The war on housework never ends, so it’s no surprise that many of us are turning to robots for reinforcements. Sadly though, these dust-busting droids don’t come cheap, with many models sporting price tags between $2000–4000.

It’s an eye-watering amount, but also not surprising given these roving robots use a sci-fi-like array of sensors, lasers and advanced software to clean your floors and terminate dirt and debris, so you don’t have to. 

“Robot vacs are definitely getting smarter and better at cleaning, but they’re getting more expensive too,” says ����Vlog vacuum expert Adrian Lini, who’s been test-driving them for years. 

“At the same time, some cheaper units performed surprisingly well and even outshone more expensive models in some areas, so you should never judge a product on price alone.”  

So who wins in the clash of budget cleaning machines? ����Vlog members can find out below, plus we share our expert tips for those new to this robot revolution.

Just want the results? Jump straight to the best budget models now.

How much do robot vacs cost?

The models in our latest robot vacuums test range in price from $169 for a Kmart Anko special all the way to $3999 for Roborock’s Saros Z70, which even features a mechanical claw that picks up objects off the floor.

“Usually the more you pay, the more advanced and autonomous your robot vacuum will be,” explains Adrian. 

“For example, more expensive models will empty their own dirt receptacles in their charging docks, refill their mop-water tanks and even wash their mopping pads after every use.”

“Cheaper, more basic units will require you to manually empty the bin, top up the tanks and take off the mop pads and wash them in your sink.”

Robot vs traditional vacuums: How do they compare?

If you’re hoping to quit vacuuming forever, we have bad news. Years of lab testing at ����Vlog has continually found that robot vacs don’t clean as well as stick or barrel vacuums, especially on carpets and along edges. 

It’s not a surprise given they have smaller motors that can’t generate as much suction, smaller receptacle bins and their small brushes don’t agitate surfaces like a hand-driven cleaning head might, which is especially vital on carpets and rugs. 

Of course, given you’re not the one doing the grunt work, you might be less picky – and you can always schedule your unit to clean more often to compensate. 

“A good robot vac can be great for top-up cleans through the week, but we’d still recommend using a stick or barrel model to guarantee a more thorough clean,” advises Adrian.

Best budget models from our test 

If you’re keen for some high-tech help but a model costing a grand or more ain’t in your future anytime soon, here are the best performing bots for under $700. 

They do have their shortcomings, which we reveal in their profiles below, but if it suits your house and helps in the fight for clean floors, they might be just what you need.

The list of top performers is only available to our members. If you’re not already a member, sign up to reveal the best budget models, plus gain access to all our expert reviews.

Know the products to avoid before you shop. Get our free guide and buy smarter.

Sign up

Read our privacy policy

The post Best budget robot vacuums from our test appeared first on ����Vlog.

Short of getting a non-shedding dog or hairless cat, a good vacuum is your best defence against the seemingly never-ending clumps of hair that accumulate in pet-friendly homes. But not all vacuums are up to the challenge.

Whether you’re considering a robot vac, a stick vac, or a regular barrel vac, choosing the right model can mean the difference between a clean home and living knee-deep in fur.

We’ll reveal some of the best fur busters from our tests and which vacuums to avoid.

On this page:

• Worst vacuums for removing pet hair
• Best robot vacs for pet hair
• Best stick vacs for pet hair
• Best barrel and upright vacuums for pet hair

A warning on specialty ‘pet’ vacuum models

Don’t assume that any vacuum that has the word ‘animal’ in the name is going to ace cleaning up Fido’s fur. 

A number of products across our cordless and barrel/upright vacuum reviews specifically refer to animals, but their ability to deal with pet hair varies.

Here are some specialty ‘pet’ and anti-allergy vacuums that performed worse than some regular vacuums, along with their pet hair removal scores:

• Anko Anti-Allergy Bagless Vacuum ($79): Pet hair removal score: 50%
• Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Turbo 2454F ($399): 60%
• Electrolux Ease C4 Animal EC41-ANIM ($269): 70%
• Hoover ONEPWR EMERGE Pet Cordless Vacuum ($599): 70%

The worst vacuums for removing pet hair

They may not be pet-specific vacuums, but these ones were no match for pet hair in our tests. You’d almost be better off picking up the dog hair tumbleweed by hand. 

Here are the vacs that well and truly lost the fight against the fur:

Robot vacs:

• Kmart Anko Robotic Vacuum ($169): Pet hair removal score: 20%
• Mova P50 Pro Ultra ($2199): 40%
• Eufy Robot Vacuum Omni E28 ($2000): 40%
• Narwal Freo X Plus ($499): 40%
• iRobot Roomba Plus 505 Combo Robot + AutoWash Dock ($1699): 40%
• iRobot Roomba 205 DustCompactor Combo Robot ($699): 40%
• Eufy S1 Pro ($2700): 40%

Stick vacs:

• LG A9 Ace ($399): Pet hair removal score: 10%
• Dirt Devil Cordless Vacuum DSV22G2 EC223602245 ($99): 20%
• Makita 18V Mobile Vacuum Cleaner Kit DCL180 ($149): 40%

Barrel and upright vacs:

• Big W Contempo Compact Vacuum Cleaner 1800W ($85): 20%
• Akitas Neon Multi Cyclonic 2400W Bagless Vacuum Cleaner AK155 ($120): 30%

The best vacuums for pet hair

We’ve sifted through ����Vlog’s extensive testing data to find hair-raising vacuum cleaners from the top, middle and bottom price points of the market.

They’re not the only high-performing fur-busters we’ve tested, but they’ll give you a starting point from which to continue your search.

And remember, not all vacuums are created equal – a vacuum that scores well for pet hair removal might bomb out on our other tests.

Some of the vacs below aced our other tests and are recommended by our experts; others are one-trick ponies and are inconsistent across other cleaning tasks.

Want to know which is which? Our members have access to all of our detailed vacuum test data, so if you want to sort the stars from the suckers, consider becoming a ����Vlog member.

Three of the best robot vacs for pet hair

In disappointing news for pet owners who were hoping a robot vac would free them from the endless task of cleaning up fur, not many of the robot vacuums we’ve tested perform well in our pet hair removal test. 

Only nine robots managed to achieve a score of 80%, but 11 scored 50% or less. 

If you want the best robot vac for pet hair, be prepared to pay. Of the bots that busted the most fur, most cost $2500 and upwards. (The most expensive robot vac in our tests is a hair-raising $3999.)

While they aced our pet hair test, their abilities in other areas weren’t always as impressive. None of them are great at picking up other types of dirt from carpet (they’re all rated as ‘poor’ by our experts), and some of them are mediocre moppers too.

