Tile is one of the few flooring styles that can be used in any room of your home. From shower walls and backsplashes to tiled floors, there are a lot of areas where this wonderful material can be used. While it may not collect dust and dander like carpet, you’ll still want the best vacuum cleaner for tile floors in order to keep your flooring dirt-free.
We’ve told you how to find the best mops for tile, and now we’re going to help you find the perfect vacuum cleaner. As tile has a unique composition compared to hardwood or bare surfaces like concrete, not any vacuum cleaner will do. If you want your tile floor to look just like it did when it was initially installed, you need to choose the right machine for the job.
Do you need a wet-dry vacuum?
The first thing you need to think about with tile flooring are wet mops. Do you have one already, or are you interested in a system that can both mop and vacuum?
Those are an option in this class, and a great way to keep your tile clean. Alternatively, if you already have a great mop, you may want to look for a stick vacuum considering a traditional upright isn’t necessary if you are only cleaning tile flooring. If you need a system to clean several types of rooms in your home, you may want to check out one of our other vacuum cleaner guides.
Robot vacuum cleaners are also an intriguing option for tile flooring. They have come a long way technologically since the early models, so you can now find affordable robot vacuums with Wi-Fi or camera-based navigation. The size of the areas you need to clean will have an impact on the style of vacuum you choose as well. That means you need to think about battery life if you plan on going cordless.
Battery Life
You’re going to find a lot of cordless systems on our list, as we believe they are the best style for tile. That’s because tile is easier to vacuum than other surfaces, even if stains can be another story. A battery-powered vacuum may go dead in 10 minutes on carpet, but you don’t need quite as much power to clean tile.
Budget-friendly cordless vacuums usually have a runtime of around 20 minutes. That’s in “normal” mode as well, so any modes that boost the power will drain your battery quickly. Premium models can get up to 40 minutes per charge. Recharging times take hours, however, so you want to make sure you have enough power for your cleaning routine. Removable batteries are a wise choice as well.
The Brush Roll
Unless you plan on purchasing a suction-only vacuum, you should pay attention to the brush roll. Ideally, for tile, you’ll want to look for a vacuum cleaner with a soft brush roll. Usually made from microfiber, they can work magic on tile floors, laminate, or hardwood as long as there is enough suction.
A standard brush roll with bristles won’t damage a porcelain tile, but it can scatter debris and isn’t nearly as gentle on other types of surfaces. If you do need a vacuum with a bristled brush roll, look for a system with a switch that can turn it off when you encounter hard surfaces.
Do you have allergies?
Allergies affect millions of Americans each year, and keeping your home clean is part of the yearlong battle against pollen, dust mites, and other particles that irritate your sinuses. A vacuum cleaner is one of the first lines of defense against allergies. A poorly designed machine can also put half of what you vacuumed back into the air.
Filtration is common on most vacuum cleaners aside from some vacuums with a mopping feature. Multi-stage filtration is a popular option on premium vacuums, but you can also find mid-range cleaners with pre-motor and exhaust filters. HEPA filters are another form of filtration you’ll encounter frequently, and an excellent choice for homeowners with allergies or pets.
Ease of Use
Vacuum cleaners are designed to be simple. You generally just need to plug them up, hit a switch, and begin cleaning. When the system is full, you’ll have to empty the bin or dump a bag, which is where the problems start for many consumers. Things are even more complicated if it’s a dual-purpose vacuum with a water reservoir.
The bin or dust cup should be easy to dump, and even if it’s large, look for a “full” line. Controls located near the handle are another feature to keep an eye out for. If the vacuum has filtration, make sure those filters are easy to access. The same goes for the brush roll, whether it’s soft or filled with nylon bristles. Eventually, it will need to be cleaned, and while some pop out, others require several tools and some patience.
What about Grout?
Nothing can make tiles pop like having a nice clean grout line. Bright white grout can turn a row of ordinary grey subway tiles into something special, but dirty grout will be an unattractive eyesore to everyone that enters the room.
Unfortunately, grout isn’t something a normal vacuum cleaner can handle. That means you’ll need to manually clean those grooves or turn towards a mopping system. Some of the wet-dry vacuums on our list can get into the grooves, but most lack the power to deep clean grout in tile flooring.
Durability
A good vacuum cleaner should be lightweight, which means most are made from plastic with some aluminum mixed in. Motors and other parts are metal as well, but the exterior of a vacuum takes the most damage. It’s impossible to judge how durable a vacuum cleaner is unless it has a wealth of poor reviews in that area, but you can take a hard look at the warranty.
