Cleaning vinyl plank floor is not as difficult as other floor types. To get the best though, your cleaning options should be restricted to the best out there. For instance, the best vacuum for vinyl plank floor should be used if vacuuming is your preferred cleaning method.
Because Vinyl plank flooring has become a very popular alternative to hardwood floors, manufacturers are rushing in to cash in on the demand for good vacuum cleaners for vinyl plank floors. The end result is the proliferation of dozens of vacuums with a sales pitch that promise to deliver the best care for your floor.
Underneath the wonderful ads though, it’s a race to win consumers’ hearts and wallets. Basically, not all vacuums that look sleek and high-tech would do a proper job of cleaning your vinyl plank floor effectively.
This review carefully evaluated dozens of vacuums for vinyl plank floor by going behind the sales pitch and focusing on the features that made them worthy to be classified as the best vacuum for vinyl plank floors.
The 10 products that made this review are truly worthy of the ‘best’ label.
Best Vacuum for Vinyl Plank Floor Buying Guide
There are several factors that collaborate to determine which vacuum should be the preferred choice for your vinyl plank floor. Sometimes, it could all be reduced to personal taste such as brand/model or the size of your budget.
However, to enjoy your vinyl plank floor for as long as possible, the following variables must not be compromised in your choice of vacuum no matter your personal preferences or budget:
The suction – Suction is a common theme in all vacuums. However, when it comes to vinyl plank floors, a steady, consistent and uniform suction must be a feature of the vacuum because suction might be all you need to clean your floor some days.
The filter system – A good filtration system is another important factor to consider when looking for a vacuum for vinyl plank floor.
For the sake of your health, especially if you or somebody close to you is allergic to pollens in the air, the filtration system must be able to capture and trap dust and small particles without letting them back into the air.
Besides, if the filtration system is not efficient, the dust or small particles would be recycled back to your floor making nonsense of the time spent vacuuming the floor.
The best vacuums for vinyl plank floors must have the HEPA filtration system installed. That is the least you should expect in terms of filtration.
The weight – Some vacuums are a delight to use because they are so lightweight you can move them back and forth across the floor with ease.
Again, you might have to carry the vacuum up and down the stairs. In which case, lightweight vacuums should be your best bet.
Power Cords – Most vacuums need power cords that are plugged into power sockets. Vacuums with very long power cords are preferable so you don’t have to switch power outlets while working in large spaces.
You won’t know how convenient that is until you purchase a vacuum with a short power cord.
If you decide you want a cordless vacuum, make sure the battery is strong enough to power the vacuum for at least 30 minutes. That should be enough time to complete vacuuming the floor.
No-scuff bumper – To protect your wood furniture and baseboards, the vacuum must be padded all around with tough, resilient material.
This is to prevent the vacuum from leaving marks and scratches on your baseboards and wooden furniture. You don’t want to damage other stuff while keeping the vinyl plank floor clean, do you?
Versatile – It is common to have different floor types in apartments. This makes it imperative that your vinyl plank floor vacuum must have features capable of cleaning other surfaces such as carpet rugs, upholstery, etc.
A versatile vacuum would come with accessories for cleaning narrow crevices, extensible wands for above floor cleaning, and settings to switch between different floor types.
Top 10 Best Vacuums For Vinyl Plank Floors
#1. Electrolux Ergorapido Lithium Ion Stick Vacuum
At 8.8 lbs, the Electrolux Ergorapido vacuum is one of the lightest cordless vacuums for a vinyl plank floor. It is packed with several functions to ensure your floor gets the vacuuming it deserves.
The stick vacuum easily converts to a handheld for use in places that are hard to reach and above floor cleaning.
It is a cordless vacuum powered by a Lithium Ion battery that is able to provide power for 40 minutes. The battery also powers the LED highlights that light up areas that are dark so you can what you are doing.
You would also love that it has a great allergen filtration system, 180-degree swivel nozzle, and a cyclonic suction system.
