Everyone needs a good, full-sized upright or canister vacuum cleaner for big jobs, like weekly whole-house cleaning or for giving your carpet a thorough, deep vacuuming. However, when you have a smaller mess, like a dry spill of flour or rice in the kitchen, or a coating of cat hair on the cushions, it's nice to be able to reach for something small and light -- which is why handheld vacuums are so popular. There are two basic types of handheld vacuums: cordless, which run on rechargeable batteries, and corded, which plug into a wall outlet. These small gadgets are good not just for spot-cleaning, but also for accessing places that can be a challenging reach for the larger accessories on full-sized vacuums, or for dealing with areas where hauling a large vacuum is cumbersome, like vacuuming stairs. Portable vacuums are also great for cleaning cars, boats and for using in RV's. The best handheld vacuums will have either a nozzle that acts as a crevice tool for getting into small spaces, or onboard accessories that include a crevice tool.

Many have hoses and specialized brushes for dusting. The best also can rotate or angle to clean hard-to-reach items like ceiling fans. Cordless handheld vacuum cleaners are more versatile because they're not restricted by cord length or access to a wall socket. That means you can move from room to room to pick up small messes or pet hair without having to unplug the vacuum and plug it back in each time. Portable cordless vacuums typically run between 10 and 30 minutes on a single charge. Recharging can take 4 hours or more for a full charge. Some cordless hand vacs don't have replaceable batteries; when its battery finally loses the ability to hold a charge, you just have to toss the vacuum away and buy a new one. However that's not as big a negative as it might seem; even if the battery is replaceable, a new one can cost more than a new handheld vacuum itself. One more thing to know about cordless handheld vacuums is that they use one of two types of batteries. Nickel-cadmium (NiCd) batteries, which are the older technology, are heavier and should be fully discharged before recharging to avoid "memory effect," which can prevent the batteries from being charged to their full capacity.

If you see user comments regarding a hand vac no longer holding a charge, this is a likely culprit. Lithium-ion batteries (Li-ion) batteries are the other, newer technology. They aren't susceptible to memory effect, can hold a charge longer between uses, and are more environmentally friendly. The other key difference is that with NiCd technology, the power level drops as the battery drains, which means that you may have very strong vacuum performance for the first 5 to 10 minutes, but then less and less until the battery finally runs down and needs to be recharged. With a Li-ion battery, full power is maintained until the battery runs out of juice. While Li-ion-powered hand vacs look to have some significant advantages, the trade-off is that portable vacuums with lithium-ion batteries are more expensive, sometimes significantly more. Corded hand vacuums typically have power cords between 12 and 25 feet long, and those with longer cords tend to receive better feedback from both professional reviewers and owners.

Corded models aren't limited on run time, they vacuum for as long as you need them to. For some cleaning tasks like stairs or an automobile, you may need an extension cord. We saw more complaints about a corded vacuum seeming heavy, even if it weighs less than comparable cordless vacuums, which leads us to conclude that there is a fatigue factor in using even a relatively lightweight handheld vacuum for a longer period of time.air duct cleaning extractor Car vacuums are 12-volt vacuums that plug into your car's cigarette lighter or 12-volt accessory socket to provide a steady stream of juice while you clean up your car. best vacuum cleaner for carpet tilesA good car vacuum will also have a long, narrow crevice tool for slipping between the seats -- a popular hiding place for dropped foods -- and a dusting brush for pulling dust and hair out of the vents.samsung vacuum cleaner price in india

Of course, a handheld vacuum won't be suitable for all cleaning jobs. Most people need a good upright vacuum, which we cover in our separate report on vacuum cleaners, for whole-house cleaning and digging deep to pull dirt and debris out of pile carpet. Canister vacuums use slender wands that can reach farther into tight spaces, like under beds, while stick vacuums are great to have around for maintaining a hardwood or tile floor on a day-to-day basis, or for cleaning up spot messes without having to stoop. best high wattage vacuum cleanerIf you need something a bit more heavy-duty, see our shop vac report for a top portable option.best product to clean teak furniture, , to name just a few. best way to clean dog pee out of couch

These user reviews give the best overview for how each handheld vacuum operates in real-world, long-term use. In evaluating these reviews, we consider performance on different flooring surfaces, pet-hair removal, features and attachments, and ease of use and durability to help you find the best portable vacuum for your cleaning needs.Carpet Stair RunnersStaircase RunnersBohemian Gypsy HeartsGypsy RoseBohemian RhapsodyCarpets Rugs TuftingHooked Rug IdeasHand Hooked RugsStaircase CarpetForwardNot really about a vacuum but I love the covering on these stairs!Looking for the best vacuum for the stairs can be a tricky time. But make sure you think about some important factors that will influence your choice. What surface are you cleaning? Carpeting, hardwood, tiles and so on, you may find the best vacuum for stairs can change depending on what the surface of the stairs is. Also how regularly will you be doing it? Some make cleaning the stairs part of their regular daily cleaning activity while others put the stairs into their weekly routine.

