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Your laminate floor is beautiful, and you want to keep it that way.
Will your old vacuum cleaner do the trick? Let’s look at the best vacuums for laminate floors to see if you can benefit from an upgrade.
Is Vacuuming Safe for Laminate Flooring?
First, let us reassure you that it’s safe to vacuum laminate floors.
You can avoid scratching laminate flooring by keeping the surface free of dirt and debris. You’re likely to find that a vacuum cleaner does a better job of this than sweeping does.
Some vacuum cleaners, especially canisters, have floorheads specifically designed for bare surfaces. They remove fine dust and stuck-on grit without leaving marks.
Next, if you prefer an upright, look for one with a brush roll you can turn off. That’s essential protection to avoid damaging the finish. The roller brush is only needed for the carpet.
Finally, a robot vacuum might be the easiest way to maintain laminate flooring when you have pets. You can schedule it to do daily maintenance so that your floors are always spotless. Just verify that the model you want is compatible with laminate. Most newer models have soft nylon or rubber bristles.
24 Best Laminate Floor Vacuum Cleaners (2022 Reviews)
We selected the top vacuums for laminate and reviewed them here to help you shop. We hope it helps you discover the right vacuum cleaner for your home.
Vacuums for Laminate Floors Reviews
Miele Pure Suction Canister Vacuum
Miele is a German brand that tests their vacuums to last for 20 years with 45 minutes per week of use. We included this canister model on our reviews of the best vacuums for tile and hardwood floors. That’s because it’s ideal for a cleaning solution for hard surfaces.
Here are the reasons why it’s one of the top choices. First, the floor head has a foot switch so you can turn off the brush roller when you move from carpet to bare surfaces.
Second, it has swiveling rubberized wheels that won’t leave dark marks or scratches on your laminate. And third, it has a 29 ½-foot floor cleaning radius due to the power cord length, the air hose, and the steel telescopic wand. That simplifies cleaning ceiling fans, blinds, steps, and all around the room.
The bagged AirClean filtration system isn’t a HEPA filter, but it ensures that the exhaust air is cleaner than what enters the vacuum in the first place. Moreover, most Miele models come with a seven-year warranty.
Oreck Venture Pro PetPower Canister Vacuum Cleaner
Oreck’s Pro PetPower canister vacuum features a HEPA system with a bag. It’s excellent for pet owners because the filter ensures that dander and hair don’t recirculate. It’s also a rather quiet vacuum even when running on bare floors.
It has adjustable and strong suction so you can clean anything from curtains to carpets to laminate. Then, the assortment of attachments like the crevice tool and turbo brush simplifies pet hair removal from furniture and stairs.
Oreck encourages owners to take advantage of the seven free tune-ups to keep their vacuums in top condition.
Bissell Hard Floor Expert Deluxe Canister Vacuum Cleaner 1161
Bissell’s 1161 sports rubber wheels with felt treads that won’t scratch or mark your floor. Next, fingertip buttons allow you to control the suction power for cleaning drapes and delicate materials.
But even though this is a vacuum meant for hard floors, you can’t turn off the brush roller. This isn’t as bad as it sounds since the nylon bristles are very soft. They’re handy for removing stuck-on dust and debris.
Eureka Mighty Mite Corded Canister Vacuum Cleaner 3670G
The diminutive Mighty Mite canister vacuum comes in three different colors. But it’s not the eye candy that makes this a smart choice. If you’re a fan of multi-purpose tools, this one easy to use vacuum converts to a leaf blower. Not only can you clean up Fluffy’s crumbs in the kitchen, you can also clear leaves off the deck.
What’s more, this is one of the least expensive vacuum cleaners that offers HEPA filtration. Yes, it’s bagged so this increases the long-term cost a bit.
Shark Navigator Lift-Away Upright Vacuum NV352
If you like upright vacuums, Shark makes a few you’ll want to consider. We’ll begin with the Shark Navigator NV352. Since you can turn off the brush roller, it’s generally safe for use on laminate floors. It has swivel steering, and it lays flat to go underneath furniture.