#2. Bissell PowerGlide Pet Hair Bagless Vacuum Cleaner
For the quick removal of embedded dirt and pet hair on your vinyl plank floor and other surfaces, Bissell’s PowerGlide is the vacuum you need to do an excellent job.
Like many users, you’d like the 9x multi-cyclonic technology that prevents dirt particles from getting into contact with the vacuum’s motor. This extends the life of the vacuum and filter.
Another great feature is the SmartSeal Allergen system that ensures that captured dirt, dust or allergens remain inside the vacuum and don’t escape back into the air.
The on/off brushroll is fitted with a scatter-free feature suited cleaning hard floors. Switching off the brushroll ensures dirt, debris, and specks of dust are immediately sucked into the vacuum by the powerful suction.
The vacuum comes with several other accessories making it your complete home cleaning machine.
#3. Shark Rocket DuoClean HV382 Corded Bagless Vacuum
The Shark Rocket DuoClean HV382 is a versatile vacuum that is adaptable to various surfaces. In addition to keeping your vinyl plank floor clean, it’s also suitable for other floor types and above floor cleaning.
The vacuum’s soft brushroll is designed to attract and capture dust and grime on your vinyl plank floor. It leaves your vinyl plank floor looking like it has been polished.
You would love the absence of a front wall plate on the brushroll. This implies that debris, dust, and other sorts of dirt on the floor would not be pushed around but immediately sucked into the vacuum.
The ultra-lightweight vacuum which can also be converted to a handheld vacuum comes with a pet tool, crevice tool, and wall mount for easy storage.
#4. iRobot Roomba 690 Robot Vacuum
As artificial intelligence technology gets better and more advanced, it is not surprising that vacuums like the iRobot Roomba 690 with integrated AI technology are considered the vacuums of the future.
Right now though, the sleek Roomba 690 would do basic vacuuming and cleaning tasks for you even while you are asleep.
It comes with a 3-stage cleaning system and brushes for multiple surfaces that are able to pick up and remove even the smallest particles on your vinyl plank floor.
Other features include the integrated voice and Alexa control; ‘dirt detect sensor’ that tells vacuum when to work harder; an iRobot app to schedule and control the vacuum from your phone; and an auto-adjust cleaning head that would adjust its height depending on the surface to be cleaned.
#5. Puppyoo 536 2-in-1 Cordless Vacuum Cleaner
The Puppyoo 536 Cordless Vacuum cleaner is a simple stick vacuum specifically designed with some amazing features for vinyl plank floors, hardwood, carpet, and other surfaces.
Easily transformed into a handheld for spot cleaning and places that are hard to access, it has a cleaning head that is able to rotate 120° horizontally and 180° vertically.
The 5.5 lbs vacuum comes with a 2200 mAh detachable battery that gives over 30 minutes of cleaning time and charges fully in 4 hours; powerful suction; dual power mode; cleaning accessories; and 3 power light indicators to notify you of the power status of the vacuum.
Users love the transparent dust container that needs only a single press of the release button to open and empty it. And the filtering components are all easy to detached making washing them a chore with little stress involved.
#6. Hoover T-Series UH70120 WindTunnel Rewind Plus Upright Vacuum
For the best all-round vacuum for your vinyl plank floor, look no further than this Hoover T-Series UH70120 WindTunnel vacuum cleaner. It comes with a combination of amazing features and a low price tag that has made it one of the best selling vacuum cleaners.
The upright vacuum, weighing just 17 lbs, comes with Hoover’s unique WindTunnel technology that lifts and sucks surface debris and stubborn dirt to give your floor the best clean you can hope from a bagless vacuum.
Other features include the 25-foot retractable power cord; high-quality HEPA filtration system with rinseable filter; extension wand; crevice tool; and an 8″ stretch hose for above floor cleaning.
#7. Eureka PowerSpeed Neu188A Upright Vacuum Cleaner
The Eureka PowerSpeed Neu188A vacuum shows you can get a vacuum for your vinyl plank floor with premium features and functionality at a relatively low price tag.
