We’ve often talked about the difficulties with cleaning carpet and how not just any vacuum will do. Well, the same rules apply to hard flooring surfaces like tile, LVP, or laminate. The wrong kind of vacuum can do more harm than good, and the best vacuum for laminate flooring can come in a variety of form factors, which makes the top models difficult to find.
Laminate flooring can be cleaned in a variety of ways. Brooms and dust mops are two of the more popular options if you just have a few small rooms to clean. If you have laminate throughout your home, you may want something with a bit more power, which is where a good vacuum cleaner comes into play. While a vacuum may seem like overkill for laminate, if you choose a system designed for hard surfaces, you will never pick up a broom or mop again.
Vacuum Cleaner Styles
This is an area that can come down to personal preference, storage concerns, or a number of other factors. The style of the vacuum cleaner you choose can also impact your cleaning routine, especially if you are switching from an old upright to something a little more autonomous.
Traditional Upright – This is the style most consumers will be familiar with, and they provide more options or features than other types of vacuum cleaners. They are easy to store as they stand “upright” when not in use and typically have the most power, although they can weigh twice as much as other styles.
Stick Vacuum – A stick vacuum is the next step down when it comes to size, as you can often find models under 5 pounds. Most are convertible systems with a wealth of features, which can make them more expensive than a powerful upright. Carpet can be an issue for stick vacuums, but they are one of the best vacuums for laminate flooring.
Robotic Vacuum – These vacuums have grown incredibly popular in recent years as technology has evolved, and prices have dropped. A robot vacuum will handle the hard work for you; some can even empty themselves. The smarter the robot, the more expensive it will be, and none are bright enough to clean your stairs.
Canister Vacuum – Canister vacuums are unique as they allow you to clean any area of your home. Laminate flooring is a breeze, but attachments let you tidy up drapes, furniture, and a variety of other things. You will also find more bagged systems in this class, which is ideal if you don’t like to deal with dust or have allergies.
What about a spray mop?
While we’re big fans of spray mops on certain types of surfaces, they don’t pick up large debris; they simply push it around. They are good to clean up dirt, stains, or give your laminate a bit more shine but are no replacement for a vacuum cleaner.
Ease of Use
Pushing a vacuum cleaner of any kind around the house isn’t a task most people enjoy. Choosing a poorly designed system can also be harmful if you already have issues with your wrist or back, which can make using a vacuum cleaner difficult.
When looking for a vacuum cleaner that’s easy to use, consider the wheels and weight. It should be easy to roll and maneuver throughout your home. The controls should be easy to access as well, whether they are located on the handle or through a switch-based system you can control with your foot. Canister vacuums with cord retraction usually take this approach.
If you purchase a corded vacuum, that cord should be easy to wrap, and any filters should be easy to change. The same goes for dust bins and dirt cups. Plenty of manufacturers say their systems will keep your hands dirt-free, but that’s typically not the case.
Power Cord vs. Battery Power
Next to the style of vacuum cleaner, choosing a corded or battery-powered system is arguably the hardest choice most consumers have to make. It affects the price of a vacuum cleaner considerably, and can also limit your cleaning range depending on the size of your home.
The first thing to ask yourself is, how long does it normally take you to run the vacuum? If your total cleaning time is under 20 minutes, a cordless vacuum cleaner is definitely an option for you. On average, you can expect anywhere between 20 to 50 minutes from models in the mid-range to premium tier. If you only have bare surfaces like laminate, you can expect those numbers to hold up fairly well.
Once you start using modes that kick up the power or motorized cleaning tools, the battery life drops on cordless systems. In fact, we’ve seen systems rated at 60 minutes last for only 18 minutes in Turbo Mode with a pet hair brush attached. Keep that in mind if you have pets or plan on using powered tools when you clean.
With corded vacuums, the only drawback is the cord itself. Whether you’re prone to tripping over cords or have a large home, it can be an issue. Having to unplug your vacuum frequently is not ideal, but neither is a 30-foot cord that won’t stay in place when your system is in storage. That being said, you will never have to worry about running out of power as long as you have access to a wall socket.
Vacuum Cleaner Filtration
If you suffer from allergies, there are a number of vacuum cleaners geared towards your needs and even vetted by agencies like the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. These systems are built for people with allergy issues, although filtration is a critical element for any homeowner, and something you need to take seriously for several reasons.
As a vacuum sucks in air, it pushes it out through an exhaust vent. That can put particles back into the air, which is why a post-motor or exhaust filter is extremely handy along with pre-motor filters. They can keep dust and dirt from gumming up the internals on your vacuum, while a HEPA filter can help block 99.9% of particles that come through the cleaner.
