Are Cordless Vacuums Worth it? Cordless vs Corded Vacuum Cleaners

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a woman vacuuming a living room with a cordless vacuum.

Finding the best vacuum for your home requires a lot of research. While reviewing your options, you might wonder: Are cordless vacuums worth it? While they seem more convenient, comparing the features and seeing what works for you is crucial.

As someone who uses vacuums often, I’ve learned many differences between a cordless and a corded vacuum cleaner. However, both of them have features suited for different people. I can help you narrow down an option tailored to your preference.

As technology progresses, people are more inclined toward using devices that offer convenience, ease, and flexibility. If you prefer that, a cordless vacuum might be your best choice.

On the other hand, with corded vacuums, you’ll find that old-fashioned doesn’t mean bad since these vacuums are more powerful and reliable in terms of usage. 

Viewing your options thoroughly and making an informed decision to avoid regrets is essential. Keep reading the article to learn more about the different features of both types of vacuum cleaners and which is more suitable for you.

Key Takeaways
  • Cordless vacuums offer convenience with rechargeable batteries and the absence of power cords, allowing for greater mobility. They tend to be quieter and more energy-efficient than corded versions.
  • While cordless vacuums may not provide consistent power and may have limited battery life, they are valuable for their portability and are suitable for smaller cleaning tasks or for those who don’t vacuum for extended periods.
  • Cordless vacuums are optimal for specific situations, like frequent traveling, households with children or pets (due to no tripping hazards), and smaller homes where they provide enough suction power and save storage space.

What is a Cordless Vacuum?

a person using a cordless vacuum on a tiled floor.

You’re probably wondering: Are cordless vacuums as good as corded ones? Well, it all comes down to their features.

Cordless vacuums don’t need to be plugged into the wall to operate. Instead, you turn them on, use the battery, and vacuum your floors. They’re more convenient since you don’t need to look for a power outlet to clean your home.

They usually come with rechargeable batteries. Most cordless vacuum cleaners come with a charging station. You can plug the charger into an outlet and charge your batteries beforehand. Then, you can use your vacuum whenever you find it convenient after that.

Comparing Cordless and Corded Vacuums

Now that you understand how a cordless vacuum works, you may wonder if you should buy it over a corded vacuum. After all, corded vacuums seem more popular, but are they as powerful as corded vacuums?

What Cordless Vacuums Offer

You’ll naturally wonder, why are cordless vacuums so expensive, so they must offer something that makes them worth using. If you want to know, “do cordless vacuums work well,” consider what they offer to get the most out of them:

  • Can keep them charged and ready
  • Using less electricity
  • Making less noise

As long as you charge the vacuum and keep it plugged in, you can have it ready whenever you need it. That also means as soon as you finish using the cordless vacuum, you can plug it back in, allow it to charge, and have it ready the next time you need to vacuum around the place.

If you wonder, why cordless vacuum cleaners use less electricity, you’ll notice they don’t need consistent power running to them through a cord. The batteries also stop charging once they get enough power, making it an efficient option for your needs.

As you question, do cordless vacuums work, you’ll notice that they work well for making less noise. You can use them during the morning or other times of the day, allowing you to clean your home without worrying about potential noise and annoyances.

With those points in mind, you may find cordless vacuums worth it since they offer multiple benefits that maximize their use.

Are Cordless Vacuum Cleaners Worth It?

a close up of a person using a cordless vacuum on the floor.

As you look into your options, you should know that cordless vacuum cleaners are worth it. Even though they don’t always provide enough power or may have limited battery, the convenience and lack of a cord makes them valuable.

They especially work well if you don’t have to spend hours vacuuming, so you could vacuum once or twice daily to cover your needs. The lack of a cord allows you to maneuver and use them as needed, even allowing you to take them out of the house.

Corded vacuums have their uses and are more reliable in suction power and consistency than cordless options. While corded vacuums have their uses, you may still want to keep a cordless option for different situations.

When You Should Pick Cordless Vacuum Cleaners

Even though corded vacuum cleaners have their purposes and remain important, you should understand when a cordless vacuum may be the better option. You have multiple situations to consider, so go through them and understand what a cordless vacuum cleaner offers.

You Plan To Travel

Thanks to their lightweight design and lack of wires, you can easily take the vacuum with you to various places, especially if you travel. For example, you can throw it into your car and take it on a trip if you plan to do some cleaning.

As you wonder, do cordless vacuum cleaners use more electricity, you can rest easy knowing they don’t, making them great for minimizing utility bills during trips. 

Even if you wonder, are cordless vacuums less powerful than corded, the lack of power makes the transportation a good trade off. You can even bring it if you plan to do some cleaning for work, ensuring you always have a vacuum available no matter where you go.

You Have Children and Animals

As you question, are cordless vacuums better, you’ll find the better if you have children and animals in the house. Since wires can remain choking and tripping hazards, you may wonder, are expensive cordless vacuums worth it, you’ll find it worth the value if you have no cord.

The same applies if you wonder, do cordless vacuums have less suction. Even if you question, are cordless vacuums less powerful, the lack of suction remains a solid trade off compared to the lack of a tripping hazard for your children and animals.

You can rest easy knowing they’ll stay safe while you vacuum the area. Even though you may ask, are cordless vacuums as powerful as corded, you may appreciate how plenty offer enough suction to cover your needs while minimizing injuries and problems.