The average warranty for most vacuum cleaners is 2 to 5 years. If you have a 10-year old upright in your closet now, that’s because many systems will outlive their guarantee – it just depends on how often you use them. If you plan on vacuuming every day, you’ll want to pay up for a high-end system with a warranty on the motor and the vacuum itself.
For normal usage, a machine will still outlast its warranty when proper maintenance practices are put into place. Extended warranty plans are always an option as well, but you need to read the fine print with any system in order to know exactly what’s covered. A 5-year guarantee may seem like a great deal, but not if it only covers a few parts and excludes shipping.
The Best Vacuums for Tile
Once you understand what features are important on a vacuum cleaner, finding the best vacuum for tile isn’t as hard as you think. There are still hundreds of systems to dig through, however, which is why our crack team of experts have compiled a list of machines we feel are the best.
Our selection includes vacuums with a variety of price points, and we chose several different styles as well. Whether you are looking for something light and easy to use or a vacuum that can mop while it cleans, we have a system for you.
It’s difficult to find a cordless cleaner that does more than just vacuum your floors. Bissell is one of a handful of companies that have mastered that art. The Bissell CrossWave Cordless MAX is the best cordless vacuum wet-dry vacuum for tile and a system with some impressive features.
Many 2-in-1 cleaners can be awkward to use or are lacking in the looks department. Well, the Bissell CrossWave MAX 2554A is the type of system you would leave out on purpose. It’s a good looking machine with a modern design that’s built for tile, but also capable of cleaning other sealed surfaces or flooring like linoleum luxury vinyl tile.
The controls on this mopping vacuum are located at the top and base of the handle, which makes things easy to reach. It has a dual tank system with a 27-ounce clean tank and an 18-ounce tank for dirty water. As it vacuums and cleans at the same time, you may have to refill and dump if you have several larger rooms to deal with.
Battery life is sound at around 30 minutes, although you’re looking at 3 hours to get back up to a full charge. You can run a self-cleaning cycle or recharge it at a dock, which doubles as storage for your accessories. Improved edge cleaning is also a nice touch, but Wi-Fi is perhaps the most interesting feature. It allows you to use the Bissell Connect app for maintenance and alerts or use Amazon Dash when it’s time for a refill.
Bissell seems to have blown homeowners away with the CrossWave MAX 2554A. It can annihilate light stains on tile and deal with pet hair and dust while it mops. The battery life should be sufficient for most consumers, but it is expensive. This vacuum cleaner comes with two brush rolls, four trial packs of cleaning formula, and has a 2-year warranty.
If you keep up with our site or cleaning trends in general, Dyson is a name you will be very familiar with. They are a brand that pops up frequently in our best vacuum cleaner lists, and their top system for tile is the older, but effective Dyson V6 Fluffy.
The draw of the Fluffy compared to Dyson’s other cordless systems is the soft roller head. It’s built for hard flooring surfaces, including tile, and works well alongside the company’s digital V6 motor. From a design standpoint, it’s the same as their other V6 vacuums, which means you’ll get a powerful 2-tier cyclonic airflow system and a 0.12-gallon dust bin.
You can empty the bin on the V6 Fluffy with a minimal amount of effort – just pay close attention to the fill line on the cup. If you exceed that limit, pet hair and dust can be difficult to remove from the filter system. This particular system has two changeable filters in the body as well with a pre-filter and post-filter. Both are easy to access and inexpensive to replace.
As with all of Dyson’s cordless systems, the V6 can transform into a handheld with the click of a button. You’ll be able to clean baseboards and crevices with this one but will want to be wary of Max Power mode. On average, you can expect around 20 minutes of juice from the Dyson V6 Fluffy, but we’ve seen that dip below 10 minutes with Max Power mode engaged.
The battery life is the only significant drawback with the Dyson V6 Fluffy. That being said, you shouldn’t need Max mode to vacuum a tile floor. The bin size can be a problem with a powered head and carpet but is large enough to handle a few tiled rooms without needing to be dumped. The V6 comes with a charging dock, mini motorized tool, crevice tool, and combination tool.
Vacuum cleaners can come in all shapes and sizes in the upright world. Most of those machines have a similar design with a wide, rectangular cleaning head. The Bissell PowerEdge Pet is a stick vacuum that doesn’t conform to the rules, and it happens to be one of the best vacuums for tile floors as well.
Tile bathrooms and kitchens can be difficult to clean, especially when you consider cabinets, tables, or other furnishings you’ll need to work around. Bissell solved that problem with the V-shaped cleaning foot on this system, which allows you to clean right up to the edges of angular objects. That will cut back on your cleaning time when you’re dealing with stoves, chairs, and vanities.