One bot in this line-up received one of the lowest ����Vlog Expert Ratings of all the machines in our test, earning a place in the infamous list of robot vacs to avoid buying.

This just goes to show that buying a vacuum based on one metric alone can leave you out of pocket and up to your elbows in pet hair. 

But our detailed robot vacuum reviews include scores for a range of tests so you can find the right bot for your particular needs. 

Have tiled floors and a dog that sheds a lot? Look for a vacuum that scores well for pet hair removal and picking up dirt from a hard floor.

Need a bot that can mop up your pooch’s drool puddles? Check each robot vac’s mopping performance score.

All of these details and more are available exclusively to ����Vlog members. Plus, you can access expert reviews for more than 200 products, so you won’t get stuck with a dud again.

The affordable option:

TP-Link Tapo RV30 Max Plus

• Price: $649
• Pet hair removal score: 80%

The mid-range marvel:

Ecovacs Deebot T50 Max Pro Omni

• Price: $1799
• Pet hair removal score: 80%

The pricey performer

Roborock Saros Z70

• Price: $3999
• Pet hair removal score: 70%

Three of the best stick vacs for pet hair

Stick vacs are perfect for quick cleans to keep the dirt at bay until you can get in there to do a proper job with your barrel or upright vac. 

For that reason they’re fantastic for pet-friendly homes: they can help you keep on top of the fur so it doesn’t get out of hand in between deep cleans. 

Stick vacs really shine on hard floors. In our current stick vacuum review, around half of the vacs we tested score 75% and higher for hard-floor cleaning, so if you have furry friends and floorboards, a stick vac could be a big help.

Unfortunately not all stick vacs fare so well on carpet, so you’ll have to be a little more picky if you want to keep your rugs free of cat hair confetti.

The affordable option:

Kmart Anko Cordless Stick Cleaner

• Price: $129
• Pet hair removal score: 90%

The mid-range marvel:

Shark Stratos Cordless Pet Pro Vacuum with Clean Sense IQ

• Price: $800
• Pet hair removal score: 100%

The pricey performer:

Dyson V11 Advanced

• Price: $1199
• Pet hair removal score: 100%

Three of the best barrel and upright vacuums for pet hair

The more affordable upright vac:

Shark Navigator Pet ZU62ANZ 12

• Price: $450
• Pet hair removal score: 90%

The mid-range bagged vac:

Electrolux Pure C9 PC91ANIMAT

• Price: $549
• Pet hair removal score: 100%

The pricey performer:

Dyson Big Ball Absolute

• Price: $1049
• Pet hair removal score: 100%

“If you’re a pet owner wanting a barrel or upright vacuum that’ll blitz the pet hair, look for one that has a powered head and opt for a bagged, rather than bagless model,” says ����Vlog vacuum expert Adrian Lini.

How we test

Here at ����Vlog, we’re sticklers for detail, so we use real pet hair for our testing. We get our pet hair from Woof Cat & Dog Grooming in Bondi, Sydney. 

Our tester embeds cat hair in carpet and then vacuums it to a set pattern and speed. The score is calculated on the basis of how much hair is left behind after the test. 

Still curious? Read more about how we test vacuum cleaners at ����Vlog.

The post The best vacuum cleaners for pet hair appeared first on ����Vlog.

Robot vacuums promise to eliminate the burden of one of the most dreaded household chores, and they’ve certainly gained legions of fans whose bots have become valued members of the family.

But while we all fantasise about putting our feet up while someone else takes care of our filthy floors and carpets, the truth is that not all robot vacuums are the magic household helpers we hoped for.

����Vlog tests show that while most models perform well on hard floors, there are many that disappoint on carpet, and also fall down in other aspects of our testing.

And they’re not cheap. The robot vacuums in our latest review range in price from $169 up to almost $4000 for bots with fancy features, such as automatic self-emptying and mopping function with automatic carpet avoidance.

In our tests, each model is scored on its abilities on hard floor and carpet, and assessed for how well they clean pet hair, corners and edges, how well they navigate objects, and other key criteria, including how easy their app is to use and how easy the dirt receptacle is to empty. 

We found some impressive units, and some woeful ones that are just not worth the price tag.

Robot vacuums with mopping functions

Generally, all of the robot vacs that come through our labs now have a mopping function, so we test that too.

Our expert testers spread coffee, red wine, mud, soy sauce and jam on laminate floorboards and let them dry, then release the robot vacs to see how well they mop up these common stains.

And since most people don’t want their rugs mopped, we also check how well they avoid carpet – whether that’s by us programming the robot to avoid defined areas, or by the robot detecting carpet by itself.

If you’re interested in how a particular model performs at mopping, check our full robot vac reviews. And exclusively for ����Vlog members, we also reveal the best robot vacuums with mopping function.

Robot vacuums vs traditional vacuums

They may do the dirty work so you don’t have to, but unfortunately our rigorous lab tests have found robot vacs generally don’t clean as well as traditional barrel or stick vacuums. 

Of course, given that you’re not the one doing the cleaning, you might be fine with that – and you can always schedule your robot to clean more often to compensate. 

“We’ve found robot vacuums are best for ‘top-up’ cleans in between more thorough laps with your stick or barrel vacuum,” says ����Vlog vacuum expert Adrian Lini.

“Overall, how effective a robot vacuum will be for you depends on your home’s layout and things such as whether you have pets, and the main type of flooring.”

Some models are clumsy at navigating objects and corners, and they can often get stuck. 

On the plus side, robot vacuums are handy for getting into those hard-to-reach places such as under couches or beds – prime spots for dust to accumulate.

Bot manufacturers are constantly competing to improve their technology to make better, more intelligent versions. 

And while we’ve seen some evidence of these advances in the stand-out performers in our latest review, we think you should steer clear of these low-scoring models.

The lowest rated robot vacuums

Kmart Anko Robotic Vacuum

• Price: $169
• ����Vlog Expert Rating: 36%
• Hard floor score: 58%
• Carpet score: 9%
• Mopping score: 20%

This budget Anko bot may be dirt cheap, but it’ll leave dirty floors dirty.

Hard floors, carpet, pet hair, corners and edges: it sucks (or rather doesn’t) at cleaning them all. It has the lowest scores across almost every single test our experts ran.

When it comes to mopping, it’s a wet blanket. It did laps of the edges of the room but didn’t make it into the middle, and then left water all over the parts it did actually clean.

