is on the Hoover HF4 Hydro Wet & Dry, now £129 down from £299.99. It has two interchangeable heads: one for mopping and one for sucking up dirt. The Hydro nozzle features an active mop with two rotating and one front-vibrating mop pad. The cordless device runs for up to 60 minutes.
An alternative is the Shark HydroVac Cordless Hard Floor Cleaner, on sale for £199.99 down from £329.99. Described as a 3-in-1 hard-floor cleaner, it vacuums, mops and self-cleans, pulling in wet messes, dirt, debris and grime.
Shoppers who have bought the Shark HydroVac have shared mixed feedback. One said: "We live in a bungalow with laminate flooring. I used to hate having to clean the floors. I used to sweep the corners, then vacuum, then mop. With the Shark Hydro Vac, it’s all done in 10 mins. To make it even better, the machine washes it all out when finished. I wish I had got one sooner." Another wrote: "Easy to use and self-cleaning. What more could you want!"
However, one user reported navigation issues: "Good machine for vacuuming and washing floors at the same time. However, it is disappointing that the wheel base prevents you from cleaning right into the edges and corners." A fourth found it a lifesaver with pets: "With a dog, I clean my floors at least twice a day. This not only makes this job easier, but also cleans much better than a normal mop. The self-cleaning process is so easy to dismantle and thoroughly clean. Excellent product." Another added: "Excellent, I have recommended this product to my friends and family."
Cathie's pick: UNINELL Cordless Vacuum
Cathie, a shopping writer, has seen several cheaper Amazon alternatives draw comparisons to the big brands. Her top-rated choice right now is the UNINELL Cordless Vacuum Cleaner, currently on offer for £107.34 in a limited-time deal. According to Amazon price tracker CamelCamelCamel, that is its lowest price to date. It has more than 1,000 reviews.
Designed to pick up pet hair, dirt and debris on both carpets and hard floors, this model has an adjustable height and can switch to a handheld device. It comes with different attachments and an LED touch display to switch between cleaning modes. The brand says it offers up to 65 minutes of run time on a full charge, and it can stand upright on its own, unlike some leading-brand cordless models. It holds an average rating of 4.6 out of five stars from more than 5,700 Amazon reviews.
Many shoppers have compared its performance to Dyson and Shark, making it a budget-friendly option without compromising on quality, Cathie says.
Harriet's pick: Halo Capsule
The Halo Capsule Cordless has been Harriet's everyday vacuum since she first reviewed it for The Mirror. Available at Amazon for £199, it has been a permanent fixture in her home. She says: "The Halo picks up five times the amount of dirt, and can be set on different powers to suit a variety of floors."
It is lightweight, nimble (it can be pushed flat under furniture), and runs for up to 60 minutes. Harriet explains: "For me, the best feature is the rotating brush - which is really effective on carpet - so much so that it picks up hair I didn’t even realise was there. Another is the option to pick the suction strength, a feature I didn’t know I needed."
Users can adjust the power for different floors: lightest for tile, medium for wood, and highest for deep-piled carpets. Harriet has had the vacuum for nearly a year and used it daily, though she notes the see-through plastic has become scratched over time. "This design quirk of the vacuum has worn a lot quicker than I expected - but this doesn't affect the results of vacuuming."
For an even thinner option, she points to Dyson's Pencil Vac at £429.99. Despite its stick-thin size, it is surprisingly powerful.
Rahaf's pick: Keplin Handheld Cordless Vacuum
Rahaf recently bought the Keplin Handheld Cordless Vacuum from Amazon for £27.99. A major selling point was its 25 to 30-minute runtime, far longer than the 10 minutes offered by other handheld models she considered. It also includes multiple attachments for cleaning tight spots and awkward corners.
What convinced her to buy it was its ability to handle both wet and dry messes. She has used it to clean her car, sofa and carpets. While it did a great job on the sofa and carpets, she admits the suction could be stronger, struggling slightly with stubborn crumbs in the car. "That said, for the price, I’ve been really happy with its overall performance, and I know it will be an appliance I will be reaching for a lot for easy clean-ups."
