Not Cordless, Not Robots: 5 Corded Vacuums We Tested

In recent years, it seems that the vacuum cleaner market has been completely taken over by sticks and robots, and traditional corded vacuum cleaners have become a thing of the past. But despite this, they still have «gunpowder in the powder flasks» — or more precisely, powerful motors. Is this enough power for serious cleaning, and do corded vacuum cleaners always outperform cordless ones in efficiency and power?

The compact (256×325×365 mm) and lightweight (4.8 kg) cyclonic vacuum cleaner with a 1.7-liter container surprises with its unique way of attaching the dust collector. The upper part of the container is fixed to the body of the vacuum cleaner using a folding handle. To remove the tank, simply press the round button. This design turned out to be very convenient: it allows you to easily carry the container, open it without getting your hands dirty, and easily install it back. The only downside is that the container is made of dark plastic, which makes it difficult to visually check the filling level.

The filtration system includes several stages, including a fine HEPA-12 filter. During testing, we were convinced of its effectiveness.

The hose, coated with silicone for better hygiene (less dust sticks), is connected to the motor compartment with two latches, which are controlled by a button. The ergonomic shape of the handle facilitates easy control of this maneuverable and lightweight vacuum cleaner with a wide radius of action. Next to the handle are two additional nozzles — for furniture and crevice.

Our measurements of suction power and noise level were contradictory. The vacuum cleaner was indeed quiet, with a noise level of 73 dBA (the specifications indicate 71 dBA), but the suction power was more than half as low as stated (170 aW instead of 420 aW). Although this is not much for a cyclonic floor vacuum cleaner, the model copes well with everyday cleaning tasks, and there were no complaints during three weeks of testing.

The efficiency of the vacuum cleaner (the ratio of suction power to the power consumed from the network) was about 14%, which is quite average. But it works without unnecessary noise!

This durable vacuum cleaner stands out for its light weight (only 3.8 kg) and rare air blowing function, which helps clean hard-to-reach places and can be useful during repairs. It has a reusable dust bag, which not only reliably holds dust inside, but also acts as an additional filter and helps reduce noise. Despite this, at maximum power, the vacuum cleaner works quite loudly (83 dBA), while at minimum power it is quieter than most models we tested, including both floor and stick vacuum cleaners, reaching 73 dBA.

We liked that this model is equipped with smooth electronic power control located on the body, with a wide range of settings. Additionally, you can control the suction power using a mechanical valve on the handle. It is also worth noting the reliable indicator of the dust collector filling — a bright «float» that is easy to notice.

The blowing function allows you to effectively remove dust from hard-to-reach places or blow leaves off the porch and terrace. Previously, as our old-timers recalled, this function was also used for painting walls and whitewashing ceilings, when a spray gun was attached to the vacuum cleaner pipe.

Our measurements showed that the «hose + pipe + floor brush» kit weighs only 1100 g — one of the lightest among those we tested. The maximum suction power was 262 aW, which is close to the declared 320 aW, and quite decent. The efficiency of the model is about 18.2%, which is an excellent result!

A household vacuum cleaner is indispensable for cleaning after repairs, collecting construction dust and sawdust in the workshop, as well as for eliminating spilled liquid and other tasks that can quickly disable conventional filters and the vacuum cleaner motor. This model is designed for comprehensive cleaning after large dirt spots and will be useful around the house, especially in the country or in the garage.

The vacuum cleaner is equipped with a transparent 15-liter tank, which is convenient for monitoring the filling, although visually it may not look very aesthetically pleasing when full. Inside the tank there is a mark at 3.8 liters — up to this mark you can pour water for dry cleaning, which will serve as an aquafilter, and you can also collect liquids up to this mark.

The design of the vacuum cleaner is easy to use: the upper part with the motor and filters is easily removed, as are the four wheels. The bottom of the housing has slots for storing attachments and extension tubes, and the power cord is conveniently wound and fixed in special slots.

The corrugated hose is equipped with a mechanical valve for adjusting the suction power, and there is also a rotary switch on the housing for additional power control.

The diameter of the tube at the end of the hose is designed for connection to a power tool. In addition to the main nozzle, the kit includes accessories for collecting water with a rubber seal, as well as three standard nozzles for cleaning furniture, equipment and crevices.

