Cordless vs Corded Vacuums: Which One Should I Choose?
For many people out there, vacuuming is an essential part of life. It’s a task they need to do to care of and keep their home clean. If you’re one of those people, you know that there are so many vacuums out there for you to choose from to get the job done.
In reality, not all vacuum cleaners are created equal and you might be left wondering whether a cordless or corded vacuum is right for you. Both have their main differences and various benefits and downfalls. Here is an in-depth guide on how to decide which type of vacuum you should choose to efficiently clean your home.
For more information on vacuum cleaners, take a look at our complete buying guide.
Corded Vacuum Cleaners
Corded vacuums are the traditional style of vacuum cleaners. They are very simple in that they just need to be plugged in and you are essentially good to go. However, as with any product or tool, there are pros and cons to be considered before choosing the right one.
There are several pros and cons to corded vacuum cleaners and they could be a deciding factor on whether or not you choose the corded route!
Corded Vacuum Pros
- Amazing suction power – One huge major pro for corded vacuum cleaners is their amazing suction power. Corded vacuums how powerful motors and they typically have an electrical input of 1000 – 2000 watts which is very strong and can suction out even the toughest dust. The power of corded vacuums is much stronger than their cordless alternatives and is extremely impressive!
- Length of use – Corded vacuums don’t use batteries or need to be charged so they length of use is pretty much endless! You can continue vacuuming as long as you’d like without having to worry about the battery life on it. You don’t have to worry about forgetting to charge it or the vacuum battery dying in the middle of you cleaning your home.
- Easy to reach spots – Another great pro to corded vacuum cleaners is that despite the cord, you can still manage to reach most of the main spots of your house. Corded vacuums cleaners have electrical wires of the typical length of 6 to 8 meters long which will help you get to many areas of your home with ease.
- Dust capacity – The dust capacity of corded vacuum cleaners is amazing! Since corded vacuums are typically bigger, they have a much bigger storage space for the dust you collect off your floors. This means that you can vacuum for longer periods of time without having to worry about emptying out the vacuum.
- Inexpensive – The average corded vacuum cleaner can cost anywhere between £70 – £80. They are relatively inexpensive compared to cordless vacuums because of some of the things you’ll have to sacrifice such as size, cord restrictions, weight, and much more. If those things don’t bother you and price is a huge factor, you might consider a corded vacuum.
Corded Vacuum Cons
- Restrictions of the Cord – A huge con is the simple fact that you are restricted by the cord! You can only go as far as the cord allows you to. Once you have gone too far, you need to unplug it and plug it back in somewhere closer to where you are trying to clean. This can be annoying and not the mention, the cords can even cause accidents as they are very easy to trip over.
- Weight – Your average corded vacuum weighs more than a cordless vacuum. It’s a big and bulky machine to help you clean your home so naturally, it weighs more. They usually weight about 7 kg which could be a little too heavy and inconvenient to push around for some people.
Corded Vacuums To Consider
If you think corded vacuums are right up your alley, here are a few top vacuums to consider for your home:
Cordless Vacuum Cleaners
There are also various pros and cons you need to consider about cordless vacuums as well. Seeing the pros and cons of both will help you make a better choice for your home cleaning needs.
Cordless Vacuum Pros
- Weight – Cordless vacuums weigh an average of 3 kg compared to the regular, corded standard vacuum which weighs about 7 kg. So, a great benefit is that they are much easier to carry around with you from room to room. You don’t need to worry about moving or pushing around a heavy vacuum which will make it easier and more convenient to clean hard to reach places.
- Not Just for Indoor Use – Cordless vacuums are not just for indoor use! The fact that they don’t have you tied to an outlet is a huge plus because you can use it on your patio, in your car, or anywhere outdoors that a corded vacuum wouldn’t allow you to reach. If you have small kids, you will be able to clean up their messes and crumbs left behind in your car and under the seats which is really great!
- Easy To Reach Places – It’s not that hard to reach the parts of your home that need cleaning with a corded vacuum, but it’s even simpler with a cordless vacuum. This is because many of them are lightweight, smaller, plus the added bonus that you are not attached to a cord makes it super easy to clean even the tiniest of corners.
Cordless Vacuum Cons
- Dust Capacity – Cordless vacuums have a very small dust capacity compared to corded vacuum cleaners. In fact, their capacity is approximately 0.6L. Meanwhile, most corded vacuums which hold about 2-3L of dust. The bad thing about this is the cordless vacuum cleaners need to be emptied more often. The filters have to be cleaned more often than a corded vacuum and you might even find yourself having the empty the vacuum midway through your cleaning. The filters cleaned often because they the dust and dirt can create a blockage which will cause the vacuum to stop working properly.
- Battery Life – A downside is the battery life. When purchasing a cordless vacuum, you need to pay attention to how long the battery life is. You don’t want to constantly be having to stop cleaning because your vacuum has run out of battery. These types of vacuums constantly need to be recharged throughout the week or even throughout the day. If you have a large home, you might find yourself in this situation is you don’t look clearly when making your purchase. Try to find a vacuum with about 20-30 minutes of runtime to make sure you can vacuum your entire home in one run.
- Expensive – A big con for cordless vacuum cleaners is that they can end up being a bit pricey. They can cost anywhere from £150 upwards to £200. You do some digging and find some for around £100. However, we definitely wouldn’t recommend it because of the fact that they simply won’t get the job done. If you want a good cordless vacuum, usually you will need to shell out more cash than if you were purchasing a corded vacuum.
Best Selling Cordless Vacuums To Consider
Our top 3 picks from our cordless vacuum cleaner buying guide are:
#1. Shark DuoClean TruePet (IF200UKT) – complete with all the attachments you need and offers flexible storage and battery changing options. Click here to read our full review of the Shark DuoClean TruePet.
#2. Hoover Freedom (FD22G) – a great budget cordless vacuum cleaner but does have a long charge time.
#3. Dyson V7 (Total Clean) – better than the V6 and cheaper than the V8. Go for the Total Clean model with all the tools.
The Verdict
After going through the multiple pros and cons of both corded and cordless vacuum styles, it is completely up to you to make the call on what type is best for your home. Ask yourself whether some of the cons are major deal breakers in the end.
Would some of the pros of these vacuums be a great selling point for you? It all depends on the size of your home and whether you have pets or kids or have to deal with allergies in your home. Think about your needs and what’s important for you and that is ultimately the best way to decide whether to go the corded or cordless route when it comes to vacuum cleaners.