You might be prepared to accept less-than-perfect performance from a cheap appliance, but this vac doesn’t even deliver that. Unfortunately you won’t find a decent robot vac at this price, but you might be able to pick up a decent traditional vacuum on sale that’ll do a far better job.

Read the full Kmart Anko Robotic Vacuum review.

TP-Link Tapo RV20 Max Plus

• Price: $499
• ����Vlog Expert Rating: 55%
• Hard floor score: 87%
• Carpet score: 14%
• Mopping score: 40%

If you’re looking for a robot vac for a home that’s mostly hard floors, this isn’t a bad option: its performance is up there with some of the higher-scoring models we tested.

But if you want any more from your robot vac, this isn’t the one for you. It couldn’t handle carpet, corners, edges or pet hair especially well, and it couldn’t mop up the majority of stains on the hard floor in our lab.

While a robot vac is meant to make vacuuming easy, this one is quite labour intensive. Using the app is an involved process, and you need to manually block out carpet on the app or even put up a physical barrier so it doesn’t mop your rugs.

And as for mopping, it’s even more hands-on: you need to manually prepare the mopping pad and water tank beforehand, then clean the pads by hand afterwards. 

To be fair though, the robot vacs that take care of the mop prep and cleaning for you tend to be far more expensive. Regardless, it’s a lot of work for an appliance that’s supposed to reduce your workload, especially since it doesn’t do the job very well.

Read the full TP-Link Tapo RV20 Max Plus review.

Eureka E20 Plus

• Price: $1071
• ����Vlog Expert Rating: 56%
• Hard floor score: 95%
• Carpet score: 18%
• Mopping score: 10%

If you need a robot vac for a completely empty room with hard floors and no corners, the Eureka E20 Plus is an excellent option.

But if you have any furniture, rugs, carpet or pets, steer clear of the Eureka. Oh, and if you want a robot vac that’ll mop the floor for you, definitely give this one a miss.

Our experts say it’s excellent for hard floors, but it struggled with almost all other aspects of cleaning: it bumps into furniture (even pushing chairs out of their place), isn’t great at picking up pet hair or cleaning corners or edges, and very poor at vacuuming carpet.

If you have tassels on your rugs, it could be a source of entertainment at the very least: when it gets stuck, then finally frees itself, it rolls straight back into the tassels to repeat the process all over again.

$1000 is a lot to pay for slapstick appliance amusement though, so we suggest you look elsewhere for your entertainment, and for a robot vac.

Read the full Eureka E20 Plus review.

Narwal Freo X Plus

• Price: $499
• ����Vlog Expert Rating: 58%
• Hard floor score: 86%
• Carpet score: 14%
• Mopping score: 35%

Narwhals are sometimes called “unicorns of the sea”, but there’s not much that’s magical about this robot vac.

It’s very good on hard floors – but then all the other vacs we’ve tested (bar the Anko) are too so it’s not exactly a wizard in that regard.

It definitely doesn’t work wonders on carpets, and it doesn’t mix well with other animals, scoring a dismal 40% for picking up pet hair.

It is a hard worker, though: it’ll keep going for a full 93 minutes, but with a water tank volume of just 260mL, it’s ironically not great at activities involving water, such as mopping.

If you’re after an out-of-this-world clean, you won’t be bewitched by this robot vac.

Read the full Narwal Freo X Plus review.

Know the products to avoid before you shop. Get our free guide and buy smarter.

Sign up

Read our privacy policy

The post Robot vacuum cleaners to avoid buying appeared first on ����Vlog.

But robot vacuum cleaners offer the ultimate convenience – you don’t even have to be home to get the vacuuming done.

They’ve evolved considerably from the basic dust-busters that sometimes wreaked havoc in households. (We’ve all seen videos of unfortunate incidents involving pet poop.)

And many of them now have so much technology on board that they well and truly earn the “robot” moniker: room mapping, Wi-Fi connectivity, virtual walls, apps, self-emptying functions and more.

The next generation of robot vacs aim to free us from yet another dreaded chore: the mopping.

Virtually all the robovacs that come through our labs now have this feature, so we’ve tweaked our test process to assess how well these robo-mops wash floors, as well as vacuum them.

Here’s what to know about robot vacs with mops and which ones to avoid.

Plus, for ����Vlog members only, we’ll reveal the best bots that mop from our rigorous lab testing.

If you want to find out which robo-mops come out on top, join ����Vlog to get instant access to all of our expert, independent reviews.

If you’re already a member and you just want to see the best products, you can jump straight to the results now.

Are robot vacuums with mops any good?

While we’d like to tell you that buying a robot vac means you’ll never have to vacuum or mop again, sadly that’s not the case.

Our experts say that they’re good for keeping the grot to a reasonable level day to day, but you’ll still need to bust out your old faithful cleaning tools to do the job properly.

And unfortunately many robot vacs aren’t especially impressive when it comes to mopping in particular, so if you want your floors clean you’ll still need to get out a bucket of water and some elbow grease every now and again. 

(Or you could check our steam mop reviews and hard floor cleaner reviews to find another appliance to make the job easier.)

Will a robot vacuum avoid mopping my rugs and carpet?

While they do need a wash every once in a while, mopping your carpets and rugs isn’t exactly a good substitute for a carpet cleaner.

Some robot vacs are better than others at avoiding the Axminster. Some need to be programmed to avoid specific areas; others detect the carpet and either move around it or lift the mopping pads up.

But not all robo-mops are created equal: even if they don’t mop your carpet, some models’ mopping pads will still come into contact with the edges, which can leave stains.

When we test each robot’s mopping chops, we assess how they react to carpet. If a bot goes onto the carpet or dirties the edges, it’s marked down. 

“Ideally, robot vacs with carpet detection will lift the mopping pads not just on the carpet but also on the area around it, to avoid dirtying the edges of the rug or carpet,” says ����Vlog robot vacuum expert Adrian Lini.

“Unfortunately a number of models we tested struggled around the edges of the carpet, even if they didn’t mop the carpet itself.”

Our detailed robot vacuum reviews include expert comments about each product’s performance – which gives you better insights into which bot is best.

How easy is it to use robot vacuums with mops?

Another aspect of our rigorous robot vacuum testing is assessing how easy it is to use the mopping function: attaching, removing and cleaning the mop bin and microfibre pads, filling the tank, and using the settings and controls.

Most models in our current review scored quite well on this metric, with all but six scoring 80% and higher. 

With some bots, you’ll need to be pretty hands-on, but others are more set and forget.

“Often, the more expensive models will wash (and sometimes even dry) the pads and extract the dirty water for you, and refill themselves from a larger water tank located in the charging dock,” says Adrian.