The V-shaped foot is designed to funnel dirt towards the intake and uses rubber squeegees in place of brushes around the edges. It works well and allows the PowerEdge Pet to pick up larger debris like kitty litter and pet food along with general dust and dirt. As it’s a cyclonic system, it has more power than a standard stick vacuum and only weighs 7.5 pounds.
While a bit of an oddity, the V-shaped design of this system was made for hard surfaces. The 20’ cord gives you plenty of room to roam as well. It doesn’t have the range of a system with a hose, so there’s a lack of accessories, and the filter can get dirty quickly, but those are the most common complaints with the Bissell PowerEdge Pet.
Robot vacuum cleaners are a great option for tile floors, although they are quite capable on other bare surfaces as well. Well, the Roborock S6 while keep your tile tidy but also serves as a wet mop for those times when a vacuum cleaner just won’t cut it.
Before we get to the mopping feature, we want to take a minute to talk about the power of this vacuum. It’s rated at 2000Pa, so it can suck in debris from a short distance. The company even claims it can pick up AA batteries from your floor. While we couldn’t put that to the test, homeowners have been impressed with its power on both tile and low to medium pile carpet. It’s also quieter than similar robot vacuums with a decibel rating of only 56dB.
The brush roll features a tangle-free design if you have pets, but can be removed as needed for cleaning. When you want to mop, you simply need to slide an attachment onto the robot, fill the water tank, and wet a cloth. It’s no substitute for a wet mop but definitely comes in handy, considering a vacuum cleaner won’t remove stains from tile.
The Roborock S6 is smart enough to amp up the power when it encounters carpet and will return to its base for a charge when its battery gets low. It will also start cleaning where it stopped. The vacuum has a laser-based navigation system along with over a dozen sensors that help keep it on track. Wi-Fi connectivity is included, so you can use an app to schedule cleaning or set up virtual boundaries, but Alexa and Google integration is rough around the edges.
Multiple cleaning modes and the mopping feature are two reasons we dig this system, but its navigation is what really sets it apart. While it’s not the best robot vacuum cleaner overall, it is the smartest robot vacuum that can also mop and brings a lot to the table from a feature standpoint. The Roborock S6 comes with a couple of mopping pads to get you started and has a 2-year guarantee.
Pros
Virtual boundaries and scheduling
Laser-based navigation
Mopping feature
Recharge & Resume
Cons
Smart home compatibility needs work
Product Details
5. Bissell CrossWave Pet Pro 2306A Vacuum Cleaner and Mop
A good vacuum cleaner that can wash your floors and vacuum them at the same time is difficult to find, and Bissell is one of a handful of companies that have managed to pull the feat off successfully. The CrossWave Pet Pro does an amazing job on tile but is an outstanding option for pet owners as well.
We selected the Bissell CrossWave Pet Pro 2306A for its cleaning ability on tile, but it’s a machine geared towards multiple types of surfaces. It will keep your hardwood, luxury vinyl, and linoleum dirt-free, but can also handle area rugs provided they aren’t too thick. It doesn’t have a self-cleaning feature like the CrossWave MAX, although it does have a two-tank system that’s a breeze to use.
The clean water tank is 28 ounces, while the tank for dirty water is listed at 14.5 ounces. The latter has a full line to let you know when it’s ready to dump and slides out of the machine with ease. The brush roll is a tangle-free head, which is a must for pet hair, but not the only perk. The vacuum also sports a pet hair strainer, something you’ll be thankful for, and it’s easy to maintain, as you can see from the video below.
This system doesn’t have a hose, so overhead cleaning is out, and you won’t be able to touch up upholstery. There are no cleaning attachments, but the brush roll is unique with a mix of nylon bristles and microfiber. The range is solid thanks to a 25’ long cord and its lightweight at 12.5 pounds with the water tank filled.
For tile floors, you can’t go wrong with the Bissell CrossWave Pet Pro. It has a wide 12” cleaning path, and while a larger collection tank would have been nice, it gets the job done. It also does a great job on other types of flooring. This version of the Pet Pro comes doesn’t come with cleaning solution, but there are bundles that include cleaner or a special pet brush roll.
Hoover and Bissell have comparable vacuum cleaners at every price point, and the same goes for their water-based systems. The Hoover ONEPWR Cordless FloorMate wet vacuum is their top-tier vacuum mop, and one of the few systems of this nature that gives you control over the cleaning solution.