Most modern vacuum cleaners use one or more of these types of filters, with HEPA being a popular option on mid-range to high-end machines. The type of filter used is important, but so is the cost of replacing them. That can add up quickly if they aren’t washable, and finding filters can be difficult as well on older models or vacuums from lesser-known brands.
Accessories
Whether it’s a new set of earbuds with your smartphone or a few onion rings in your order of fries, we all enjoy getting something extra with any purchase. Vacuum cleaners are known for coming with plenty of extras, although they aren’t free by any means. A common crevice tool won’t raise the cost of a vacuum, but a powered pet brush certainly will.
With accessories, think about what you commonly use around your home and tools you wish you always had on your last vacuum. If your old machine could never quite reach the top of a shelf in your home, look for a vacuum with a longer extension, hose, or cleaning wand. While a pet brush won’t be very useful if you have an aquarium and no furry pets, it does come in handy in the car when coupled with a cordless system.
Warranty
Would you rather have a product die on you after a few weeks or after the first year? Neither situation is ideal, especially if you plan on spending hundreds of dollars on a new vacuum cleaner. Unfortunately, vacuums aren’t known for having long warranties, and the length is often tied to the brand.
While you may expect Dyson to have a long warranty for their cordless stick vacuums, Shark actually has them beat on most products. Many companies stick with warranties from 1 – 2 years as well, regardless of the price or quality of the system. We’ve seen cheap off-brand stick vacuums with the same guarantee as a nicer machine from Hoover or Eureka.
Alternatively, a company like Miele may have a tiered warranty system that covers certain parts along with a base guarantee. Our best advice with warranties is to read the fine print and consider an extended plan if you’re uncomfortable with the length. It’s also important to realize that the best systems will often outlive their warranties as there are 20-year old uprights that can still outperform some of today’s best-sellers.
The Best Vacuums for Laminate Floors
Finding a high-quality vacuum cleaner for laminate flooring can be a tall order, even with some direction from our buying guide. That’s why we have compiled a quick list featuring some of the best vacuums or laminate floors. We included an option for everyone as well whether you need a bagged system or a slim upright.
When you have bare surfaces in your home like tile, vinyl, or laminate, a full-sized upright is generally not high on most consumers' shopping lists. There are a few models that are still worth your time, however, including the Shark NV360 Navigator Lift-Away Deluxe.
This vacuum cleaner takes advantage of Shark’s Lift-Away system, which allows you to detach the canister with the press of a button. You can clean stairs and other areas of your home with the canister, and its light when detached at only 7.5 pounds. When you factor in the hose and the 25’ long cord, the cleaning range is impressive on this machine.
In upright mode, the NV360 is heavier at 12.5 pounds, although homeowners found it easy to maneuver thanks to a swivel steering system. The suction is excellent, and it has a spinning brush roll with bristles, so it can clean several types of carpeting. A switch lets you flip the brush roll off, which makes this vacuum perfect for laminate, engineered flooring and a variety of other surfaces.
While filtration isn’t on par with a bagged system from Miele, the Shark Navigator Lift-Away has a large dust cup. It can hold around 0.3 gallons before you need to empty the bin. It’s easy to deal with and to keep clean. The vacuum also uses Anti-Allergen Complete Seal technology in conjunction with a HEPA filter to trap 99.9% of dust and allergens inside the system.
The Shark Navigator Lift-Away NV360 packs a lot of punch for the price and is one of the lighter full-sized uprights available. While missing a few features found on Shark’s flagship models, this one is an amazing choice if you have laminate with carpet and rugs in your home. It has a top-tier warranty rated at 5 years and comes with several cleaning tools, including a Turbo Brush, crevice tool, and dusting brush.
There are a number of vacuum cleaners billed as machines built for hard flooring, although only a handful truly measure up. The Bissell Hard Floor Expert is one of them, and its unique design ensures dirt has no place to hide.
Bissell designed this vacuum to provide homeowners with edge to edge cleaning. They achieved this through a V-shaped cleaning head, a unique approach to corners, and table legs. The wedge design can get into areas that would cause a traditional vacuum fits or require you to move chairs, bowls, and other potential obstacles during every cleaning session.
This vacuum is also lightweight as it tips the scales at 7 pounds, and its large wheels will never struggle with laminate, cork, or even carpet. Ease of use was on the mind of the designers, so while there aren’t many controls, everything is easy to access and use. The Bissell 81L2W doesn’t transform into a handheld or have a hose, however, so your cleaning range is limited to 20 feet, which is the length of the power cord.
Bissell was coy about the specs with this vacuum, although the cleaning path width is understandable given the design. We’re not sure how big the bin is on this system, but homeowners feel that it’s easy to use. The Bissell Hard Floor Expert has a simple single-stage filter which is effective, but somewhat disappointing considering similar vacuums in this range have HEPA filtration.