“Cheaper models tend not to have these features, so you might need to wet the microfibre pads yourself, fill the water tank after each use, then wash the dirty pads by hand.

“If you want the convenience of a robot vac that takes care of the mopping process by itself, be prepared to pay more.

“If you can’t afford the $2000+ for a fancy robot vac, you might be able to find one within your budget if you’re okay with doing the extra work for the mopping process.”

The robot vacuums with mops to avoid buying

Some of these bots might be good for your budget, but they’re not much good at mopping your floors: they ranked the lowest for mopping in our labs.

Eureka E20 Plus

• Mopping performance score: 10%
• Price: $1071

Kmart Anko Robotic Vacuum

• Mopping performance score: 20%
• Price: $169

iRobot Roomba 205 DustCompactor Combo Robot

• Mopping performance score: 20%
• Price: $699

iRobot Roomba Plus 505 Combo Robot + AutoWash Dock

• Mopping performance score: 30%
• Price: $1699

Narwal Freo X Plus

• Mopping performance score: 35%
• Price: $499

What are the best robot vacuums that mop?

The sheer range of robot vacs on the market can make it hard to pick the right one – but that’s where we come in.

We independently test and review dozens of new vacuums each year in our onsite labs, with new models added to our reviews on a regular basis. Our experts know exactly what to look for to help you find the best product. 

Only ����Vlog members can access our detailed testing data. If you’re not yet a member, join ����Vlog to get instant access to all our expert, independent reviews, from coffee machines and grinders, to kettles and cots, toasters and TVs, and more.

Or log in to unlock this article and find out which bots are top of the mops.

The post The best robot vacs with mopping function  appeared first on ����Vlog.

Dyson’s Spot + Scrub Ai ($1999) is the company’s first wet and dry robot vacuum. It’s been a long time coming. For several years now, virtually all the other robot vacuums coming into the ����Vlog test labs have had some sort of a mopping feature, even if it’s just a basic microfibre cloth velcroed to the base. Our own research suggests that a mopping function is a must for prospective buyers, so mopping results now form a significant part of our ����Vlog Expert Rating.

We were keen to see how Dyson’s offering compared to rival brands such as Ecovacs, Dreame and Roborock, so we borrowed a loan model so we could get it into our labs as soon as possible.

In our specialised labs, our expert Adrian Lini put it through our mopping test, as well as our usual dry tests on hard floor and carpet. (Stay tuned for our full results later, when we release our next batch of robot vacuum reviews.)

What is the Dyson Spot + Scrub Ai?

As the name suggests, Dyson’s latest robot vacuum uses artificial intelligence (AI) to help detect and remove stains. It has a self-cleaning wet microfibre roller for mopping, and dry debris is automatically emptied into the dock’s bagless bin. 

It claims to have object avoidance recognition for almost 200 everyday items (such as cables and socks). To navigate, it uses LiDAR (scanning the room via pulsated lasers). Object recognition and room mapping is conducted by HD camera vision and lasers.

What’s in the box?

Docking station and docking ramp

The docking station comes with a 2.3L clean water tank and 2.3L dirty water tank (claimed capacities), a built-in dust filter, bagless dry bin and an automatic self-cleaning system for washing and drying the wet roller. 

The robot also automatically returns to the dock when it needs a charge, which Dyson says takes three hours. The ramp attaches to the base and keeps the robot off the floor.

Wet and dry robot vacuum cleaner

There are various sensors and a camera at the front of the unit to help the robot map out rooms, avoid bumps and detect stains (it can’t be used as a security camera to be accessed remotely, which some people may find reassuring from a privacy perspective). Under the unit you’ll find:

• a dry bin with pre-installed filter
• side sweepers
• an anti-tangle brush bar (for vacuuming)
• microfibre wet roller (for mopping) 
• dirty and clean water tanks.

The robot vacuum is more than 6kg and the dock 9kg. It is made in China and has a two-year warranty, with service support until at least September 2033.

How easy is the Dyson Spot + Scrub Ai to use?

Adrian took a look at how easy the app was to use when setting up and controlling the robot. Other ease of use aspects were also rated, with an emphasis on emptying the dust bin and using the mopping functionality (which can involve quite a bit of maintenance). 

Overall this robot vacuum is easy to use, particularly when in mopping mode, but the app is a little basic.

MyDyson App

To control the robot vacuum and access its features, you’ll need to download the MyDyson app and set up an account to log in. Connecting it to our wireless network was seamless with no technical issues.

Dyson’s privacy policy states that it won’t sell any personal data, and any images generated on the robot vacuum (for image recognition/mapping purposes) are stored on the robot itself and never transferred or shared. Dyson says that maps are saved to the MyDyson app.

It’s not clear whether that data is stored locally or in the cloud, but the FAQs on the website state that “data transmitted between the robot’s sensors and our services is encrypted to help ensure customers’ information remains completely secure”.

Adrian found the app easy to use with no lag, but to some extent its simplicity is limiting as it doesn’t offer the same level of customisation as other manufacturers’ apps. For example there is no option to customise the vac’s sensitivity to colliding with objects, and no advanced menus regarding what to do if it reaches carpets or obstacles. 

Some features aren’t immediately obvious and require you to navigate through multiple screens to find, and some of the quirks of the app make it confusing to use.

For example, you can customise settings for each room before starting a clean (such as mop hydration levels, quick cleaning mode and so on), but once you exit that screen it’s not immediately obvious whether the specific settings have been saved. This makes it trickier to confirm active settings. You also can’t change settings during the cleaning process, only pause or cancel a job.

Mapping was a lot easier, as you can easily save and edit multiple maps. The robot learns your home’s layout and lets you control areas you want cleaned. The robot will return to its docking station after mapping, or its starting point if it isn’t near the dock (for example, if it’s on another floor level).

Maintenance

The complex nature of robot vacuum mops means maintenance is key to making sure rollers and filters are clean and that there’s always fresh water in the tank.

Maintaining the brush bar and microfibre wet roller is easy: the unit will wash the roller in hot water and dry it (you can specify how long the dryer can go for), so it’s not necessary to remove and wash it after every clean. The brush bar has an anti-tangle mechanism to minimise build-up of hair. Dyson recommends removing hair and debris from the brush bar and roller at least once a month.

The robot vacuum will empty dirt into the dock and it’s easy to empty the dirt receptacle once it’s full.

Filters in both the docking station and robot should be washed and dried at least once a month, too.

How well does the Dyson Spot + Scrub Ai actually clean?