At just 10 lbs, the lightweight vacuum comes with a flexible telescopic crevice tool that is able to clean tight spaces and inaccessible areas. The LED headlights ensure you see clearly in dark places.
The brushroll has a transparent cover making it possible to see it all the time so you’d know when it needs to be repaired or maintained.
Other great features include the easy-to-empty large dust cup; pet turbo brush; on-board storage for accessories; and deluxe stretch hose to aid in cleaning hard-to-reach places.
#8. Bissell CrossWave 1785A Floor and Carpet Cleaner
Bissell CrossWave 1785A Cleaner is the revolutionary vacuum that’d vacuum and wash your vinyl plank at the same time with its dual brush roll and innovative multi-surface cleaning solution that beats using a sponge mop and bucket.
With its 25-foot power cord, you are assured of a large cleaning area without having to switch power outlets. And with just a touch of the button, the vacuum switches seamlessly from carpet rug to vinyl plank floor mode.
It comes with a 12″ wide cleaning path, a 28 oz water tank, a brush roll that rotates at 3,500 RPM, and Smart-Touch Controls on the handle that allow you to operate all the essential features with ease.
#9. Shark Sonic Duo ZZ500 Hard Floor Cleaner
If you want a vacuum that is specifically designed to clean and polish hard floors like your vinyl plank floor, the Shark Sonic Duo ZZ500 should be one of your top choices.
The lightweight cleaner with a swivel steering is a powerful vacuum and makes removing stuck-on dirt fun. The Sonic Scrubbing Technology with its 1000 scrubs per minute is simply awesome and delivers what it promises.
It comes with a 7:1 hard floor concentrate and hard floor polish to scrub your floor clean and polish it to a high gloss respectively.
Other accessories include 2 hard floor cleaning pads, 8 oz wood and hard floor cleaner, a hard floor polishing pad, storage tray, scrub duster, etc.
#10. Hoover Sprint QuickVac Bagless Upright Vacuum
The Hoover Sprint QuickVac Bagless Upright Vacuum is not just notable for being a budget vacuum cleaner for vinyl plank floors; it is also remarkable for being able to clean the smallest and tightest spaces and lightweight of about 13 lbs.
For effective cleaning, it comes with the multi-cyclonic technology that easily separates fine dirt particles before they reach the filter. This ensures that the frequency of removing and rinsing the filter is cut down. For good measure, it has the awesome HEPA filtration system.
When you decide to purchase it, you also get a vacuum with a 23-foot power cord, 3 position height adjustment for various floor types, a system check indicator that shows when there is a problem, and consistent suction no matter the floor type or how long you use it.
Tips to maintain and care for your vinyl plank floor
1. Use a doormat – Using a doormat would help to keep much of the dirt from people’s shoes away from your vinyl plank floor. Dirt such as sand can be a huge problem for vinyl plank floors because they bruise the floor easily.
2. Regular vacuuming – Daily vacuuming is recommended for vinyl plank floor. The doormat cannot keep all the sand away.
3. Clean liquid messes and spills immediately – Liquid spills or messes that are allowed to stay on the vinyl usually transform into a stain after mixing with the dirt on the floor.
These stains can be tough to remove. Also, if left unattended, the luster and shine of the vinyl plank floor diminishes considerably.
4. Always vacuum your vinyl plank floor very well to remove the dirt before moving on the wet-cleaning.
5. Never scrub the floor too hard. Hard scrubbing would most likely take the shine off of the vinyl plank floor
6. Don’t place furniture with rollers directly on your vinyl plank floor as they would leave scuff marks and scratches on it.
Steam Cleaning Vinyl Plank Floor
Conclusion
In the long term, vinyl plank floors are only as good as the type of cleaning and maintenance methods used. The 10 best vacuums for vinyl plank floors in this guide offer the best vacuuming options for you.
With any of these vacuums, and combined with the cleaning and maintenance tips, you can be assured of a well-maintained vinyl plank floor for as long as possible. Most importantly, you won’t have to spend extra money on expensive maintenance or repairs of the vacuums. They are all durable enough to serve you and your vinyl plank floor for a long time.
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