This powerful cyclonic system can tackle dirt, hair, and fairly large debris on laminate flooring. It’s one of the easiest systems on our list to use, but you won’t get any cleaning tools which limits this system's cleaning ability compared to other small uprights. The Hard Floor Expert 81L2W is backed by a 1-year guarantee from Bissell.
The Dyson V6 is one of the company’s older models, but still going strong today. It’s also one of the best vacuums for laminate floors when you want something lightweight and convertible that won’t damage your floors but can still deal with carpet.
This is a direct drive system, which means you’ll receive powered heads to use on your flooring that provide extra cleaning power compared to air driven accessories. With the Absolute package, you will get a powered brush roll that works on low to medium-pile carpet and areas rugs along with a unique soft roller. The soft head is ideal for laminate, hardwood, and other bare surfaces, and is an expensive add-on if purchased separately with any of Dyson’s systems.
You can switch out heads in seconds on the V6 Absolute, but you can also detach the pole to switch to handheld mode. Dusty corners, cobwebs, and furniture are all easy to clean with the included attachments. Dyson used multi-stage filtration on this system, so you can look forward to a HEPA and post-motor filters as well.
Dirt and dust captured from your laminate floors are sucked into a 0.12-gallon bin. It’s reasonably sized, although the “maximum fill” line can send you to the can quickly if you own pets. The bin system is sanitary, but not as easy to use as the system on the V10. Overall, consumers found the Dyson V6 Absolute easy to use and steer across multiple types of flooring – plush carpet aside.
Other tech specs of interest for the V6 include a cleaning path width of 9.84” and a runtime of around 20 minutes. While that’s not impressive compared to newer models, you will get fade-free suction until the battery dies. It takes 210 minutes to charge this one back, and while the battery isn’t removable for charging, the dock is handy and holds all of the attachments.
We chose the Dyson V6 Absolute because of its price point, performance, and the fact you get dual-powered cleaning heads with this system. It has enough power to handle 1,000 square feet laminate with ease despite the runtime even if the bin system can be a bit tricky to deal with at times. This svelte stick vacuum comes with a 2-year guarantee and several attachments.
A high-quality robot vacuum cleaner deal with low to medium pile carpet, but really shine on hard surfaces like linoleum or laminate flooring. Eufy manufactures a variety of automatic vacuum cleaners, and the Eufy RoboVac 30 is our top choice from the company.
With a height of 2.85”, the RoboVac 30 is a slim system that will glide across your flooring. The top of the bot has an anti-scratch surface, so you won’t need to worry about damage if things get a little too tight. It can also kick up the suction power if it needs to crawl across a few rugs or carpet in any room of your home.
BoostIQ may dial up the power, but their Quiet Clean technology keeps the RoboVac quiet while it runs. While you will lose some power while the vacuum cleans carpet, on laminate, you can expect around 100 minutes of juice. It has better filtration than budget-friendly bots as well, with a high-performance filter that works alongside a dual-layer filter.
The bin can hold 0.6 liters of dirt before you will need to lift a finger with this robot vacuum cleaner. That’s because it can return to its charging dock when the power gets low and resume while in auto mode. You can set modes through a remote or scheduled cleaning. It’s not as smart as their premium systems from a navigation standpoint, but won’t tumble down the stairs or spend half the day running into a chair.
Eufy designed an efficient machine with this robot vacuum system, and it has excellent battery life on bare surfaces or carpet. It has all the standard features you would expect in this class and comes with plenty of extras, including filters, cleaning tools, and boundary strips that will keep the machine out of certain areas. If you prefer a mobile app and voice commands to a remote, the RoboVac 30C is also an option as it’s the same system but with Wi-Fi.
When you have allergies, a sealed system is always a good choice, but a bagged vacuum cleaner is your best option. If you have a smaller home or enjoy apartment life, the Bissell Zing is a vacuum to consider and one that’s designed for hard flooring surfaces.
Canister vacuums can be an acquired taste, but the Zing is a model almost everyone can get behind. Large wheels and a lightweight design are part of the reason this vacuum is so popular, but consumers are also impressed by its performance compared to its size. This system is light enough to carry around your home at around 7 pounds and has a large 2.5-liter dust bag.
The bag will keep potential allergens in, but the washable pre and post-motor filters also help in that regard. Another useful feature is cord rewind. A tap on the pedal with your foot will send the 15’ cord back into the base of the machine. That cord is shorter than we like, but one of the only drawbacks to the Bissell Zing 2154A.
The cleaning head is best suited for laminate or hardwood, although this system has enough power for carpet as well. It also comes with several cleaning tools that will make life easy when attached to the end of the 6’ hose. The sturdy telescoping wand is a nice touch, and we like the easy to use airflow regulator. It’s no substitute for presets but gets the job done.