But there’s an intriguing feature that you might not notice at first glance. The vacuum separates into two parts. You can carry the canister with you to clean stairs, upholstery, inside your vehicle, and more.
Inside the box, you’ll find attachments like narrow and wide crevice tools and a pet hair removal brush. The vacuum also comes with washable HEPA filters.
Shark Navigator Lift-Away Professional NV356E
The Shark Navigator NV356E is also a Lift-Away vacuum that breaks apart so that you have a hand vac. The whole machine is bagless and has Anti-Allergen Complete Seal Technology and a HEPA filter. That means 99.9% of pollen, fine dust, and microbes are captured.
What kind of maintenance do you need to do for this type of filter? They recommend washing the pre-motor filters four times a year. Then wash the after-motor HEPA filter once every two years.
We selected the version of the NV35E that comes with the Hard Floor Hero attachment. Once you install the washable microfiber pad, you can safely shine up your flooring. Therefore, this is the best vacuum for laminate floors by Shark.
Why might you choose this model instead of the other Shark above? This one has a little long power cord and a larger debris bin.
Kenmore Elite 31150 Pet & Allergy-Friendly Upright Vacuum
Even if you don’t have pets, you can benefit from a pet-friendly vacuum. That’s because they have better filtration. For example, the Kenmore Elite 31150 is certified by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation OF America. That’s because it has triple HEPA filtration. And yes, you’ll need to clean and replace the bag once in a while.
The vacuum runs on two motors so that it has excellent suction. The built-in LED headlights help you see the dust bunnies underneath the bed. Of course, you can turn off the brush roller when you move from the rug to laminate floors. Furthermore, the 30-foot power cord with a 10-foot wand and air hose give you plenty of room to work.
Hoover WindTunnel MAX Bagged Upright Vacuum Cleaner UH30600
Hoover’s WindTunnel MAX has a pedal you can push to turn off the brush roller. Otherwise, the roller disengages automatically when the vacuum is locked upright so you can use the attachments. The 30-foot power cord, stretchy air hose, and telescoping wand provide excellent reach.
This is a bagged cleaner with HEPA filtration. We like the fact that it comes with Clean-Drop bags that release with a touch of a button right into the trash. Additionally, the box includes a dusting brush, a crevice tool, and a powered hand cleaning tool for steps.
Hoover Vacuum Cleaner WindTunnel Bagless Upright UH72400
Hoover’s bagless upright may be a bare-bones model, but it gets the job done. It lets you turn off the brush roller for bare floors, an essential point for laminate. Then, the swivel steering simplifies maneuvering around obstacles. It comes with a two-in-one crevice tool that can clean cracks and dust surfaces.
Bissell PowerEdge Pet Hardwood Floor Bagless Cleaner, 81L2A
The Bissell PowerEdge doesn’t look like a typical vacuum cleaner as it has a V-shaped floor nozzle. Underneath, you’ll find rubber squeegees. Together, the unusual shape and the squeegees scoop up dust and bits around chair legs and corners, so you don’t need to move furniture. But don’t plan on using this vacuum on carpets.
Eureka Blaze 3-in-1 Swivel Lightweight Stick Vacuum Cleaner, NES210
The Eureka Blaze is an astonishingly budget-friendly and cheap people pleaser. It converts from a stick vacuum to a stair vacuum plus a hand vac. Besides tile floors, it can clean area rugs and low pile carpets. The rubber wheels and rubber bumper around the body prevent marks on the floor and baseboards.
The package includes a nozzle for vacuuming stairs and a crevice tool for upholstery. Also important, it weighs only 4 pounds.
Shark Flex DuoClean Ultra-Light Upright Corded Vacuum
Have you ever had the unfortunate experience of using a vacuum with such powerful suction that it was hard to push? The Shark Flex DuoClean would fit that category if it didn’t have Active-Glide Technology. Fortunately, it glides over surfaces. Plus, the press of a button switches from carpet mode to bare floors.
The downside is that most of the weight of the vacuum is concentrated at the upper end of the handle. This may tire some users. On the upside, you can feel the vacuum for storage, and the filters are washable.
