Best Vacuums for Laminate Floors in 2022: Buying Guide

Finding the perfect vacuum cleaner for laminate floor isn’t an easy task, so if you’ve ever experienced trouble shopping for you, you’re definitely not alone. Most of the times, people assume that the best vacuum for laminate floor is anything they can get their hands on. Sadly, for most of those folks, this isn’t the case.

You may have heard of special homemade mixes for cleaning laminate floors consisting of vinegar, detergents, or special powders. Believe us – we’ve tried some of these recipes, and they don’t work nearly as well as we’d hoped. There’s really no other way than vacuuming your floors clean.

In this article, we’ll provide you with all the information you need to find the very best vacuum for laminate floors. But before we dive into our buying guide, check out what our editors have chosen as their top 8. We’ve split them up based on their type, affordability, and overall greatness.

Our Recommended Vacuums for Laminate Floors for 2021

Best Upright Vacuums

2) Oreck U2000RB1 Professional Upright Vacuum

Beginning with uprights, we can’t leave out the budget-friendly solution known as the Oreck U2000RB1. Though not as sleek looking as so many others, it’s what’s underneath that counts the most. This is a commercial-grade vacuum mainly used by professional custodians for vacuuming all types of surfaces, but it excels on laminate floors.

Weighing less than 10 pounds on an empty bag, the U2000RB1 is easy to maneuver, has a wide vacuum head that covers more area with fewer passes, and features a long 40-foot power cord for maximum reach while tied down. Compared to most, the U2000RB1 can be considered lacking features, but what it can do – clean laminate floors – it does very, very well.

Last update on 2023-03-30 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

1) Shark APEX AZ1002 Upright Vacuum

In other articles, we’ve praised many of Shark’s upright vacuum cleaners, and the APEX AZ1002 is another one that’s made to impress. With DuoClean brushes – one placed in front of the other – paired with the tangle-free Zero-M brush roll, the AZ1002 does more than just clean laminate floors. The real value of the this upright is its convertibility.

By detaching the canister from the main body, this vacuum cleaner can transform from an upright to a handheld canister model for overhead and better spot-cleaning. While on canister mode, you have the option to attach one of three included cleaning tools for specific tasks – a pet power brush for grooming and removing hair, an upholstery tool for cleaning furniture cushions, and a 12-inch duster/crevice tool.

Last update on 2023-03-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Upright Vacuum | Recommended

Last update on 2023-03-12 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Best Canister Vacuums

2) Eureka Mighty Mite 3670G Canister Vacuum

Moving onto canisters, the Eureka Mighty Mite 3670G isn’t something you want to skimp over. At first glance, it may not look like much, but it doesn’t have the word “Mighty” in its name for no reason. This vacuum cleaner comes with a heavy-duty 12-amp motor that makes cleaning laminate floors not only quick but also extremely easy to do.

On the handle, you’ll find a slip ring that adjusts suction pressure for when you need to move from smooth floors to carpeted surfaces or upholstery. The only downside is its somewhat small dust collection bag. We found that it fills rather quickly which can cause a reduction in suction pressure. To overcome this glaring issue, you’ll need to replace the dust bag more frequently than you may like.

Last update on 2023-03-30 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

1) Miele Complete C2 Canister Vacuum Cleaner

Now onto the best of the best, the Complete C2 by Miele is really in a league of its own in terms of vacuuming laminate floors. This 1,200-watt beast delivers a ton of suction pressure and can hold onto slightly more than 4-1/2 quarts of floor gunk. It has an adjustable brush that works extremely well at digging deep into carpet fibers as well as scrubbing ever-so-gently on laminate.

The extra-long suction hose offers up to a 33-foot radius of movement without touching the canister unit. Other than the average sized vacuum head, this canister vac comes with three handy cleaning tools – an integrated dusting brush, an upholstery tool, and a crevice tool – all of which fit snugly inside of the canister.

Last update on 2023-03-30 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Canister Vacuum | Recommended

Last update on 2023-03-02 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Best Robot Vacuums

2) eufy AK-T2118111 Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Last update on 2023-03-30 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

1) eufy AK-T2108121 Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Last update on 2023-03-30 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Robot Vacuum | Recommended

Last update on 2023-03-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Best Stick Vacuums

2) Bissell 2033 Featherweight Bagless Stick Vacuum

Last update on 2023-03-30 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

1) Dyson V11 268731-01 Cordless Vacuum Cleaner

In the vacuum cleaner world, not many brands are ready to take on Dyson head-on, and after using the V11, you’ll see why. You might not expect stick vacs to come with the same surface-type sensor found in robotic vacuum cleaners, but the V11 is unlike the others. When auto-mode is activated, the V11 uses a number of sensors to switch from eco, standard, and boost mode depending on whether it’s currently treading on smooth floors or carpeting.

The smart LCD display tells you everything you need to know about the V11, starting from remaining battery all the way to filter and maintenance alerts. The included wall-mounted charging dock takes only 4-1/2 hours to charge the batteries to 100% for roughly 60 minutes of continuous cleaning. Included in the kit are more cleaning tools than you may ever need – a crevice tool, a stubborn-dirt brush, a soft-bristle brush, and a combo tool.

Last update on 2023-03-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Stick Vacuum | Recommended

Last update on 2023-03-10 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Vacuums for Laminate Floors Buying Guide

Obviously, the best laminate floor vacuum cleaner does not only effectively pick up every speck of dust from your floors but also does it without leaving damage in its wake. After looking at what our editors think are the best vacuum cleaners for laminate floors, let’s take a quick look at the most important features and specs.