The model successfully copes with both dry cleaning and water removal and floor drying. It is also effective for cleaning the terrace using the blowing function. To do this, simply switch the flexible hose to the outlet at the top of the motor unit (usually closed with a plug). After cleaning, you just need to pour the contents of the tank into the sewer, unless it is construction dust or sawdust.

After several cleanings, the HEPA filter remained almost clean and dry, which indicates the high quality of filtration and a reliable moisture protection system of the upper unit of the unit.

Like any household vacuum cleaner, the Kitfort KT-5144 is quite heavy (9 kg) and noisy (87 dBA at maximum power). The maximum suction power is 198 W, and the efficiency of the model is 17.4%, which is a good result.

Starwind SSV9550 can be used as a vacuum cleaner and steam mop separately, as well as in the «vacuum and steam» mode or as a handheld steam cleaner.

The model includes an extension handle with duplicate controls, a removable steam cleaner, a motor unit of the vacuum cleaner with a dust collector and a nozzle for wet and dry floor cleaning, which serves as a support for the entire device. At the base of the device there is a water tank with a level sensor.

Important: Before entering the steam generator, the water from the tank passes through a replaceable filter that softens hard water. This filter should be changed once a year or use only distilled or purified water.

The steam generator nozzles include a jet nozzle, a flat nozzle for cleaning the seams between tiles, and a round universal nozzle. A cloth for steaming and washing the floor can be attached to the floor nozzle, as well as a frame for cleaning carpets if necessary. All accessories are removable.

The vacuum cleaner can be conveniently stored on the wall, as the kit includes fasteners and screws. The controls are very simple: the power button activates the steam generator, and in half a minute the device is ready for use. The steam supply intensity can be adjusted without having to constantly hold the button.

The vacuum cleaner showed good cleaning efficiency, but its use may not be entirely convenient. It is difficult to move it from room to room, although the roller brush makes it easier to move during cleaning. Also, the air outlet holes are not well thought out: the air flow is directed in such a way that light debris flies around, which requires repeated passage over the same places.

The floor brush works well, but moving it from the parking position to the working position requires some effort: you need to press it with your foot and tilt it repeatedly. Nevertheless, the results were worth the effort. We cleaned a 70 square meter apartment with hard surfaces in a little over 20 minutes in the «vacuum and steam» mode at maximum power. In this case, we used about one and a half tanks of water and removed old stubborn greasy stains on the stove. For vertical stains, we used a removable steam generator, which turned out to be very convenient.

The container is made of dark plastic, which makes it difficult to see the level of debris. The filtration system also requires improvement: not all large debris gets into the cyclone due to insufficient suction power (measurements showed only 54 aW, like less powerful battery-powered sticks), and the filters quickly become dirty. The fine filter cannot be washed — it must be shaken out and replaced as needed.

The noise level of the vacuum cleaner is quite high — the maximum, according to our measurements, reached 87 dBA, which is comparable to household models. However, the steam generator works much quieter, emitting only 60 dBA. The efficiency of the vacuum cleaner is low, about 10%. Although the model is not top-end and has its drawbacks, it remains convenient and truly universal in use.

Finally, let's look at the Evolution LX900 corded upright vacuum cleaner. We expected its suction power to be higher than that of cordless sticks, given the presence of a five-meter cord and mains operation. However, our measurements showed only 32.6 aW, with power consumption comparable to inexpensive battery models — 493 W. The efficiency of the vacuum cleaner was about 6.7%, and the noise level with the floor electric brush attached reached 88 dBA, which is quite a lot.

The advantages of the model include light weight (2290 g with a floor nozzle and pipe, 1505 g in the portable version), ease of use in vertical and handheld configurations, the presence of an electric brush, illumination of the cleaning area (not always present even in expensive models) and an effective filtration system with two HEPA filters. In addition, you do not need to worry about battery life.

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Corded vacuum cleaners are still in demand for tasks that require high suction power or specific functions that are not yet available in cordless models. However, the common belief that a corded vacuum cleaner is always more powerful than a cordless one has been refuted by the last two upright models in our review.