Dyson claims that the Spot + Scrub Ai has an advanced AI stain detection system that goes “over and over until the stains are removed” as well as a roller that “extends 40mm to reach edges”; both claims we wanted to examine more closely.

Our robot vacuum performance test involves both wet and dry cleaning. For the dry test, we assess dirt pick-up on both carpet and hard floors by letting the robot map the room then see how well it picks up sand that has been scattered around our test surfaces. For mopping, we leave several common household substances on a laminate wooden floor (espresso, soy sauce, jam, mud and red wine) to see how well the mop cleans them off. We also assess pet hair pick-up on carpet.

Hard floor testing

The robot vacuum was excellent at picking up dirt from hard floors on boost mode (which we used for testing to give it the best chance). It did a great job at navigating tricky edges like most of the chair legs and walls, but disappointingly it didn’t clean corners reliably, missing a few open as well as tight corners of the space, so overall we only rate it OK for corners and edges.

Carpet testing

Vacuuming on carpet is generally not a strong point for robot vacuums, and we’ve never seen one that excels at this. So would the Dyson be the exception to the rule? Sadly, no. It performed dismally at dirt pick-up from carpet, with very poor results (admittedly our test is tough, but there are many others we’ve seen that can do better). 

We assess pet hair pick-up as well, and the Dyson was good at this: it picked up the majority of the hair with only a few clumps remaining.

We also included a tasselled rug on our test area to see how the robot handled it. In the Dyson’s case the tassels got tangled in the vacuum mechanism and while it made a valiant effort to escape, it finally gave up and declared an error message about five minutes into its failed Houdini mission.

Mopping performance

The Dyson’s main selling point is that its mop can detect hard floor stains using its sensors and camera, and will keep going over them with warm water until they are removed. So we were keen to see how this played out in reality. We used Dyson’s own probiotic cleaning solution ($38 for 500mL) to give it the best chance to deliver optimal results, though the instructions also state that you can use plain water. 

So how did it perform?

Despite numerous attempts to let it map out the area and clean key stains, the robot left entire areas basically untouched (particularly the jam and espresso stains around the docking station). It failed to adequately cover the jam or espresso even though there was plenty of space for the robot to move around in. We don’t tend to see this happen with other robot vacs, so our tester was quite surprised.

“It seems to focus the most on the centre of the area while not covering the edges very thoroughly,” observes Adrian.

Out of the areas it did cover, it did OK with cleaning wine and mud but struggled with soy sauce.

Our mopping test area also includes a small rug to test how well the robot vacuum can avoid getting it wet. The Dyson managed to raise the wet roller when traversing the carpet’s centre, but it struggled to keep the roller up on the edges. It got a bit confused at one point, first recognising it was on carpet, then prematurely lowering the mop onto the carpet before turning and realising it was still on the carpet, and raising the mop again.

The wet roller is designed to keep dispensing clean water onto the surface as it goes. In maximum hydration mode (the highest setting) it left very little water behind on the floor, which was good to see.

Is the Dyson Spot + Scrub worth it?

Even at $1999, this Dyson is relatively affordable: we’ve tested models from rival brands like Roborock that are twice the price. It’s a good vacuum for the price, performing decently in certain scenarios, though it probably won’t score highly enough to be recommended when we put it through our full robot vacuum review.

There’s room for improvement when it comes to dealing with stains in wet cleaning mode; the robot seemed quite reluctant to explore the entire area, which meant it couldn’t do the best job of removing dried-on stains.

It would be great to see software updates to the app and the machine’s firmware to improve navigation and stain recognition. Before that happens, the Dyson is suitable for thorough hard floor cleaning and quick maintenance mops rather than fully-intensive washes. And if you’ve got mostly carpet in your house the Dyson, like most robot vacuums, is probably best avoided.

Know the products to avoid before you shop. Get our free guide and buy smarter.

Sign up

Read our privacy policy

The post Is the new Dyson Spot + Scrub Ai wet and dry robot vacuum worth buying? appeared first on ����Vlog.

Our vacuum cleaner reviews have found that barrel and upright vacuum cleaners are the best option for thorough carpet and floor cleaning, but not all vacuums are created equal.

We lab-tested more than 30 popular models and found a huge difference in their performance for carpeted and hard floors, pet hair pick-up, ease of use, noise and more.

Our testing revealed some high-quality cleaners (both expensive and cheap) but also exposed a number of duds bound to make vacuuming even more of a drag.

These models below received the lowest scores in our expert testing.

Dirt Devil Rebel 4.0 Bagless Vacuum Cleaner 

• ����Vlog Expert Rating: 55%
• Pet hair removal score: 50%
• Price: $59

At well under $100, this Dirt Devil won’t put too much of a strain on your wallet, but it will put a strain on your arms – and your patience. 

It’s difficult to move over carpet, and what little pet hair it does suck up is difficult to extract from the bin. 

And just for good measure, while it’s busy not picking up dirt from your floor, it’ll make an irritating, high-pitched noise. Avoid it like the devil.

Read the full Dirt Devil Rebel 4.0 Bagless review. 

Bissell Cleanview Turbo Multi Cyclonic 1994U

• ����Vlog Expert Rating: 56%
• Pet hair removal score: 50%
• Price: $249

This vacuum comes with a range of tools, but all the accessories in the world can’t make up for its poor performance (and it’s not a tiny price tag, either). 

Our experts rated it as borderline for cleaning, and it only managed to score 50% for pet hair removal. 

It was fiddly to empty, and the cleaning head often got stuck when first pushing it along the carpet. 

Several vacuums that are recommended by our experts cost less than this one, so you can definitely do better for your money. 

Read the full Bissell Cleanview Turbo Multi Cyclonic 1994U review. 

Anko Anti-Allergy Bagless Vacuum SL155B-H13

• ����Vlog Expert Rating: 56%
• Pet hair removal score: 50%
• RRP: $79

With scores like these, this “anti-allergy” vac is poorly named and should probably be renamed “anti-cleaning”. 

It claims to be anti-allergy, but if you’re allergic to pet hair it won’t do much for you: it only scored a pass mark for removing pet hair from carpet.

And with a cleaning performance score this low, it’s not great at cleaning up dust either, so it’s probably not much help for dust mite allergies.

Plus, it has a canister to collect dust and debris which, even though it’s convenient, isn’t the most allergy-friendly solution to emptying your vacuum. 

A bagged vacuum is a better option because you can close it up and throw the whole thing in the bin rather than risk coming into contact with the dust and other allergens when you empty the canister.

It does have a washable HEPA filter though, so whatever little it sucks up can at least be washed down the drain.

Read the full Anko Anti-Allergy Bagless Vacuum review.