The best vacuum for stairs will need to be something that is light, easy to move, compact with a cord that is long enough so you are not struggling to reach, or so it is not too heavy to use. If you have a pet that is another factor to consider. Pet hair on stairs can be tricky, sometimes it collects in clumps, especially with carpeted stairs, and sometimes you have clusters in the corners and in the crevices. Pet owners can find keeping their stairs looking clean is more of a challenge and if you do not have the best vacuum for stairs this is a more challenging job. You need something powerful enough to handle the extra duty of pet hair put still have maneuverability and be lightweight. Since there are many options on the market and it can be hard to know which ones will actually meet your needs, here is a look at the key features to look for and then the top five models of vacuums for stairs on the market. Part of choosing a vacuum cleaner is to not just find with the features you need but also one that is made by a brand you can trust.

Some brands have been been around for many years, Eureka, Black & Decker, Hoover are brands that people have been relying on for many years. They have proven their worth in offering cleaning machines that have been dependable. However that does not mean they are always better than newer manufacturers like Dyson or Shark. These brands have brought some great innovations and technologies to the market that have modernized vacuum cleaners improving design and performance. Here is a look at five of the best stair cleaners. This is a very effective cleaning machine that can pick up dirt from carpeted stairs easily with its motorized brushroll to help. It has a 4 amp motor but the brushroll does not comes with an on/off switch. It competes with the Eureka RapidClean handheld which also has a brushroll but one that can be controlled. However the Dirt Devil version is cheaper if budget is a concern, with the Dirt Devil Ultra MO8230 model being the best so far. But of price is not an issue for this kind if cleaner the RapidClean is better.

This stair handheld vacuum cleaner is one of the more modern in style and is very streamlined. The Hoover Air Cordless Bagless Handheld BH52160PC is not just a machine about the looks either, it comes with great specs and customer reviews are very positive. As well as being great for stairs it can also be used in tight spaces and cars. It has different heads including the powered turbo tool for getting off pet hair from your carpeted stairs. However there are a few things that could be improved. The mouth is not as big as it could be and its capacity is lower. But being bagless it means not having to replace those and it has filters that are reusable. Also this is very light at just 4lbs. With a fade free lithium battery which means no fading of power you get great suction that can handle lots of jobs whenever needed. One of the best vacuums for stairs is the Eureka RapidClean Step as it comes with all the features you need and is great for carpeted or non-carpeted stairs, great if you have both or if you change them.

It is lightweight and easy to carry up and down the stairs which is a good thing if your stairs see a lot of traffic and need cleaning often. It is not battery operated so there are no constraints on how long you can use it for, or battery power issues. The cord is long, 25ft and it has a 3ft hose, so there is plenty of room to navigate the stairs without running out of cord. The motor is a 6 amp, so it is pretty powerful and can get even embedded dirt out of your carpeted stairs. Another great thing about this best vacuum for stairs is that you can turn the brushroll on and off, something not all handhelds offer. This means you can switch from carpeted used to hard surface use and vice versa. One of the most well known and trusted companies in the vacuum industry is Hoover. The Hoover Platinum LINX Pet Cordless Hand Vacuum BH50030 is no exception. This cleaner is compact and cordless making it easy to use on the stairs and no need to navigate a long cord, or deal with one that is too short!

It pivots 25 degrees so you can get into the nooks and crannies of the stairs too. This is a vacuum for stairs that have a lot of pet traffic too. It is great for pet owners because it can life even that deeply imbedded hair, not just on the stairs but also on your upholstery. It comes with a Lithium ion battery that is interchangeable and promises power that will not fade. As well as being perfect for stair cleaning and the furniture with its pet upholstery tool, it can also be nifty when you need it for small emergency jobs like certain spill in the kitchen! While this is another corded hand vacuum which some people prefer not to have it has been put on the list of best vacuums for stairs because it performs really well. The Shark Rocket Corded Hand Vacuum HV292 is small and easy to carry, it comes with some great attachments to meet any cleaning needs and can be used for stair use and other jobs. As well as being lightweight it has a TruePet brush that is motorized to get rid of pet hair that can build up on upholstery and carpets, and a hose that gives extended reach to clean out crevices and hard to reach spots.