Learn the differences between Shark Navigator and DuoClean Vacuum, here.
Dirt Devil Vibe 3-in-1 Corded Bagless Stick Vacuum, SD20020
Dirt Devil’s Vibe weighs even less than the Eureka Blaze at only 3.4 pounds. But some users find other features even more convenient. For example, with the press of a button, you turn off the brush roller. Next, in its stick form, it stands upright by itself. But it also clicks apart into a hand vac. Finally, the 15-foot cord winds up neatly to store onboard.
Dyson Cyclone V10 Absolute Lightweight Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner
Imagine the freedom of going cordless. Battery-powered vacuums are sufficiently powerful and have enough stamina to make them a worthwhile investment these days. To illustrate, the heavy-duty vacuum Dyson Cyclone V10 will run for 40 minutes with the soft roller cleaner head or 60 minutes without the motorized tool.
It transforms into a handheld vacuum to clean your car. But in either configuration, it’s capable of capturing fine dust from bare floors and embedded dirt from carpets. In its typical upright configuration, it weighs less than 6 pounds.
Is a cordless vacuum worth the investment? In my experience, it is now. When they were new on the market, there were two common problems: less powerful suction and battery life. These days, using a Dyson for laminate floors means you have plenty of runtime and power.
Regardless of the cordless vacuum cleaner you choose, look into how to replace the battery. After three to five years, battery replacement will be a necessity if you still love your vacuum.
–Lawrence’s take
Shark ION Rocket Ultra-Light Vacuum IR101
SharkNinja’s ION Rocket IR101 is cordless and runs for about half an hour on a charge. It converts to a hand vacuum that weighs just under 4 pounds, while the upright stick configuration weighs a little over 7 pounds. We gave it our blessing since you can turn off the brush roller.
Some of the other benefits of the Shark Rocket model include the LED lights, anti-allergen dusting brush attachment, the pet multi-tool, and removable battery pack. Since lithium-ion batteries begin to lose performance after about three years, it’s nice to know you can replace the battery without replacing the vacuum.
Eureka NEC124A PowerPlush Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner
The Eureka PowerPlush stick vacuum has an unusual roller. Instead of a brush with bristles, it’s more like felt. This allows it to pick up very fine dust, crumbs, glitter, and paper confetti easily. Since it weighs only 5 ½ pounds, it’s trouble-free to maneuver and transport.
But it’s not just an upright. This vacuum converts into a hand vac with attachments. It’s ideal for cleaning steps and vehicle interiors as well as upholstery, curtains, and light fixtures. The only con is the short runtime of 15 to 20 minutes.
Deik Cordless Vacuum Cleaner, Stick and Handheld Vacuum
You can see that the Deik cordless vacuum is quite similar in appearance to the Shark. They both have a pistol grip handle with most of the weight balanced at the top. While this isn’t the most comfortable design, it has its advantages. For instance, it separates into a handheld vacuum.
Next, the runtime of this model averages about 25 minutes. It weighs only 4.7 pounds and has swivel steering. One button press turns off the brush roller to save battery life. Also, little conveniences like wall mounting make it convenient for storing close at hand where you tend to use it.
iRobot Roomba I7+ with Automatic Dirt Disposal
We’ve been fans of Roomba vacuums since our first Discovery model back in the early 2000s. What we always wish for was a robot that could empty its own dustbin. Now that dream has come true in the iRobot Roomba I7+.
This robot docks at its charging base and the base suctions out the debris from the onboard bin. The base can hold up to 30 bins’ worth of garbage.
Moreover, the I7+ has ten times the suction of the early Roombas. It can even remove allergens like pollen. Additionally, it learns the layout of your home so that you can tell it to clean only specific rooms on certain days.
See our Comparison of Shark vs Rooma here
eufy Boost IQ RoboVac 11S
Not everyone has room in their budget for the latest robotic vacuum. That’s where the eufy RoboVac 11S comes in handy. It may not be as expensive or high-tech, but it won the award for Best Robot Vacuum of 2018 from Digital Trends.