Bosch Series 4 Bagged BGL38BA3AU

• ����Vlog Expert Rating: 57%
• Pet hair removal score: 50%
• Price: $369

You’d expect a well-known European brand to do better than cheapos from discount stores like Kmart and Target, right?

Unfortunately that’s not the case for this Bosch Series 4 bagged vacuum, which came in a full three percentage points behind some of the vacs we tested from budget retailers. 

On the upside, you’ll be able to cancel your gym membership if you buy this Bosch: it takes a lot of strength to push it across carpet.

And since it doesn’t clean especially well, you’ll probably need to vacuum the floor twice to get it clean – you’ll end up with some serious biceps with this machine!

You can pick up far better vacuums for around the same price, so don’t get sucked in by the European brand name. 

Read the full Bosch Series 4 Bagged BGL38BA3AU review.

Know the products to avoid before you shop. Get our free guide and buy smarter.

Sign up

Read our privacy policy

The post The vacuums to avoid buying appeared first on ����Vlog.

In big news for bargain hunters, Aldi is selling the Ecovacs Deebot Neo 2.0 robo vac on Saturday 7 March for the discounted price of $279. This model is exclusive to the supermarket as a Special Buy and available for a limited time only.

It’s the second Ecovacs centre aisle offering from Aldi in recent months – the Deebot Neo 2.0 ‘Plus’ model was a December Special Buy for $379. The two models are essentially the same, but the ‘Plus’ product includes a self-emptying dock. 

Currently, the non-Plus model is being sold on Ecovacs’ official for $699, so scoring it for less than half price sounds like a steal. 

But is it a big deal, or best left on the shelf? To find out, we asked ����Vlog vacuum expert Adrian Lini.

Ecovacs Deebot Neo 2.0

Before we dive into the Aldi automaton’s cleaning chops, let’s take a look at the features it comes with. 

Info on the supermarket’s is surprisingly sparse, but the Ecovacs website does offer a fuller picture of what you get with the Neo 2.0.

Key features include:

• vacuuming and mopping function 
• automatic carpet recognition
• claimed 180-minute battery life
• 400mL dustbin and 300mL water tank 
• app functionality with room mapping, clean scheduling and ability to add virtual boundaries (so you can block off a room, for example).

Are Ecovacs robot vacs any good?

Over the years, Adrian and his team have reviewed plenty of Ecovacs models in comprehensive lab tests that include sprinkling 100 grams of sand on various surfaces and measuring how much gets picked up (we’re very meticulous – learn how we test). 

Unfortunately, ����Vlog hasn’t specifically tested the Ecovacs Deebot Neo 2.0. That’s because we focus on the most popular models sold in Australia and this one is a rarer Aldi exclusive sold via their Special Buys sales and the Ecovacs website. 

That said, our experts have taken 13 different Ecovacs Deebot units for dust-busting test drives in the past, so Adrian can definitely share insightful intel on the brand’s cleaning credentials.

“Ecovacs have been selling robot vacs in Australia for well over a decade now, so they’re a fairly common and popular brand here,” says Adrian.

“At ����Vlog, we’ve tested multiple Ecovacs models in our lab that have ranged in price from $399 to $2499. Unfortunately, their track record has been quite hit and miss, with overall performance ranging from good to very poor across the models. Consistency is a big issue, particularly with their cheaper, entry-level bots.”

He points out the brand’s newer, more expensive-tier units (costing over $1500) have definitely improved their game, but in general, budget robots just don’t have the build or software smarts to do a dependable job.  

“A cheap robot vacuum that cleans well is the dream, but often price does play a big role in performance,” he explains. 

“The best performing robots are often expensive because they’re incredibly sophisticated pieces of hardware with precision sensors, lasers and software. By comparison, cheaper bots are far more basic and can really underperform.”

Rating the mop function

Most current robot vacuums can now mop as well as vacuum, making them a helpful one-two cleaning combo. 

Adrian says the best mopping models use hot water with added detergent and employ spring-loaded pads that spin and apply pressure to the floor for a better clean. Their docks then clean and dry the dirty pads before the bot’s next patrol.

Sadly, the Deebot Neo 2.0 features a far more basic, older-style mop design, which is not unexpected for the cheaper price point.

“While we haven’t looked it over in the lab, you can see from the product’s photos and user manual that it doesn’t use detergent with the water and cleans using a thin, velcro-clipped mopping pad.”

“In our experience, this style of mop acts more like a wet cloth and is usually far less effective. You also have to take it off and wash it yourself once it gets dirty.”

Should you buy it? Our expert’s verdict

At the bargain basement price of $279, Aldi’s discount droid certainly sounds tempting. 

While we haven’t reviewed this model specifically, the brand’s track record across the 13 models we’ve tested to date has been middling and inconsistent, depending on the specific model.  

“We’d all love more help with housework and $279 might seem like a great price for some robot reinforcements,” says Adrian. 

“However, from our previous tests, we’ve found Ecovacs’ cheaper models have generally under-performed as floor cleaners. They are better on hard floors, but seriously struggle on carpet and rugs, and picking up pet hair. 

“If you don’t want to be cleaning up after it, when it should be the other way around, you might be best to save the money and put it toward a competent stick or barrel vacuum you can count on.”

Robot vacs vs other vacuums: How do they compare?

Despite robots’ futuristic promise, our lab tests have continually found they don’t clean as well as more hands-on stick, barrel or upright vacs you use yourself. 

It’s not surprising given they have smaller motors that can’t generate as much suction, smaller bin receptacles and their brushes don’t agitate surfaces like a manual cleaning head might.

“A good robot vacuum can definitely help around the house – especially if you have pets – but they’re still not a complete substitute for a stick or barrel vacuum just yet,” says Adrian.

“If your home has a lot of carpet or rugs, a robot vac might not be for you. They do much better if you have mostly hard floors, with relatively open and clear spaces.”

“If you’re happy for your bot to do a quick clean every day that you then follow up with a thorough clean yourself once a week or so, you might be happy with it,” says Adrian.

The post Is Aldi’s cheap Ecovacs robot vac Special Buy worth it? appeared first on ����Vlog.

For those annoying little messes in life that don’t require the heft of a barrel vacuum but do need more than a dustpan and broom, the stick vacuum tidily fills the void.

Some of them don’t come cheap, though: a high-end stick can cost more than $1500. That’s a lot when you consider that most homes will also need a regular vacuum for deeper cleans.

But it is possible to get a great vac for not much cash. Our experts will explain what you need to know about budget stick vacs, plus, exclusively for ����Vlog members, we’ll reveal which sticks deliver the best clean for the least coin.