You Don’t Have a Large Home

Speaking of, is a cordless vacuum better than corded, you’ll find it pleasant if you live in an apartment. As you wonder, are cordless vacuums better than corded, you’ll find that to be the case if you don’t need to cover as much space.

Since you don’t need them to cover as much space, you won’t have to worry about the battery running out during a vacuuming session. You can also store it somewhere, even if you don’t have much space in your place thanks to the smaller size.

What Are the Main Selling Points of Cordless Stick Vacuums?

The main selling points of cordless vacuum cleaners are that they are small, lightweight, easy to use and safer to use as there is no cord to trip over. Cordless vacuums are effective and provide great performance comparable, and in some cases, better than corded vacuums.

Are Stick Vacuums Better Than Upright Vacuums?

Upright vacuums excel in deep cleaning for large areas, have larger dust containers, and are not reliant on batteries. However, they can be heavier, larger, and less maneuverable. When you compare the advantages and disadvantages of stick vacuums vs upright vacuums you should consider what your specific vacuuming and cleaning requirements are.

Are Stick or Corded Vacuums Good for Carpets?

Yes, stick vacuums and corded vacuums both offer strong suction performance, portability, versatility on various floor types, and easy maintenance which is great for vacuum cleaning carpets. These types of vacuum are both top performers to clean high-pile and low-pile carpets. There are many reasons why stick vacuums are good for carpet, such as flexibility to convert to handheld vacuum, lightweight and easy to empty the bin container.

Are Cordless Vacuums As Good as Corded Vacuums?

Corded vacuums are characterized by high suction power and large dust capacity, making them suitable for dust-prone floors and large houses. However, they pose a tripping risk, especially in environments with children and pets. In contrast, cordless vacuums are notable for their convenience and portability, making them ideal for small homes with limited storage. Premium cordless vacuums perform just as well at most corded vacuums. A key drawback of cordless vacuums is their higher cost, rendering them less suitable for those with limited budgets.

Why Are Stick Vacuums So Expensive?

Stick vacuums are often considered expensive, and this is attributed to their advanced features and improved design. Enhanced features such as laser dirt sensors, digital displays, HEPA filters, special cleaning heads, and automatic hand adjustments add to their value.

Why are stick vacuums so pricey? It’s mainly due to these aspects, along with cordless operation, lightweight portability, suitability for small spaces, and quieter performance. However, when choosing a vacuum, considerations like home size, surface types, physical fitness, and budget are crucial. Stick vacuums offer convenience but at a possibly higher cost.

Do Stick Vacuums Stand on Their Own?

Stick vacuums typically face a challenge in standing alone due to their uneven weight distribution, leading to a potential fall if not placed carefully. Addressing the question, do stick vacuums stand on their own, the answer is generally no.

However, solutions include using wall mounts or docking stations, often included with the vacuum and equipped with charging facilities. For those seeking other options, freestanding vacuum racks are available online, but it’s crucial to ensure they are compatible with specific vacuum models.

What Are The Pros and Cons of Cordless Vacuums?

Cordless vacuums stand out from their corded counterparts mainly due to their independence from power outlets, allowing uninterrupted cleaning and ease of movement.

What are the advantages of cordless vacuums? They offer seamless cleaning without the need to switch outlets, are well-suited for spot cleaning, and are more convenient to store. However, they do have limitations, such as limited battery life affecting cleaning duration and performance, smaller dust canister capacity requiring frequent emptying, and generally higher prices compared to corded models.

Final Thoughts

Are cordless vacuums worth it? In many ways, yes, they are. If you want to easily maneuver your vacuum and use it for less time than corded options, you’ll find a cordless vacuum works.

On the other hand, if you want your vacuum to clean more efficiently with a more powerful suction, go for a corded vacuum.

Ultimately, it all comes down to your preferences and what fits you best.

Frequently Asked Questions

We’ve gathered the most popular questions and answered them below.

No, cordless vacuums aren’t costly to charge. You put them into the charging station, allow them to charge up, and use them as needed. Most will automatically turn off and stop charging once they reach a full battery, meaning they won’t waste any more electricity.

If you ask, are cordless vacuums cheaper to run, you can rest easy knowing they don’t use as much electricity.

Corded options tend to use more electricity since they need a constant flow to keep them running. If you want to save money on electricity, you should choose a cordless option, though the corded option will naturally provide more power.

Yes, cordless vacuums are significantly safer than corded options. You can use them without worrying about tripping over a wire while cleaning. For example, if you have children in the house, they won’t grab it or face potential hazards.

They also don’t have electricity running through them, like with a cord, so you won’t have to worry about cord damage leading to a fire or electrocution.

The battery life of a cordless vacuum depends on the vacuum model and its usage. Usually, the battery lasts between 20 to 40 minutes in a single use. 

However, it’s important to note that the battery life can also vary depending on the type of cleaning mode used, with higher suction modes draining the battery faster.

Once the battery dies, recharging it can take anywhere from 2 to 4 hours. However, this time frame also varies depending on the battery capacity and charger.

Cordless vacuums have progressed  in technology, but they might not be able to replace corded vacuums completely. It all comes down to your preferences. 

A cordless vacuum might be your best option if you value convenience and portability. However, a corded vacuum is the right call if you prefer durability and a more thorough cleaning job.