Since it comes with a remote control, you don’t need to worry about setting it up on your home Wi-Fi network or scheduling online. But it will run for up to a hundred minutes on a charge, and it features 1300Pa of suction, enough for low pile carpet.
Neato Robotics D7 Connected Laser Guided Robot Vacuum
Neato keeps innovating with their robots. The D7 has laser technology that guides it through your home so that it doesn’t work in random patterns. Therefore, you can tell it to take care of space-limited trouble spots instead of the whole house at once.
There’s more to love. First, you can prevent it from crossing boundaries where you don’t want it to go, and you won’t need clunky, battery-hungry “barrier walls” to do it. Second, you can control it with devices like Google Home, Amazon Echo, and your Apple watch. What’s more, it runs for up to two hours on a single charge.
Also Read: Neato D5 Vs Neato D7 Comparison
SHARK ION Robot Vacuum R75
Shark also makes a robot vacuum. The battery life is only good for about an hour. But it has a self-cleaning brush roller and two spinning side brushes for better edge-cleaning. It works with Alexa from Amazon for voice control, or you can control it through an app on your smartphone or tablet. To block doorways, it comes with a nine-foot strip of boundary marker.
ECOVACS Deebot M80 Pro Robot Vacuum Cleaner with Mop
We’ve talked a lot about vacuums, but here’s a robot that can mop your floor. Don’t worry about it leaving your laminate wet because it dries it immediately. That’s because it has a wet pad followed by a dry pad attachment. Should you prefer to sweep, you can remove the tank and pads, install the dustbin, and pop in the brush roll.
You can control this robot with the company’s app, the included remote control, or voice commands through Alexa. The battery life is about 110 minutes, and the robot will go to the docking station and recharge itself when needed.
ILIFE V5s Pro Robot Vacuum Mop Cleaner with Water Tank
The V5s Pro from ILIFE is a vacuum and a wet-mopping robot. It runs up to 140 minutes on a charge. But if you use it in mopping mode, it will not recharge on its own at its dock. That’s for safety since it’s carrying water and a wet pad.
To switch between vacuuming a dry floor and mopping, you’ll need to swap the debris bin for the water tank. Also, remove the brushes and replace them with the mopping pad.
Why might you prefer the V5s Pro over the older (but more budget-friendly) V3? It has a powerful motor that runs quieter. And quiet is good on bare floors!
iRobot Braava 380t Floor Mopping Robot
iRobot’s Braava performs either damp mopping or dry sweeping, and both are perfect for your laminate floor. Damp-mop mode can remove grime and sticky messes for up to 150 minutes or 350 ft.². It is easy to use and utilizes battery faster in this mode because it moves back-and-forth to scrub up problem spots.
Meanwhile, it can dry-mop hair, dust, and crumbs for up to 210 minutes or 1000 ft.². We appreciate the fact that you can install the company’s own reusable microfiber cloths or use disposable Swiffer pads.
How to Protect Laminate Flooring from Damage
We’ve mentioned more than once that you can protect laminate flooring from scratches by turning off the vacuum’s brush roller. But there’s more to defending your floor from damage than that.
To illustrate, we recommend sweeping, dust-mopping, or vacuuming your floor regularly to remove grit that can abrade the surface.
Next, trimming your pet’s nails and taking off your shoes is helpful. Put protective mats by entryways and floor protectors underneath furniture legs. Furthermore, if you have a rug with a non-slip underlayer, make sure it doesn’t leave a residue on the floor.
But there’s something else that can hurt laminate flooring. One of our team members (Lawrence) spent time living in an extremely humid environment overseas. He learned firsthand about how humidity affects wood flooring.
It’s not just leaving water on the floor. The very air in your home may cause expansion and contraction of the laminate. Therefore, consider tracking the indoor relative humidity to see if it stays between 35 and 65%. That’s the optimal range according to laminate flooring manufacturers.
Conclusion
We’re happy you visited us today to view our reviews of the best vacuums to clean laminate flooring. We hope you found one that will lighten your workload. Check back with us soon to see new articles about the top products for maintaining your home in top condition.