If you just want to get straight to the best products, you can jump to the results now.

How much should you spend on a stick vacuum?

With price tags ranging anywhere from $1000 or more for a top-of-the-line Dyson to less than $150 for some Kmart models, it’s worth considering how much you’re prepared to pay. 

After all, not everyone can afford to spend a grand for what is essentially a dirt-sucking stick.

Just bear in mind that as stick vacuum technology has improved, prices have also increased: the median price of stick vacuums we’ve tested is now $599, up from $299 eight years ago. 

The downsides of a cheaper stick vac

Almost all of the stick vacuums recommended by our experts cost $800 or more (with most costing more than $1000), so if you’re on a budget you may need to resign yourself to a lower level of performance: a $250 stick vac won’t necessarily deliver the same results as one of our recommended $1000+ models. 

And if your budget stick vac has a problem or failure, it’s often harder and much less cost effective to replace spare parts – if they’re even available. 

Also, with cheaper brands, the battery may not be removable, which means you can’t replace it when it finally dies or stops holding a charge for long – once the battery is dead, the whole appliance becomes unusable.

Premium brands are more likely to have removable batteries, which means that when the battery reaches the end of its life you can just buy a new one instead of a whole new vacuum. 

Plus, you may also have the option to buy a second battery to double your vacuuming time. And some even come with a second battery, which gives you that extra boost from the start.

Bargains are possible if you do your research

It is possible to pick up a cheap stick vacuum that will do a pretty good job, but you need to shop carefully and keep your expectations in check. 

We’ve tested many models that come in at significantly lower price points than premium brands, and some are better than others. 

To help you find a stick vac that’ll give you the best suck for your buck, we’ve compiled the best bargain buys under $250 based on our test results.

What to look for when buying a stick vacuum

Our testing team thoroughly measures the performance of stick vacs in a range of areas, including their ability to suck up pet hair, manoeuvre into corners, and clean both hard floors and carpet.

When buying a stick vac, ����Vlog vacuum expert Adrian Lini says to take special note of the cleaning head design and suction power, as many models do a poor job of cleaning carpet. 

However, he warns that this can also be true of the more expensive machines. 

Even if you are spending at the lower end of the budget, it’s worth taking a look at our stick vacuum reviews to get the dirt on the best and worst performers.

“Stick vacs in general are best for a quick and efficient house clean,” says Adrian. 

“If you only have hard floors, then a cheaper stick vacuum that performed well in our tests would be a satisfactory choice.”

Look for a model with a soft or fluffy roller attachment for hard floors: this will provide the best contact with the floor surface to suck up dirt, and will also help prevent damage to hard floors.

What are the best stick vacuums under $250?

If the convenience of a stick vacuum appeals, but you don’t want to part with a lot of cash, check out these options that represent the best performance for the least money.

We independently test and review dozens of new stick vacs each year in our onsite labs, and our experts know exactly what to look for to help you find the best product.

Our detailed stick vacuum testing data is available exclusively for ����Vlog members. If you’re not yet a member, join ����Vlog to get instant access to all of our expert, independent reviews, from fridges and freezers, toasters and TVs, kettles and cots, and more.

Or log in to unlock this article and find out which low-price stick vacuums are our experts’ top picks.

The post The best stick vacuums under $250 appeared first on ����Vlog.

Between Kmart lovers and social media influencers, there’s been plenty of hype around the Anko robot vac.

No doubt its price is a huge drawcard – at just $169, it costs a fraction of other brands’ models, which can range from $500 all the way up to an eye-watering $4000.

In the never-ending battle against housework, a robot helper for under $200 sounds like a future we want to live in, but how does it really perform when it comes to cleaning floors?

To find out, we asked ����Vlog vacuum expert Adrian Lini, who recently reviewed it alongside rivals from Ecovacs, Roborock, Dreame, iRobot and more in our latest lab test. 

On this page:

• Is the Kmart Anko robot vac any good?
• Hard floor and carpet cleaning performance
• Pet hair, edges and corners
• Mopping performance
• App connectivity and ease of use
• Our expert’s verdict

Is the Kmart Anko robot vac any good?

In a word, no. Despite the buzz online, this bot seriously bombed out in almost all of our tests, including cleaning hard floors, carpet, edges and corners, pet hair, mopping and app usability. 

With a woeful ����Vlog Expert Rating of 36%, it scored the lowest in our test by a long shot (the next lowest score was 55%).

“Unfortunately, the Anko bot’s low price is the only attractive thing about it – it’s one of the worst performing robot vacs we’ve ever tested,” says Adrian.

“So many of the newer models are getting smarter and more sophisticated, but this one is extremely basic and cleans poorly. Essentially, its tech feels similar to robot vacuums from five years ago, maybe even longer.”

Hard floor and carpet cleaning performance

Most robot vacs usually do well on hard floors, but not this bot – it rated a very dusty 58%. 

That means in a set 25-minute time period, it only picked up 58% of the 200 grams of sand Adrian sprinkled evenly over the test area (we’re very meticulous here at ����Vlog). The next lowest hard floor score was 86%.

On carpets, robots generally clean poorly (they don’t have enough suction or agitation to remove dirt from the fibres) but the Kmart model was particularly grim with a score of just 9%.

“We noted that this model doesn’t really map the area as it cleans, which is a big red flag,” says Adrian about its overall sucky performance. 

“Other models will scan the room, then systematically clean the edges and corners of the room, then the middle of the floor. The Anko bot doesn’t know where it is in the room, so it just went over the same spot for half of the time, which meant it didn’t pick up anything elsewhere.”

Pet hair, edges and corners

If pet hair is your pet hate, robot vacs can be very handy for keeping on top of it. Sadly, with a poor score of 20% in our pet hair pick-up test, this Kmart model might just leave you barking mad.

As for cleaning edges and corners, the news is slightly better, but not by much. It managed 40% in that test, with Adrian noting “it missed entire areas as it cleaned somewhat randomly around the room”.

“It also bumped into everything during its test. Not hard enough to damage anything, but it’d consistently bump into obstacles and edges like a dodgem car. Other models will scan and sense edges without touching them.”

Mopping performance

Mopping is the new must-have feature for robot vacs, and some do it rather well (they even clean their own mop pads and change out the dirty water). 

Perhaps as expected, given its price, the Anko cheapie performs poorly with a soggy score of just 20%.

“The Anko model has a thin mop pad attached with velcro and a clip, but it’s like taking a wet wipe and just wiping it across your whole floor. The robot also has no way to determine if it’s on carpet or not, so there’s a chance it could just smear your carpet with the dirt already collected.”

