5 Best Vacuums for Hardwood Floor Cleanup

While the wet and dry functions of Tineco Floor One S3 and BISSELL Crosswave can impress anyone, Dyson V11 Torque Drive can also be remarkable in its own way.

It has one of the most amazing suction power among all the cordless vacuums on the market, making it very effective both on hard floors and even low-pile carpets. And while most of its rivals in our test had to do multiple passes to completely get rid of the debris, V11 Torque Drive removed the dirt we scattered on a low-pile carpet in just a single pass. Even on hardwood floors, it showed phenomenal results by retrieving 99% of the sand and hair. Some long strands of hair got tangled around the brush roll of the unit, but it is not as bad as what cheap models often experience (thanks to the easy removal of the tangles).

On the other hand, it offers 3 power settings according to your preference. But what really impressed us was the Auto mode which employs the Dynamic Load Sensor to adjust the motor speed. It is also decently sensitive and while it might consume the average 60-minute run time of the unit easily, it is all worth it! The transition of the speed was almost instant in our test from the deep cleaning of carpets to completely removing debris on hard floors effortlessly. Even at the lowest setting, it was very effective in the actual setup.

Our overall experience with V11 Torque Drive was notable and we can say that it is designed with user convenience in mind. From the LCD screen informing you of the system details to its cordless design, it is amazing. Further, it requires no disposable dust bags and dumping its content is a snap.

In a world where automation is the biggest game, it is not shocking that we will find it in vacuum cleaners these days. This is where Tineco Floor One S3 prides itself.

It is a wet/dry vacuum that uses the brand’s iLoop smart sensor technology. With the aid of infrared sensors in detecting the mess in front of the vacuum head, the system will adjust the suction power to a higher level to effectively remove everything. While vacuuming, it can also dispense clean water and pick up and store the dirty water afterward into its 0.5 L water tank. What amazed us was how effective it was in our test. It collected debris efficiently, even those wastes in piles. The vacuum head has a good high-profile design which allows the big pile of mess to be sucked in without being pushed. As for its mopping ability, we found the suction power incredibly helpful. The path the vacuum had cleaned got dried almost instantly. Even better, it worked for stains we put on hard floors in just a single pass.

Using it was also painless the entire time. Besides the fact that it employs a self-propelled system, it has a cordless design which allows it to last up to 35 minutes. However, with the automatic technology it is using, the said number is not certain. On the other hand, we also love how easy it is to maintain. The LED control panel display does not only give you info about its performance, but it can also notify you about maintenance alerts. And with just a push of a button, it can clean itself and its roller brush will be visually new again. Disposing of the content of the dirty water tank is also effortless.

While the automation in the Tineco Floor One S3 is truly impressive, it is not always for all kinds of users. And if you have area rugs at home, the continuous liquid disposal of the Tineco Floor One S3 might not be a good idea. This is where you should have the BISSELL Crosswave.

Just like the Tineco Floor One S3, BISSELL Crosswave is a wet/dry vacuum but the absence of its automatic feature makes it more attractive in some ways. Unlike its rival, it allows you to choose when and where you would dispense the cleaning liquid. With this, you have literally the option if you want it to function as a dry vacuum or as a wet vacuum. 

In our test, it worked perfectly as the Tineco Floor One S3 in picking up debris. It left no speck of debris in the route it created and was very effective in the sand and dirt. However, the low profile of its front vacuum head caused it to push medium-sized debris (e.g. cereals) forward at times in our test. Nonetheless, this can be resolved by giving the floor two or more passes. And on a more positive note, its suction power is consistently high, allowing it to suck in debris even on low- and medium-pile carpets. And though it is constantly in its max suction power, you do not need to work about its runtime since it is a corded electric model. It has a 25-foot cord which gives you a good reach everywhere. 

On the other hand, its wet vacuum function is just as pleasing as its performance on dry debris. It cleared surfaces with stains as powerful as the Tineco Floor One S3. The joint power of the microfiber and nylon bristle in the brush left nothing visually. But if you want to use it for sticky spills, we would suggest giving the floor more than a single pass.

The cleanup of the brush itself after we had used it to sauces was not that demanding. It comes with a docking tray that you can manually fill with clean water to clean itself. It sucks the water inside to rinse the remaining residue sticking on the brush roll and store the water in its dirty water tank.

We have reviewed IRobot Roomba S9+ before as the best robot vacuum and it is no wonder why it deserves another spot on this list. Given its nature as a robot vacuum, it can offer the utmost convenience in cleaning your hardwood floors. But what really sets it apart from others are its features that you won’t see in its siblings. 

Unlike most robot vacuums employing random movements as its algorithm, Roomba S9+ navigates in neat and consistent rows. This makes it very effective in vacuuming every single corner of the room. And in case its juice runs out while it is in the middle of its work, it will go back to its charging dock to recharge itself. After the charging, it will go back to the exact same spot where it left off. That being said, it can clean every nook and cranny. It can even clean the corners that typical rounded robot vacuums can’t handle.

Its 2500 Pa suction power has good coverage to suck in everything in its way. There are also two side brushes and another 2 rubber brushes in its body. Compared to other robot vacuums we reviewed, its rubber roller brushes are 30 percent longer which means wider cleaning coverage. We also love that even when tested for sucking in long strands of hair, it didn’t have any issue. No hair tangling in along the length of its brushes and it managed to continuously sweep the floor and suck in all kinds of debris. 

Further, Roomba S9+ brags a camera system that it can use to study the area of your house in detail. After a few rounds of cleaning, it will provide a map or layout of your house that you can access via the iRobot app. This is where users can fully take advantage of its smart features. Using the app, you can set up schedules and the speed of the Roomba S9+. It also flaunts the iRobot Genius which pushes its ability even further. With the feature, you can indicate in the map the room that needs cleaning. You can also assign the specific spots in that room that you want it to clean and to avoid. Its ability to notify you about areas that need cleaning and seasonal changes that cause pet shedding is also a big plus. 

Lastly, its automatic dirt disposal system is a dream! Unlike others that need manual cleanup of the dust chamber, Roomba S9+ deposits all the content it has gathered during its round to the dust bag inside the dock. Each bag can last for 60 days and once it is time for you to pick it up, it is completely sealed so no spec of dust will end up in the air as you dispose of it.

Kenmore Elite 81714 is one of the best canister vacuums there is due to its 2-motor system. Unlike other units of the same kind where the motor can only be found in its canister, it has a separate motor for the canister and its Ultra Plush nozzle head. This gives it extra power in its airflow and suction power.

Settled in its handle is a switch that will allow you to shift between Carpet and Hard Floor mode anytime. And while it impressed us with smooth gliding performance on low-pile carpets, we enjoyed it better in its hard floor performance. Not only did it move and swivel with ease according to our needs, but it cleaned up the floor in just a single pass. From cereals to sand to human and pet hair, it collected every piece of debris. And the entire time of our test, not a single strand of hair got tangled around the beater brush of the nozzle.

It also comes with 4 other attachments that are stored at the back of the canister. But of all the attachments Elite 81714 has, its motorized Pet Powermate is the best as it gives you power over pet hair on fabrics. 

On the other hand, its 10-foot adjustable wand gives you a good reach under furniture such as beds and tables. There is also a 26-foot power cord that is retractable and long enough for most needs.