What is the best bagged vacuum cleaner to buy? Find out the pros and cons of the top 5 bagged vacuums in 2020, and which model is the one for you.
Here are the best bagged vacuum cleaners in 2020:
- Bissell Zing 2154A – Best Selling
- Hoover Platinum Collection – Best Upright
- Oreck Commercial XL2100RHS – Most Simple
- Prolux Tritan – Best for Allergies
- Kenmore Elite 31150 Pet Friendly – Best for Pet Hair
Continue below to read a short review of each vacuum cleaner:
Contents
1. Bissell Zing 2154A – Best Selling Bagged Vacuum
The Bissell Zing is the best selling bagged vacuum among customers with thousands of reviews. It’s lightweight at 8 lbs, compact enough, and offers a price so low that some people underestimate it and don’t give it much expectation at first. But after using it, buyers are pleasantly surprised by the Zing’s performance.
This canister vacuum has variable suction that works great for hard floors, and can be also used for cleaning carpets with the flip of a switch, but with some limitation. The swivel steering feature makes cleaning around furniture simple, and the 2,5 L capacity bag is easy to remove, though some feel that the cost of replacement bags are too expensive.
The size and capacity of the Zing makes it perfect for small apartments. Many people love it’s small footprint since it’s a relief from using large or heavy vacuums. The Zing is effective for managing pet hair, but be warned: it can sometimes get clogged if you suck up something too large.
The power cord is 15 feet long with an automatic cord rewind, but some people feel it’s too short for their living space and for cleaning stairs. The Zing has great suction for it’s price, but it’s not a heavy duty vacuum for cleaning larger homes with wide carpet areas. If you have a larger home, it’s recommended to use the Zing as a complement to other vacuums you use.
Read our comprehensive review of the Bissell Zing 2154A here
2. Hoover Platinum Collection – Best Upright Bagged Vacuum
The Hoover Platinum Collection is the most favorite upright bagged vacuum. At 12 lbs, it’s not as light as the Bissell Zing, but still easy to maneuver and carry upstairs or from one room to another.
One of the main selling points is that this vacuum comes with HEPA filter bags that traps most dirt and is easy to dispose of without getting dust in your face. There is a light on the bag that tells you when to change it. Some people feel the cost of the bag is too expensive, but on the bright side they don’t need to change it that often.
This vacuum is two vacuums in one, you get the self adjusting, self propelled upright vacuum and a smaller canister vacuum that has all the attachments. The upright has a powerful suction and it cleans area rugs quickly, though some users say it can suck too hard, making it tough to push for high pile carpets more than 1 inch thick.
The head of the Hoover Platinum has headlights that make it easy to vacuum at night, but it’s too big to fit underneath some furniture. Many users love the small canister vacuum for cleaning corners and cobwebs, while others feel it isn’t too useful and is a hassle since you end up running two vacuums at once.
The major weakness of this vacuum is that dog hair can start to develop a smell after some time in the bag. Though it has some minuses, some people say it is the best vacuum they’ve ever bought, and some users even bought it twice after their first one started to break down.
Read our comprehensive review of the Hoover Platinum UH30010COM here
3. Oreck Commercial XL2100RHS – Most Simple Bagged Vacuum
Oreck is a well known brand among vacuum users, and the XL2100RHS is a model that many owners love because it has great suction power and is lightweight. This vacuum doesn’t come with any attachments, it compromises on features to give you a simple vacuum that gets the job done exactly the way you want it.
Though the XL2100RHS can be used for various types of carpets, it’s better suited for low pile carpets. That said, some users say that the Oreck is easy to push, even on high pile carpets. It has automatic floor adjustment that many people say runs smoothly when cleaning hardwood floors and area rugs.
This vacuum comes with an extra long cord (35 ft) that’s great for cleaning apartments without switching outlets. However, some users say the long cord adds too much weight to the vacuum, making it heavy for them to push around. Another complaint is that the XL2100RHS is loud, around 100 dB loud, so it’s safer to use earplugs when vacuuming more than 15 minutes.
Debris larger than 2×2 inches can get stuck in the motor or tube, clogging the machine. Some users report that their Oreck stopped working because the roller stopped turning and the belt broke after some months of use. Another problem is that the bag keeps detaching for some people, making it difficult to operate the vacuum properly.
Though there are some issues, this vacuum works perfectly and smoothly for many people. They love it for its simplicity, though some users do miss having attachments on their vacuum.
Read our comprehensive review of the Oreck XL2100RHS here
4. Prolux Tritan – Best Bagged Vacuum for Allergies
The Prolux Tritan isn’t a famous brand, but it surprised buyers when they found out this vacuum is an affordable workhorse. It comes with anti-allergy sealed HEPA filtration, making it a good choice for those of you who are concerned about allergies from dust.
Unlike the Oreck XL2100RHS, you get many attachments with the Tritan: a duster brush, crevice tool, upholstery tool, and two main heads, one is a combination tool for hard floors and carpet, while the other is a turbo-style for carpet. There are 5 power settings, from minimum, suitable for drapes, to maximum for thick carpets.
This canister vacuum is lightweight and surprisingly quiet, though it whistles at the maximum setting. It’s best for hardwood floors and can also work for carpets in small spaces. People who buy the Tritan say it’s much better than using a heavy upright, and some users even switch their Dyson for the Tritan.
Though this vacuum comes with many attachments, some people say the attachments aren’t that useful. It’s difficult to find bags for the Tritan, so a number of users complain they can’t find replacement bags.
Though the Tritan has some weaknesses, it’s affordability, great suction power and ability to match higher priced vacuums make some buyers feel they don’t need to look further for another vacuum.
Read our comprehensive review of the Prolux Tritan here
5. Kenmore Elite 31150 Pet Friendly – Best Bagged Vacuum for Pet Hair
The Kenmore Elite 31150 is exactly as it says, a friendly vacuum for pet hair. It’s the only bagged vacuum that comes with an attachment especially made for pet hair, the Pet Handimate. It also features a triple HEPA filter system and 5-position height adjustment that makes it work for bare floors and carpeted areas.
What’s nice about the Elite 31150 is that it has a dirt sensor telling you where to focus cleaning. But some users feel this sensor isn’t really that useful since it can turn on in clean areas if there is a single piece of small debris.
This vacuum has a beautiful look and is a heavy vacuum, making some people like how sturdy it feels, while other people say it’s too heavy to push around. If you have back problems or other physical limitation, you might want to find another vacuum.
The common complaint with the Elite 31150 is that the hose is too short and too stiff, making it difficult to vacuum draperies and other areas that need extensive reach even though the suction power is excellent. It’s a minor annoyance for some users, but a major issue for other users such that they return their Kenmore Elite.
Another problem is that the vacuum’s exhaust blows hard at a 90 degree angle, making dust around the vacuum fly in every direction. Though there are some issues, many buyers feel that this vacuum is worth every dime, and is the one vacuum they’re looking for.