To top it off, during its mopping test, this not-so-clean machine only cleaned the edges of the room, not the middle, and left lots of water in its wake. 

App connectivity and ease of use

The good news? The robot vac’s Tuya Smart app is easy to connect to. The bad news? It’s not very good – Adrian rated it just 32% for ease of use. 

“A model’s app can kind of make or break a lot of these robots, and this one is pretty basic,” he says.

“It has a timer, on/off button and two power settings, where other models will usually have four including a quiet mode. Critically, because it doesn’t map the area it’s in, you lose all the extra functionality that comes with that.”

“So no virtual walls where you can block it going into certain rooms, no predicted cleaning times, no carpet or rug identification, no zone cleaning, and most of all, no assurance that it will even clean the entire area over the course of its battery life.”

Our expert’s verdict

With alarming scores and red flags aplenty, Adrian warns against being sucked in by this model’s ultra-low price.

“People might say ‘well, it’s only $169, what do you expect?’ but that’s still a decent amount of money to throw away. Given its dismal cleaning performance, you’ll need to vacuum all the spots it missed and its poor mopping might leave even more mess and water than it’s worth.”

“You’d be better to save the $169 and put it toward a good barrel or stick vac for a more thorough, dependable clean.”

Know the products to avoid before you shop. Get our free guide and buy smarter.

Sign up

Read our privacy policy

The post Should you buy Kmart’s $169 Anko robot vacuum? appeared first on ����Vlog.

The whole point of a stick vacuum is convenience: you can bust it out for a quick clean, then pop it away as soon as you’re done. 

Unlike a traditional vacuum, there’s no heavy unit to drag along, no juggling multiple parts, no annoying cord retraction.

But a stick vac that doesn’t work well is the polar opposite of convenient. 

If you’re having to double back to clean up the bits your stick vac didn’t pick up, or you’re going over areas multiple times to get everything, you might as well have hauled out your heavy traditional vac (and saved yourself the purchase price of the stick vac).

Some sticks cost well over $1000, so choosing the right one is something you really don’t want to mess up – otherwise, what’s the point in paying all that money for convenience?

The stick vacs that rated lowest in our tests

Our lab experts reviewed 58 popular models, evaluating key factors like their ability to clean hard floors and carpet, pick up pet hair, and get corners and edges clean.

They’ve found some impressive performers in their lab tests, but they also spotted some mediocre sticks that deserve the flick. 

The stick vac so bad we gave it a Shonky

The worst stick vac we’ve ever tested, the Acerpure Clean Lite HV312-10W, scored so poorly in 2024 that we had no choice but to give it a Shonky (the award that nobody wants to win).

What was so bad about it? 

We’ve detailed why the Acerpure is the suckiest stick vac to ever grace our tests, but here’s a quick rundown:

• It received the lowest score ever recorded on our hard floor cleaning test.
• The suction inlet clogged almost immediately and struggled to pick up anything at all.
• When it did pick up debris, it would drop it back onto the floor when switched off.
• It was so bad on hard floors that our tester had to resort to using another vacuum to clean up after it.
• The filter clogged so badly that it took five minutes of hitting it against a hard surface to clear it.

Charging $199 for a product that looks and feels cheap, is outperformed by stick vacuums at half the price and actually creates more work for you? You know where to stick that.

Fortunately it’s been discontinued, but it serves as a reminder of how important it is to research a product before buying so you don’t get stuck with a Shonky sucker.

Read the full Acerpure Clean Lite review.

These were the other models that failed to impress our testers:

Dirt Devil Cordless Vacuum

• ����Vlog Expert Rating: 50%
• Hard floor score: 50%
• Price: $99

The Dirt Devil might be dirt cheap, but unfortunately it won’t do much for the dirt on your floors. 

It struggled on both hard floors and carpets, and did very little to pick up pet hair from carpet, or sand and pebbles from a car’s floor.

It does, however, have a fairly lengthy run time of 19 minutes. But considering its poor performance, you’ll need every second of that time to go over your floor multiple times to have any chance of getting it clean.

It also has a very small dirt bin capacity of just 0.2L, so you’ll need to empty it frequently.

If you only have $99 to spend, don’t spend it on this. You may be better off buying a corded barrel vacuum that will do a far better job for the same price, even though it won’t fulfil your dreams of owning a stick vac. 

Read the full Dirt Devil Cordless Vacuum review. 

����Vlog tip: If your stick vacuum budget is less than $250, we’ve compiled a list of the best budget stick vacuums to help you shop wisely.

Makita 18V Mobile Vacuum Cleaner Kit DCL180

• ����Vlog Expert Rating: 57%
• Hard floor score: 60%
• Price: $249

Makita is a brand that’s found more often in the garage than the home, and the performance of this stick vac suggests it should stay there. 

If you’re looking for something to clean up pet hair, this isn’t the product for you: our experts gave it a score of just 40% for this test (which they rate as ‘poor’). 

And it was only ‘OK’ for cleaning carpets and hard floors indoors. 

The only cleaning job it excelled at was picking up sand and pebbles from a car floor. 

On the plus side, its battery can be used with other tools within the Makita brand range, so while it isn’t a great vacuum for your house, it could be an option for your garage. 

Read the full Makita 18V Mobile Vacuum Cleaner Kit review. 

LG A9 Ace Stick Vacuum

• ����Vlog Expert Rating: 61%
• Hard floor score: 83%
• Price: $399

It might come as a surprise to see a stick vacuum from LG on the naughty list, considering they’ve become one of the most well-known stick vacuum brands alongside Dyson. However, ����Vlog testing proves time and time again that products from the same brand can have vastly different levels of performance.

This stick actually rates as ‘very good’ when it comes to cleaning hard floors and has a good range of tools, which you can store on the charging stand. It also has a lightweight design, which many would find handy. But unfortunately its performance in the rest of our cleaning tests was lacklustre.

This model received a borderline score for quick carpet cleaning and it was very poor at picking up pet hair, so it’s definitely not a good option if you have rooms with carpets or rugs and a four-legged friend.

And, it costs almost $400. As a quick search of our stick vacuum reviews will tell you, you can get better performing vacuums with ����Vlog Expert Ratings in the mid-70s without spending that much cash. Or, stretching your budget a little further will get you a top performing vacuum our experts recommend.

Read the full LG 9 Ace review.

Know the products to avoid before you shop. Get our free guide and buy smarter.

Sign up

Read our privacy policy

The post Stick vacuum cleaners to avoid buying appeared first on ����Vlog.