Type

In this article, we’ve included all four of the major types of vacuum cleaners – uprights, canisters, robots, and sticks. Choosing one over the other is a matter of personal preference, though each of them has quite a bit to offer. Uprights and canisters are the bulkiest of the bunch, but with great size comes great cleaning power. Robots offer the most convenience since you won’t need to push or lug around a large vacuum to clean your floors. Sticks are used not only for floors but also drapes, walls, ceilings, and – with the right attachments – furniture and upholstery.

Suction Power

To clean laminate floors, you won’t need a tremendous amount of suction power. However, if you’d like a more versatile, cover-all-surface type of vacuum cleaner, it won’t hurt to go up and beyond. For laminate floors, anywhere from 2,000 to 5,000 Pa of pressure will do. For carpeting and upholstery, you may need to crank it up a notch and go beyond the 10,000-Pa mark.

Adjustable Suction

Some of the best vacuum cleaners we’ve ever tested have adjustable suction power gears or dials. This allows users to switch between low, standard, and high-power modes for cleaning different floor types without needing to invest in several models.

Adjustable Height

The thing about laminate floors is that they can scratch rather easily if the brush’s bristles reach too far deep into the floor. To prevent this from happening, consider getting a vacuum that has an adjustable brush height feature. This feature will let you deep-clean carpets by setting the brush to its lowest setting, while on medium to max height, the bristles can remain up and away from the ground to leave your laminate floors or floorboards intact.

Cleaning Tools

Even though the standard vacuum head on an upright, canister, or stick vac should work well on laminate floors (at least in the cases of our favorite models), it never hurts to have an assortment of cleaning tools on hand. These cleaning attachments will allow you to clean various surfaces and crevices effectively and efficiently. The most basic of which are crevice tools and dusting brushes. There are also quite a few specialized tools like pet brushes and triangle attachments for carpeted stairs.

Battery

If you’re seriously considering purchasing a robotic or a cordless stick vac, then you need to pay close attention to how large the battery is. Larger batteries clearly offer more cleaning time per charge than their smaller counterparts, but your decision should be based on how large your home or apartment’s floors are.

FAQs

1. Upright, stick, robotic, or canister – which is best?

Deciding on the type of vacuum cleaner is a matter of personal preference and budget. Robots are generally more expensive than the other types, but as you can tell from the two Roborocks, they get the job done without needing to push anything around. Uprights and canisters provide the most suction pressure, and sticks are extremely lightweight and user-friendly. On laminate floors, as long as you follow the buying guide above, any type will do.

2. Should I get a steam cleaner for laminate floors?

One common mistake that many homeowners do is steam-clean laminate floors. Although a bit of water can help keep laminate nice and shiny, steam can get into the cracks and cause deterioration over time. To clean laminate floors, after vacuuming, go over your floors with a damp (not sopping wet) mop with whatever detergent you prefer. The Roborock’s integrated mopping systems work extremely well at mopping laminate without causing water damage.

3. How do you get rid of pet/human hair from laminate floors?

Unlike carpeting, there’s really nowhere for hair and fur to hide on laminate floors. They can get stuck in between boards, but a high-pressure vacuum cleaner, such as the models mentioned above, should be able to pull them right out without much trouble. A brush roll with soft bristles will also do the trick. The key is “soft” – stiff bristles will get in between boards but may leave nasty gash marks on the surface.

Conclusion

Cleaning laminate floors isn’t the most difficult thing to do in the world, as long as you have the right vacuum cleaner for the task. The “right” vacuum should be able to sweep your floors clean and get in between boards without any trouble and without leaving damage. Take a look at our picks of the top 8 vacuum cleaner for laminate floors, or check out our buying guide if none of these models are available to you.

Vacuum Cleaner | Recommended

Last update on 2023-03-07 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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Previously In Our Recommended List

Roborock E20

For those of you who want to keep your laminate floors spotless without touching a vacuum cleaner, then a robotic vacuum is the type for you. You can find several budget-friendly robots in today’s market, but many are left in the Roborock E20’s dust. This robot doesn’t just sweep and vacuum, but with its wipe pad in place, the E20 can mop your floors clean with its integrated drip water tank.

With carpet pressurization, the E20 knows how much suction pressure to deliver on carpets and smooth floors, saving battery and increasing runtime for more area coverage per charge. Convenience is what the E20 is all about, and with voice control, a downloadable smartphone app, and recharge and resume, you can get this disc-shaped bot to do whatever you’d like without it needing to be within sight.

Roborock S6

Xiaomi’s line of Roborocks is slowly dominating the market, both in affordability and in quality. On the other end of the price spectrum, we have the Roborock S6 – a fantastic little bot that delivers up to 2,000-Pa of suction pressure. The key feature of the S6 is its superior navigation and mapping system.

After roaming your home, the S6 will create an accurate, to-scale digital layout of your home’s floors, allowing users to give cleaning commands to the robot for specific rooms. Using the smartphone app to access the map, setting up virtual barriers is possible without the need of placing unsightly virtual barriers or floor strips. Like the E20, the S6 comes with a mopping feature, but the biggest difference is the adjustable water flow feature that allows the S6 mop larger or smaller areas using more or less water.

ONSON Cordless Stick Vacuum

If the thought of letting robots roam free in your home doesn’t excite you, and you can’t deal with lugging around bulky uprights or canisters, then consider purchasing a stick vac. Our favorite most-affordable stick vac is the ONSON Cordless model, a 4.85-pound vacuum cleaner that draws power from a 2,200-mAh battery.

On a single charge, the ONSON can run anywhere from 20 to 40 minutes depending on how which working mode (standard or max) is active. For laminate floors, you can get by with standard mode to clean more of your floor per charge. This stick vac can convert into a simple handheld unit by detaching the long vacuum shaft and mounting the included crevice tool.