If you’re in the market for a compact canister that can hold a considerable amount of dirt, the Zing 2154A is a fine option. Just keep the cord length in mind if you have a large home as its several feet shorter than similar models from other brands. The Zing is available in several configurations, including a bagless model, all of which have a 1-year guarantee.
Lightweight stick vacuums are suitable for a variety of situations, including dealing with laminate flooring. While the D600 from MOOSOO won’t perform like a high-end Dyson, it has an attractive price point and brings more to the table than other stick vacuums in this range.
MOOSOO’s vacuum is powered by a 500-watt motor, which produces 17kpa of suction. Simply put, it works wonders on hard surfaces and can perform light duty work on rugs. At 2.8 pounds, it is the lightest system on our list as well. While the D600 is not cordless, it is perfect for larger homes and stairs with a 30’ long cord.
One unique feature on this stick vacuum is the extension tube. You can remove it and use the vacuum as a handheld system, but it’s also telescopic. With a range of 18” to 30”, it can quickly accommodate homeowners of different heights. The vacuum has a multi-stage filtration system with a HEPA filter and sponge filter, although it’s not quite on par with fully sealed systems from other brands.
This MOOSOO D600 is one of the best vacuums for laminate floors if you’re on a tight budget. This vacuum cleaner won’t break the bank and is built for surfaces like hardwood and tile – not carpet. It’s incredibly lightweight with a cord longer than many uprights, although there’s no way to wrap it, which is a disappointment. That’s common with corded stick vacuums, but there is a variant with a 23-foot cord if you don’t need the extra length.
Robotic vacuum cleaners have dropped in price drastically over the past few years. You can now find a solid robot for less than an upright, although there are dozens of premium models as well. Our top budget option is the iLife V3s Pro, an affordable autonomous cleaning solution for your home.
With four cleaning modes, this robotic vacuum cleaner is capable of cleaning a room while you go about your day. Spot, edge, and auto clean are all options along with scheduled cleaning, which can handle things while you’re away. As its self-charging with a runtime of around 100 minutes, battery life should never be a concern.
Robot vacuums are designed for ease of use, and the V3s PRO is no exception in that regard. It has large 65mm wheels so it can roll across laminate with ease. It also has a low profile at around 3” high, so it can fit under low furniture in your home. Navigation is controlled through a series of sensors, including cliff sensors, which keep it from going off stairs.
The iLife V3s Pro is quieter than a traditional vacuum with a decibel rate of only 55dB, although the dust bin is a little underwhelming at 300ml. While not as smart as robots with a laser or camera-based navigation, it does a great job on laminate flooring. This robot vacuum comes with an automatic charging dock, remote control, and a 1-year guarantee.
Stationary vacuums are a new breed of automatic vacuum cleaners but work in a completely different fashion than a robot vacuum. As their name suggests, these vacuums don’t move, which makes them an interesting alternative for apartments and smaller spaces.
The EyeVac touchless stationary vacuum has a space-age design and an all-seeing eye that alerts it when dirt is nearby. As you sweep debris near the system, the sensors turn the unit on, and it sucks up the debris. It’s a vacuum you can set and forget until it’s time to empty the bin, and there’s even a notification light that lets you know when it’s close to becoming full.
Bin size is important, and it will take some time to fill up the 1-gallon container on the EyeVac Home. The 1,000-watt motor is powerful, so it can draw in more than hair and dirt. Cereal, pet food, candy, and other reasonably sized debris are fair game as well. While not a traditional vacuum, this system provides your home with excellent multi-stage filtration, including a HEPA filter, which has a 99.7% removal rate.
This vacuum obviously won’t be for everyone, but well worth your time if you have back issues or other maladies that make using a regular vacuum difficult. You only need a broom to use this system, and will never have to bend over to use a dustpan again. The EyeVac Home Professional is available in three different colors and comes with a 1-year warranty.
Pros
Excellent suction
Huge dust bin
Touchless convenience
Cons
Loud when it runs
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Does a cordless vacuum have enough battery life to clean an entire home?
A: It depends on the size of your home and the type of flooring. On average, you can expect 20 to 40 minutes from most systems although the runtime drops with powered heads and intense cleaning modes.
Q: Are bagged vacuums better if you have allergies?
A: Yes. If you suffer from allergies, you should start looking for a bagged system – they are far cleaner than canisters. Many models allow you to plug the bag before its dumped which further minimizes the risk of dust getting into the air.
Q: Is a canister or upright vacuum better for my home?
A: It depends on the type of flooring. Canister vacuums can be just as efficient as a high powered upright, but are typically geared towards bare surfaces and rugs unless they have power brush heads. For carpet, an upright is typically your best choice.
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