Whether you have several rooms of tile to clean or a house full of luxury vinyl flooring, the FloorMate has you covered. A soft roller brush head will make your tile floor shine, and their SprayClean nozzle allows you to control the flow of the cleaner. The system works on any sealed surface and can handle light-duty work on rugs.
Maintenance can ruin an otherwise amazing vacuum if it’s hard to clean and service. Thankfully, the nozzle and brush roll are both removable on this system, and it even comes with a handy rinse & storage tray. The ONEPWR FloorMate has two tanks, but we were unable to find an accurate specification for their sizes. With a weight of 10.4 pounds empty, it is light, however.
Battery life on the Hoover ONEPWR FloorMate is a little underwhelming at around 22 minutes per charge. It’s enough to handle multiple rooms if they aren’t too large, and you can mix and match batteries from the rest of the ONEPWR system as well. At this time, that includes three residential vacuum cleaners, shop vacs, and blowers.
Just like most wet-dry vacuums, your cleaning capacity is limited with the FloorMate as there’s no hose or attachments. The battery life is sufficient for a few regular-sized rooms, but not what you’ll want for a larger home. That said, the on-demand SprayClean nozzle is a great feature, and we love the easy to access controls and LED display panel on the handle. The cleaner comes with a trial bottle of cleaning solution and sports a 2-year warranty.
The first robot vacuum cleaner we chose is incredibly intelligent and has plenty of flagship features that may come as a shock if you are transitioning from a traditional upright. It’s also very expensive. If you’re looking for something more budget-friendly, the iLife V3s Pro is a machine that should be high on your shopping list.
The first thing we want to talk about with this bot is its low-profile design. It can go under any object less than 3” high, which could include a vanity in your tile bathroom, kitchen tables, and various other obstacles. It’s a suction-only robot vacuum as well, which means it can outperform models with a brush roll on hard surfaces, although carpet is not a viable option with this machine.
As this is one of the cheaper robot vacuum cleaners, the navigation takes a hit. In place of a high-tech camera or laser guidance, you’ll get a handful of sensors. This keeps the iLife V3s Pro from falling down a flight of stairs or bumping into a wall repeatedly. It’s far from dumb, but it does use random cleaning patterns and sensors to navigate a room.
There are several modes of operation on the V3s Pro, along with a handy remote control. The bin is reasonably sized at 300ml, but quite a bit smaller than the bin on the Roborock S6. It has a small filter that needs to be replaced once a month and a runtime of around 120 minutes on a full charge. If it runs out of power before the job is finished, it will return to the dock to charge, although it won’t pick up where it left off.
It may not be the smartest bot around, but the iLife V3s Pro is capable of handling tile and hard flooring surfaces autonomously. It’s quieter than a regular vacuum cleaner as well, but there is no boundary system to keep this bot from roaming into other rooms. This V3s Pro is backed by a 1-year warranty from iLife.
Many of our options for the best vacuum for tile aren’t what most people would consider budget-friendly. While they may be overkill for a 6’ x 8’ tile floor in a bathroom, the Eureka NES210 Blaze is built for small spaces and quite affordable to boot.
This little upright has an 18’ power cord and weighs around 3.2 pounds making it the lightest system on our list. It may not mop, but it can hold a lot of dirt in is 0.55-liter dust cup. The bin is easy to dump and has a small filter to keep dust and debris from getting into the motor. It’s lacking in that department compared to other vacuums, although that’s the only real drawback from this skinny stick vac.
The cleaning path width is wide for its size at 9.4” and detaches along with the pole. Handheld mode allows for above-floor cleaning, but you can also attach the cleaning head in handheld mode. The nozzle on this system is big enough to draw in large debris with some help from the 2-amp motor. It works best on hard surfaces, but homeowners have reported success on low pile carpeting as well.
While this isn’t the type of vacuum that will last a decade, the Eureka NES210 Blaze 3-in-1 is light and highly effective on tile and hard flooring. The cord may not be long enough for some rooms, but it’s a machine you should consider if you need a cheap vacuum that can handle a few tiled rooms. The Blaze comes with a crevice tool and a 1-year warranty from Eureka.
Pros
Lightweight design
Converts to a handheld
9.5” cleaning path
Cons
Cord length
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do vacuums with higher amps have more power?
A: A vacuum cleaners amp rating only tells you how much electricity it uses, not how much airflow or suction the machine produces.
Q: Is a beater bar the same as a brush roll?
A: No, although the terms are used interchangeably. A beater bar uses vibration to loosen dirt while a “brush” roll has bristles like a hair brush.
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.
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